22 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on General Knowledge in the UPSC 1998 Prelims. Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 11–20 of 22 questions
In 1997, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded jointly to Robert C. Merton and Myron S. Scholes for their development of a new method to determine the value of derivatives. Their work led to the formulation of the Black-Scholes-Merton model, a foundational tool in financial economics for pricing options and other derivative instruments.
The European Monetary Union (EMU) introduced the Euro () as its official currency. The decision to adopt a single currency was part of the Maastricht Treaty (1992), and the Euro was officially launched on January 1, 1999, for electronic transactions and accounting purposes. Physical Euro banknotes and coins entered circulation on January 1, 2002 in 12 European Union (EU) countries. Today, the Eurozone consists of 20 EU member states that use the Euro as their official currency.
Assertion (A) is true: USA has, in the past, pressured the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose trade sanctions on developing countries for alleged violations of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, particularly concerning child labor and labor rights. This aligns with Assertion (A), making it true. Reason (R) is false because the USA itself has not ratified several key ILO conventions, including those related to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and forced labor. The USA has been selective in adopting ILO conventions, often opposing ILO-enforced labor standards through WTO trade measures.
The World Environment Conference to discuss global warming in 1997 was held in Kyoto, Japan. This conference led to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol.
Option (b) is correct: China had the highest participation rate, exceeding 70%, primarily due to state policies emphasizing gender equality in employment and a high demand for labor in both agricultural and industrial sectors. The socialist economic model historically encouraged women to contribute to the workforce. Options (a) is incorrect: The United States (USA) had a participation rate of approximately 59%, reflecting a strong labor market with relatively high employment opportunities for women, particularly in the service sector. Options (c) is incorrect: Russia had around 57% female workforce participation. After the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, many women remained active in the labor market, although economic instability led to job losses in certain sectors. Options (d) is incorrect: South Korea had the lowest rate among the given countries at approximately 47%, as traditional gender roles were still prevalent, and workforce participation among married women was relatively lower compared to Western economies.
Option (c) is correct: Khasi belongs to the Austroasiatic (Austric) language family, specifically the Mon-Khmer branch, and is spoken mainly in Meghalaya, India.
Option (a) is incorrect: Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Maharashtra.
Option (b) is incorrect: Ladakhi is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken in Ladakh.
Option (d) is incorrect: Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken in Tamil Nadu.
The Eco Mark is a certification issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for products that meet environmental sustainability criteria. It is awarded to goods that have minimal adverse effects on the environment throughout their lifecycle, including production, use, and disposal. The mark helps consumers identify eco-friendly products and promotes sustainable manufacturing practices.
Some notable certification marks in India along with their issuing bodies:
Certification Mark Issuing Body Purpose ISI Mark Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Ensures industrial products meet Indian standards. Agmark Directorate of Marketing & Inspection Certifies the quality of agricultural products. FPO Mark Ministry of Food Processing Industries Ensures hygiene in processed fruit products. BIS Hallmark Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Certifies the purity of gold and silver jewelry. India Organic Certification APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) Certifies organic farm products. Non-Polluting Vehicle Mark Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Certifies vehicles meet Bharat Stage emission norms. FSSAI Mark Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Ensures food products meet safety and quality standards.
An aerospace and defence scientist, Kalam was involved in the development of India’s first satellite launch vehicle SLV III and was the architect of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. He also served as the eleventh President of India from 2002 till 2007. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997 for his contributions to science and defense technology.
The United Front was a coalition of political parties that was in power from 1996 to 1997. The major parties that were part of the United Front included the Samajwadi Party, the CPI (M), the Indian National Congress (which provided support), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and smaller regional parties. Hence among the options, Bahujan Samaj Party, Haryana Vikas Party and Samata Party were not part of United Front.
The damage to the Spektr Module of the Russian Space Station Mir occurred due to a collision with a Soyuz cargo ship in 1997 during a routine docking maneuver. The collision caused a significant breach in the module, leading to a loss of oxygen and other technical issues.
| Q | UPSC year | Correct answer |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1998 | (b) Financial Economics |
| 12 | 1998 | (b) Euro |
| 13 | 1998 | (c) A is true both R is false |
| 14 | 1998 | (d) Kyoto |
| 15 | 1998 | (b) China |
| 16 | 1998 | (c) Khasi |
| 17 | 1998 | (c) environment friendly |
| 18 | 1998 | (d) Dr. Abdul Kalam |
| 19 | 1998 | (b) 1, 2 and 3 |
| 20 | 1998 | (a) collision with a Soyuz cargo ship |
This page covers 22 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on General Knowledge in the UPSC 1998 Prelims, asked from 1996 to 2010. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Questions on General Knowledge in the UPSC 1998 Prelims are available for 15 years, from 1996 to 2010. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
