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XAT Exam 2026 General Knowledge Sample Questions: The XAT 2026 stands among India's most challenging MBA entrance tests, where the General Knowledge section significantly impacts the final selection of aspirants. Understanding the XAT 2026 exam pattern through previous years' papers helps identify which areas receive the maximum questions and are essential for the XAT 2026 exam. Building strong general awareness requires consistent daily practice rather than last-minute cramming. Students preparing for XAT 2026 must develop a systematic approach and ensure comprehensive preparation across all knowledge areas tested in the exam.
In this article on career360, you will find XAT General Knowledge 2026 Overview & Importance, XAT 2026 General Knowledge Syllabus, Important Topics, and more valuable resources. Success in the XAT 2026 General Knowledge section requires dedication, regular practice, and effective preparation techniques that enable candidates to perform confidently during the actual examination.
The XAT 2026 GK question paper will test the students' knowledge of traditional historical, geographical, or scientific knowledge, as well as their awareness of current events happening around the world.
Year | Number of Questions |
2025 | 20 |
2024 | 25 |
2023 | 25 |
2022 | 25 |
2021 | 25 |
2020 | 25 |
Every year in the XAT exam, 25 questions feature from the GK section. But from XAT 2025, the number of questions has reduced to 20 from 25. This includes 8 questions from static GK and 12 from current affairs. While the XAT GK section would not be considered for the overall XAT marking, it plays a significant role during further selection rounds for the candidate. Hence, overlooking the GK section during the candidate's XAT preparation can be fatal.
Also Read: XAT Question Paper with Answer
Identifying the important topics from where the most number of XAT GK questions will be asked is essential before preparing for the exam.
Important topics in the GK section for the XAT 2026 exam are:
Current affairs
Business
Politics
Economics
Indian Constitution and laws
Books and authors
Famous personalities
History and Geography
Awards and Winners
Miscellaneous
The General Knowledge syllabus for XAT 2026 covers detailed information regarding important topics designed to assess candidates' overall awareness and knowledge. The syllabus covers traditional subjects, such as history and geography, alongside contemporary issues and recent events. Candidates must prepare across multiple domains to perform well in this comprehensive knowledge assessment.
General knowledge topics can be divided into two parts.
Static GK
Current Affairs
Static GK parts cover topics like:
History
Geography
Polity
Economics
Science and technology
Sports
Important Organizations
Books and Authors
Awards and Winners
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The current affairs section covers topics like:
Recent national and international events
Recent deaths of famous personalities
Recent events
Recent scientific breakthroughs
Recent awards and winners
Recent Summits and Conferences
After analyzing the previous year's questions, we see the trend that more questions come from the Static GK section than from Current Affairs. But to achieve good marks in the exam, we have to give the same focus to both sections.
Static GK refers to the sections that can not be changed and have happened in the past.
Current affairs cover the recent important national and international events and developments. Generally, questions from this section come from events that happened in the last 1 or 2 years. So, prepare accordingly to get familiar with the topics and questions.
Preparing for the Static GK part is easier than the current affairs section.
Static GK covers history, geography, science, economics, and politics. Before studying objective-type questions, read subjective books on these topics. After building the basic foundation for these topics, try objective-type questions.
Some of the objective-type XAT GK questions and answers books are:
Lucent’s GK book
Arihant’s GK book
To follow current affairs, read daily newspapers like The Hindu, Times of India, and The Indian Express. Follow journals and monthly magazines like the Manorama yearbook. You can also check online about the important events around the world. Some top sites to follow current events are GKToday, AffairsCloud, and Jagran Josh. Note the events that you think are important to memorize later. To sum up, referring to highly esteemed XAT preparation books is essential for XAT success. Apart from the famous books, you should also refer to the preparation tips shared by the toppers.
The GK section is very vast as per the syllabus, daily XAT preparation for this section is mandatory for success. Always focus on key sections like important national and international news, recent awards and appointments, important sports news, economics, and science.
Attempt the GK quizzes and mocks to test your knowledge and identify your weaker areas.
For good grades in the GK section, students have to focus on both Static GK and current affairs.
