UPSC Civil Services (IAS) Prelims asked 90 Current Affairs questions between 2016–2025. Reading them together shows which topics keep returning and how examiners frame them.
Consider the following countries:
I. Austria
II. Bulgaria
III. Croatia
IV. Serbia
V. Sweden
VI. North Macedonia
How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
Answer: (b) Only four
Bulgaria (2004), Croatia (2009), North Macedonia (2020) and Sweden (2024) are NATO members. Austria (a neutral state) and Serbia are not. So four.
Answer: (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
The INSTC is a multimodal (ship, rail and road) corridor linking India (Mumbai) through Iran (Bandar Abbas and Chabahar) to Central Asia, Russia and onward to Europe.
Consider the following statements about 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana':
I. It targets installation of one crore solar rooftop panels in the residential sector.
II. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance and repairs of solar rooftop systems at grassroot levels.
III. It aims to create more than three lakhs skilled manpower through fresh skilling, and up-skilling, under scheme component of capacity building.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (d) I, II and III
All three are correct. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to install rooftop solar in one crore households. MNRE trains people in installation, operation, maintenance and repair, and the scheme aims to create more than three lakh skilled workers through capacity building.
Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC:
I. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member States till January 2025.
II. It came into existence with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration, 1999.
III. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding member States of BIMSTEC.
IV. In BIMSTEC, the subsector of 'tourism' is being led by India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d) I only
Statement I is correct: BIMSTEC has seven members (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand).
Statement II is incorrect: it was founded by the Bangkok Declaration in 1997.
Statement III is incorrect: the founding members were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Myanmar joined later in 1997, and Nepal and Bhutan in 2004.
Statement IV is incorrect as per the official key: India does not lead the tourism sub-sector.
Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025:
I. Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the advances made at the Bletchley Park Summit held in 2023 and the Seoul Summit held in 2024.
II. Along with other countries, US and UK also signed the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a) I only
Statement I is correct: the AI Action Summit in Paris (February 2025) was co-chaired by France and India, building on Bletchley Park (2023) and Seoul (2024).
Statement II is incorrect: the USA and UK did not sign the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI.
Consider the following pairs:
I. International Year of the Woman Farmer : 2026
II. International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism : 2027
III. International Year of Peace and Trust : 2025
IV. International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence : 2029
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer: (d) All the four
All four are correctly matched as UN international years: Woman Farmer (2026), Sustainable and Resilient Tourism (2027), Peace and Trust (2025), and Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence (2029).
Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:
I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan.
II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS.
III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (a) I and II
Statement I is correct: the 16th BRICS Summit (October 2024) was held in Kazan under Russia's chairship.
Statement II is correct: Indonesia became a full member in January 2025.
Statement III is incorrect: the theme was 'Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security', not 'Multiculturalism'.
Consider the following statements in respect of the first Kho Kho World Cup:
I. The event was held in Delhi, India.
II. Indian men beat Nepal with a score of 78-40 in the final to become the World Champion in men category.
III. Indian women beat Nepal with a score of 54-36 in the final to become the World Champion in women category.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (a) I only
Statement I is correct: the first Kho Kho World Cup (January 2025) was held in New Delhi.
Statements II and III are incorrect: the scores are swapped. India's men beat Nepal 54–36, and India's women beat Nepal 78–40.
Consider the following statements:
I. In the finals of the 45th Chess Olympiad held in 2024, Gukesh Dommaraju became the world's youngest winner after defeating the Russian player Ian Nepomniachtchi.
II. Abhimanyu Mishra, an American chess player, holds the record of becoming world's youngest ever Grandmaster.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (b) II only
Statement I is incorrect: Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest World Chess Champion by defeating Ding Liren in the 2024 World Championship match, not by beating Nepomniachtchi at the 45th Chess Olympiad (where India won team gold).
Statement II is correct: Abhimanyu Mishra (USA) became the youngest-ever grandmaster in 2021, aged 12 years and 4 months.
Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization:
1. It is one of the agencies of the United Nations.
2. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
3. The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a) 2 only
Only statement 2 is correct. The World Toilet Organization is a global non-profit founded in Singapore in 2001, not a UN agency. It runs the World Toilet Summit and World Toilet College and created World Toilet Day (later adopted by the UN). It is an advocacy and capacity-building body and does not give grants to countries.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: If the United States of America (USA) were to default on its debt, holders of US Treasury Bonds will not be able to exercise their claims to receive payment.
Statement-II: The USA Government debt is not backed by any hard assets, but only by the faith of the Government.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
Both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I. US Treasury bonds are backed only by the 'full faith and credit' of the US Government, not by any specific hard assets. In a default, holders have no collateral to seize, and sovereign immunity limits enforcement.
Consider the following countries:
1. Italy
2. Japan
3. Nigeria
4. South Korea
5. South Africa
Which of the above countries are frequently mentioned in the media for their low birth rates, or ageing population or declining population?
Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4
Italy, Japan and South Korea are frequently in the news for very low fertility (South Korea has the world's lowest TFR, below 1), ageing populations and shrinking populations. Nigeria and South Africa have relatively young, growing populations.
Answer: (d) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar wrote 'The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World' (2020) and 'Why Bharat Matters' (2024).
Consider the following pairs:
Country - Reason for being in the news
1. Argentina - Worst economic crisis
2. Sudan - War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces
3. Turkey - Rescinded its membership of NATO
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer: (b) Only two pairs
Pair 1 is correct: Argentina was in a deep economic crisis with very high inflation.
Pair 2 is correct: in Sudan, war broke out in 2023 between the army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Pair 3 is incorrect: Turkey has not left NATO; it remains a member.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
Both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Guinea since 2020 have weakened governance and security cooperation in the Sahel, worsening instability and jihadist violence.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Statement-I is incorrect: Venezuela has not achieved a rapid recovery. Over 7 million people have emigrated during its prolonged economic crisis.
Statement-II is correct: Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves.
With reference to the 'Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan', consider the following statements:
1. This scheme guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy and six months post-delivery health care service in any government health facility.
2. Under this scheme, private sector health care providers of certain specialities can volunteer to provide services at nearby government health facilities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: PMSMA guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care to pregnant women in their second and third trimesters on the 9th of every month. It does not provide six months of post-delivery care.
Statement 2 is correct: private-sector specialists can volunteer to provide services at government facilities.
With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. The entry age group for enrolment in the scheme is 21 to 40 years.
2. Age specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary.
3. Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a minimum pension of ₹ 3,000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
4. Family pension is applicable to the spouse and unmarried daughters.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: the entry age for PM-SYM is 18–40 years.
Statement 2 is correct: the beneficiary makes an age-specific monthly contribution, matched by the Government.
Statement 3 is correct: subscribers get an assured pension of ₹3,000 a month after 60.
Statement 4 is incorrect: family pension (50%) goes only to the spouse, not to unmarried daughters.
Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is a safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (b) Only two
Janani Suraksha Yojana is a safe-motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission. It aims to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among poor pregnant women, so statements 2 and 3 are correct. It does not provide facilities for sick infants up to one year, so statement 4 is incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect as per the key because JSY is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.
Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy:
1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women.
2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of childbirth.
3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents.
4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (c) Only three
Statement 1 is incorrect: Anaemia Mukt Bharat provides prophylactic iron and folic acid supplementation, not calcium.
Statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct: it promotes delayed cord clamping, provides biannual deworming, and addresses non-nutritional causes such as malaria, haemoglobinopathies and fluorosis in endemic areas.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: India's public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.
Statement-II: Under India's decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
Both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. The public system's focus on curative care stems from priorities and resource allocation. The fact that health is a State subject explains who organises services, not why they are mostly curative.
Answer: (d) Somalia
Somalia has suffered decades of civil conflict. In 2022–23, after consecutive failed rainy seasons, it faced the threat of a severe famine.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'.
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is correct: the US–EU Trade and Technology Council was launched in 2021.
Statement-II is incorrect: its stated aim is to coordinate approaches to trade, technology and standards based on shared democratic values, not to bring technological progress and productivity 'under their control'.
