Current Affairs — UPSC Prelims PYQs

Question 1

Consider the following statements in respect of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD):
1. It provides loans and guarantees to middle-income countries.
2. It works single-handedly to help developing countries to reduce poverty.
3. It was established to help Europe rebuild after the World War II.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(C) 1 and 3 only — Correct. IBRD lends mainly to middle-income and creditworthy lower-income countries and was originally created in the Bretton Woods framework to support post-war European reconstruction.

Question 2

Consider the following countries:
1. Austria
2. Bulgaria
3. Croatia
4. Serbia
5. Sweden
6. North Macedonia
How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? (A) Only three (B) Only four (C) Only five (D) All the six

Accepted Answer

(B) Only four — Correct. Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden and North Macedonia are NATO members. Austria is constitutionally neutral and Serbia is not a NATO member.

Question 3

What is the common characteristic of the chemical substances generally known as CL-20, HMX and LLM-105, which are sometimes talked about in media? (A) These are alternatives to hydro-fluorocarbon refrigerants (B) These are explosives in military weapons (C) These are high-energy fuels for cruise missiles (D) These are fuels for rocket propulsion

Accepted Answer

(B) These are explosives in military weapons — Correct. CL-20, HMX and LLM-105 are all high-energy explosive compounds studied and used for advanced military munitions.

Question 4

Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025:
1. 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.
2. 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? (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Accepted Answer

(A) 1 only — Correct. Paris 2025 was co-chaired with India and continued the Bletchley 2023 and Seoul 2024 sequence, but the US and UK did not sign the final declaration.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about 'Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023' are correct?
1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this exercise.
4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.
Select the answer using the code given below: (A) 1, 2 and 3 (B) 1, 2 and 4 (C) 1, 3 and 4 (D) 2, 3 and 4

Accepted Answer

(D) 2, 3 and 4 — Correct. Mitra Shakti is the India-Sri Lanka joint exercise. The 2023 edition began at Aundh in Pune, focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, and included Indian Air Force participation.

Question 6

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? (A) 2 only (B) 3 only (C) 1 and 2 (D) 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(A) 2 only — Correct. The World Toilet Organization is an independent global non-profit, not a UN agency, and it launched the Summit, Day and College initiatives. It is not principally a grant-making body.

Question 7

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.
Statement II: Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I (B) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I (C) Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect (D) Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct

Accepted Answer

(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I — Correct. The SUMED pipeline runs from Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean, enabling Gulf energy exports to bypass the Suez Canal bottleneck en route to Europe.

Question 8

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: There is instability and worsening security situation in Sahel region.
Statement II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'etat in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I (B) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I (C) Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect (D) Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct

Accepted Answer

(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I — Correct. The Sahel has experienced a chain of military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which are part of the broader destabilisation driving worsening security.

Question 9

Consider the following:
1. Affordable housing
2. Mass rapid transport
3. Health care
4. Renewable energy
On how many of the above does UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative focus for its investments? (A) Only one (B) Only two (C) Only three (D) All four

Accepted Answer

(C) Only three — Correct. UNOPS S3i focuses on affordable housing, renewable energy and health care infrastructure, but not mass rapid transport.

Question 10

Consider the following statements in respect of the United Nations' World Water Development Report, 2022:
Statement I: According to the report, India extracts more than a quarter of the world's groundwater withdrawal each year.
Statement II: India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world's groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world's population living in its territory.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I (B) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I (C) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect (D) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Accepted Answer

(C) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect — Correct. India does extract over a quarter of global groundwater, but the primary driver is irrigation rather than drinking water and sanitation needs.

Question 11

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? (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Accepted Answer

(C) Both 1 and 2 — Correct. The G-20 started in 1999 as a finance ministers' forum, and India championed Digital Public Infrastructure during its 2023 presidency.

Question 12

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? (A) Only one (B) Only two (C) All three (D) None

Accepted Answer

(D) None — Correct. The compact was not adopted by all UN member states, it is explicitly non-binding, and it deals with international migration rather than internal migration or internally displaced persons.

