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 51–60 of 118 questions
In 2005, Onkar S. Kanwar, Chairman of Apollo Tyres Ltd., served as the President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Harsha Vardhan Agarwal is the current President of FICCI.
Statement 1 is incorrect: India’s foreign exchange reserves did exceed the $125 billion mark during 2004. According to the Economic Survey 2004-2005, the reserves stood at $128.9 billion on February 4, 2005, indicating that they surpassed $125 billion in 2004.
Statement 2 is correct: The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) series with the base year 1993-94=100 was introduced in April 2000, replacing the previous 1981-82 base year series.
According to RBI, India’s forex reserves have risen to $630.607 billion (January 31, 2025).
ITC Limited launched the ‘e-Choupal’ initiative to empower rural farmers by providing them with direct access to markets, agricultural information, and best farming practices. It was started in 2000 as a digital platform to eliminate middlemen and improve farmers’ income by ensuring fair prices for their produce.
Tirupur, located in Tamil Nadu, India, is a major textile and knitwear hub known for producing and exporting knitted garments to global markets. It is often referred to as the "Knitwear Capital of India" due to its dominance in manufacturing T-shirts, innerwear, sweatshirts, and other cotton-based garments.
Gems and Jewellery - Surat and Jaipur are better known for this sector. Leather goods - Kanpur and Chennai are major centers for leather exports. Handicrafts - Moradabad, Jodhpur, and Sahara-npur are prominent for handicraft exports.
Option (a) is incorrect: Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Below Poverty Line (BPL) families were initially provided 10 kg of foodgrains per family per month, which was later increased to 35 kg per family per month. However, there is no record of 50 kg per family per month being allocated.
Option (b) is correct: Under the Annapurna Scheme, elderly senior citizens aged 65 years or above, who qualify for the National Old Age Pension but do not receive it, are entitled to 10 kg of food grains per month, free of cost.
Option (c) is correct:: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs a scheme that provides 15 kg of foodgrains per person per month at BPL rates to indigent individuals residing in welfare institutions such as orphanages.
Option (d) is correct: The Ministry of Human Resource Development provides financial support to the Mid-day Meal Scheme, which benefits Class I to V students in Government and Government-aided schools.
Largest IT Software & Services Exporter in India (2002-03): During the financial year 2002-03, India’s IT industry was dominated by a few major players, with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) emerging as the largest IT software and services exporter.
India’s software services exports (excluding overseas commercial presence) rose 2.8% to $190.7 billion in 2023-24, as per RBI’s annual survey on software and IT-enabled services (ITES) exports. The US was the major software export destination (54 % share), followed by Europe (31% share)
Statement (1) is correct: The Oil Pool Account, which regulated petroleum pricing, was dismantled on April 1, 2002, enabling market-driven prices.
Statement (2) is correct: Post-dismantling, subsidies on PDS kerosene and LPG shifted to the Consolidated Fund of India.
Statement (3) is incorrect: The Mashelkar Committee recommended nationwide BS-II norms from April 1, 2005, not 2004.
Bharat Stage (BS) Emission Norms regulate vehicle emissions in India, aligning with Euro standards. BS-VI, implemented on April 1, 2020, skipped BS-V to curb pollution. The Mashelkar Committee, formed in 2001, recommended India’s Auto Fuel Policy, emphasizing phased emission norm upgrades. It proposed Bharat Stage-II (BS-II) nationwide by April 1, 2005, aligning with Euro standards. The committee also stressed cleaner fuels, technology adoption, and pollution reduction for sustainable mobility.
Assertion (A) is false: In the fiscal year 2002-03, India continued to experience a trade deficit. According to data, India’s exports were valued at $51.7 billion, while imports stood at $59.3 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of approximately $7.6 billion. Reason (R) is true: For the first time, India’s exports surpassed the $50 billion mark in 2002-03, reaching $51.7 billion, which was an 18.05% increase over the previous year’s exports of $43.8 billion.
Trade deficit occurs when imports exceed exports, leading to a negative trade balance. Factors like rising crude oil imports, fluctuating global demand, and currency depreciation contribute to the deficit, impacting foreign exchange reserves and economic stability. India’s merchandise trade deficit widened to $21.94 billion in December 2024, up from $19.8 billion in December 2023. Cumulatively, the deficit for April-December 2024 reached $210.77 billion.
The correct decreasing sequence in terms of the value (in rupees) of minerals produced in India during the year 2002-03 is: Fuel minerals > Metallic minerals > Non-metallic minerals
Current Scenario (as of 2023-24): In the Ministry of Mines in India (excluding atomic, fuel, and minor minerals) reached 1,41,239 crore, marking a 14.83% increase from the previous year. The composition of this production value is as follows:
Metallic Minerals: Contributed approximately 90.3% of the total value. Non-Metallic Minerals: Accounted for the remaining 9.7%. The current decreasing sequence, within the considered categories, in terms of the value of minerals produced is:
Metallic Minerals>Non-Metallic Minerals>Fuel Minerals.
In mid-2003, 500,000 Hong Kong residents protested against Article 23 national security legislation, fearing restrictions on free speech, press, and assembly. The proposed law sought to criminalize treason, secession, sedition, and subversion. Massive opposition on July 1, 2003, forced the government to withdraw the bill.
| Q | UPSC year | Correct answer |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | 2005 | (c) Onkar S. Kunwar |
| 52 | 2005 | (b) 2 only |
| 53 | 2005 | (a) ITC |
| 54 | 2005 | (c) Knitted garments |
| 55 | 2004 | (a) Under the Targeted Public Distribution System, the families Below Poverty Line are provided 50 kg of foodgrains per month per family at subsidised price |
| 56 | 2004 | (c) Tata Consultancy Services |
| 57 | 2004 | (a) 1 and 2 only |
| 58 | 2004 | (d) A is false but R is true |
| 59 | 2004 | (b) Fuel minerals-Metallic minerals-Non metallic minerals |
| 60 | 2004 | (b) They were against the Hong Kong Government’s plan to impose an internal security law |
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.
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.
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.
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.