Consider the following statements:
The 'Stability and Growth Pact' of the European Union is a treaty that
1. limits the levels of the budgetary deficit of the countries of the European Union
2. makes the countries of the European Union to share their infrastructure facilities
3. enables the countries of the European Union to share their technologies
How many of the above statements are correct?
Answer: (a) Only one
The EU's Stability and Growth Pact sets fiscal rules: budget deficits within 3% of GDP and public debt within 60% of GDP. It has nothing to do with sharing infrastructure or technology. So only statement 1 is correct.
Consider the following statements:
1. Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)'.
2. The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries.
3. The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Answer: (d) None
Statement 1 is incorrect: the GCM was adopted in 2018 by a vote, not by all UN members. The USA and several others did not endorse it.
Statement 2 is incorrect: the GCM is legally non-binding.
Statement 3 is incorrect: it covers international migration, not internal displacement.
With reference to India, consider the following pairs:
Action - The Act under which it is covered
1. Unauthorized wearing of police or military uniforms - The Official Secrets Act, 1923
2. Knowingly misleading or otherwise interfering with a police officer or military officer when engaged in their duties - The Indian Evidence Act, 1872
3. Celebratory gunfire which can endanger the personal safety of others - The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Answer: (b) Only two
Pair 1 is correct: unauthorised use of uniforms is an offence under Section 6 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
Pair 2 is incorrect: interfering with police or military officers on duty is covered by the Official Secrets Act (Section 7), not the Indian Evidence Act.
Pair 3 is correct: the Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 made celebratory gunfire that endangers others an offence.
Consider the following pairs:
Regions often mentioned in news - Reason for being in news
1. North Kivu and Ituri - War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh - Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - Dispute between Israel and Lebanon
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Answer: (d) None
None is correct. North Kivu and Ituri are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (armed-group violence). Nagorno-Karabakh relates to the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are in Ukraine (the Russia–Ukraine war).
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II: The 'Arab Peace Initiative' mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is correct: Israel has diplomatic relations with Egypt, Jordan, and, under the Abraham Accords, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.
Statement-II is incorrect: the Arab Peace Initiative (2002) was proposed by Saudi Arabia and endorsed by the Arab League, but it was never signed by Israel.
Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022:
1. It was the first time that Chess Olympiad was held in India.
2. The official mascot was named 'Thambi'.
3. The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Vera Menchik Cup.
4. The trophy for the winning team in the women's section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (b) Only two
Statements 1 and 2 are correct: the 44th Chess Olympiad (Mamallapuram, 2022) was the first held in India, and its mascot was 'Thambi'.
Statements 3 and 4 are incorrect: they are reversed. The Hamilton-Russell Cup goes to the winning team in the open section, and the Vera Menchik Cup to the women's section.
Consider the following pairs:
Area of conflict mentioned in news - Country where it is located
1. Donbas - Syria
2. Kachin - Ethiopia
3. Tigray - North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Answer: (d) None
None is correct. Donbas is in eastern Ukraine, Kachin is a state in northern Myanmar, and Tigray is a region of Ethiopia.
Answer: (d) Successful coups
Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan all saw successful military coups in recent years (2020–2021), part of a wave of coups in Africa's Sahel and nearby regions.
Consider the following statements about G-20:
1. The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss the international economic and financial issues.
2. Digital public infrastructure is one of India's G-20 priorities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. The G20 began in 1999 as a forum for finance ministers and central bank governors after the Asian financial crisis, and was raised to leaders' level in 2008. Digital public infrastructure was one of India's G20 presidency (2023) priorities.
With reference to the "G20 Common Framework", consider the following statements:
1. It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club.
2. It is an initiative to support Low Income Countries with unsustainable debt.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Statement 1 is correct: the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI was agreed by the G20 and endorsed by the Paris Club in November 2020.
Statement 2 is correct: it supports low-income countries with unsustainable debt, on a case-by-case basis, by bringing official creditors (including non-Paris Club creditors such as China) together.
Consider the following:
1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
2. Missile Technology Control Regime
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
India is a member of which of the above?
