Miscellaneous: UPSC Previous Year Questions (International Relations and Current Affairs)
6 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Miscellaneous (International Relations and Current Affairs). 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 1–6 of 6 questions
UPSC 2017International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q1. What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?
Explanation
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) is a flagship initiative launched by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to bridge the gap between higher educational institutions and rural India by addressing developmental challenges through technology-driven solutions. It aims to leverage knowledge from premier educational institutions like IITs, NITs, and universities to enhance rural development and focuses on sustainable devel-opment, water management, energy, and organic farming. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi is the nodal agency for implementing the program.
UPSC 2017International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q2. What is the purpose of ‘Vidyanjali Yojana’? 1. To enable the famous foreign educational institutions to open their campuses in India. 2. To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community. 3. To encourage voluntary monetary contributions from private individuals and organizations so as to improve the infrastructure facilities for primary and secondary schools. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The Vidyanjali Yojana was launched by the Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD) in 2016 as an initiative to enhance the quality of education in government schools through community and private-sector participation.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The scheme does not allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India. It is focused on improving public education at the school level through volunteer participation rather than international collaborations.
Statement 2 is correct: The scheme seeks to give quality education in government schools by engaging volunteers from various fields, including retired professionals, working professionals, and college students, to contribute their knowledge and skills to students through non-teaching activities such as reading, mentoring, and extracurricular programs.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While Vidyanjali 2.0, launched in 2021, allows for voluntary donation of resources, the original Vidyanjali Yojana did not focus on monetary contributions or infrastructure development. The primary goal was community engagement rather than financial donations.
UPSC 2017International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q3. Consider the following statements: The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at: 1. Expanding the cultivable area under irrigation. 2. Enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality. 3. Checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
The Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme, launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, aims to provide farmers with soil health assessments to ensure optimal fertilizer usage and sustainable farming practices.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The scheme does not focus on expanding the cultivable area under irrigation. Instead, it aims to enhance soil fertility and productivity through soil analysis.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The scheme does not facilitate bank loan assessments for farmers. It primarily provides information on soil health to guide proper fertilizer use.
Statement 3 is correct: A key objective of the scheme is to check the overuse of fertilizers and promote balanced nutrient management to improve crop productivity and reduce soil degradation.
UPSC 2017International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q4. With reference to ‘National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), which of the statements given below is/are correct? 1. Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning. 2. An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: NSQF allows certification through multiple pathways, including formal, non-formal, and informal learning, ensuring recognition of prior learning (RPL) for workers who acquire skills outside formal institutions.
Statement 2 is correct: One of the key goals of NSQF is to ensure mobility between vocational and general education, allowing students and workers to shift between academic and skill-based careers seamlessly.
Additional insight:
The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) is a competency-based framework introduced in 2013 by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to standardize skill development, vocational education, and academic learning in India.
UPSC 2017International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q5. Consider the following statements: 1. The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes. 2. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandates certification for automotive tyres and tubes to ensure road safety and product quality. The BIS Standard Mark indicates compliance with ISI standards.
Statement 2 is incorrect: AGMARK is a certification issued by the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, and not by FAO. It ensures the quality of agricultural products like grains, pulses, and edible oils.
UPSC 2017International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q6. Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’? 1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. 2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women. 3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice. 4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: A key goal is raising awareness about malnutrition, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Statement 2 is correct: The mission aims to reduce anemia prevalence among children, adolescent girls, and women through dietary diversification and micronutrient supplementation.
Statement 3 is correct: The program promotes nutrient-rich foods, including millets and unpolished rice, to enhance dietary diversity.
Statement 4 is incorrect: While eggs are recommended as a protein source, the mission does not specifically promote poultry eggs.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2017
(b) Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
2
2017
(a) 2 only
3
2017
(b) 3 only
4
2017
(b) 2 only
5
2017
(a) 1 only
6
2017
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Miscellaneous?
This page covers 6 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Miscellaneous (International Relations and Current Affairs), asked from 2011 to 2023. 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 Miscellaneous?
Questions on Miscellaneous (International Relations and Current Affairs) are available for 11 years, from 2011 to 2023. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
