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.
Showing 41–50 of 118 questions
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UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q41. What is IndoNext which was launched in January, 2005?
Explanation
In January 2005, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Stock Exchanges (FISE), launched BSE IndoNext, an alternative trading platform aimed at enhancing liquidity and visibility for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) listed on regional stock exchanges. This initiative was designed to integrate these SMEs into the broader capital market by providing a unified trading system. The platform operates under the existing BSE Online Trading (BOLT) system, allowing SMEs to raise capital, list their shares, and trade through BSE’s extensive network.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q42. Consider the following statements: 1. In India, during the financial year 2004-2005 an increase of below 10% over the value of exports (in rupee terms) in the financial year 2003-2004 was reported. 2. According to the WTO, India’s share in the world merchandise exports crossed 2% in the year 2005. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: In India, during the financial year 2004-2005, the value of exports saw a substantial increase, exceeding 10% compared to the previous financial year.
Statement 2 is incorrect: According to WTO data, India’s share in world merchandise exports in 2005 remained below 2%.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q43. With reference to the Government of India various programmes, what is Nirmal Gram Puraskar?
Explanation
The Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) is an incentive scheme launched by the Government of India in October 2003 under the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC). The primary objective of this award is to promote rural sanitation and hygiene by recognizing and rewarding Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)--including Gram Panchayats, Blocks, and Districts--that have achieved full sanitation coverage and are open defecation-free.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q44. Consider the following statements: 1. According to the census 2001, Kerala has the smallest gap in male and female literacy rates among the 28 states of India (Delhi and Pondicherry not included). 2. According to the Census 2001, Rajasthan has a literacy rate above the national average literacy rate. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: As per the 2001 Census, Kerala had the smallest gender literacy gap among the 28 states (excluding Delhi and Pondicherry), with male and female literacy rates of 94.24% and 87.72%, respectively, resulting in a 6.52% gap, the lowest in the country.
Statement 2 is incorrect: as the national average literacy rate in Census 2001 was 64.83%, while Rajasthan’s literacy rate was 60.41%, which was below the national average, making the statement incorrect.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q45. Consider the following statements: 1. The agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) came into effect from 1st December, 2005. 2. As per SAFTA agreement terms, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have to decrease their custom duties to the level of 0 to 5 per cent by the year 2013. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: SAFTA agreement was signed on 6th January 2004 during the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad and came into effect on 1st January 2006, not 1st December 2005.
Statement 2 is correct: SAFTA required India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to reduce customs duties to 0-5% by 2013, while Least Developed Countries (LDCs) like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives were given additional time for compliance.
Additional insight:
SAFTA includes the following eight member countries from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC):
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
UPSC 2005General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q46. Consider the following statements: 1. Global Trust Bank has been amalgamated with the Punjab National bank. 2. The second report of the Kelkar Committee dealing with direct and indirect taxes has maintained its Original recommendation including the abolition of exemptions relating to housing loans. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: Global Trust Bank (GTB) was merged with Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) on 14th August 2004, not Punjab National Bank (PNB), after financial instability.
Statement 2 is correct: The 2003 Kelkar Committee report retained its tax reform recommendations, including abolishing housing loan tax exemptions. However they were not fully implemented due to opposition from various stakeholders.
Additional insight:
In 2019, Bank of Baroda merged with Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, forming India’s third-largest public sector bank. Post 2020, Canara Bank merged with Syndicate Bank, Union Bank merged with Andhra and Corporation Bank, and Indian Bank with Allahabad Bank. In July 2023, HDFC Bank completed its merger with HDFC Ltd.
UPSC 2005General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q47. Who among the following is not a member of the investment Commission formed in December 2004?
Explanation
The Investment Commission was formed in December 2004 by the Government of India to promote and facilitate investment in the country. It had three members Ratan Tata (Chairman), Deepak Parekh, Ashok Ganguly.
UPSC 2005General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q48. Match items in List-I with those in the List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Location)
List-II (Known for/ in News for)
A. Kakinada
1. Sky Bus Metro rail test-run
B. Dundigal
2. ITC paper board unit
C. Margao
3. Biodiesel plant
D. Bhadrachalam
4. Indian Air Force Academy
Explanation
Kakinada - Known for its biodiesel plant. In 2005, Naturol Bioenergy Limited announced plans to set up a 300 tons per day biodiesel plant in Kakinada. Dundigal - Home to the Indian Air Force Academy. The Air Force Academy is located in Dundigal, near Hyderabad. Margao - Associated with the Sky Bus Metro rail test-run. The Sky Bus Metro project was tested in Margao, Goa. Bhadrachalam - Location of an ITC paper board unit. ITC has a significant paperboard manufacturing facility in Bhadrachalam.
UPSC 2005General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q49. Consider the following statements: 1. The Second World Buddhist Summit was held in Bangkok in November-December, 2004. 2. World Punjabi Conference was held in Jalandhar in December, 2004. 3. The 4th Meeting of the SAARC Trade Ministers was held in Islamabad in November, 2004. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Second World Buddhist Summit was held in in Lumbini, Nepal, from November 30 to December 2, 2004. The first summit was held in Thailand in November 2000.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The World Punjabi Conference in December 2004 was conducted in Haryana (Kurukshetra, Ambala, and Panipat) from December 11.
Statement 3 is correct: The 4th Meeting of the SAARC Trade Ministers was held in Islamabad in November 2004.
Additional insight:
The Global Buddhist Summit 2023 concluded successfully in New Delhi with the New Delhi Declaration. There was a broad consensus on highlighting and advancing Buddha’s principles of peace, well-being, harmony, and compassion as guiding fundamentals for universal peace.
UPSC 2005General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q50. 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. V.R. S. Natrajan
1. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
B. A.K. Puri
2. Air India
C. V. Thulasidas
3. Maruti Udyog Limited
D. Jagdish Khattar
4. Bharat Earth Movers Limited
5. Indian Space Research Organization
Explanation
A - 4 (V.R.S. Natrajan - Bharat Earth Movers Limited) V.R.S. Natrajan was the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BEML. BEML is a public sector company that manufactures railway coaches, defense equipment, and heavy machinery for mining and construction. B - 1 (A.K. Puri - Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) A.K. Puri served as the CMD of BHEL, India’s largest power generation equipment manufacturer. BHEL plays a key role in the energy sector, producing turbines, boilers, and transformers for thermal, hydro, and nuclear power plants. C - 2 (V. Thulasidas - Air India) V. Thulasidas was the CMD of Air India, India’s national airline. D - 3 (Jagdish Khattar - Maruti Udyog Limited) Jagdish Khattar was the Managing Director of Maruti Udyog Limited (now Maruti Suzuki), India’s leading car manufacturer. He played a crucial role in Maruti’s expansion, launching new models like the Swift, and improving customer service standards.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
41
2006
(d) An alternative trading platform being promoted by the Mumbai Stock Exchange and Regional Stock Exchanges.
42
2006
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
43
2006
(d) It is an incentive scheme for Panchayati Raj Institutions.
44
2006
(a) 1 only
45
2006
(b) 2 only
46
2005
(b) 2 only
47
2005
(d) Kumar Mangalam Birla
48
2005
(b) A-3; B-4; C-1; D-2
49
2005
(a) 3 only
50
2005
(b) A - 4; B -1; C - 2; D - 3
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.