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
India is a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (2016, its second-largest shareholder), joined the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016 and became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2017.
Consider the following statements:
1. Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world in recent years.
2. Vietnam is led by a multi-party political system.
3. Vietnam's economic growth is linked to its integration with global supply chains and focus on exports.
4. For a long time Vietnam's low labour costs and stable exchange rates have attracted global manufacturers.
5. Vietnam has the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific region.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4
Statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct: Vietnam has been one of the fastest-growing economies, driven by export-led integration into global supply chains, low labour costs and a stable, managed exchange rate.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Vietnam is a one-party state led by the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Statement 5 is not supported: Vietnam is not recognised as having the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific.
Consider the following statements:
1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization.
2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: the India Sanitation Coalition was launched in 2015 at FICCI as a multi-stakeholder platform; it is not funded by the Government of India and WHO.
Statement 2 is correct: the National Institute of Urban Affairs is the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' premier institute for research and innovative solutions on urban challenges.
This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.
With reference to the "United Nations Credentials Committee", consider the following statements:
1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.
2. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year.
3. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a) 3 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: the Credentials Committee is appointed by the UN General Assembly at the start of each regular session, not by the Security Council.
Statement 2 is incorrect: it meets during the General Assembly session (usually in the autumn), not in March, June and September.
Statement 3 is correct: its nine members examine the credentials of member states' representatives and report to the General Assembly for approval.
Answer: (a) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.
The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) of the International Maritime Organization, in force since 2017, sets safety and pollution-prevention rules for ships in Arctic and Antarctic waters.
With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct: the General Assembly grants observer status to non-member states (e.g. Holy See, Palestine) and to intergovernmental organisations (e.g. the African Union, the EU), and permanent observers may keep missions at UN Headquarters in New York.
Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c) 2 and 3
Statement 1 is incorrect: Bidibidi, one of the world's largest refugee settlements, is in Yumbe district of north-western Uganda, not Kenya.
Statement 2 is correct: it mainly hosts refugees from South Sudan's civil war.
Statement 3 is correct: the Dadaab complex in Kenya houses refugees who fled Somalia's civil war.
Consider the following countries:
1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan
Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?
Answer: (c) 2 and 5
Members of the Organization of Turkic States are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan (Hungary, Turkmenistan and Northern Cyprus are observers).
Armenia, Croatia and Romania are not members.
Answer: (b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.
The Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu in China) are uninhabited islands in the East China Sea administered by Japan and claimed by China (and Taiwan); they are a long-running source of maritime tension between China and Japan.
Consider the following pairs:
Country - Important reason for being in the news recently
1. Chad - Setting up of permanent military base by China
2. Guinea - Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3. Lebanon - Severe and prolonged economic depression
4. Tunisia - Suspension of Parliament by President
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer: (c) Only three pairs
Pair 1 is wrong: Chad was in the news for the death of President Idriss Déby (2021) and military rule; China has not set up a base there (its only overseas base is in Djibouti).
Pair 2 is correct: Guinea's military suspended the constitution and dissolved the government in September 2021.
Pair 3 is correct: the World Bank called Lebanon's crisis one of the worst economic depressions in modern times.
Pair 4 is correct: Tunisia's President Kais Saied suspended Parliament in July 2021.
Three pairs are correct.
Consider the following pairs:
Region often mentioned in the news - Country
1. Anatolia - Turkey
2. Amhara - Ethiopia
3. Cabo Delgado - Spain
4. Catalonia - Italy
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer: (b) Only two pairs
Pair 1 is correct: Anatolia is the Asian part of Turkey.
Pair 2 is correct: Amhara is a region of Ethiopia, in the news during the Tigray war.
Pair 3 is wrong: Cabo Delgado, scene of an Islamist insurgency, is a province of Mozambique.
Pair 4 is wrong: Catalonia, with its independence movement, is in Spain.
Two pairs are correct.
Consider the following statements:
1. 'Right to the City' is an agreed human right and the UN-Habitat monitors the commitments made by each country in this regard.
2. 'Right to the City' gives every occupant of the city the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation in the city.
