General Knowledge: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)
505 previous year UPSC Prelims General Knowledge questions are on this page, from 1996 to 2010, in 5 chapters. In those years UPSC tested general awareness directly: people, books, institutions, places and events of the time. General Awareness: India is the largest chapter, followed by Contemporary Events: India and General Awareness: World. Every explanation states facts as they stood in the year of the question.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 181–190 of 505 questions
Browse General Knowledge chaptersBrowse by year
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q181. Which one of the following countries is not a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)?
Explanation
Estonia, along with Latvia and Lithuania (Baltic States), never joined the CIS. These countries prioritized European Union (EU) and NATO membership over integration with former Soviet states. Estonia officially joined the EU and NATO in 2004, distancing itself from Russian influence. Armenia joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Belarus is a founding member of the CIS and remains one of its strongest supporters. Georgia Joined CIS in 1993 but officially left in 2009 due to tensions with Russia (after the 2008 Russo-Georgian War).
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q182. Which one of the following countries is not a member of ASEAN?
Explanation
Bangladesh is not a member of ASEAN. The current members of ASEAN are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Additional insight:
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on August 8, 1967, with 10 member states in Southeast Asia. It promotes regional cooperation in trade, security, and culture. The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) enhance economic integration. Its headquarters is in Jakarta, Indonesia.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · General Awareness: World
Q183. Match List-I (Person) with List-II (Organization/ Area of Work) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Person)
List-II (Organization/Area of Work)
A. Chandra Kochhar
1. Advertising
B. Amrita Patel
2. Banking
C. Indra Nooyi
3. Dairy Development
D. Piyush Pandey
4. Pepsi Co.
Explanation
Chandra Kochhar was a prominent banker and former CEO of ICICI Bank, one of India’s largest private banks. Amrita Patel is known for her work in dairy development and served as the chairperson of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Indra Nooyi is the former CEO of PepsiCo, a global food and beverage company. Piyush Pandey is a renowned figure in the field of advertising and serves as the Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy India.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q184. 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
Q185. 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
Q186. 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
Q187. 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
Q188. 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
Q189. 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.
UPSC 2006General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: World
Q190. What was the main reason for which Niger was in the news in recent times?
Explanation
In 2005-2006, Niger suffered a severe food crisis, particularly in Maradi, Tahoua, Tillaberi, and Zinder, due to early rainfall shortages and desert locust infestations, which damaged crops and pasturelands. Poor harvests and reduced grazing areas worsened food scarcity. High food prices and widespread poverty further restricted access to essential supplies, leading to severe malnutrition and starvation.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
181
2006
(c) Estonia
182
2006
(c) Bangladesh
183
2006
(c) A-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
184
2006
(d) New Zealand
185
2006
(b) Amol Palekar
186
2006
(b) A non-governmental organization which specializes in international humanitarian aid and emergency medical assistance.
187
2006
(c) United Arab Emirates
188
2006
(c) Sri Lanka
189
2006
(c) Nigeria
190
2006
(d) Famine and starvation
What UPSC has tested in General Knowledge
These are single-fact questions: who wrote a book, where an organisation is headquartered, which country hosted an event.
Contemporary-events questions refer to the news of their year, so answers describe the position then, not today.
The chapters split by world and India, and by general awareness and current events, plus sports and games.
Later years’ questions sit under the other subjects on this site and lean toward analytical, statement-based formats.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on General Knowledge?
This page covers 505 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on General Knowledge, asked from 1996 to 2010. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Which General Knowledge chapters have the most questions?
General Awareness: India has the most with 138 questions, followed by Contemporary Events: India with 118, General Awareness: World with 110, Contemporary Events: World with 99 and Sports and Games with 40.
Are General Knowledge facts still current?
Many remain true, such as authorship and headquarters, but contemporary-events answers describe the position in the year each question was asked. Always check a recent source for the present position before relying on an item.
Why practise these older questions?
They show the style of general-awareness questions UPSC used and the breadth of topics it covered, from literature and institutions to sports. The explanations also build a base of facts that still helps with current affairs.
