Stamps & Philately – 100 Important PSC GK Questions
Explore the fascinating world of postage stamps! Learn important facts about Penny Black, Scinde Dawk, Indian postage stamps, Philately, India Post, UPU and World Post Day through 100 important GK questions and answers—perfect for Kerala PSC and competitive exam preparation.
Q: What is the study and collection of postage stamps called?
A: Philately
Q: What is a person who collects postage stamps called?
A: Philatelist
Q: Which country issued the world's first postage stamp?
A: Great Britain
Q: What was the world's first postage stamp called?
A: Penny Black
Q: In which year was the Penny Black issued?
A: 1840
Q: Whose portrait appears on the Penny Black?
A: Queen Victoria
Q: What was the denomination of the Penny Black?
A: One penny
Q: Who is known as the father of the modern postage stamp?
A: Sir Rowland Hill
Q: What major postal reform is associated with Sir Rowland Hill?
A: Uniform prepaid postage
Q: When was the Penny Black first issued?
A: 1 May 1840
Q: When did the Penny Black become valid for postage?
A: 6 May 1840
Q: Which country introduced the world's first adhesive postage stamp?
A: Great Britain
Q: What was the world's first two-colour postage stamp?
A: Two Pence Blue
Q: What was the denomination of the Two Pence Blue?
A: Two pence
Q: Which British monarch was depicted on the Penny Black?
A: Queen Victoria
Q: In which year was India's first postage stamp issued?
A: 1852
Q: What was India's first postage stamp called?
A: Scinde Dawk
Q: In which region was the Scinde Dawk issued?
A: Sindh
Q: Which city is closely associated with the Scinde Dawk?
A: Karachi
Q: The Scinde Dawk was issued during the rule of which colonial power?
A: British East India Company
Q: What does "Dawk" mean in Scinde Dawk?
A: Mail
Q: Which was the first postage stamp issued in Asia?
A: Scinde Dawk
Q: In which present-day country was the Scinde Dawk issued?
A: Pakistan
Q: When did independent India issue its first postage stamps?
A: 1947
Q: What was depicted on India's first Independence commemorative stamp?
A: Indian national flag
Q: In which year were the first Gandhi postage stamps of independent India issued?
A: 1948
Q: Whose portrait appeared on India's famous 1948 commemorative stamps?
A: Mahatma Gandhi
Q: Which Indian leader is most prominently associated with India's early commemorative stamps after independence?
A: Mahatma Gandhi
Q: What is the name of India's postal department?
A: India Post
Q: India Post functions under which ministry of the Government of India?
A: Ministry of Communications
Q: Which department administers India Post?
A: Department of Posts
Q: What is the postal service of India commonly known as?
A: India Post
Q: Which international organization regulates and coordinates international postal services?
A: Universal Postal Union
Q: What is the abbreviation of Universal Postal Union?
A: UPU
Q: In which year was the Universal Postal Union established?
A: 1874
Q: Where was the Universal Postal Union established?
A: Bern, Switzerland
Q: Where is the headquarters of the Universal Postal Union?
A: Bern, Switzerland
Q: On which date is World Post Day observed?
A: 9 October
Q: Why is World Post Day observed on 9 October?
A: It marks the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874.
Q: Which organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations dealing with postal services?
A: Universal Postal Union
Q: What is a postage stamp primarily used to indicate?
A: Payment of postage
Q: What is the monetary value printed on a postage stamp called?
A: Denomination
Q: What is a stamp issued to commemorate an important person or event called?
A: Commemorative stamp
Q: What is a stamp intended for regular postal use called?
A: Definitive stamp
Q: What is a stamp issued to mark a special occasion called?
A: Commemorative stamp
Q: What are the small holes along the edges of stamps called?
A: Perforations
Q: What is a stamp without perforations called?
A: Imperforate stamp
Q: What is the adhesive material traditionally found on the back of a stamp called?
A: Gum
Q: What is an overprint on a postage stamp?
A: Additional printing placed over an existing stamp
Q: What is a surcharge on a postage stamp?
A: An overprint changing or adding to its denomination
Q: What is a watermark in postage stamps?
A: A design incorporated into the stamp paper
Q: What is a First Day Cover?
