Contemporary Events: India: UPSC Previous Year Questions (General Knowledge)
118 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Indian contemporary events are listed here, from 1996 to 2010. UPSC asked about committees and their subjects, government policies and schemes, scientific missions, evacuation operations and international agreements. Each explanation describes the event as it 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.
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UPSC 2010General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q1. 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.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q2. Recently, which one of the following was included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list?
Explanation
The Kalka-Shimla Railway was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2008 as part of the Mountain Railways of India. This recognition was given due to its historical significance and outstanding engineering achievement in a difficult mountainous terrain.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q3. Consider the following famous names: 1. Amrita Sher-Gil 2. Bikash Bhattacharjee 3. N.S. Bendre 4. Subodh Gupta Who of the above is/are well known as artist(s)?
Explanation
Amrita Sher-Gil: A pioneering modern Indian painter who blended Indian and Western styles. Notable works: Bride’s Toilet, Self Portrait, Village Scene. Bikash Bhattacharjee: A Bengali painter known for realistic, figurative works with social commentary. Notable works:
The Red Door, The Prodigal Son.
N.S. Bendre: A modern Indian art pioneer who fused Indian folk traditions with Western abstraction. Notable works:
Figures in Landscape, Rural Scene.
Subodh Gupta: A contemporary artist known for sculptures and installations using everyday objects. Notable works:
Very Hungry God, What Does the Mirror Reflect?.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q4. Mahamastakabhisheka, a great religious event, is associated with and done for who of the following?
Explanation
Mahamastakabhisheka is a grand religious event that is associated with Lord Bahubali (Gommateshwara), a revered figure in Jainism. The event is celebrated once in every 12 years at the Shravanabelagola temple in Karnataka, India.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q5. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List-I (Person)
List-II (Organization)
A. Anil Agarwal
1. Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd.
B. Gautam H. Singhania
2. Raymond Ltd.
C. Sanjay Dalmia
3. Vedanta Resources
D. Venugopal Dhoot
4. Videocon Group
Explanation
A-3, Anil Agarwal: Founder of Vedanta Resources, a global natural resources company in metals, mining, and oil & gas. B-2, Gautam H. Singhania: Chairman & MD of Raymond Ltd., known for fabric manufacturing and apparel. C-1, Sanjay Dalmia: Associated with Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd. (GHCL), a key player in chemicals and textiles. D-4, Venugopal Dhoot: Founder of Videocon Group, a major consumer electronics and home appliances company.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q6. In which one of the following States has India’s largest private sector sea port been commissioned recently?
Explanation
India’s largest private sector sea port, called the Krishnapatnam Port, was commissioned in Andhra Pradesh. Krishnapatnam Port, located in Nellore district was developed by Navayuga Engineering Company, it handles diverse cargo. Strategically significant for both domestic and international trade, the port plays a crucial role in boosting regional economic activity.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q7. In India, who is the Chairman of the National Water Resources Council?
Explanation
The National Water Resources Council (NWRC) oversees water management, distribution, and conservation in India. Chaired by the Prime Minister, it plays a crucial role in policy-making, addressing water scarcity and inter-state river disputes. The National Water Resources Council (NWRC) adopted the National Water Policy in September 1987.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q8. Consider the following statements: 1. The Baglihar Power Project had been constructed within the parameters of the Indus Water Treaty. 2. The project was completely built by the Union government with loans from Japan and the World Bank. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Baglihar Power Project, a hydroelectric facility on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, was developed under the Indus Water Treaty (1960) between India and Pakistan. While Pakistan raised concerns over treaty violations, a World Bank-mediated resolution confirmed India’s compliance, allowing the project to proceed.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Baglihar Power Project was built by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC), with funding from Indian financial institutions and the state government, not solely from Japan or the World Bank. Their involvement was not central to its completion.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q9. India has recently landed its Moon Impact Probe on the Moon. Among the following countries, which one landed such a probe on the Moon earlier?
Explanation
India’s Moon Impact Probe (MIP) was a part of the Chandrayaan-1 mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and it was successfully launched and landed on the Moon on October 22, 2008. However, China was the first among the listed countries to land a lunar probe.
Additional insight:
Chandrayaan-1, India’s first interplanetary mission, was launched by ISRO on October 22, 2008, using PSLV-C11. Though planned for two years, it operated until August 2009. A key milestone in India’s space exploration, it mapped the Moon’s surface and identified elemental distribution. One of the most significant results from Chandrayaan-1 was the discovery of water molecules on the Moon, confirming the presence of water ice in permanently shadowed lunar craters.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q10. Consider the following statements: 1. V.K. Krishna Menon’ foundation is based in New Delhi. 2. The first recipient of the V.K. Krishna Menon Award is the Chief Justice of India, K.G Balakrishnan. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The V.K. Krishna Menon Foundation is based in London. Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan has received the first V K Krishna Menon Award for his fearless fight against corruption in the Judicial system and for espousing social causes. Vengalil Krishnan Krishna Menon was India’s first High Commissioner to London, known for defending India’s sovereignty, notably in Kashmir at the UN in 1957.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2010
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
2
2009
(b) Kalka-Shimla Railway
3
2009
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
4
2009
(a) Bahubali
5
2009
(c) A-3; B-2; C-1; D-4
6
2009
(a) Andhra Pradesh
7
2009
(a) Prime Minister
8
2009
(a) 1 only
9
2009
(c) China
10
2009
(b) 2 only
What UPSC has tested in Contemporary Events: India
The Tarapore Committee was associated with fuller capital account convertibility.
The B. K. Chaturvedi Committee dealt with price reforms in the oil sector.
Operation Sukoon was launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Lebanon.
The Prime Minister of India is Chairman of the National Water Resources Council and President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The manuscripts of the Rig-Veda were included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Contemporary Events: India?
This page covers 118 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Contemporary Events: India (General Knowledge), asked from 1996 to 2010. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
What was Operation Sukoon?
An operation launched by the Government of India in 2006 to evacuate Indian nationals from Lebanon during the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The Navy and the Air India fleet helped to move thousands of people to safety.
What did the Tarapore Committee examine?
Fuller capital account convertibility of the rupee. The committee proposed a road map in 1997, recommending a phased move towards free movement of capital if certain conditions on inflation and fiscal deficit were met.
Who chairs the National Water Resources Council?
The Prime Minister of India. The Council, set up in 1983, has Chief Ministers and Union ministers as members and reviews the National Water Policy and water resource planning.
