International Relations and Current Affairs: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)
182 previous year UPSC Prelims International Relations and Current Affairs questions are on this page, from 2011 to 2025, in 3 chapters. International Relations is the largest, covering groupings, treaties, reports and countries in the news. Current Affairs and Miscellaneous add national schemes, awards, sports and institutions. The set is recent, so the explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 181–182 of 182 questions
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UPSC 2011International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q181. In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material? 1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio- asphalt is not based on fossil fuels. 2. Bioasphalt can be made from non- renewable resources. 3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials. 4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Bioasphalt is not derived from fossil fuels but from renewable biomass sources like plant-based oils, algae, and bio-waste. This makes it a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based asphalt.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The claim that bioasphalt is made from non-renewable resources is wrong because its raw materials come from renewable sources such as biomass and organic waste. Unlike conventional asphalt, which relies on finite petroleum reserves, bioasphalt can be continuously replen-ished.
Statement 3 is correct: Bioasphalt can be produced from organic waste materials, such as agricultural residues, used cooking oil, and forestry waste. This reduces waste accumulation and promotes circular economy practices by repurpos-ing waste into construction materials.
Statement 4 is correct: Using bioasphalt lowers greenhouse gas emissions as it reduces dependency on fossil fuels and utilizes carbon-sequestering biomass. It contributes to sustainable road infrastructure, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon footprints in construction.
UPSC 2011International Relations and Current Affairs · Miscellaneous
Q182. Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his deepest convictions were reflected in a book titled, "Unto this Last" and the book transformed his life. What was the message from the book that transformed Mahatma Gandhi?
Explanation
"Unto This Last" & Gandhi Written by John Ruskin (1860), the book deeply influenced Mahatma Gandhi. The message that transformed Mahatma Gandhi was "The good of individual is contained in the good of all" Gandhi translated it into Gujarati as "Sarvodaya" (The Welfare of All). Core message: Individual well-being is tied to societal welfare, promoting ethical economics, self-sufficiency, and equitable wealth distribution. Inspired Gandhi’s Phoenix Settlement in South Africa and self-reliant village development in India. v v v
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
181
2011
(b) 1. 3 and 4 only
182
2011
(b) The good of individual is contained in the good of all
What UPSC has tested in International Relations and Current Affairs
Questions about reports and indices ask which organisation publishes them, such as the World Economic Forum, the IMF, the World Bank and the World Justice Project.
Country-grouping questions ask how many of the listed countries belong to a group, such as NATO, G20 or UPI payment partners.
Current-affairs items in recent papers include the AI Action Summit, the Kho Kho World Cup, the Chess Olympiad and the Gandhi Peace Prize jury.
Many items are one-line identifications: what a term means, who wrote a book, or which body issued a report.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on International Relations and Current Affairs?
This page covers 182 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on International Relations and Current Affairs, asked from 2011 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Which chapters does International Relations and Current Affairs have?
Three: International Relations with 91 questions, Current Affairs with 48 and Miscellaneous with 43. International Relations covers groupings, treaties and countries in the news, while the other two cover national schemes, institutions, sports and awards.
Which years do these questions cover?
They run from 2011 to 2025, so almost all are recent. This keeps the facts closer to today, although each explanation states the position as it stood in the year the question was asked.
Are the 2025 questions on BRICS, BIMSTEC and the AI Action Summit included?
Yes. The 2025 paper’s questions on BRICS, BIMSTEC, INSTC, the Minerals Security Partnership, NATO membership, the AI Action Summit, Kho Kho and the Gandhi Peace Prize jury are included with their explanations.