A: An envelope bearing a newly issued stamp cancelled on its first day of issue
Q: What does FDC stand for?
A: First Day Cover
Q: What is a miniature sheet?
A: A small sheet containing one or more postage stamps
Q: What is a stamp booklet?
A: A booklet containing a number of postage stamps
Q: What is a postmark?
A: A postal marking placed on mail
Q: What is the purpose of cancelling a postage stamp?
A: To prevent its reuse
Q: What is a revenue stamp used for?
A: Payment of certain taxes or fees
Q: Is a revenue stamp a postage stamp?
A: No
Q: What is an airmail stamp associated with?
A: Air transportation of mail
Q: What is a semi-postal stamp?
A: A stamp sold above its postal value to raise money for a specified cause
Q: What is a stamp error?
A: An unintended error made during stamp production
Q: Why can rare stamp errors be valuable?
A: Because of their rarity and collector demand
Q: What is a stamp catalogue?
A: A reference book containing information about postage stamps
Q: What is a stamp album used for?
A: Storing and displaying stamps
Q: What is postal history?
A: The study of postal systems, routes, markings, and mail
Q: What is a philatelic exhibition?
A: An exhibition of stamps and postal-history material
Q: What is a stamp series?
A: A group of related stamps issued under a common theme
Q: What is a definitive stamp mainly used for?
A: Ordinary postal services
Q: What is a commemorative stamp mainly issued for?
A: Honouring or commemorating a person, event, place, or achievement
Q: Which organization coordinates international postal cooperation?
A: Universal Postal Union
Q: What is the full form of UPU?
A: Universal Postal Union
Q: What is the headquarters city of the UPU?
A: Bern
Q: Which country hosts the headquarters of the UPU?
A: Switzerland
Q: What major international postal organization was founded in 1874?
A: Universal Postal Union
Q: Which day is celebrated as World Post Day?
A: 9 October
Q: What is the main objective of the UPU?
A: To facilitate international postal cooperation and services
Q: Which country's postal reform introduced the concept of prepaid postage using stamps?
A: Great Britain
Q: Who proposed the postal reform that led to the Penny Black?
A: Sir Rowland Hill
Q: What was the main problem the Penny Black system helped solve?
A: The complexity and high cost of postage collection
Q: Which famous stamp features Queen Victoria in profile?
A: Penny Black
Q: Which was the first adhesive postage stamp in the world?
A: Penny Black
Q: Which country is considered the birthplace of the modern postage stamp?
A: Great Britain
Q: Which Indian stamp is considered the first postage stamp of India?
A: Scinde Dawk
Q: Which region gave its name to India's first postage stamp?
A: Sindh
Q: In which year did the Scinde Dawk appear?
A: 1852
Q: Which famous Indian personality appeared on the first Gandhi commemorative stamps?
A: Mahatma Gandhi
Q: In which year was the first Gandhi stamp issued by independent India?
A: 1948
Q: What national symbol appeared on India's first Independence commemorative stamp?
A: Indian national flag
Q: In which year did India become independent?
A: 1947
Q: Which Indian postal organization issues postage stamps?
A: India Post
Q: Which ministry is responsible for India Post?
A: Ministry of Communications
Q: What does "philately" primarily involve?
A: The study and collection of stamps and postal history
Q: What is a philatelist?
A: A person who studies or collects stamps
Q: What is the purpose of postage stamps in international mail?
A: To indicate payment of postage
Q: What is a postal stamp issued for regular long-term use called?
A: Definitive stamp
Q: What type of stamp is issued to honour an important national event?
A: Commemorative stamp
Q: Which international postal organization has its headquarters in Switzerland?
A: Universal Postal Union
Q: Which date is important in postal GK because it marks the founding of the UPU?
A: 9 October 1874
Q: Which hobby combines the collection and study of postage stamps and postal history?
A: Philately
PSC tip:
For Kerala PSC, the highest-priority areas in this topic are 👇
Penny Black – 1840 – Great Britain – Queen Victoria – Sir Rowland Hill – Scinde Dawk – 1852 – Sindh – UPU – 1874 – Bern – World Post Day (9 October) – India Post – Gandhi stamps (1948).
