The invention discloses a modified nickel silicon catalyst and application thereof in preparation of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) by means of catalytic hydrogenation of maleic anhydride. The active component of the catalyst is metal Ni, one or two of reducible metal oxides CeO2 ZnO and MoO3 is/are used as additive(s), and SiO2 is taken as a carrier, wherein the mass ratio of the metal Ni to the additive(s) to the SiO2 is equal to 1 to (0.04-0.7) to (2-3.2). A preparation method of the catalyst comprises the following steps: mixing a nickel salt with an additive precursor metal salt solution in proportion, and then adding ammonia water into the metal mixture to form a metal ammonia complex; then, dropwise adding alkaline silica sol into the complex mixed solution, and precipitating by using aheating ammonia distillation method; filtering the obtained precipitate, washing, drying and calcining to obtain the oxidized state modified nickel silicon catalyst which is abbreviated as a Ni-M-PS catalyst. The catalyst can be used for preparation of the GBL by means of the catalytic hydrogenation of the maleic anhydride, has higher catalytic activity and stability, and has a potential industrial application value.