3. 'Right to the City' means that the State cannot deny any public service or facility to the unauthorized colonies in the city.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d) 2 and 3
Statement 1 is incorrect: the "right to the city" is a concept (Henri Lefebvre) reflected in the New Urban Agenda, not an agreed, monitored human right.
Statement 2 is correct: it emphasises residents' right to reclaim public spaces and take part in shaping the city.
Statement 3 is correct: it implies that residents of unauthorised colonies should not be denied basic public services.
Consider the following statements:
Statement 1: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World.
Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (d) Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct
Statement 1 is incorrect: the Tree Cities of the World recognition is given by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with the Arbor Day Foundation, not UNCDF.
Statement 2 is correct: Hyderabad was recognised (2020) for its commitment to growing and maintaining urban forests, and the recognition is renewed annually.
Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000:
1. American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
2. The award was received mostly by 'Formula One' players so far.
3. Roger Federer received this award maximum number of times compared to others.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Statement 1 is correct: Tiger Woods won the first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in 2000.
Statement 2 is incorrect: winners have mostly been tennis players and athletes, not Formula One drivers.
Statement 3 is correct: Roger Federer has won the Sportsman award most often (five times).
Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics:
1. The official motto for this Olympics is 'A New World'.
2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this Olympics.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: the motto of the Tokyo 2020 (32nd) Summer Olympics was "United by Emotion"; in 2021 the IOC motto became "Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together".
Statement 2 is correct: sport climbing, surfing, skateboarding and karate debuted, and baseball/softball returned at Tokyo 2020.
Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship:
1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Statement 1 is incorrect: the 2019–21 World Test Championship finalists were decided by percentage of points earned, not by number of matches won.
Statement 2 is incorrect: New Zealand finished ahead of England on percentage of points; England had actually won more matches.
Consider the following pairs:
International agreement/set-up - Subject
1. Alma-Ata Declaration - Healthcare of the people
2. Hague Convention - Biological and chemical weapons
3. Talanoa Dialogue - Global climate change
4. Under2 Coalition - Child rights
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Pair 1 is correct: the Alma-Ata Declaration (1978) concerns primary health care.
Pair 2 is wrong: the Hague Conventions deal mainly with laws of war and private international law (e.g. child abduction); chemical and biological weapons are covered by the CWC and BWC.
Pair 3 is correct: the Talanoa Dialogue (COP23, Fiji) was a UNFCCC climate process.
Pair 4 is wrong: the Under2 Coalition is about climate action by subnational governments, not child rights.
Consider the following statements:
1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
2. "Textile and textile articles" constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.
3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: India–Sri Lanka trade has fluctuated rather than risen consistently.
Statement 2 is correct: textiles (cotton, yarn, fabrics, garments) are a major item of India–Bangladesh trade.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Bangladesh, not Nepal, has been India's largest trading partner in South Asia.
Answer: (a) Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey
Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey are all G20 members.
Malaysia, New Zealand, Iran, Vietnam and Singapore are not.
Consider the following statements:
1. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a 'Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air'.
2. The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.
3. A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.
4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (c) 2 and 4 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants supplements UNTOC, not UNCAC.
Statement 2 is correct: UNCAC (2003) is the first legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument.
Statement 3 is incorrect: the chapter on returning stolen assets (asset recovery) is a highlight of UNCAC, not UNTOC.
Statement 4 is correct: UNODC is the custodian of both conventions and helps States implement them.
Answer: (c) The European Union
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was adopted by the European Union in April 2016 and has applied since 25 May 2018.
Answer: (b) Russia
India and Russia signed the 'Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field' in October 2018, during President Putin's visit.
What is/are the consequence/consequences of a country becoming the member of the 'Nuclear Suppliers Group'?
1. It will have access to the latest and most efficient nuclear technologies.
2. It automatically becomes a member of "The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)".
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a) 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: NSG members can trade in nuclear material and technology among themselves, giving access to advanced nuclear technology.
Statement 2 is incorrect: NSG membership does not make a country a party to the NPT; joining the NPT is a separate act.
Answer: (d) World Justice Project
The Rule of Law Index is published by the World Justice Project, an independent organisation based in Washington, DC.
