Miscellaneous: UPSC Previous Year Questions (International Relations and Current Affairs)
8 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 1–8 of 8 questions
UPSC 2022International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q1. Consider the following statements: 1. Gujarat has the largest solar park in India. 2. Kerala has a fully solar powered International Airport. 3. Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The largest solar park in India is Bhadla Solar Park, located in Rajasthan, not Gujarat. Spread over 14,000 acres, it has a capacity of 2,245 MW and is among the largest in the world.
Statement 2 is correct: Cochin International Airport in Kerala is the world’s first fully solar-powered international airport. It was inaugurated as a completely solar-run airport in 2015 and won the UN Champions of the Earth award in 2018 for its sustainable model.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Goa does not have the largest floating solar photovoltaic (PV) project. The largest floating solar PV project in India is located in Ramagundam, Telangana, with a 100 MW capacity, developed by NTPC.
UPSC 2022International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q2. With reference to the "Tea Board" in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Tea Board is a statutory body. 2. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 3. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru. 4. The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Tea Board of India is a statutory body established under the Tea Act, 1953. It is responsible for the promotion, research, regulation, and trade facilitation of the tea industry.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Tea Board functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The headquarters of the Tea Board of India is in Kolkata, not Bengaluru. Kolkata has been the traditional center of India’s tea trade.
Statement 4 is correct: The Tea Board has overseas offices in Dubai and Moscow, which help facilitate tea exports, conduct quality inspections, and enhance international market reach.
UPSC 2022International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q3. Which one of the following statements best describes the ‘Polar Code’?
Explanation
The Polar Code, implemented in January 2017 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is a mandatory regulatory framework for ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic waters. It covers ship design, crew training, pollution prevention, and navigation safety, ensuring environmental protection and human safety in extreme polar conditions. The Polar Code supplements existing MARPOL (Marine Pollution) and SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) conventions.
UPSC 2022International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q4. Consider the following statements: 1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization. 2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The India Sanitation Coalition (ISC) is an independent platform led by FICCI, aimed at promoting sanitation, but it is not funded directly by the Government of India or WHO.
Statement 2 is correct: The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is an autonomous research body under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). It provides policy recommendations, urban research, and capacity building for cities across India.
UPSC 2022International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q5. In India, what is the role of the Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO)? 1. CCO is the major source of Coal Statistics in Government of In-dia. 2. It monitors progress of development of Captive Coal/Lignite blocks. 3. It hears any objection to the Government’s notification relating to acquisition of coal-bearing areas. 4. It ensures that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The CCO is the primary source of coal statistics in India, collecting data on production, stock, and dispatch.
Statement 2 is correct: It monitors captive coal and lignite blocks, ensuring efficient allocation and compliance.
Statement 3 is correct: The CCO hears objections regarding coal-bearing land acquisition, as per the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The CCO does not oversee direct coal delivery; this function is handled by Coal India Limited (CIL) and private coal producers. Coal is India’s primary energy source, contributing to over 55% of electricity generation. The Coal Controller’s Organization (CCO) plays a pivotal role in coal regulation, monitoring, and policy implementation.
UPSC 2022International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q6. In India, which one of the following compiles information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments and layoffs in factories employing workers?
Explanation
The Labour Bureau, part of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, is tasked with compiling and analyzing data on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments, and layoffs in factories with workers. It releases the Industrial Disputes Statistics Report and other labour market indicators, which are essential for informing labour policy decisions in India. These data play a vital role in shaping policies, particularly in monitoring industrial conflicts, workforce reductions, and factory shutdowns. Other options are incorrect:
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) focuses on macroeconomic data, not industrial disputes. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) handles investment and trade policies, not labour issues. National Technical Information System Manpower does not compile labour statistics.
UPSC 2022International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q7. Consider the following: 1. Aarogya Setu 2. CoWIN 3. DigiLocker 4. DIKSHA Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms?
Explanation
Open-source digital platforms enable transparency, scalability, and accessibility in India’s e-governance initiatives. Aarogya Setu (contact tracing for COVID-19) was later open-sourced to enhance security and transparency. CoWIN (COVID-19 vaccination platform) was built using an open-source framework to facilitate large-scale vaccination tracking. DigiLocker (cloud-based document storage) operates on an open-source framework, allowing citizens to access digital documents securely. DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) is an open-source platform for education and teacher training.
UPSC 2022International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q8. With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements: 1. Private and public hospitals must adopt it. 2. As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately. 3. It has seamless portability across the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a flagship program for creating a unified digital health infrastructure in India. While hospitals are encouraged to adopt it, there is no mandatory requirement for private hospitals to join ABDM.
Statement 2 is incorrect: ABDM aims to improve accessibility to digital health services, but it is not mandatory for all citizens.
Statement 3 is correct: ABDM offers seamless portability across India, enabling citizens to access health records digitally, irrespective of location.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2022
(b) 2 only
2
2022
(d) 1 and 4
3
2022
(a) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.
4
2022
(b) 2 only
5
2022
(a) 1, 2 and 3
6
2022
(c) Labour Bureau
7
2022
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
8
2022
(b) 3 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Miscellaneous?
This page covers 8 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.
