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 61–70 of 99 questions
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UPSC 2003General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q61. 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.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q62. Consider the following names: 1. Archbishop Desmond Tutu 2. Lech Walesa 3. Shimon Peres 4. Yasser Arafat Who among these won the Nobel Peace Prize?
Explanation
All four individuals have won the Nobel Peace Prize:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1984) - For his role in opposing apartheid in South Africa. Lech Walesa (1983) - Leader of Poland’s Solidarity movement, which played a key role in ending Communist rule in Poland. Shimon Peres (1994) - Shared the prize with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin for their efforts in the Oslo Accords peace talks with the Palestinian leadership. Yasser Arafat (1994) - Received the prize for his role in the Oslo Accords.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q63. Recently, several hundred South African soldiers were sent to Burundi:
Explanation
In 2001-2002, South Africa deployed troops to Burundi as part of a peacekeeping mission to help implement a ceasefire agreement between warring factions in the country’s civil war. This was not a UN mission but rather a South African-led initiative to support peace negotiations. The troops were sent to protect returning political leaders and facilitate the transition to a new government under the Arusha Peace Agreement, which aimed to end the conflict between Hutu and Tutsi factions.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q64. Berber speaking community, frequently in the news, lives in:
Explanation
The Berber-speaking community, also known as the Amazigh people, primarily lives in North Africa, particularly in Algeria and Morocco with smaller populations living in Tunisia, Libya, and Mali. In Algeria, Berbers form a significant ethnic group, especially in the Kabylie region. They have been frequently in the news due to their cultural and political movements advocating for recognition of their language and identity.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q65. Consider the following countries: 1. Angola 2. Colombia 3. Congo 4. Sudan Which of these countries has/have been suffering from civil war?
Explanation
All four countries have experienced civil wars:
Angola - The Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) was fought between the government (MPLA) and rebel groups (UNITA and FNLA). It ended with a peace agreement in 2002. Colombia - The country faced a long-running internal conflict (1964-2016) involving the government, leftist guerrillas (FARC, ELN), right-wing paramilitaries, and drug cartels. A peace deal was signed in 2016, though some violence continues. Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC) - The First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congo Wars involved multiple African nations and rebel groups. Violence and militia conflicts persist in some regions. Sudan - Civil wars in Sudan (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) led to the independence of South Sudan in 2011. The Darfur conflict (2003-present) and recent clashes between military factions (2023) continue to cause instability.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q66. The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum was held in the year 2001 in:
Explanation
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2001 was held in Shanghai, China. It took place from October 20-21, 2001, and was notable for discussions on global economic issues, particularly in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. The summit emphasized economic cooperation, counter-terrorism, and trade liberalization among APEC member nations.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q67. In the year 2001, India offered a grant of five million dollars to Tajikistan to:
Explanation
In 2001, India offered a $5 million grant to Tajikistan to help set up a Software Technology Park in the country. This initiative was part of India’s efforts to strengthen bilateral ties with Tajikistan and promote technological cooperation. The Software Technology Park aimed to boost Tajikistan’s IT capabilities and foster the development of the technology sector.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q68. A World Summit with representation from all the countries will be held in Johannesburg in September 2002 on the subject of:
Explanation
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was held in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2002. It focused on sustainable development, addressing global environmental, social, and economic issues, and aimed to find solutions to promote sustainable development for all countries. The summit brought together governments, civil society, and business leaders to discuss how to achieve economic development while protecting the environment and ensuring social equity.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q69. Match List-I (Country) with List-II (President) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Country)
List-II (President)
A. Congo
1. Levy Mwanawasa
B. Nigeria
2. Joseph Kabila
C. Uganda
3. Olusegum Obasanjo
D. Zambia
4. Yoweri Museveni
Explanation
A-2: Joseph Kabila became President of Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 2001 after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila. B-3: Olusegun Obasanjo was the President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and played a key role in stabilizing democracy in the country. C-4: Yoweri Museveni has been the President of Uganda since 1986, implementing economic and political reforms. D-1: Levy Mwanawasa became President of Zambia in 2002, focusing on economic recovery and anti-corruption efforts.
UPSC 2002General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q70. In the year 2001, NASA launched a spacecraft to Mars named:
Explanation
The Mars Odyssey spacecraft was launched in 2001 by NASA. It successfully entered orbit around Mars in 2002 and has been conducting various scientific studies of the Martian surface and atmosphere. It also serves as a relay station for other Mars missions.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
61
2003
(b) Maldives-Sri Lanka-India-Pakistan
62
2002
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
63
2002
(d) as South Africa’s protection force to help mediate an agreement between warring groups of civil war
64
2002
(b) Algeria
65
2002
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
66
2002
(d) Shanghai
67
2002
(b) set up a Software Technology Park
68
2002
(d) sustainable development
69
2002
(a) A-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
70
2002
(c) Mars Odyssey
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.
