Contemporary Events: World: UPSC Previous Year Questions (General Knowledge)
4 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Contemporary Events: World (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 1–4 of 4 questions
UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q1. Which one among the following countries has the lowest GDP per capita?
Explanation
In 2003, among the given countries, India had the lowest GDP per capita. Here’s a comparison of estimated GDP per capita (in USD) around that time:
China - Higher due to rapid industrialization and economic reforms. Indonesia - Had a stronger economy than India, despite the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Sri Lanka - Had a smaller but more stable economy with a relatively higher GDP per capita than India. India - Despite economic growth, per capita income remained the lowest among these countries due to its large population and slower per capita income growth.
UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q2. The Basque people who are frequently in the news for their separatist activity live in:
Explanation
The Basque people primarily inhabit the Basque Country, which is located in northern Spain and southwestern France. However, their separatist movement has been more prominent in Spain, where the group ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) historically fought for an independent Basque state. Though ETA officially disbanded in 2018, Basque nationalism remains an important political issue in Spain.
UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q3. What was the main reason for a great civil strife in Argentina recently?
Explanation
Argentina was plunged into a devastating economic crisis in December 2001/January 2002, when a partial deposit freeze, a partial default on public debt, and an abandonment of the fixed exchange rate led to a collapse in output, high levels of unemployment, and political and social turmoil. This also caused mass protests, social unrest, and frequent changes in government, bank freezes (Corralito), and a sharp decline in living standards, fueling widespread discontent.
UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q4. As per the Human Development Index given by UNDP, which one of the following sequences of South Asian countries is correct, in the order of higher to lower development?
Explanation
The Human Development Report 2003 by UNDP ranked South Asian countries based on the Human Development Index (HDI). Maldives led the region with strong health, literacy, and income levels, followed by Sri Lanka, which excelled in education and healthcare but lagged slightly in economic growth. India showed steady progress in literacy and life expectancy but faced challenges due to its large population and income inequality. Pakistan ranked the lowest among these nations, struggling with lower literacy rates, weaker healthcare, and slower economic growth.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2003
(b) India
2
2003
(d) Spain
3
2003
(b) Economic crisis due to huge public debt
4
2003
(b) Maldives-Sri Lanka-India-Pakistan
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Contemporary Events: World?
This page covers 4 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Contemporary Events: World (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: World?
Questions on Contemporary Events: World (General Knowledge) are available for 15 years, from 1996 to 2010. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