Answer: (d) Yemen and South Sudan
Yemen (civil war since 2015) and South Sudan (civil war, famine declared in 2017) saw lakhs of people face famine, acute malnutrition and starvation deaths.
Answer: (b) Israel
The 'two-state solution' refers to the proposal for an independent Palestinian State alongside Israel to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Answer: (a) Child labour
ILO Convention 138 (1973) sets the minimum age for employment, and Convention 182 (1999) deals with the worst forms of child labour; India ratified both in 2017.
Consider the following countries:
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. China
4. India
5. Japan
6. USA
Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN?
Answer: (c) 1, 3, 4 and 5
ASEAN has free trade agreements with Australia (with New Zealand), China, India, Japan and South Korea.
Canada and the USA do not have FTAs with ASEAN.
Consider the following pairs:
Towns sometimes mentioned in news - Country
1. Aleppo - Syria
2. Kirkuk - Yemen
3. Mosul - Palestine
4. Mazar-i-sharif - Afghanistan
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer: (b) 1 and 4
Aleppo is in Syria and Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan.
Kirkuk and Mosul are both in Iraq.
With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: PMKVY is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct: it includes training in soft skills, entrepreneurship and financial and digital literacy, and certifies prior learning of the unregulated workforce against the NSQF.
Consider the following pairs:
Regions sometimes mentioned in news - Country
1. Catalonia - Spain
2. Crimea - Hungary
3. Mindanao - Philippines
4. Oromia - Nigeria
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Catalonia is in Spain and Mindanao in the Philippines.
Crimea is disputed between Ukraine and Russia, and Oromia is a region of Ethiopia.
Answer: (a) Certifying the skills acquired by construction workers through traditional channels.
Recognition of Prior Learning (under PMKVY) certifies skills people have gained informally or traditionally; it was widely used for construction workers, so the official key takes (a).
This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.
Answer: (c) EU
The Digital Single Market Strategy (2015) is a European Union plan to remove barriers to online trade and services across member states.
Which of the following are the objectives of 'National Nutrition Mission'?
1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The National Nutrition Mission (Poshan Abhiyaan) aims to raise awareness on malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers and to cut anaemia among children, adolescent girls and women.
Promoting millets or eggs was not among its stated objectives.
With reference to 'Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD)', consider the following statements:
1. The first APMCHUD was held in India in 2006 on the theme 'Emerging Urban Forms Policy Responses and Governance Structure'.
2. India hosts all the Annual Ministerial Conferences in partnership with ADB, APEC and ASEAN.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a) 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: the first APMCHUD was held in New Delhi in 2006 on that theme.
Statement 2 is incorrect: the conference is biennial and hosted by different member countries (e.g. Iran, Indonesia, Jordan), not annually by India.
With reference to the role of UN-Habitat in the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements is/are correct?
1. UN-Habitat has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all.
2. Its partners are either governments or local urban authorities only.
3. UN-Habitat contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct: the UN General Assembly mandates UN-Habitat to promote sustainable towns and cities with adequate shelter for all, and it contributes to UN goals on poverty, water and sanitation.
Statement 2 is incorrect: its partners also include NGOs, civil society, academia and the private sector.
With reference to 'National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)', which of the statements given below is/are correct?
1. Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning.
2. An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: NSQF recognises learning through formal, non-formal and informal routes (e.g. Recognition of Prior Learning).
Statement 2 is correct: one aim of NSQF is mobility between vocational and general education.
Consider the following in respect of 'National Career Service':
1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Statement 1 is incorrect: the National Career Service (2015) is run by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, not DoPT.
Statement 2 is incorrect: it is an online platform for all job-seekers and employers, not only uneducated youth.
Answer: (a) European Union
The Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) is the proposed India–European Union free trade agreement, under negotiation since 2007.
Answer: (c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Chabahar in Iran gives India sea-land access to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan.
What is the purpose of 'Vidyanjali Yojana'?