Subject | Key Areas of Focus |
History | Important global events, Indian national movements, freedom fighters, Mughal, Sultanate, and Slave dynasties. |
Geography | Rivers, oceans, cities on their banks, deserts, mountains, capitals, currencies, and flags of various countries. |
Science | Topics in physics, chemistry, and biology; discoveries, inventions, chemical reactions, plants, and animals. |
Polity | Indian constitution, its articles and amendments, government bodies, and their functions. |
Economics | Banks and monetary policies, key economic terms, and their definitions. |
Organizations | WTO, NATO, UN, BRICS, SAARC, their members, and headquarters. |
Awards | Nobel Prize, Oscar, Bharat Ratna, Padma Shri, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Emmys, and other prestigious honors. |
Sports | Famous athletes, unique achievements, sports records, notable "firsts," and recent events in sports. |
Books | Renowned books and their authors. |
Folk Dances and Festivals | Names of folk dances and festivals of various Indian states. |
In the current affairs section for the XAT 2026 exam, follow important events from 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Some of the key current affairs topics are:
Important summits and conferences (2023-24)
Olympics, the Last FIFA World Cup, the Cricket World Cup, and other major sports tournaments from 2023-24
Important appointments like Indian ambassadors in different countries and various brand ambassadors
Recent global disasters, environmental issue,s and international conflicts
Publication of recent books by famous personalities
Recent deaths between 2023-24 of famous persons and their working field
Recent GI tag items, national parks, dams, tunnels, national highways, bridges
Recent space missions, technological innovations
Recent schemes and applications
Good knowledge and performance in the General Awareness section in the XAT exam increase your chances of being admitted to the top B-schools like XLRI.
General knowledge and General awareness are both almost the same terms used interchangeably.
General knowledge focuses mainly on the static GK parts, where facts can not be changed. But using the General awareness term, we focus mostly on current events like events of national and international importance, economy, environment, sports, etc, and some of the static GK.
In the XAT exam 2026, static GK and current affairs hold the same importance.
Some of the best sources to stay updated on the General awareness portions are:
Daily newspapers
Monthly magazines
YouTube channels
Online educational and news sites
Books
Some of the common mistakes students make in the GK section are:
Focusing too much on the static GK part and neglecting the current affairs. Preparing for both is essential to achieve high marks in the exam.
Students often do not read regular newspapers. Daily newspapers keep us updated with national and international events.
Lack of attempting mock tests in the GK part often plays a dividend role during the preparation. Mock tests are set as per the exam’s syllabus, covering diverse topics. Attempting those will help you to learn new things as well as identify the areas in which you need more practice.
Students often ignore the mock test results. After checking the mock test number, most of the students do not check the correct answers to the wrongly attempted questions. Make a note of new questions that you learn during those tests.
Consistent practice and learning news are the keys to success in the GK Part of the XAT 2026 exam. The syllabus of the GK portion is enormous, and memorizing all the current events is almost impossible.
So frequent revision of the important chapters is very necessary. Note important events and study them from time to time to remember them. Also, attempt 3 to 4 mock tests every week. Make a weekly routine allocating important chapters at a specific time, then follow that routine.
At the beginning of the preparation, go through the previous year's sample paper and check the answer keys. It will help you to understand the important topics, the difficulty level of the questions, and answer techniques.
Some of the questions asked in the previous XAT exams are:
Q1. Which of the following Indian states does the River Ganges not flow through?
Bihar
Jharkhand
Uttar Pradesh
Haryana (Correct answer)
Uttarakhand
Q2. Which of the following years is NOT a leap year?
1900 (Correct answer)
2000
1924
1896
2024
Q3. What is X-37B?
The U.S. military plane that has gone into space. (Correct answer)
The name of India's Jupiter mission.
The new electric vehicle is to be launched by Tesla.
The name of the youngest kid of Elon Musk.
None of the above.
Q4. What is the common terminology used to describe the following applications: ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Chatsonic?
News Aggregators
Dating Tools
Generative AI Tools (Correct answer)
UPI Applications
Gaming Applications
Q5. Which rocket was used to launch Aditya-L1?
LVM3 -M4
GSLV-F12
PSLV-C57 (Correct answer)
NGLV
TERLS
Name the largest freshwater lake in India.
Answer: Wular Lake
Who is the first Indian to get the Nobel Prize, and in which category?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore in 1913 for "Geetanjali"
What is the currency of Japan?
Answer: Yen
Which indigenous computational software was developed by ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) for computational fluid dynamics (CFD)?
Answer: PraVaHa (Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis)
Which countries became the newest members of BRICS in 2024?
