General Knowledge covers Maharashtra's history and geography, the Indian Constitution, police and laws, and current affairs. The points below are static (they don't change) and based on official information. Office-holders (Chief Minister, Governor etc.) and numbers can change – check the official websites before the exam. Remember the paper is in Marathi: Marathi names are given in brackets where useful.
1. Maharashtra – basic facts
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| State formed | 1 May 1960 (Maharashtra Day / महाराष्ट्र दिन) |
| Capital / second capital | Mumbai / Nagpur (winter session of the legislature) |
| Districts | 36 (Palghar is the newest, 2014) |
| Revenue divisions | 6 – Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Nagpur |
| First Chief Minister | Yashwantrao Chavan |
| Vidhan Sabha / Vidhan Parishad | 288 / 78 members |
| Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha seats | 48 / 19 |
| State animal / bird | Shekru, Indian giant squirrel (शेकरू) / Yellow-footed green pigeon (हरियाल) |
| State flower / tree / butterfly | Jarul (जारुळ / तामण) / Mango / Blue Mormon |
- New names: Aurangabad → Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Osmanabad → Dharashiv, Ahmednagar → Ahilyanagar.
2. Geography of Maharashtra
- Highest peak: Kalsubai (about 1,646 m) in the Sahyadri range, near the Ahilyanagar–Nashik border.
- The Sahyadri (Western Ghats) runs parallel to the west coast; west of it is the Konkan coast (about 720 km).
- Godavari – longest river of the state, rises at Trimbakeshwar (Nashik); called “Dakshin Ganga”. Krishna – rises at Mahabaleshwar (Satara). Bhima – rises at Bhimashankar (Pune). Tapi – flows east to west into the Arabian Sea. Wainganga – main river of eastern Vidarbha (Bhandara, Gondia).
- Dams: Koyna (Shivsagar lake, Satara), Jayakwadi (Nathsagar, Paithan – Chh. Sambhajinagar), Ujani (on Bhima, Solapur), Gosikhurd (on Wainganga, Bhandara).
- Tiger reserves / sanctuaries: Tadoba-Andhari (Chandrapur), Melghat (Amravati), Pench (Nagpur), Navegaon-Nagzira (Gondia-Bhandara), Sahyadri (Koyna-Chandoli).
- Lonar Lake (Buldhana) – a saltwater lake formed by a meteorite impact.
- UNESCO World Heritage sites: Ajanta and Ellora caves (Chh. Sambhajinagar), Elephanta (Gharapuri) caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai), Western Ghats (natural). In July 2025 the “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” were added – 12 forts: 11 in Maharashtra (Salher, Shivneri, Lohagad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg) and Gingee in Tamil Nadu.
3. History and social reformers
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: born at Shivneri fort (Junnar, Pune); coronation in 1674 at Raigad. Set up the Ashtapradhan council of eight ministers.
- Mahatma Jyotirao Phule: founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873; wrote “Gulamgiri”. With Savitribai Phule started a girls' school in Pune (Bhide Wada) in 1848.
- Savitribai Phule: one of India's first women teachers; birthday 3 January.
- Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj (Kolhapur): in 1902 gave 50% reservation to backward classes in his state.
- Lokmanya Tilak: newspapers “Kesari” (Marathi) and “Maratha” (English); “Swaraj is my birthright”. Popularised public Ganeshotsav and Shiv Jayanti.
- Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar: chairman of the Constitution's Drafting Committee; 1927 Mahad Chavdar Tale satyagraha; newspapers “Mooknayak” and “Bahishkrut Bharat”; 14 October 1956 – embraced Buddhism at Nagpur (Deekshabhoomi).
- Samyukta Maharashtra movement: for a Marathi-speaking state with Mumbai; Hutatma Chowk (Flora Fountain), Mumbai, honours its martyrs.
4. Indian Constitution – key points
- Adopted 26 November 1949 (Constitution Day); came into force 26 January 1950 (Republic Day).
