CSS PPSC General Knowledge Questions & Answers 2026

CSS & PPSC — Pakistan's Most Competitive Exams

The CSS and PPSC exams are gateways to prestigious civil service careers in Pakistan. CSS (Central Superior Services) selects officers for federal ministries, while PPSC recruits for Punjab government departments. Both exams require deep knowledge of Pakistan Studies, Islamic Studies, Current Affairs, and General Knowledge.

Pakistan Studies — Exam Essentials

• 🇵🇰 Independence: Pakistan became independent on 14 August 1947.
• 🇵🇰 Founder: Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah — first Governor-General.
• 🇵🇰 First PM: Liaquat Ali Khan — assassinated in Rawalpindi, 1951.
• 🇵🇰 Constitution: Pakistan's current constitution was adopted on 14 August 1973 (effective 1973). Previous constitutions: 1956 (first), 1962.
• 🇵🇰 Provinces: 4 provinces — Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Balochistan. Plus GB, AJK, and ICT.
• 🇵🇰 Capital: Islamabad — became capital in 1966, replacing Karachi (1947–58) and Rawalpindi (interim 1959–66).
• 🇵🇰 Highest peak: K2 — 8,611 metres (second highest in the world).
• 🇵🇰 Largest city: Karachi — also the financial capital.
• 🇵🇰 National language: Urdu (official); English (co-official).
• 🇵🇰 Largest province by area: Balochistan (44% of total area).
• 🇵🇰 Largest province by population: Punjab.
• 🇵🇰 Nuclear capability: First nuclear tests on 28 May 1998 at Chagai, Balochistan.

Islamic Studies — Key Topics

• ☪️ Pillars of Islam: Shahada, Salat (5 daily prayers), Zakat (2.5% of savings), Sawm (Ramadan fasting), Hajj.
• ☪️ Pillars of Iman (Faith): Belief in Allah, Angels, Holy Books, Prophets, Day of Judgement, Divine Decree (Qadr).
• ☪️ Holy Books: Quran (to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), Torah (Musa), Zabur (Dawud), Injeel (Isa).
• ☪️ First Revelation: Surah Iqra (Al-Alaq) revealed in Cave Hira, 610 CE.
• ☪️ Hijra: Prophet's migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE — marks start of Islamic calendar.
• ☪️ Compilation of Quran: Compiled in book form under Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA); standardised under Hazrat Usman (RA).
• ☪️ OIC: Organisation of Islamic Cooperation — 57 member states; headquartered in Jeddah.

Current Affairs Topics (2025–2026)

• 🌐 Pakistan's Economy: IMF Extended Fund Facility program; efforts to increase exports and tax revenue.
• 🌐 CPEC Phase 2: Continued China-Pakistan Economic Corridor development — energy and infrastructure projects.
• 🌐 UN Security Council: 15 members — 5 permanent (USA, UK, France, China, Russia) + 10 rotating elected.
• 🌐 G20: 19 countries + EU; Pakistan is not a G20 member but is a SAARC and SCO member.
• 🌐 SCO: Pakistan became a full SCO member in 2017; SCO hosted summit in Pakistan.
• 🌐 Climate: Pakistan ranked among most vulnerable countries to climate change; 2022 floods submerged 1/3 of the country.

World Geography — CSS/PPSC Staples

• 🗺️ Longest river: Nile (6,650 km) — though Amazon is longer by volume.
• 🗺️ Highest mountain: Mount Everest — 8,848.86 m (Nepal/China border).
• 🗺️ Largest country: Russia — 17.1 million km².
• 🗺️ Most populous country: India (surpassed China in 2023).
• 🗺️ Smallest country: Vatican City — 0.44 km².
• 🗺️ Largest ocean: Pacific Ocean.
• 🗺️ Straits of Hormuz: Between Iran and Oman; critical oil shipping route; 20% of world's oil passes through.
• 🗺️ Suez Canal: Egypt; connects Mediterranean Sea to Red Sea; opened 1869.

50 CSS/PPSC Style Quiz Questions

1. When did Pakistan gain independence? (14 August 1947)
2. Who was Pakistan's first Governor-General? (Muhammad Ali Jinnah)
3. Which constitution is currently in force in Pakistan? (Constitution of 1973)
4. How many provinces does Pakistan have? (4)
5. What is the largest province of Pakistan by area? (Balochistan)
6. What is the capital of Pakistan? (Islamabad)
7. In which city did Pakistan's first nuclear test take place? (Chagai, Balochistan — 28 May 1998)
8. What is K2's height? (8,611 metres)
9. What does CPEC stand for? (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor)
10. What is the national animal of Pakistan? (Markhor)
11. How many pillars does Islam have? (5)
12. Which Surah was revealed first? (Surah Al-Alaq / Iqra)
13. What does OIC stand for? (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)
14. Where is OIC headquartered? (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
15. How many members does SAARC have? (8)
16. What does SCO stand for? (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)
17. When did Pakistan join SCO as a full member? (2017)
18. What is the longest river in Pakistan? (Indus River)
19. Which city is Pakistan's financial capital? (Karachi)
20. What is the Parliament of Pakistan called? (Majlis-e-Shoora)
21. What is the largest country in the world by area? (Russia)
22. What is the capital of China? (Beijing)
23. Which country has the most time zones? (France — 12)
24. What is the Strait of Hormuz? (Waterway between Iran and Oman — critical for oil trade)
25. What does NATO stand for? (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
26. How many permanent members does the UN Security Council have? (5)
27. What does IMF stand for? (International Monetary Fund)
28. Where is the UN headquartered? (New York, USA)
29. What is the World Bank's purpose? (Financial assistance to developing countries)
30. Which river flows through Egypt? (Nile)
31. What is the highest mountain in the world? (Mount Everest — 8,848.86 m)
32. Which country is called the Land of the Rising Sun? (Japan)
33. What is the smallest country in the world? (Vatican City)
34. Who invented the telephone? (Alexander Graham Bell — 1876)
35. What is the speed of light? (approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/s)
36. What is DNA? (Deoxyribonucleic Acid — carries genetic information)
37. What is photosynthesis? (Plants use sunlight, CO₂, and water to produce food and oxygen)
38. What is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere? (Nitrogen — 78%)
39. What is the ozone layer? (Layer in stratosphere that absorbs UV radiation)
40. What is the Paris Agreement? (2015 international treaty on climate change)
41. What is BRICS? (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)
42. How many SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are there? (17)
43. What is the Belt and Road Initiative? (China's global infrastructure investment strategy)
44. What is G7? (Group of 7 largest advanced economies)
45. What does UNESCO stand for? (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
46. When was the UN founded? (1945)
47. What is the Khyber Pass? (Mountain pass connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan)
48. What is Gwadar known for? (Deep-sea port on the Arabian Sea — part of CPEC)
49. Who was Pakistan's first Prime Minister? (Liaquat Ali Khan)
50. What was the name of the movement that led to Pakistan's creation? (The Pakistan Movement / Tehreek-e-Pakistan)