Current Affairs and International Relations MCQ Quiz for UPSC Prelims – PYQ Practice Test 2016-2025 (10 Sets, 80 Questions)

Consider the following countries:
I. Austria
II. Bulgaria
III. Croatia
IV. Serbia
V. Sweden
VI. North Macedonia
How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

• (a) Only three
• (b) Only four
• (c) Only five
• (d) All the six

Answer: (b) Only four. Bulgaria and Croatia joined NATO in 2004, North Macedonia in 2020 and Sweden in 2024, which makes four. Austria is militarily neutral, and Serbia has stayed out of the alliance.

Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC:
I. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member States till January 2025.
II. It came into existence with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration in 1999.
III. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding member States of BIMSTEC.
IV. In BIMSTEC, the subsector of 'tourism' is being led by India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) I and II
• (b) II and III
• (c) I and IV
• (d) I only

Answer: (d) I only. BIMSTEC still has seven members. It was set up by the Bangkok Declaration of 1997, its founders were Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand (Myanmar joined the same year, Nepal and Bhutan in 2004), and Nepal, not India, leads tourism. Only statement I is right.

Who among the following are members of the jury to select the recipient of the 'Gandhi Peace Prize'?
I. The President of India
II. The Prime Minister of India
III. The Chief Justice of India
IV. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• (a) II and IV only
• (b) I, II and III
• (c) II, III and IV
• (d) I and III only

Answer: (c) II, III and IV. The Prime Minister chairs the Gandhi Peace Prize jury. The other members are the Chief Justice of India, the Leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha and two eminent persons. The President is not on the jury.

Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025:
I. Co-chaired with India, the event builds on the advances made at the Bletchley Park Summit held in 2023 and the Seoul Summit held in 2024.
II. Along with other countries, the US and the UK also signed the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) I only
• (b) II only
• (c) Both I and II
• (d) Neither I nor II

Answer: (a) I only. France and India co-chaired the Paris summit, which followed the Bletchley Park (2023) and Seoul (2024) meetings. The United States and the United Kingdom did not sign the declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI, so only statement I is correct.

Consider the following pairs:
International year — Year
I. International Year of the Woman Farmer — 2026
II. International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism — 2027
III. International Year of Peace and Trust — 2025
IV. International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defence — 2029
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) Only three
• (d) All the four

Answer: (d) All the four. The UN General Assembly has assigned all four years exactly as listed, so every pair is correct.

Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:
I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan.
II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS.
III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was 'Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security'.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) I and II
• (b) II and III
• (c) I and III
• (d) I only

Answer: (a) I and II. Russia hosted the 16th summit in Kazan in October 2024, and Indonesia became a full member in January 2025. The theme used the word 'Multilateralism', not 'Multiculturalism', so statement III is wrong.

Consider the following statements in respect of the first Kho Kho World Cup:
I. The event was held in Delhi, India.
II. Indian men's team defeated Nepal 78-40 in the final.
III. Indian women's team defeated Nepal 54-36 in the final.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) I only
• (b) II and III only
• (c) I and III only
• (d) I, II and III

Answer: (a) I only. The first Kho Kho World Cup was held in New Delhi in January 2025. The scores in statements II and III are swapped: the Indian women won 78-40 and the men won 54-36. So only statement I is correct.

Consider the following statements:
I. In the finals of the 45th Chess Olympiad held in 2024, Gukesh Dommaraju became the world's youngest winner by defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi.
II. Abhimanyu Mishra, an American chess player, became the youngest-ever Grandmaster in history.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) I only
• (b) II only
• (c) Both I and II
• (d) Neither I nor II

Answer: (b) II only. The Chess Olympiad is a team event with no individual final. Gukesh's record as the youngest world champion came from beating Ding Liren in the 2024 World Championship match. Abhimanyu Mishra does hold the record as the youngest-ever Grandmaster (2021).

India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect

• (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
• (b) India to Central Asia via China
• (c) India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
• (d) India to Europe through Azerbaijan

Answer: (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran. The INSTC links Indian ports such as Mumbai to Bandar Abbas in Iran, and then runs by rail and road through the Caspian region and Russia to Central Asia and Europe. Iran is the key transit country.

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

• (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
• (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
• (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
• (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct. Venezuela's crisis and the departure of millions of its people have continued, so Statement-I is false. Venezuela does hold the largest proven oil reserves in the world, so Statement-II is true.