Answer: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates
Credit cards are known as:
Answer: Plastic money
Which film won the Best Picture award at the 96th Oscar ceremony?
Answer: Oppenheimer
What is "Bachpan Bachao Andolan"?
Answer: A movement in India protecting the rights of children.
Who has been declared the new Chief Minister of Assam?
Answer: Sarbananda Sonowal
The 'Bandipur National Park', established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is located in the Indian state of _______
Answer: Karnataka
Practice some XAT 2026 General Knowledge sample questions with solutions and review them. It will enhance your answering techniques. Additionally, you will gain insight into important topics and the difficulty level of the questions.
Here are some important questions with solutions that have come in recent years.
Q1. Malfunction of which of the following organs is the MOST common cause of vertigo?
Heart
Kidney
Stomach
Lung
Ear
Q2. Which Indian state enjoys special provisions under Article 371(D)?
Jharkhand
Meghalaya
Tripura
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Q3. In which Indian state is Sriharikota located?
Tamil Nadu
Andhra Pradesh
Odisha
Kerala
Telangana
Q4. Which is the largest landlocked saltwater lake in India?
Chilika Lake
Chital Lake
Vembanad Lake
Pulicat Lake
Sambhar Lake
Q5. Which of the following rivers does not cross international borders?
Tapi
Ravi
Brahmaputra
Ganga
Teesta
Q6. What is a grey market?
The trade of a commodity for which the country of origin is not mentioned
The trade of a commodity through distribution channels not authorised by the manufacturer
The trade of a commodity that is recognised as a counterfeit product
The trade of a commodity for which the taxes are evaded
The trade of a commodity that is unbranded
Q7. Who is the first Field Marshal of independent India?
A.S. Vaidya
Bipin Rawat
KM Cariappa
Krishnaswamy Sundarji
Sam Manekshaw
Q8. From the following options, choose the one that arranges the given queen's ascension to the throne in chronological order.
Razia Sultana, Ahilyabai Holkar, Durgavati, Lakshmi Bai, Rudrama Devi
Ahilyabai Holkar, Durgavati, Razia Sultana, Rudrama Devi, Lakshmi Bai
Razia Sultana, Rudrama Devi, Durgavati, Ahilyabai Holkar, Lakshmi Bai
Rudrama Devi, Razia Sultana, Durgavati, Lakshmi Bai, Ahilyabai Holkar
Razia Sultana, Rudrama Devi, Ahilyabai Holkar, Durgavati, Lakshmi Bai
Q9. Omuamua is:
A character in the TV series "Star Trek"
A Buddhist chant
An interstellar object
A small primate
NASA's spaceship to Pluto
Q10. Which Indian state has different capitals in summer and winter?
Gujarat
Mizoram
Maharashtra
Uttarakhand
Sikkim
Regular practice of XAT GK sample papers will enhance your knowledge and improve your answer techniques.
First, scan through the paper and answer the questions that are familiar to you. This will boost your confidence.
When you are unsure of a question, handle it wisely.
Though there is no negative marking in the GK part of the XAT exam, if you can correctly guess the answer, then it will help you score high marks.
Eliminate the extreme options and make an educated guess among the remaining options.
After attempting all the questions, revise once if time permits.
After solving the XAT 2026 exam sample GK questions, review the answer key thoroughly and note the areas from which the questions are coming more frequently. Also, try to identify the area where you are making the most mistakes and revise those chapters urgently. These will help you to increase your accuracy.
Here are the answer keys to the above questions.
Q1. Option E: Ear
Q2. Option D: Andhra Pradesh
Q3. Option B: Andhra Pradesh
Q4. Option E: Sambhar Lake
Q5. Option A: Tapi
Q6. Option B: The trade of a commodity through distribution channels not authorised by the manufacturer
Q7. Option E: Sam Manekshaw
Q8. Option C: Razia Sultana, Rudrama Devi, Durgavati, Ahilyabai Holkar, Lakshmi Bai
Q9. Option C: An interstellar object
Q10. Option C: Maharashtra
Time management skills are very important in the XAT exam. Here are some tips to manage time while answering the GK section in the XAT exam.
As we know, the GK section of the XAT exam has no negative marking, so allot 10-15 minutes in the end to do this section.
Do not overthink easier questions. Trust your instinct and answer the next question.
Attempt the ones that are familiar to you first to boost your confidence level. Then try those questions that you are unsure of. This can be very essential for you to score better in your first XAT attempt.
