Contemporary Events: World: UPSC Previous Year Questions (General Knowledge)
99 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on contemporary world events appear here, from 1996 to 2010. They concern summits and conferences, treaties and military exercises, countries in the news and awards. Each explanation describes the event as it was reported at the time, so treat the facts as dated.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 21–30 of 99 questions
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UPSC 2008General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q21. How is the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference where the agreements were signed to set up the IBRD, GATT and IMF, commonly known?
Explanation
The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference (1944), commonly known as Bretton Woods conference, was held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA to regulate the international monetary and financial order after the conclusion of World War II. During this conference, agreements were signed to establish the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q22. Which of the following countries signed the Tshwane Declaration in October 2006?
Explanation
The Tshwane Declaration was signed between India and South Africa in October 2006. The declaration marked a significant enhancement of the bilateral relations between the two countries and aimed to strengthen cooperation in various areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, and cultural exchange. The declaration was named after Tshwane, the metropolitan municipality in which Pretoria, one of South Africa’s capital cities, is located.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q23. Recently, the European Union and six other countries including India signed the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project. Which one of the following was not a signatory to it?
Explanation
Canada is not signatory to ITER projects.
ITER is a 35-nation fusion energy project launched in 1985, headquartered in France, aiming to prove fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free energy source through the world’s largest tokamak. Its members include China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the US, with the EU covering 45.6% of costs and others, including India, sharing 9.1% each.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q24. How is Steve Fossett known as
Explanation
Steve Fossett was an American adventurer known for setting numerous world records in aviation and sailing. In 2005, he became the first person to fly a plane solo nonstop around the world without refueling, which was one of his most notable achievements. He is not known for hunting crocodiles, swimming across the Atlantic, or climbing Mount Everest. Thus, the correct answer is for completing the longest nonstop flight around the globe.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q25. Consider the following statements: 1. Republicans won the majority in the US House of Representatives Elections held in the year 2006. 2. Republican Bobby Jindal, won a seat in the US House of Representatives for the second time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Republicans did not win the majority in the US House of Representatives in the 2006 elections. In fact, the Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in the 2006 midterm elections, ending 12 years of Republican rule.
Statement 2 is correct: Bobby Jindal, a Republican, did win a seat in the US House of Representatives for the second time in 2006.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q26. What is the broad area in which the Nobel Prize winners for the year 2006 in Physiology or Medicine, worked to get the Prize?
Explanation
Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering RNA interference (RNAi), a key gene regulation process. Their research showed how siRNAs silence specific genes by interfering with mRNA, revolutionizing molecular biology. RNAi plays a vital role in gene expression, disease suppression, and biotechnology, with potential treatments for genetic disorders, viral infections, and cancers.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q27. Which one of the following countries is planning to construct a rival to the Panama Canal to link the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans?
Explanation
Nicaragua has proposed constructing an alternative to the Panama Canal, known as the Nicaraguan Canal or Interoceanic Grand Canal, to connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This ambitious project aims to enhance global maritime trade by offering a new route that could reduce shipping distances and costs.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q28. Which one of the following pairs of countries joined the European Union in January 2007?
Explanation
Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on January 1, 2007, after implementing key judicial, anti-corruption, and economic reforms to meet accession criteria. Bulgaria negotiated since 2000, focusing on market regulations and governance reforms, while Romania, in talks since 1995, improved agriculture and judiciary standards. Their simultaneous accession followed sustained reforms and positive EU evaluations.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q29. Which one of the following countries recently upgraded its defence agency to a full defence ministry?
Explanation
Japan upgraded its defence agency to a full-fledged ministry to strengthen its defence capabilities and better address emerging security challenges. This decision was driven by rising regional threats and shifting global security dynamics.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q30. In the latter half of the year 2006, in which one of the following countries did a military coup take place?
Explanation
In the latter half of 2006, a significant political event unfolded in Thailand:
On 19 September 2006, the Royal Thai Army staged a coup against PM Thaksin Shinawatra, dissolving parliament, banning protests, and imposing martial law. General Sonthi Boonyaratglin led the coup, forming the Council for National Security (CNS) and appointing Surayud Chulanont as interim PM. Elections were held on 23 December 2007 after Thaksin’s party was dissolved.
Additional insight:
Some Recent Coups:
Mali: Mali experienced two coups during this period. The first one occurred in August 2020, and the second one in May 2021. Myanmar: In February 2021, the military seized power in Myanmar, overthrowing the elected civilian government. Guinea: In September 2021, the military took control of Guinea, ousting the president. Sudan: In October 2021, a military coup took place in Sudan, dissolving the transitional government. Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso experienced two coups during this period. The first one occurred in January 2022, and the second one in September 2022. Niger: In July 2023, the military seized power in Niger, overthrowing the president. Gabon: In August 2023, the military took control of Gabon, annulling the recent election results. Bangladesh: In August 2024, Bangladesh experienced a military-backed transition, leading to the resignation of PM Sheikh Hasina and the installation of an interim civilian government.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
21
2008
(b) Bretton Woods Conference
22
2007
(b) India and South Africa
23
2007
(a) Canada
24
2007
(b) for completing the longest nonstop flight around the globe
25
2007
(b) 2 only
26
2007
(b) Flow of genetic information
27
2007
(d) Nicaragua
28
2007
(a) Bulgaria and Romania
29
2007
(b) Japan
30
2007
(c) Thailand
What UPSC has tested in Contemporary Events: World
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) was held at Johannesburg.
The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference of 1944 is known as the Bretton Woods Conference.
Hand-in-Hand 2007 was a joint anti-terrorism military training between India and China.
Nicaragua was planning a canal to rival the Panama Canal.
Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth near the end of 2006.
Bangkok has been the venue of the Asian Games the maximum number of times.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Contemporary Events: World?
This page covers 99 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.
What was the Bretton Woods Conference?
The 1944 United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, which created the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. It set up the post-war system of fixed exchange rates.
Which exercise was Hand-in-Hand 2007?
A joint anti-terrorism military training between India and China, held in 2007 in China. It was the first such exercise between the two armies and marked a step in their defence cooperation.
Where was the Rio+10 summit held?
At Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, ten years after the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro. It reviewed progress on sustainable development and is formally called the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