- Fundamental Rights: Part III (Articles 12–35). Directive Principles: Part IV. Fundamental Duties: Article 51A (added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976).
- The state's constitutional head is the Governor (appointed by the President); real power is with the Chief Minister and the council of ministers.
- Panchayati Raj: 73rd Amendment (1992); three tiers – Gram Panchayat (Sarpanch), Panchayat Samiti (Sabhapati), Zilla Parishad (Adhyaksha). Municipal bodies: 74th Amendment.
5. Police and laws (special for Police Bharti)
- Police is a State List subject (Seventh Schedule) – the police force is under the state government.
- Motto of Maharashtra Police: “Sadrakshanaya Khalnigrahanaya” (सद्रक्षणाय खलनिग्रहणाय – to protect the good and control the wicked).
- Head of the state police: Director General of Police (DGP); headquarters in Mumbai. Big cities have a Commissioner of Police; districts have a Superintendent of Police (SP).
- Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 – the main law for the state police. Police training: Maharashtra Police Academy, Nashik.
- New criminal laws from 1 July 2024: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC); Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC); Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaced the Indian Evidence Act.
- FIR (First Information Report) – the written record of a cognizable offence; now under BNSS Section 173. Zero FIR – a complaint can be registered at any police station, whatever the jurisdiction.
- One emergency number for police, fire and ambulance: 112.
6. How to read current affairs
- The 6–12 months before the exam matter most. Read one Marathi newspaper daily (state, national, sports, awards, schemes) and keep your own weekly notebook.
- With every news item write the date, place, person and number – questions come on exactly these.
- For Maharashtra government schemes and decisions, use official sources: maharashtra.gov.in and the government's news site mahasamvad.in.
A separate, dated and verified “Maharashtra Current Affairs” section is coming soon.
Practice MCQs (with answers)
Q1. On which date was Maharashtra state formed?
- (A) 26 January 1950
- (B) 15 August 1947
- (C) 1 May 1960
- (D) 1 November 1956
Answer: (C) 1 May 1960.
Q2. Which is the highest peak in Maharashtra?
- (A) Mahabaleshwar
- (B) Kalsubai
- (C) Salher
- (D) Torna
Answer: (B) Kalsubai.
Q3. What is the motto of Maharashtra Police?
- (A) Satyameva Jayate
- (B) Sadrakshanaya Khalnigrahanaya
- (C) Bahujan Hitaya Bahujan Sukhaya
- (D) Yogakshemam Vahamyaham
Answer: (B) Sadrakshanaya Khalnigrahanaya.
Q4. Fundamental Duties are in which Article of the Constitution?
- (A) Article 14
- (B) Article 21
- (C) Article 32
- (D) Article 51A
Answer: (D) Article 51A.
Q5. Who founded the Satyashodhak Samaj?
- (A) Mahatma Jyotirao Phule
- (B) Lokmanya Tilak
- (C) Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
- (D) Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj
Answer: (A) Mahatma Jyotirao Phule (1873).
Q6. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve is in which district?
- (A) Gadchiroli
- (B) Amravati
- (C) Chandrapur
- (D) Gondia
Answer: (C) Chandrapur.
Q7. Lonar Lake is in which district?
- (A) Buldhana
- (B) Washim
- (C) Jalna
- (D) Akola
Answer: (A) Buldhana.
Q8. How many members (seats) does the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha have?
- (A) 243
- (B) 403
- (C) 288
- (D) 78
Answer: (C) 288.
Q9. From 1 July 2024, which law replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC)?
- (A) Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- (B) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
- (C) Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
- (D) Maharashtra Police Act
Answer: (B) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Q10. What is the single emergency number (police, fire, ambulance) across India?
- (A) 100
- (B) 108
- (C) 112
- (D) 101
Answer: (C) 112.
Exam tip
Static GK (geography, history, Constitution, police and laws), once learnt, is useful every year. Give current affairs 15 minutes a day, and at the end of each week test yourself with 20 questions.