Q1. Yom Kippur War was fought between which sides/ countries?
Explanation
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the October War or Ramadan War, was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria.
UPSC 2008 General Knowledge Questions with Answers
43 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on General Knowledge in the UPSC 2008 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 1–10 of 43 questions
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Q2. Who among the following scientists shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with his son?
Explanation
Option (a) is incorrect: Max Planck won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918 for his discovery of quantum theory, but he did not share it with his son.
Option (b) is incorrect: Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his work on the photoelectric effect, but he did not share it with his son.
Option (c) is correct: William Henry Bragg along with his son, William Lawrence Bragg, received the Nobel Prize in 1915 for their X-ray crystallography research, which helped in determining crystal structures.
Option (d) is incorrect: Enrico Fermi won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1938 for his work on nuclear reactions, but he did not share it with his son.
Q3. Which of the following pairs in respect of current power generation in India is/are correctly matched? (Rounded Figure)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 1. Installed electricity generation capacity | 100000 MW |
| 2. Electricity generation | 660 billion kWh |
Explanation
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: In 2008, India’s installed power capacity was significantly higher than 100,000 MW. By 2006-07, India had already surpassed the 125,000 MW mark.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: India’s electricity generation in 2007-08 was around 660 billion kWh (or units). This figure is approximately correct.
Q4. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List-I (Person) | List-II (Area) |
|---|---|
| A. Sabyasachi Mukherjee | 1. Microfinance loans |
| B. Aniruddha Bahal | 2. Pharmaceuticals |
| C. Vikram Akula | 3. Fashion designing |
| D. Yusuf Hamied | 4. Investigative Journalism |
Explanation
List-I (Person) List-II (Area) Sabyasachi Mukherjee Fashion Designing Aniruddha Bahal Investigative Journalism Vikram Akula Microfinance Loans Yusuf Hamied Pharmaceuticals
Q5. Ogaden region has been a source of conflict between which countries?
Explanation
The Ogaden region has been a long-standing disputed territory between Ethiopia and Somalia. In 1977-1978, Somalia invaded Ethiopia in the Ogaden War, attempting to annex the region, but was eventually pushed back with Soviet and Cuban assistance to Ethiopia. Even today, the Ogaden conflict remains a source of tension due to the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a separatist group fighting for independence from Ethiopia.
Q6. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List-I (Service/Agency) | List-II (Country) |
|---|---|
| A. Foreign Intelligence Service | 1. Israel |
| B. Ministry of State Security | 2. Britain |
| C. Secret Intelligence Service | 3. China |
| D. The Mossad | 4. Russia |
Explanation
List-I (Service/Agency) List-II (Country) Foreign Intelligence Service Russia Ministry of State Security China Secret Intelligence Service Britain The Mossad Israel
Additional insight:
The Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) is Russia’s external intelligence agency, a successor to the KGB after its dissolution in 1991. It handles espionage, foreign intelligence gathering, and counterintelligence. The Ministry of State Security (MSS) is China’s intelligence and security agency responsible for espionage, counterintelligence, and surveillance. It is known for its role in cyber espionage and political surveillance. Commonly known as MI6, the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) is Britain’s foreign intelligence agency. It primarily deals with espionage and intelligence gathering outside the UK. Mossad is Israel’s national intelligence agency, focusing on covert operations, counterterrorism, and intelligence gathering. It is one of the world’s most renowned intelligence services.
Q7. Norman Ernest Borlaug who is regarded as the father of the Green Revolution in India is from which country?
Explanation
Norman Ernest Borlaug, an american, is widely regarded as the Father of the Green Revolution, which transformed global agriculture by significantly increasing crop yields through high-yielding varieties (HYVs), fertilizers, and modern farming techniques. His work had a major impact in India, Mexico, and other developing nations, helping to combat food shortages.
Q8. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List-I (Organization) | List-II (Associated Convention /Person/Place /Headquarters) |
|---|---|
| A. Amnesty International | 1. Viskuli |
| B. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) | 2. Paris |
| C. Danube Commission | 3. Peter Benenson |
| D. Europe Space Agency | 4. Belgrade Convention |
Explanation
List-I (Organization) List-II (Associated Convention /Person/Place / Headquarters) Amnesty International Peter Benenson Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Viskuli Danube Commission Belgrade Convention Europe Space Agency Paris
Additional insight:
Amnesty International is a human rights organization founded in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a British lawyer. The organization campaigns against human rights violations worldwide. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Belavezha Accords that established the CIS were signed in Viskuli, Belarus. The Danube Commission was established under the Belgrade Convention of 1948. It oversees navigation and cooperation along the Danube River, which flows through Central and Eastern Europe. The European Space Agency (ESA) was founded in 1975, and its headquarters is in Paris, France. It is responsible for space exploration and satellite programs in Europe.
Q9. How much is one barrel of oil approximately equal to
Explanation
A barrel of oil is a standard unit of measurement used in the oil industry worldwide. It represents the volume of crude oil or petroleum products. One barrel of crude oil is equal to approximately 159 litres (42 U.S. gallons). This is the internationally accepted oil barrel volume.
Q10. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
1. Francis Collins: Mapping human genome
2. Sergey Brin: Google Search Engine
3. Jimmy Wales: Wikipedia
Select the correct answer using the code given below: Codes:
1. Francis Collins: Mapping human genome
2. Sergey Brin: Google Search Engine
3. Jimmy Wales: Wikipedia
Select the correct answer using the code given below: Codes:
Explanation
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Francis Collins led the Human Genome Project (HGP), which successfully mapped the entire human DNA sequence. He played a key role in decoding genetic information, impacting medicine and biotechnology.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: Sergey Brin, along with Larry Page, co-founded Google in 1998. They developed PageRank, the algorithm behind Google’s search engine technology.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Jimmy Wales, co-founded Wikipedia in 2001. Wikipedia became the world’s largest online encyclopedia, offering free knowledge globally.
Answer key for these questions
| Q | UPSC year | Correct answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008 | (c) Israel, and Arab countries led by Egypt and Syria |
| 2 | 2008 | (c) William Henry Bragg |
| 3 | 2008 | (b) 2 only |
| 4 | 2008 | (b) A-3; B-4; C-1; D-2 |
| 5 | 2008 | (d) Ethiopia and Somalia |
| 6 | 2008 | (c) A-4; B-3; C-2; D-1 |
| 7 | 2008 | (a) United States of America |
| 8 | 2008 | (a) A-3; B-1; C-4; D-2 |
| 9 | 2008 | (b) 159 litres |
| 10 | 2008 | (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on General Knowledge?
This page covers 43 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on General Knowledge in the UPSC 2008 Prelims, asked from 1996 to 2010. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
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.
Which years are covered for General Knowledge?
Questions on General Knowledge in the UPSC 2008 Prelims are available for 15 years, from 1996 to 2010. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.