Eliminate the incorrect options and make an educated guess to solve those questions.
Do not spend too much time on one question; move on to the next and return later.
At the end of the exam, if there is time left, then take a revision and check if all the answers you gave in the GK section look correct to you.
Important topics in the GK section for the XAT exam are:
Current affairs
Business
Politics
Economics
Indian Constitution and laws
Books and authors
Famous personalities
History and Geography
Awards and Winners
Miscellaneous
No. There is no negative marking in the XAT GK section. Students can attempt all the questions in this section without having the fear of negative marks.
Some of the objective-type XAT GK questions and answers books are:
Lucent’s GK book
Arihant’s GK book
Textbooks on specific subjects like history, geography, physics, chemistry
Some of the best sources to stay updated on current affairs are:
Daily newspapers [The Hindu, Times of India, and The Indian Express.]
Monthly magazines [Manorama yearbook]
Online educational and news sites
Make a routine at the beginning of the preparation period and allocate 30 minutes to 1 hour for each subject each day. Give mock tests every alternate day and review the questions and answers.
Read daily newspapers and monthly magazines to stay updated on the current affairs section.
Some of the techniques to improve accuracy in the XAT GK section are:
Make a strategy after identifying important topics and follow it daily.
Attempt GK quizzes and mock tests frequently and review the questions and answers.
Revise the sections in which you are weak.
Stay updated with the current events and make notes of the important events.
GIBS Business School in Bangalore accepts multiple national and state-level entrance exam scores for admission to its PGDM program. You can apply using scores from exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA, or various state-level CETs.
The admission process typically considers your entrance exam score along with your academic record, performance in the group discussion and personal interview, and any work experience you may have. For the BBA program, admissions are generally based on your Class 12 marks and do not require entrance exam scores.
If you're planning to apply, it's a good idea to keep your exam score, academic documents, and personal statement ready for the selection rounds.
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No, not all MBA programs require these tests. These are merely entrance exams that are accepted by a lot of universities. Depending on the college you wish to attend, you can take any of them (such as MAH CET, MAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, or ATMA).
Additionally, some universities have entrance exams of their own. Therefore, for the majority of MBA admissions, you only need to take one appropriate exam. To find out which tests the college accepts, always visit their website.
Yes, it is definitely possible for you to get an interview call from Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai for their PGDM program, even with a 73 percentile in XAT 2025. While the typical cutoff for XAT may be higher, around 85 percentile, Great Lakes considers a variety of factors in their selection process, including academic performance, work experience, and diversity in the class.
Since you are a non-engineer female candidate, that diversity is seen as a positive aspect. Even with your XAT score, if you have a strong academic record, relevant work experience, and a clear passion for management, you can still stand out in the application process.
To increase your chances:
Prepare thoroughly for the interview by focusing on your experiences, what drives you, and how you align with the program’s values.
Highlight your unique background and any leadership roles you’ve had.
Show how Great Lakes fits with your career goals.
While the competition can be tough, if you present a well-rounded application and give your best in the interview, you can definitely convert the call into an offer.
With a 74 percentile in the XAT 2025 exam, you are eligible to apply to several reputable MBA colleges in India. Some of the top institutions that typically accept candidates within the 70-80 percentile range include KIIT School of Management (KSOM), Bhubaneswar; Jaipuria Institute of Management (multiple campuses); Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool), Bangalore; Woxsen University, Hyderabad; IFMR Graduate School of Business at KREA University, Sri City; BIM Trichy (Bharathidasan Institute of Management), Tiruchirappalli; and XIME Bangalore (Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship).
To proceed, research each institution's application deadlines and procedures and ensure you submit all required documents promptly. Be prepared for further selection stages such as group discussions, personal interviews, and written ability tests. Evaluate each program's curriculum, faculty, placement records, and campus culture to determine the best fit for your career goals. While your XAT percentile is significant, remember that your overall profile, including academic records, work experience, and extracurricular activities, also plays a crucial role in the selection process.
Admission to MICA's PGDM and PGDM-C programs involves a multi-stage selection process. The final composite score is calculated with the following weightage:
Your XAT score is 73, performing exceptionally well in MICAT can enhance your chances of being shortlisted for the GE and PI rounds. Specific score requirements for MICAT are not publicly disclosed, focusing on thorough preparation and aiming for high performance in each section will strengthen your application.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
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