1. To enable the famous foreign educational institutions to open their campuses in India.
2. To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community.
3. To encourage voluntary monetary contributions from private individuals and organizations so as to improve the infrastructure facilities for primary and secondary schools.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: (a) 2 only
Vidyanjali (2016) is a school volunteer programme in which people from the community and private sector volunteer their time and skills in government schools to improve the quality of education.
It is not about foreign university campuses, and the official key does not count monetary contributions.
This explanation is being checked by a subject expert.
Answer: (b) Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan links higher education institutions such as IITs and NITs with nearby villages to tackle development challenges through appropriate technology.
Answer: (c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers
Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan is a campaign to end manual scavenging and rehabilitate manual scavengers.
Consider the following pairs:
Community sometimes mentioned in the news - In the affairs of
1. Kurd - Bangladesh
2. Madhesi - Nepal
3. Rohingya - Myanmar
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Answer: (c) 2 and 3
Madhesis are in the news over Nepal's 2015 constitution and Rohingyas over Myanmar.
Kurds live mainly in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, not Bangladesh.
With reference to 'Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)', consider the following statements:
1. It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.
2. It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.
3. It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: the OPCW is an independent body that implements the Chemical Weapons Convention, not an EU organisation.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct: it inspects the chemical industry to stop new weapons emerging and gives assistance and protection to member States.
With reference to 'Stand Up India Scheme', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
2. It provides for refinance through SIDBI.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: Stand-Up India (2016) gives bank loans of ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs, with refinance through SIDBI.
With reference to pre-packaged items in India, it is mandatory to the manufacturer to put which of the following information on the main label, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011?
1. List of ingredients including additives
2. Nutrition information
3. Recommendations, if any, made by the medical profession about the possibility of any allergic reactions
4. Vegetarian/non-vegetarian
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4
The 2011 Labelling Regulations require the list of ingredients (with additives), nutrition information and the veg/non-veg symbol.
Allergy recommendations by the medical profession were not mandatory.
With reference to the 'Trans-Pacific Partnership', consider the following statements:
1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Statement 1 is incorrect: the TPP had 12 members, and many Pacific Rim countries (such as South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines) were not part of it.
Statement 2 is incorrect: it was a trade agreement, not a maritime security alliance.
Consider the following statements:
The India-Africa Summit
1. held in 2015 was the third such Summit
2. was actually initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a) 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: the India-Africa Forum Summit of October 2015 in New Delhi was the third.
Statement 2 is incorrect: the first summit was held in 2008, not started by Nehru in 1951.
With reference to 'Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies, and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with cluster approach.
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and microirrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct: INSIMP (under RKVY) demonstrated production, post-harvest and value-addition techniques with a cluster approach, and mainly benefits poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers.
Statement 3 is incorrect: it did not aim to shift commercial-crop farmers to millets with free kits.
Answer: (b) a non-governmental international organization
Médecins Sans Frontières (1971) is an independent international non-governmental organisation that gives medical aid in conflict zones, epidemics and disasters.
Answer: (d) providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free
SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is a MOOC platform offering free online courses from school to postgraduate level.
Answer: (a) Iran
The GCC members are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman; Iran is not a member.
Answer: (d) China
The Belt and Road Initiative (2013) is China's programme of land and maritime infrastructure links across Asia, Africa and Europe.
Regarding 'Atal Pension Yojana', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme mainly targeted at unorganized sector workers.
2. Only one member of a family can join the scheme.
3. Same amount of pension is guaranteed for the spouse for life after subscriber's death.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct: Atal Pension Yojana (2015) guarantees a minimum pension of ₹1,000–5,000 mainly for unorganised sector workers, and after the subscriber's death the spouse gets the same pension for life.
Statement 2 is incorrect: any eligible person aged 18–40 with a bank account can join, so several family members may enrol.
Answer: (b) ASEAN
RCEP was negotiated between the ten ASEAN members and their FTA partners (China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and, until 2019, India).
Answer: (b) agency of EU that provides financial assistance to eurozone countries
The European Stability Mechanism (2012) gives financial assistance to eurozone countries in financial difficulty.
Timed mock tests with negative marking, in English and हिन्दी, with an explanation for every answer and subject-wise analysis of your result.
