138 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Indian general awareness make this the largest General Knowledge chapter, from 1996 to 2009. UPSC asked about books and authors, institutions and their locations, national symbols, artists and personalities. The explanations give the fact and its context, as of the year the question was set.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 101–110 of 138 questions
Chapchar Kut is a spring festival celebrated in Mizoram, marking the completion of the jungle-clearing (Chapchar) for shifting cultivation. It is the most popular Mizo festival, featuring traditional dances, music, and cultural performances.
Statement 1 is correct: NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) is India’s largest power utility, responsible for generating a significant portion of the country’s electricity.
Statement 2 is incorrect: ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) is a major oil and gas producer but does not account for half of India’s LPG production. LPG production is distributed among multiple refineries and companies.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) does not operate all refineries in India. Other entities like HPCL, BPCL, and private players (Reliance, Nayara Energy, etc.) also operate refineries.
Statement 4 is correct: Indian Ordnance Factory (IOF) is the largest departmentally run industrial undertaking in India, operating under the Ministry of Defence, producing arms, ammunition, and defense equipment.
Nargis Dutt was the first Indian actress to receive the Padma Shri Award in 1958 for her outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. She is best known for her role in the iconic film Mother India (1957).
The National Renewal Fund (NRF) was established in February 1992 by the Government of India as a social safety net to mitigate the adverse effects of economic liberalization and industrial restructuring on workers. The objectives include financial aid, training, and counseling for retrenched workers, skill development for redeployment, and support for companies in restructuring through social security funding.
| List-I (Book) | List-II (Author) |
|---|---|
| A. Autobiography of an Unknown Indian | 1. Mulk Raj Anand |
| B. India: A Wounded Civilization | 2. Nirad C. Chaudhari |
| C. Confessions of a Lover | 3. R. K. Narayan |
| D. The English Teacher | 4. V.S. Naipaul |
Autobiography of an Unknown Indian - Written by Nirad C. Chaudhuri, a memoir on British India and his early life. India: A Wounded Civilization - Written by V.S. Naipaul, analyzing India’s post-colonial struggles. Confessions of a Lover - Written by Mulk Raj Anand, a semi-autobiographical novel on love and emotions. The English Teacher - Written by R.K. Narayan, a novel reflecting personal loss and spirituality.
| List-I (Artist) | List-II (Art) |
|---|---|
| A. Hira Battacharya | 1. Bharatanatyam dance |
| B. Malini Rajurkar | 2. Hindustani vocal music |
| C. Pratiba Prahlad | 3. Kuchipudi dance |
| D. Vampati Chinna Satyam | 4. Pupperty |
Hira Battacharya: Known for contributions to the art of puppetry. Malini Rajurkar: A renowned classical singer specializing in Hindustani music. Pratibha Prahlad: A famous Bharatanatyam dancer and cultural promoter. Vempati Chinna Satyam: A legendary dancer who popularized Kuchipudi worldwide.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established in 1995, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which had been in place since 1948 to regulate international trade. Options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) - Established in 1964, it promotes trade, investment, and development in developing countries. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has been rebranded as "UN Trade and Development". UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - Founded in 1966, it focuses on promoting industrial development in developing nations. OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) - Established in 1961, it is an international economic organization that promotes policies for economic growth and trade.
Maharashtra has the largest Buddhist population in India. According to the census of India 2011, the Buddhist population in India is around 8.4 million which is around 0.7% of the total population, which makes Buddhism a minority religion in India. Maharashtra’s population comprises 5.81% of Buddhist.
| List-I (Institutes) | List-II (Location) |
|---|---|
| A. Central Institute medicinal and Aromatic of Plants | 1. Chandigarh |
| B. Centre for DNA Finger Printing and Diagnostics | 2. Hyderabad |
| C. Institute of Microbial Technology | 3. New Delhi |
| D. National Institute of Immunology | 4. Lucknow |
Code (b) is correct Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Specializes in research on medicinal and aromatic plants for pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) - Hyderabad, Telangana Focuses on DNA fingerprinting, genetic diagnostics, and research in molecular biology. Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) - Chandigarh Engaged in microbial research, biotechnology, and industrial microbiology. National Institute of Immunology (NII) - New Delhi Conducts advanced research in immunology, vaccine development, and disease prevention.
Statement 1 is correct: Initially, five religious communities, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians (Parsis), were notified as minority communities by the Union Government under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 in October 1993. Further, with the 2014 notification, Jains were also notified as another minority community. Since the question was asked in 2001 so according to that year this statement is correct.
Statement 2 is correct: The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was given statutory status in 1993 to safeguard minority rights.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The smallest religious minority in India is the Jews, not Zoroastrians.
Statement 4 is correct: The Constitution of India recognizes and protects religious and linguistic minorities under Articles 29 and 30.
| Q | UPSC year | Correct answer |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | 2002 | (c) Mizoram |
| 102 | 2002 | (d) 1 and 4 |
| 103 | 2002 | (b) Nargis Dutt |
| 104 | 2002 | (b) Both 1 and 2 |
| 105 | 2002 | (b) A-2; B-4; C-1; D-3 |
| 106 | 2002 | (a) A-4; B-2; C-1; D-3 |
| 107 | 2001 | (b) GATT |
| 108 | 2001 | (c) Maharashtra |
| 109 | 2001 | (b) A-4; B-2; C-1; D-3 |
| 110 | 2001 | (d) 1, 2 and 4 |
This page covers 138 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on General Awareness: India (General Knowledge), asked from 1996 to 2009. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Twenty-four. The Dharmachakra, in navy blue on the white band, is taken from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, and each spoke is said to stand for a principle or an hour of the day.
V. P. Menon, who as Secretary of the States Department worked with Sardar Patel to integrate the princely states into India after Independence. Its account of that process remains a standard source.
Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha, well-known vocalists of Dhrupad, the oldest form of Hindustani classical music. They trained under the Dagar tradition, perform at festivals across the world and were awarded the Padma Shri.