Question 13

Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from the South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from the civil war in Somalia live in the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 only (C) 2 and 3 (D) 3 only

Accepted Answer

(C) 2 and 3 — Correct. Bidibidi is in Uganda (not Kenya) and hosts South Sudanese refugees, while Dadaab in Kenya hosts Somali refugees.

Question 14

The term 'Levant' often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions? (A) Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores (B) Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco (C) Region along the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa (D) The entire coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea

Accepted Answer

(A) Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores — Correct. The Levant refers to the eastern Mediterranean littoral encompassing Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and nearby areas.

Question 15

Consider the following statements about Vietnam:
1. It is a member of ASEAN.
2. It has 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? (A) 2 and 4 (B) 3 and 5 (C) 1, 3 and 4 (D) 1 and 2

Accepted Answer

(C) 1, 3 and 4 — Correct. Vietnam is an ASEAN member, has achieved rapid export-oriented growth via global supply-chain integration, and has attracted manufacturers through low labour costs — but it is a one-party state, and the e-service claim is unsubstantiated.

Question 16

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? (A) 3 only (B) 1 and 3 (C) 2 and 3 (D) 1 and 2

Accepted Answer

(A) 3 only — Correct. The Credentials Committee is a General Assembly committee, not a Security Council body, and its meeting schedule does not follow the pattern described in statement 2.

Question 17

Which one of the following statements best describes the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? (A) They are generally believed to be artificial islands made by a country around the South China Sea (B) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in the East China Sea (C) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan increase its defence capabilities (D) Though the International Court of Justice declared them as no man's land, some South-East Asian countries claim them

Accepted Answer

(B) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in the East China Sea — Correct. The Senkaku Islands are at the centre of a sovereignty and maritime dispute between Japan and China in the East China Sea.

Question 18

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? (A) 1, 2 and 4 (B) 1 and 3 (C) 2 and 5 (D) 3, 4 and 5

Accepted Answer

(C) 2 and 5 — Correct. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are members of the Organization of Turkic States. Armenia, Croatia and Romania are outside this grouping.

Question 19

Which one of the following best describes the term 'greenwashing'? (A) Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound (B) Non-inclusion of ecological/environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country (C) Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development (D) Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme

Accepted Answer

(A) Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound — Correct. Greenwashing refers to misleading branding or messaging that makes products or practices appear more environmentally responsible than they truly are.

Question 20

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? (A) Only one pair (B) Only two pairs (C) Only three pairs (D) All four pairs

Accepted Answer

(C) Only three pairs — Correct. Guinea's military junta suspended the constitution in 2021, Lebanon suffered a deep economic collapse, and Tunisia's president suspended parliament — but Chad was not in the news for a Chinese military base.

Question 21

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? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 1, 2 and 3 — Correct. The UNGA grants observer status to non-member states and intergovernmental organisations, and permanent observers maintain missions at UN headquarters.

Question 22

With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, consider the following statements:
1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 1, 2 and 3 — Correct. UNCLOS sets a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea, recognises innocent passage for all ships, and caps the EEZ at 200 nautical miles.

Question 23

Which one of the following statements best describes the 'Polar Code'? (A) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters. (B) It is the agreement of the countries around the North Pole regarding the demarcation of their territories in the polar region. (C) It is a set of norms to be followed by the countries whose scientists undertake research studies in the North Pole and South Pole. (D) It is a trade and security agreement of the member countries of the Arctic Council.

Accepted Answer

(A) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters. — Correct. The Polar Code is an IMO framework that sets mandatory safety and environmental rules for ships navigating Arctic and Antarctic waters.

Question 24

Consider the following statements:
1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
2. The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
3. The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 and 3 only — Correct. Oil palm originated in West Africa, though Southeast Asia now dominates production. Palm oil is widely used in cosmetics (lipstick, perfumes) and can be processed into biodiesel.

Question 25

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 above statements is/are correct? (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Accepted Answer

(D) Neither 1 nor 2 — Correct. The inaugural World Test Championship standings used percentage of available points, not simple match-win counts, making both statements incorrect.

Current Affairs — UPSC Prelims PYQs

Current Affairs PYQs by year

Solved questions

Practise all Current Affairs PYQs

Current Affairs — UPSC Prelims PYQs

Current Affairs PYQs by year

Solved questions

Practise all Current Affairs PYQs