UPSC 2009 General Knowledge Questions with Answers
59 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on General Knowledge in the UPSC 2009 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 51–59 of 59 questions
Browse General Knowledge chapters
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q51. Consider the following houses: 1. Christie’s 2. Osian’s 3. Sotheby’s Which of the above is/are auctioneer/auctioneers?
Explanation
Option 1 is correct, Christie’s is a well-known auction house that conducts auctions in fine art, antiques, jewelry, and various other categories. It is one of the largest and most famous auction houses globally.
Option 2 is correct, Osian’s Connoisseurs of Art, founded by Neville Tuli in 2000, is India’s first auction house dedicated to fine arts, antiquities, vintage and classic automobiles, and film memorabilia. Option 3 is correct, Sotheby’s is another prestigious and renowned auction house, known for dealing in fine art, collectibles, antiques, and real estate auctions. It is a major global player in the auction industry.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q52. Which one of the following Union Ministries implements the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety?
Explanation
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international agreement that aims to ensure the safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology. The protocol is a supplementary agreement to CBD, Convention on Biological Diversity. In India, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) is responsible for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The ministry handles issues related to biodiversity, the environment, and biosafety regulations. Specifically, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) play key roles in the enforcement of the protocol.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q53. With which one of the following has the B.K. Chaturvedi Committee dealt?
Explanation
B.K. Chaturvedi committee was set up for a permanent and transparent method of pricing petroleum products in India. A key aspect of their mandate was to assess the financial position of public sector oil companies and propose measures to ensure their long-term viability.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Contemporary Events: India
Q54. In the context of global economy, which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
Explanation
Roche Holding AG: It is a pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, not a financial services firm. It is one of the world’s largest biotech companies and focuses on healthcare, specifically in drugs and diagnostics.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Sports and Games
Q55. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
Explanation
Pair (b) is incorrectly matched: Pamela Jelimo is a renowned Kenyan middle-distance runner, specializing in the 800 meters. At just 18, she made history by winning the Olympic gold medal in 2008, becoming the youngest Olympic champion in the 800 meters event.
Additional insight:
Barbora Spotakova: Czech javelin legend, 2x Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012). (Neeraj Chopra: Indian javelin thrower, won India’s first Olympic track and field gold (Tokyo 2020).) Sanya Richards-Ross: American sprinter, Olympic gold medalist (2012), World Champion (2009). Yelena Isinbayeva: Russian pole vault legend, widely regarded as one of the greatest female pole vaulters.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Sports and Games
Q56. Who of the following is a football player?
Explanation
Nicolas Anelka is a retired French professional footballer who played as a forward for several top-tier clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Chelsea.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Sports and Games
Q57. Among the following, which one is not a football club?
Explanation
Monte Carlo is the largest and most populous ward of the Principality of Monaco, a sovereign city-state located on the French Riviera. It is famous for its casinos, luxury hotels, and yacht-lined harbor, making it a popular destination for the wealthy and famous.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Sports and Games
Q58. Consider the following pairs: Persons Sport 1. Anand Pawar: Chess 2. Akhil Kumar: Boxing 3. Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia: Golf Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Anand Pawar is an Indian badminton player who has represented India in Thomas Cup, Sudirman Cup, and Asian Badminton Championships.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: Akhil Kumar is a renowned Indian boxer known for his "open guarded" style, winning multiple international and national awards, including the Arjuna Award in 2005.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia is an Indian professional golfer.
UPSC 2009General Knowledge · Sports and Games
Q59. When Leander Paes won the "mixed doubles" at the US Open in the year 2008, who of the following was his partner?
Explanation
In the 2008 US Open, Leander Paes won the Mixed Doubles Title partnering Cara Black from Zimbabwe. They defeated Liezel Huber (USA) and Jamie Murray (UK) with a score of 7-6(8-6), 6-4.
Additional insight:
In the 2016 French Open mixed doubles final, Leander Paes (India) and Martina Hingis (Switzerland) defeated Sania Mirza (India) and Ivan Dodig (Croatia) In the 2024 US Open men’s doubles final, Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson from Australia defeated Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Putz. In the 2024 US Open women’s doubles final, Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine and Jeena Ostapenko of Latvia triumphed over France’s Kristina Mladenovic and China’s Zhang Shuai. In the 2024 US Open mixed doubles final, Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori defeated Americans Taylor Townsend and Donald Young
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
51
2009
(d) 1, 2 and 3
52
2009
(c) Ministry of Environment and Forests
53
2009
(d) Price reforms in the oil sector
54
2009
(b) Roche Holding AG: Financial Services
55
2009
(b) Pamela Jelimo: Weightlifting
56
2009
(d) Nicolas Anelka
57
2009
(d) Monte Carlo
58
2009
(b) 2 and 3 only
59
2009
(b) Cara Black
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on General Knowledge?
This page covers 59 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on General Knowledge in the UPSC 2009 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 2009 Prelims are available for 15 years, from 1996 to 2010. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
