General Knowledge: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)
505 previous year UPSC Prelims General Knowledge questions are on this page, from 1996 to 2010, in 5 chapters. In those years UPSC tested general awareness directly: people, books, institutions, places and events of the time. General Awareness: India is the largest chapter, followed by Contemporary Events: India and General Awareness: World. Every explanation states facts as they stood in the year of the question.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–10 of 505 questions
Browse General Knowledge chaptersBrowse by year
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q1. Consider the following countries: 1. Brazil 2. Mexico 3. South Africa According to UNCTAD, which of the above is/are categorized as "Emerging Economies"?
Explanation
Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa are all recognized as emerging economies due to their growing industrial bases, expanding middle classes, and increasing global trade integration. Brazil, a BRICS member, has a strong industrial sector and abundant natural resources. Mexico, with its industrialization and trade ties, especially under NAFTA/USMCA, is a key player in Latin America’s economy. South Africa, the only African nation in BRICS, boasts a diversified economy, a robust financial sector, and a well-established industrial base.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q2. Which one of the following is not related to the United Nations?
Explanation
Option (a) is incorrect: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - Part of the World Bank Group, which is affiliated with the United Nations
Option (b) is incorrect: International Finance Corporation (IFC) - Also part of the World Bank Group, which is linked to the United Nations
Option (c) is incorrect: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) - Another entity of the World Bank Group, indirectly connected to the United Nations.
Option (d) is correct: Bank for International Settlements (BIS) - Not related to the UN; it is an international financial institution based in Switzerland, that serves as a bank for central banks and focuses on monetary and financial stability.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q3. With reference to BRIC countries, consider the following statements: 1. At present, China’s GDP is more than the combined GDP of all the three other countries. 2. China’s population is more than the combined population of any two other countries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement (1) is correct: As of 2010, China had the largest GDP among BRIC nations, surpassing the combined GDP of Brazil, Russia, and India. This was due to its rapid economic growth and industrial expansion.
Statement (2) is incorrect: China’s population is more than the combined population of any two other BRIC countries. As of 2010, China’s population was approximately 1.34 billion, while India’s was close to 1.2 billion, making it nearly equal to China’s. In contrast, the combined population of Brazil (195 million) and Russia (143 million) was significantly lower than China’s. Clearly, combination of population of any two countries comes out to be lesser than China
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q4. As regards the use of international food safety standards as reference points for the dispute settlements, which one of the following does WTO collaborate with?
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), established by FAO & WHO in 1963, sets international food safety standards. The WTO’s SPS Agreement recognizes Codex for food safety disputes.
Option (b) is incorrect: IFAN promotes standardization awareness but does not set food safety standards.
Option (c) is incorrect: ISO develops voluntary standards, including ISO 22000, but WTO relies on Codex under the SPS Agreement for food safety disputes.
Option (d) is incorrect: WSC, a partnership between ISO, IEC, and ITU, focuses on technical standards, not food safety, making it irrelevant to WTO disputes.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q5. Consider the following statements: 1. The Commonwealth has no charter, treaty or constitution. 2. AU the territories/countries once under the British empire (jurisdiction/rule/mandate) automatically joined the Commonwealth as its members. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 countries, mostly former British territories. It has no formal treaty but follows agreements like the 1971 Singapore Declaration and 1991 Harare Declaration. The Commonwealth Charter (2013) was adopted as a non-binding declaration of principles, but it does not serve as a legal constitution or treaty.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Membership is not automatic--some former British territories opted out, while others joined later. Mozambique and Rwanda became members despite no British colonial ties, while the U.S. is not a member despite its history.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q6. In the context of bilateral trade negotiations between India and European Union, what is the difference between European Commission and European Council? 1. European Commission represents the EU in trade negotiations whereas European Council participates in the legislation of matters pertaining to economic policies of the European Union. 2. European Commission comprises the Heads of State or government of member countries whereas the European Council comprises of the persons nominated by European Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement (1) is incorrect: The European Council does not legislate economic policies; it sets the EU’s broad political direction. Legislation is handled by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.
Statement (2) is incorrect: The European Commission consists of commissioners from each EU country, nominated by governments and approved by the European Parliament. The European Council includes EU Heads of State/Government, its President, and the European Commission President--not members nominated by the European Parliament.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q7. In the context of the affairs of which of the following is the phrase "Special Safeguard Mechanisms" mentioned in the news frequently?
Explanation
The term "Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM)" is related to the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, particularly in the context of agriculture. It refers to a proposed tool for developing countries to temporarily increase tariffs on agricultural imports in response to surges in imports or price depressions, as part of the ongoing Doha Development Round.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q8. The Stiglitz Commission established by the President of the United Nations General Assembly was in the international news. The commission was supposed to deal with
Explanation
The Stiglitz Commission, formally known as the Commission of Experts on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System, was established by the UN General Assembly President in 2008. Its primary objective is to examine the global financial system’s operations and identify strategies to achieve a more sustainable and stable global economic order.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q9. As per the UN-Habitat’s Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, which one among the following regions has shown the fastest growth rate of urbanization in the last three decades?
Explanation
The region with the fastest growth rate of urbanization in the last three decades, according to the UN-Habitat’s Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, is Asia.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q10. With reference to the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007, consider the following statements: 1. This policy is applicable only to the persons affected by the acquisition of land for projects and not to the involuntary displacement due to any other reason. 2. This policy has been formulated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
Explanation
The National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy (NRRP), 2007 was introduced to address displacement caused by land acquisition for development projects.
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The NRRP, 2007 covers not only people displaced due to land acquisition but also those affected by involuntary displacement due to other reasons, such as government projects, natural disasters, or conflicts.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The NRRP, 2007 was formulated by the Ministry of Rural Development, not the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2010
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2
2010
(d) Bank for International Settlements
3
2010
(a) 1 only
4
2010
(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission
5
2010
(a) 1 only
6
2010
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
7
2010
(b) World Trade Organisation
8
2010
(b) The workings of the global financial systems and to explore ways and means to secure a more sustainable global order
9
2010
(a) Asia
10
2010
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
What UPSC has tested in General Knowledge
These are single-fact questions: who wrote a book, where an organisation is headquartered, which country hosted an event.
Contemporary-events questions refer to the news of their year, so answers describe the position then, not today.
The chapters split by world and India, and by general awareness and current events, plus sports and games.
Later years’ questions sit under the other subjects on this site and lean toward analytical, statement-based formats.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on General Knowledge?
This page covers 505 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on General Knowledge, asked from 1996 to 2010. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Which General Knowledge chapters have the most questions?
General Awareness: India has the most with 138 questions, followed by Contemporary Events: India with 118, General Awareness: World with 110, Contemporary Events: World with 99 and Sports and Games with 40.
Are General Knowledge facts still current?
Many remain true, such as authorship and headquarters, but contemporary-events answers describe the position in the year each question was asked. Always check a recent source for the present position before relying on an item.
Why practise these older questions?
They show the style of general-awareness questions UPSC used and the breadth of topics it covered, from literature and institutions to sports. The explanations also build a base of facts that still helps with current affairs.
