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 31–40 of 99 questions
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UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q31. Near the end of the year 2006, which one of the following countries was suspended from the Commonwealth after a military coup?
Explanation
In December 2006, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, orchestrated a coup that ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and President Josefa Iloilo. The 2006 Fijian coup stemmed from tensions over proposed legislation favoring indigenous Fijians, exacerbating existing ethnic divisions. Military leader Bainimarama seized power, ousting the government and prompting international condemnation. Fiji faced suspension from the Commonwealth and further isolation due to the coup and subsequent actions. The coup highlighted deep-rooted issues of land ownership, resource allocation, and political power between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q32. Who was Leander Paes’s partner when he won Doubles Final in the US Open Tennis Tournament, 2006?
Explanation
Leander Paes won the 2006 US Open Men’s Doubles title alongside Martin Damm. An Indian tennis player renowned for his doubles skills, Paes partnered with Czech player Martin Damm for the tournament. The duo showcased impressive teamwork and had a strong campaign leading up to the final. On September 10, 2006, they faced Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi in the championship match. Paes and Damm secured victory in straight sets, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3. This triumph marked Paes’s fourth Grand Slam men’s doubles title and Damm’s first.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q33. Which one of the following cities has been the venue of the Asian Games for the maximum number of times from the year 1951 to the year 2006?
Explanation
Bangkok (Thailand) - Hosted the event four times: 1966, 1970, 1978, and 1998. The city’s strong infrastructure and experience in organizing major international events contributed to its repeated selection.
UPSC 2007General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q34. Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Prize winner from Kenya is known for her contribution to which one of the following?
Explanation
Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Prize-winning Kenyan activist, made a lasting impact on sustainable development. Wangari Maathai, an environmentalist and activist, founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, focusing on tree planting, conservation, and women’s empowerment to combat deforestation and resource scarcity in Kenya’s rural areas. Her movement planted millions of trees, restoring biodiversity and promoting sustainable resources, while also empowering women through education and leadership. In 2004, Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for linking sustainability, democracy, and social justice, leaving a lasting global impact.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q35. Which one of the following countries is the first country in the world to propose a carbon tax for its people to address global warming?
Explanation
New Zealand was among the early adopters of measures to directly regulate greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008, New Zealand implemented the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS), an all-gases, partial-coverage, uncapped domestic emissions trading scheme that features price floors, forestry offsetting, free allocation, and auctioning of emissions units.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q36. Who among the following directed the film chosen as India official entry for of 2006 Academy Awards?
Explanation
"Paheli" (2005) is a Hindi fantasy film directed by Amol Palekar and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji. Based on Vijayadan Detha’s story "Duvidha", it follows Lachchi (Rani Mukerji), whose husband Kishanlal (Shah Rukh Khan) leaves for business, while a ghost takes his form and wins her love. Set in Rajasthan, the film explores love, fidelity, and the supernatural, leading to a unique resolution when the real Kishanlal returns.
Additional insight:
At the 95th Academy Awards (Oscars 2023), India achieved historic success. "Naatu Naatu" from the film RRR won Best Original Song, marking India’s first win in this category. "The Elephant Whisperers", directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, won Best Documentary Short, becoming the first Indian production to win in this category. These victories highlighted India’s growing influence in global cinema.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q37. What is Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF)?
Explanation
Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, is an independent, international non-governmental organization (NGO) that provides medical humanitarian aid in crisis-affected regions worldwide.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q38. Zayed bin Sultan-al-Nahyan was a long serving President of which of the following?
Explanation
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the long-time President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He played a pivotal role in the UAE’s formation in 1971 and remained President until his passing in 2004.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q39. Where is Bundala Biosphere Reserve which has been recently added to the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) network located?
Explanation
The Bundala Biosphere Reserve, located on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, is a significant ecological site recognized for its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. In 2005, UNESCO designated Bundala as a Man and Biosphere Reserve, making it the only coastal biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q40. Recently with which country government did ONGC Mittal Energy Limited (OMEL) sign a joint-venture deal of $6 billion dealing with infrastructure, refinery and power?
Explanation
In 2005, ONGC-Mittal Energy Limited (OMEL), a joint venture between India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh (ONGC) and Mittal Investment Sarl, entered into an agreement with the Nigerian government to explore offshore oil and gas blocks OPL-279 and OPL-285.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
31
2007
(c) Fiji
32
2007
(b) Martin Damm
33
2007
(b) Bangkok
34
2007
(c) Sustainable development
35
2006
(d) New Zealand
36
2006
(b) Amol Palekar
37
2006
(b) A non-governmental organization which specializes in international humanitarian aid and emergency medical assistance.
38
2006
(c) United Arab Emirates
39
2006
(c) Sri Lanka
40
2006
(c) Nigeria
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.
