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 81–90 of 118 questions
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UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q81. Consider the following statements: 1. In the last five years, Indian software exports have increased at a compound annual growth rate of about 60% 2. The software and service industry in India registered an overall growth of about 28% in rupee terms during the year 2001-2002. Which of these statements is/are not correct?
Explanation
Statement (1) is incorrect: While India’s software exports did grow rapidly in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a 60% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over five years is an overestimation. The growth rate was high but not consistently at that level.
Statement (2) is correct: The software and service industry in India did register around 28% growth in rupee terms during 2001-2002, as reported by NASSCOM and other industry sources.
UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q82. With reference to Government of India’s decision regarding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the year 2001-02 consider the following statements: 1. Out of the 100% FDI allowed by India in the tea sector the foreign firm would have to disinvest 33% of the equity in favour of an Indian partner within four years 2. Regarding the FDI in print media in India, the single largest Indian shareholders should have a holding higher than 26% Which of these statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: In 2001-02, India allowed 100% FDI in the tea sector, but with a condition that the foreign company must disinvest 33% of its equity in favor of an Indian partner within four years. This was done to ensure Indian participation in the tea industry.
Statement 2 is correct: The Indian government allowed 26% FDI in print media (news and current affairs publications). However, the single largest Indian shareholder was required to hold more than 26%, ensuring Indian control.
UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q83. The Government holding in BPCL is:
Explanation
In 2003, the Government of India held around 66% stake in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). This was part of its broader disinvestment and privatization strategy.
Additional insight:
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is a public sector oil and gas company in India, engaged in refining, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products. It was nationalized in 1976 and has since been one of India’s leading energy companies. As of January 2025, the Government of India holds 52.98% of the equity share capital in BPCL.
UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q84. Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to FEMA in India?
Explanation
FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) was enacted in 1999 and came into force in 2000. It replaced FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act), which was more stringent and focused on criminalizing violations of foreign exchange laws. Under FEMA, violations are treated as civil offenses, meaning that penalties may be imposed but the violation itself is no longer a criminal offense, unlike FERA where violations could lead to imprisonment.
UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q85. Consider the following statements: 1. India’s Import of crude and petroleum products during the year 2001-02 accounted for about 27% of India’s total imports. 2. During the year 2001-02, India’s exports had increased by 10% as compared to the previous year Which of these statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: India’s import of crude and petroleum products during 2001-02 accounted for about 27% of total imports.
Statement 2 is incorrect: India’s exports did not increase by 10% in 2001-02; instead, they grew at a lower rate.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q86. 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
Q87. 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
Q88. 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
Q89. 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
Q90. 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%%.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
81
2003
(a) Only 1
82
2003
(c) Both 1 and 2
83
2003
(b) between 60% and 70%
84
2003
(c) Under FEMA, violation of foreign exchange rules has ceased to be a criminal offence
85
2003
(a) Only 1
86
2002
(c) Karamjeet Kaur
87
2002
(b) 2 and 3
88
2002
(d) National Stock Exchange
89
2002
(a) USA
90
2002
(c) commercial borrowings
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.
