General Awareness: World: UPSC Previous Year Questions (General Knowledge)
110 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on world general awareness are listed here, from 1996 to 2010. UPSC asked about international organisations and their headquarters, country groupings such as BRIC, books and authors, Nobel laureates and capitals. The explanations give the fact as it stood in 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 1–10 of 110 questions
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UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q1. Consider the following countries: 1. Brazil 2. Mexico 3. South Africa According to UNCTAD, which of the above is/are categorized as "Emerging Economies"?
Explanation
Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa are all recognized as emerging economies due to their growing industrial bases, expanding middle classes, and increasing global trade integration. Brazil, a BRICS member, has a strong industrial sector and abundant natural resources. Mexico, with its industrialization and trade ties, especially under NAFTA/USMCA, is a key player in Latin America’s economy. South Africa, the only African nation in BRICS, boasts a diversified economy, a robust financial sector, and a well-established industrial base.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q2. Which one of the following is not related to the United Nations?
Explanation
Option (a) is incorrect: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - Part of the World Bank Group, which is affiliated with the United Nations
Option (b) is incorrect: International Finance Corporation (IFC) - Also part of the World Bank Group, which is linked to the United Nations
Option (c) is incorrect: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) - Another entity of the World Bank Group, indirectly connected to the United Nations.
Option (d) is correct: Bank for International Settlements (BIS) - Not related to the UN; it is an international financial institution based in Switzerland, that serves as a bank for central banks and focuses on monetary and financial stability.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q3. With reference to BRIC countries, consider the following statements: 1. At present, China’s GDP is more than the combined GDP of all the three other countries. 2. China’s population is more than the combined population of any two other countries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement (1) is correct: As of 2010, China had the largest GDP among BRIC nations, surpassing the combined GDP of Brazil, Russia, and India. This was due to its rapid economic growth and industrial expansion.
Statement (2) is incorrect: China’s population is more than the combined population of any two other BRIC countries. As of 2010, China’s population was approximately 1.34 billion, while India’s was close to 1.2 billion, making it nearly equal to China’s. In contrast, the combined population of Brazil (195 million) and Russia (143 million) was significantly lower than China’s. Clearly, combination of population of any two countries comes out to be lesser than China
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q4. As regards the use of international food safety standards as reference points for the dispute settlements, which one of the following does WTO collaborate with?
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), established by FAO & WHO in 1963, sets international food safety standards. The WTO’s SPS Agreement recognizes Codex for food safety disputes.
Option (b) is incorrect: IFAN promotes standardization awareness but does not set food safety standards.
Option (c) is incorrect: ISO develops voluntary standards, including ISO 22000, but WTO relies on Codex under the SPS Agreement for food safety disputes.
Option (d) is incorrect: WSC, a partnership between ISO, IEC, and ITU, focuses on technical standards, not food safety, making it irrelevant to WTO disputes.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q5. Consider the following statements: 1. The Commonwealth has no charter, treaty or constitution. 2. AU the territories/countries once under the British empire (jurisdiction/rule/mandate) automatically joined the Commonwealth as its members. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 countries, mostly former British territories. It has no formal treaty but follows agreements like the 1971 Singapore Declaration and 1991 Harare Declaration. The Commonwealth Charter (2013) was adopted as a non-binding declaration of principles, but it does not serve as a legal constitution or treaty.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Membership is not automatic--some former British territories opted out, while others joined later. Mozambique and Rwanda became members despite no British colonial ties, while the U.S. is not a member despite its history.
UPSC 2010General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q6. In the context of bilateral trade negotiations between India and European Union, what is the difference between European Commission and European Council? 1. European Commission represents the EU in trade negotiations whereas European Council participates in the legislation of matters pertaining to economic policies of the European Union. 2. European Commission comprises the Heads of State or government of member countries whereas the European Council comprises of the persons nominated by European Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement (1) is incorrect: The European Council does not legislate economic policies; it sets the EU’s broad political direction. Legislation is handled by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament.
