Stamps & Philately – 100 Important PSC GK Questions
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).
