Contemporary Events: India: UPSC Previous Year Questions (General Knowledge)
10 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Contemporary Events: India (General Knowledge). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–10 of 10 questions
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q1. Who among the following set a new national record in the women’s Pole-vault event in the 7th edition of Senior Federation Cup held in Karnataka in the year 2001?
Explanation
Karamjeet Kaur set a new national record in the women’s pole vault event during the 7th edition of the Senior Federation Cup, held in Karnataka in 2001. She was a prominent Indian pole vaulter who contributed to the sport’s development in the country.
Additional insight:
Rosy Meena Paulraj has set a national record for women’s pole at 4.21 m. Dev Meena holds the record in Mens category with a record of 5.32 m.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q2. With reference to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), consider the following statements: 1. The new WPI series with base 1993 - 94 = 100 became effective from April 1998 2. In the new WPI series, the weight for primary articles has gone down by 10 percentage points 3. The weight for electricity has increased in the new WPI series Which of these statements are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The office of the Economic Adviser to the Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has replaced the old series (Base:1981-82=100) by a new series with a base 1993-94=100 for the Wholesale Price Index with effect from the week ending 1st April, 2000.
Statement 2 is correct: In the new WPI series, the weight for primary articles has gone down by 10 percentage points from 32 -22%.
Statement 3 is correct: The weight for electricity has increased in the new WPI series from 11-14%
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q3. Among the following major stock exchanges of India, the exchange which recorded highest turnover during the year 2000-01 is:
Explanation
In the fiscal year 2000-01, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded a higher turnover compared to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Specifically, during 2001-02, NSE’s share of the market turnover was over 80%, while BSE’s share stood at 16%.
Additional insight:
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded a cash market turnover of 177.1 trillion, surpassing the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which had a turnover of 16.29 trillion during the same period.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q4. India has the maximum volume of foreign trade with:
Explanation
In 2002, the United States was India’s largest trading partner. India’s merchandise exports to the U.S. grew by 21.4% compared to 2001, rising from $9.74 billion to $11.82 billion. The U.S. accounted for about 10% of India’s total trade during that period.
Additional insight:
As of the fiscal year 2023-2024, China has reclaimed its position as India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to $118.4 billion. This surpasses the United States, which had been India’s top trading partner in the previous two fiscal years.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q5. India’s external debt increased from US $ 91,158 million as at the end of March 2000 to US $ 100,225 million as at the end of March 2001 due to increase in:
Explanation
India’s external debt increased during this period primarily due to a rise in commercial borrowings, which include external loans raised by corporations and financial institutions from international markets. This category of debt typically grows due to higher borrowing requirements for infrastructure, trade, and industry-related expansions.
Additional insight:
As of end-September 2024, India’s external debt stood at $711.8 billion (4.3%) increase from june 2024, The external debt-to-GDP ratio was recorded at 19.4%%.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q6. Match List I (Name of the Lady) with List II (Achievement) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Name of the Lady)
List-II (Achievement)
A. Chinna Pillai
1. Tinner of Neerja Bhanot Award
B. Kaveri Thakur
2. Recipient of Stree Shakti Puraskar
C. Mira Nair
3. Became the fastest swimmer in Asia at the age of 16 years
D. Yasoda Ekambaram
4. Recipient of the Golden Lion at Venice film festival
Explanation
Chinna Pillai: Recipient of the Stree Shakti Puraskar, an award given to women for their outstanding contribution to society. Kaveri Thakur: Became the fastest swimmer in Asia at the age of 16. Mira Nair: Recipient of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for her film Monsoon Wedding. Yasoda Ekambaram: Winner of the Neerja Bhanot Award, which honors bravery and humanitarian work.
Additional insight:
The Nari Shakti Puraskar is India’s highest civilian honor for women, awarded annually by the Government of India for contributions to women’s empowerment. It is presented at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on International Women’s Day (8 March). Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding and Satyajit Ray’s Aparajito are the two Indian films that have won the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q7. In the year 2001, the Prime Minister announced a five year excise duty holiday for industries in:
Explanation
In 2001, after the devastating earthquake in Kutch, Gujarat, the Indian government announced a five-year excise duty holiday for industries in the region to support economic recovery and encourage industrial development.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q8. In the year 2001, Germany approved a $ 32 million credit to India:
Explanation
In 2001, Germany approved a $32 million credit to India under its development cooperation program. This funding was aimed at promoting primary education in select states, particularly focusing on improving infrastructure, teacher training, and access to education for underprivileged children.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q9. Match List-I (Commission) with List-II (Matter of Enquiry) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Commission)
List-II (Matter of Enquiry)
A. Wadhwa Commission
1. The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi
B. Liberhan Commission
2. Killing of Graham Staines
C. Sri Krishna
3. Demolition of a religious structure at Ayodhya
D. Jain Commission
4. Riots in Mumbai in 1993
Explanation
Wadhwa Commission: Investigated the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Odisha (1999). Liberhan Commission: Probed the Babri Masjid demolition (1992) and its political implications. Sri Krishna Commission: Investigated the 1992-93 Mumbai riots following the Babri Masjid demolition. Jain Commission: Probed the 1991 assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and the role of LTTE.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q10. Consider the following statements: The Draft Electricity Bill, 2001 seeks to replace: 1. Indian Electricity Act, 1910 2. Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 3. Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998 4. State Electricity Board Which of these statements are correct?
Explanation
Statements (1), (2) and (3) are correct: The Draft Electricity Bill, 2001 aimed to replace and consolidate various existing electricity laws to promote competition, efficiency, and private sector participation in the power sector. It sought to replace: 1. Indian Electricity Act, 1910: Regulated electricity supply and licensing. 2. Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948: Established State Electricity Boards (SEBs) and guided power development. 3. Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998: Set up regulatory commissions for tariff regulation.
Statement (4) is incorrect: However, State Electricity Boards (SEBs) were not directly replaced but were restructured under different provisions.
Statement 4 is incorrect.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2002
(c) Karamjeet Kaur
2
2002
(b) 2 and 3
3
2002
(d) National Stock Exchange
4
2002
(a) USA
5
2002
(c) commercial borrowings
6
2002
(b) A-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
7
2002
(c) earthquake ravaged Kutch district
8
2002
(a) to promote primary education in select states
9
2002
(b) A-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
10
2002
(a) 1, 2 and 3
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Contemporary Events: India?
This page covers 10 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.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Contemporary Events: India?
Questions on Contemporary Events: India (General Knowledge) are available for 14 years, from 1996 to 2010. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