Statement (2) is incorrect: The European Commission consists of commissioners from each EU country, nominated by governments and approved by the European Parliament. The European Council includes EU Heads of State/Government, its President, and the European Commission President--not members nominated by the European Parliament.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q7. Consider the following pairs:
Famous Place
Country
1. Cannes
France
2. Davos
Denmark
3. Roland Garros
The Netherlands
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Pair 1 is correct: Cannes, on the French Riviera, is famous for its luxury lifestyle and the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where films compete for the Palme d’Or.
Pair 2 is incorrect: Davos is in Switzerland, not Denmark. It hosts the World Economic Forum (WEF), where global leaders discuss economic and political issues.
Pair 3 is incorrect: Roland Garros is in Paris, France, not the Netherlands. It is the official name of the French Open, a Grand Slam tennis tournament played on clay courts.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q8. The Security Council of UN consists of 5 permanent members, and the remaining 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of
Explanation
The UNSC, a key UN body for maintaining global peace, consists of 15 members. The five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US) hold veto power. The ten non-permanent members, elected by the UNGA for two-year terms, have no veto power and cannot be re-elected immediately. Elections are held annually, with five new members joining each year to ensure global representation.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q9. Who of the following is the author of the book "Them Audacity of Hope"?
Explanation
Option (b) is correct: "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream" is a book written by Barack Obama, published in 2006. It is a political and personal memoir in which he discusses his vision for the United States, including themes of unity, political bipartisanship, and social justice. The title was inspired by a sermon given by Reverend Jeremiah Wright, which also influenced Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention speech. It explores Obama’s political philosophy, personal experiences, and hopes for the future of America. It was a bestseller, significantly boosting Obama’s national political profile before he ran for President in 2008.
Option (a) is incorrect: Al Gore - Former US Vice President and environmental activist; author of "An Inconvenient Truth", which discusses climate change.
Option (c) is incorrect: Bill Clinton - Former US President; wrote "My Life", a memoir about his personal and political journey.
Option (d) is incorrect: Hillary Clinton - Former US Secretary of State; authored "Living History", a memoir about her life in politics.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q10. A present group of nations known as G-8 started first as G-7. Which one among the following was not one of them?
Explanation
The Group of Seven (G-7) was originally formed in 1975 as an informal forum for the world’s largest advanced economies to discuss economic and financial policies. The founding members of G-7 were:
1. United States 2. United Kingdom3.Germany
4. France 5. Italy6.Japan
7. Canada (joined in 1976, making it G-7) Russia was not one of the original members. It was later invited in 1997, expanding the group to G-8. However, due to its annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia was suspended, and the group returned to being G-7.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2010
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2
2010
(d) Bank for International Settlements
3
2010
(a) 1 only
4
2010
(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission
5
2010
(a) 1 only
6
2010
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
7
2009
(a) 1 only
8
2009
(b) 2 years
9
2009
(b) Barack Obama
10
2009
(d) Russia
What UPSC has tested in General Awareness: World
Klaus Schwab is the founder of the World Economic Forum.
The headquarters of the Organization of the Islamic Conference are at Jeddah.
The first Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs was held at Nova Scotia, Canada.
William Henry Bragg shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with his son.
Barack Obama is the author of The Audacity of Hope.
BRIC stands for Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on General Awareness: World?
This page covers 110 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on General Awareness: World (General Knowledge), asked from 1996 to 2010. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Who founded the World Economic Forum?
Klaus Schwab, a German economist, founded it in 1971 as the European Management Forum. It is best known for its annual meeting at Davos, Switzerland, and for reports such as the Global Competitiveness Report.
Where was the first Pugwash Conference held?
In Pugwash, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1957. It brought together scientists to discuss the dangers of nuclear weapons, and the movement later shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995.
Which scientist shared a Nobel Prize in Physics with his son?
William Henry Bragg, who shared the 1915 prize with his son William Lawrence Bragg for their work on analysing crystal structure using X-rays. William Lawrence Bragg remains the youngest Nobel laureate in physics, at 25 years of age.
