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 31–40 of 43 questions
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UPSC 2008General Knowledge · General Awareness: India
Q31. How is Sarosh Zaiwalla well-known as?
Explanation
Sarosh Zaiwalla is a renowned international legal expert and the founder of Zaiwalla & Co., a London-based law firm. He handled well-known international arbitration and litigation issues and was the first lawyer of Indian descent to open a practice in the United Kingdom. Russian corporations, Middle Eastern organisations, and the Indian government are just a few of the world leaders he has represented. His contributions to arbitration and international law are well known.
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · General Awareness: India
Q32. Among the Indian languages, which one is spoken maximum in the world after Hindi?
Explanation
Bengali is the most spoken in the world after Hindi and ranks seventh among the world’s most-spoken languages, making it the most widely spoken Indian language after Hindi.
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · General Awareness: India
Q33. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Institute Location 1. National Centre for Cell Science: Mysore 2. Centre for DNA Fingerprinting: Hyderabad and Diagnostics 3. National Brain Research Centre: Gurgaon Select the correct answer using the code given below: Codes:
Explanation
Pair 1 is incorrect: The National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) is located in Pune, Maharashtra. Established in 1986 under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, it specializes in cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, genetic engineering, and stem cell research.
Pair 2 is correct: The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) is an autonomous organization funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. CDFD is located in Hyderabad.
Pair 3 is correct: The National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), located in the Aravalli foothills, Manesar, Gurugram, is India’s premier institute for neuroscience research and education. An autonomous institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, it is also a Deemed-to-be University and an Institution of Excellence.
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · General Awareness: India
Q34. Who among the following translated the Autobiography of Madam Curie in Hindi?
Explanation
Lal Bahadur Shastri (1904-1966), India’s 2nd Prime Minister (1964-1966), led the nation during the 1965 Indo-Pak War and coined the iconic slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan." He played a pivotal role in promoting the Green Revolution and translated Madame Curie’s Autobiography into Hindi, reflecting his passion for science and education.
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · General Awareness: India
Q35. Elizabeth Hawley is well-known for her writings relating to which one of the following?
Explanation
Elizabeth Hawley (1923-2018) was an American journalist and historian renowned for documenting Himalayan expeditions, particularly mountaineering in Nepal. She meticulously recorded details of Mount Everest and other Himalayan climbs, making her one of the most trusted sources on Himalayan mountaineering history. She maintained a comprehensive database of Himalayan expeditions for over five decades, authoring The Himalayan Database, a key reference for mountaineers. Though never climbing herself, her records were considered authoritative.
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q36. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
List-I (Person)
List-II (Position)
A. Nagender Singh
1. Chief Election Commissioner of India
B. A N Ray
2. President, International Court of Justice
C. R. K Trivedi
3. Chief Justice of India
D. Ashok Desai
4. Attorney General of India
Explanation
Nagender Singh served as India’s Chief Election Commissioner (1986-1990). A.N. Ray was appointed Chief Justice of India in 1973, superseding three senior judges. R.K. Trivedi was a judge who served as President of the International Court of Justice. Ashok Desai was India’s Attorney General (1996-1998).
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q37. In August 2006, the Government of India notified the Rural Electrification Policy. This policy aims at provision of access to all households by which year?
Explanation
The policy aims to provide electricity access to all households by 2009, ensure quality and reliable power at reasonable rates, and guarantee a minimum lifeline consumption of one unit per household per day as a merit good by 2012.
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q38. Recently, the manuscripts of which one of the following have been included in the UNESCO’s Memory of World Register?
Explanation
In a rare honour, 30 Rig Veda manuscripts dating from 1800 to 1500 BC have been included in Unesco’s Memory of the World Register, a compendium of documentary heritage of exceptional value, this year. However, India’s second entry, the Sharada script, could not make it to the register.
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q39. 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. K P Singh
1. Banking
B. Vikram Pandit
2. Fiction writing
C. Roopa Farooki
3. Retail business
D. Kishore Biyani
4. Real estate
Explanation
A-4, K. P. Singh, Chairman of DLF Ltd., is a key figure in India’s real estate sector. B-1, Vikram Pandit, former CEO of Citigroup, is a prominent name in banking. C-2, Roopa Farooki is an acclaimed contemporary fiction author known for novels like The Way Things Look to Me. D-3, Kishore Biyani, Founder and CEO of Future Group, is recognized as the "King of Indian Retail."
UPSC 2008General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q40. For which one of the following reforms was a Commission set up under the Chairmanship of Veerappa Moily by the Government of India?
Explanation
The Veerappa Moily Committee was set up by the Government of India for Administrative Reforms. This committee’s main focus was to recommend measures for improving the efficiency and accountability of the Indian administrative system. The committee’s report, known as the Moily Committee Report, primarily dealt with reforms in the administrative processes of the government, addressing issues like the modernization of the administrative machinery and better governance.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
31
2008
(c) A leading international legal expert
32
2008
(c) Bengali
33
2008
(c) 2 and 3 only
34
2008
(b) Lal Bahadur Shastri
35
2008
(c) Himalayan expeditions
36
2008
(c) A-1; B-3; C-2; D-4
37
2008
(b) 2009
38
2008
(d) Rig-Veda
39
2008
(d) A-4; B-1; C-2; D-3
40
2008
(d) Administrative Reforms
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.
