General Knowledge
General Knowledge is a 25-question, 50-mark AISSEE section (2 marks each; one-third negative marking). It draws on Indian history, geography, polity, science, national symbols, sports and defence-related static facts, plus recent national events from the exam year's notified current-affairs window. Sainik Schools expect a broad Indian outlook, so questions often link geography with states, or the freedom movement with dates and leaders.
High-yield areas
- Polity: the Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950; the President is the constitutional head, the Prime Minister heads the government.
- Geography: know major rivers, the Western and Eastern Ghats, the Thar Desert, monsoon patterns, and states crossed by the Tropic of Cancer.
- History: 1857 revolt, INC founded 1885, Jallianwala Bagh 1919, Dandi March 1930, Quit India 1942, Independence 1947.
- Science: SI units, the solar system, basic human body systems, common diseases and their causes.
- National symbols and defence: know the national animal, bird, flower and anthem; ranks and major defence exercises are recurring static items.
Worked example
How many Indian states does the Tropic of Cancer pass through? Moving west to east, it crosses Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram - 8 states. It does not pass through Odisha or Bihar. Mapping the line from west to east is safer than recalling a number in isolation.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing 'adopted' (26 November 1949) with 'enforced' (26 January 1950); using an old current-affairs yearbook; guessing state capitals after administrative changes; and choosing a 'nearly right' date. If two dates differ by a year, eliminate by the event sequence, not by memory alone.