Current Affairs — UPSC Prelims practice questions

Question 1

The 'Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project', recently in the news, connects rivers primarily in which state(s)? (A) Rajasthan and Gujarat (B) Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (C) Maharashtra and Karnataka (D) Odisha and Andhra Pradesh

Accepted Answer

(B) Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — Correct. The Ken-Betwa Link is India's first major river interlinking project, connecting the Ken River (Madhya Pradesh) to the Betwa River (flowing through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh), primarily benefiting the Bundelkhand region.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 only — Correct. The Tokyo Olympics introduced sport climbing, surfing, skateboarding, karate and baseball/softball as new or returning events. The motto was 'United by Emotion', not 'A New World'.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a function of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)? (A) Inquiring into complaints of violation of human rights (B) Reviewing safeguards provided for the protection of human rights under the Constitution (C) Directly prosecuting offenders in human rights violation cases (D) Recommending measures for effective implementation of international human rights treaties

Accepted Answer

(C) Directly prosecuting offenders in human rights violation cases — Correct. The NHRC is a recommendatory body and cannot directly prosecute; it can only recommend prosecution or other action to the concerned authority.

Question 4

With reference to AUKUS, consider the following statements:
1. It is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
2. Under AUKUS, Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
3. India is an observer member of AUKUS.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(A) 1 and 2 only — Correct. AUKUS is a trilateral pact under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines. India has no role in AUKUS.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the term 'polycrisis' used in recent global discourse? (A) A single crisis that affects one country but has global economic repercussions (B) A political crisis caused by multi-party coalition governments (C) A situation where multiple global crises interact and compound each other simultaneously (D) A financial crisis triggered by the collapse of multiple cryptocurrency exchanges

Accepted Answer

(C) A situation where multiple global crises interact and compound each other simultaneously — Correct. The term 'polycrisis' gained prominence in WEF and academic discussions to describe the simultaneous occurrence of climate, geopolitical, economic, and health crises that interact with and amplify each other.

Current Affairs — UPSC Prelims MCQs

Chapters in Current Affairs

Sample Current Affairs questions

Practise Current Affairs beyond this page

Other UPSC Prelims subjects

Practise all of Current Affairs