⭐ Introduction: How to Increase General Knowledge for All Competitive Exams
General Knowledge (GK) plays a crucial role in almost every competitive exam in India—whether it is SSC, Banking, Railways, Defence, State PSCs, or UPSC. A strong command over GK not only helps in scoring high marks in the General Awareness section but also improves overall understanding of national and global events. However, GK cannot be mastered in one day; it requires daily learning, regular revision, and smart study methods.
To improve GK effectively, students must stay updated with current affairs, study important static subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and Science, and practice MCQs consistently. Reading newspapers, following monthly current affairs, watching educational videos, and making short notes are some of the most practical ways to build a solid GK foundation.
This guide explains simple, reliable, and exam-oriented strategies that will help you steadily increase your General Knowledge and score better in all competitive exams.
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⭐ How to Increase General Knowledge for All Competitive Exams
Improving GK is not about memorizing everything. It’s about building daily habits, learning smartly, and revising regularly.
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📌 1. Read Daily Newspapers (Most Effective)
This is the number one habit to strengthen GK.
Best newspapers:
The Hindu (Most recommended)
The Indian Express
Economic Times (for Banking exams)
What to focus on:
National news
Government schemes
Economy updates
Science & Tech developments
Awards, appointments
Environment
International relations
📝 Tip: Spend 20–30 minutes a day, not more.
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📌 2. Use Monthly Current Affairs PDFs
One of the easiest ways to cover large topics.
Reliable sources:
AffairsCloud
Adda247
Vision / Vajiram monthly CA
StudyIQ
📝 Tip: Revise last 6–12 months before any exam.
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📌 3. Watch Daily GK Videos
Sometimes video learning is faster.
Helpful channels:
StudyIQ
Adda247
Wifistudy (Gradeup)
Unacademy GK classes
📝 Tip: Watch at 1.25x speed to save time.
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📌 4. Read One Good GK Book
Choose only ONE — don’t collect many.
Best GK books:
Lucent’s General Knowledge
Manohar Pandey GK (Arihant)
Pearson GK Manual (for UPSC level)
📝 Tip: Study from the same book 2–3 times.
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📌 5. Solve GK & GS MCQ Quizzes Daily
Quizzes improve memory through active recall.
What to solve:
Polity
History
Geography
Economy
Science
Current Affairs
Computer Awareness
📝 Tip: Attempt 25–50 MCQs daily.
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📌 6. Make Your Own Short Notes
Write VERY short notes for:
Important dates
Famous persons
Government schemes
Books & authors
Summits & conferences
📝 Tip: Use keywords, not long sentences.
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📌 7. Revise Regularly (Most Important Step)
Without revision, GK is forgotten quickly.
Follow the rule:
Revise after 1 day
Revise again after 1 week
Revise again after 1 month
📝 Tip: Use digital flashcards like Anki for memory.
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📌 8. Stay Updated with Government Websites
Useful for authentic information:
PIB (Press Information Bureau)
Ministry websites
PRS India
RBI notifications (for Banking exams)
📝 Tip: Check PIB Summary instead of full articles.
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📌 9. Read Yearly GK Compilations
Important for SSC, Railways, Banking, NDA, CDS.
Example:
Manohar Pandey Yearly Book
Arihant One-liner GK
Lucent’s Objective GK
📝 Tip: Yearly books are best for static GK.
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📌 10. Follow One Good GK Website/App
To avoid confusion, follow ONLY ONE regularly.
Good options:
GKToday
AffairsCloud
StudyIQ
📝 Tip: Stick to ONE source for consistency.
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📌 11. Watch GK-Based Documentaries
Documentaries improve understanding, not just memory:
History
Geography
Environment
Science & Technology
Examples:
National Geographic
Discovery
Rajya Sabha TV
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📌 12. Practice Previous Year Question Papers
Previous year papers show exact question patterns.
Useful for:
SSC CGL, CHSL
Banking exams
Railways
State PSC
CDS/NDA
📝 Tip: Solve last 5–10 years papers.
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🎯 Best 30-Minute Daily GK Routine (Follow This)
1. 10 mins – Read newspaper headlines
2. 5 mins – Revise yesterday’s notes
3. 10 mins – Solve 20–30 MCQs
4. 5 mins – Read static GK topic (1 page)
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⭐ Golden Rule for GK Success
> Consistency beats everything.
Study GK daily, even if only for 20 minutes.
You will see improvement in 2–3 weeks, and strong knowledge in 2–3 months.
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