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act recently.
Statement-II: The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

• (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
• (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
• (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
• (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect. The European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act in 2024. The EU's climate-neutrality target is 2050, not 2040, and the Act aims to make about 40% of the clean technology the EU needs by 2030, not all of it. So Statement-II is wrong.

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'etat in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

• (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
• (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
• (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
• (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have all had military coups in recent years, and these coups have added to the region's insecurity. Both statements are true, and the coups help explain the instability.

Consider the following pairs:
Country — Reason for being in the news
1. Argentina — Worst economic crisis
2. Sudan — War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces
3. Turkey — Rescinded its membership of NATO
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

• (a) Only one pair
• (b) Only two pairs
• (c) All three pairs
• (d) None of the pairs

Answer: (b) Only two pairs. Argentina has been in a severe economic crisis, with very high inflation. Sudan's army has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since 2023. Turkey is still a NATO member, so only two pairs are correct.

Who of the following is the author of the books 'The India Way' and 'Why Bharat Matters'?

• (a) Bhupender Yadav
• (b) Nalin Mehta
• (c) Shashi Tharoor
• (d) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

Answer: (d) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar wrote 'The India Way' (2020) and 'Why Bharat Matters' (2024). Both books set out his view of India's foreign policy.

Which of the following statements about the Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023 are correct?
1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.
4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• (a) 1, 2 and 3
• (b) 1, 2 and 4
• (c) 1, 3 and 4
• (d) 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (d) 2, 3 and 4. Mitra Shakti is an India-Sri Lanka exercise, not an India-Bangladesh one. The 2023 edition was held at Aundh, Pune, focused on joint counter-terrorism operations and included Indian Air Force personnel.

Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization:
1. It is one of the agencies of the United Nations.
2. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
3. The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 2 only
• (b) 3 only
• (c) 1 and 2
• (d) 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 2 only. The World Toilet Organization is a Singapore-based non-profit, not a UN agency. It works through advocacy, summits and training, and does not mainly give grants. It started the World Toilet Summit, World Toilet College and World Toilet Day, so only statement 2 is correct.

Which one of the following is the correct description of '100 Million Farmers'?

• (a) It is a platform for accelerating the transition towards food and water systems that are net-zero (carbon), nature-positive and that aim to increase farmer resilience.
• (b) It is an international alliance and a network of individuals and farming organisations interested in supporting and strengthening the development of organic animal husbandry.
• (c) It is a digital platform, based on blockchain technology, for trading fertilizers.
• (d) It is a platform with the mission of encouraging the farmers to form Farmer Product Organisations or Agribusiness Consortiums, thus facilitating access to global open markets to sell their products.

Answer: (a) It is a platform for accelerating the transition towards food and water systems that are net-zero (carbon), nature-positive and that aim to increase farmer resilience.. '100 Million Farmers' is a World Economic Forum platform. Its goal is to move food and water systems towards net-zero, nature-positive models while making farmers more resilient.

Consider the following countries:
1. Italy
2. Japan
3. Nigeria
4. South Korea
5. South Africa
Which of the above countries are frequently mentioned in the media for their low birth rates, or ageing population or declining population?

• (a) 1, 2 and 4
• (b) 1, 3 and 5
• (c) 2 and 4 only
• (d) 3 and 5 only

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4. Italy, Japan and South Korea have some of the world's lowest fertility rates and fast-ageing or shrinking populations. Nigeria and South Africa have young, growing populations.

Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas, to include addressing of their basic needs, is called

• (a) Operation Sankalp
• (b) Operation Maitri
• (c) Operation Sadbhavana
• (d) Operation Madad

Answer: (c) Operation Sadbhavana. Operation Sadbhavana is the Indian Army's civic-action programme in remote areas such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and the North-East. It runs schools and health camps and provides basic infrastructure. Sankalp and Madad are naval or relief operations, and Maitri was a disaster-relief mission.

In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan have come into the news for which one of the following reasons?

• (a) Discovery of rich deposits of rare earth elements
• (b) Establishment of Chinese military bases
• (c) Southward expansion of Sahara Desert
• (d) Successful coups

Answer: (d) Successful coups. Since 2020-21, each of these African countries has had its government overthrown or taken over by the military. That is why they have been in the news together.

Consider the following pairs:
Area of conflict mentioned in news — Country where it is located
1. Donbas — Syria
2. Kachin — Ethiopia
3. Tigray — North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) All three
• (d) None

Answer: (d) None. Donbas is in eastern Ukraine, Kachin is a state in northern Myanmar, and Tigray is a region of Ethiopia. None of the pairs is correct.

Consider the following statements:
1. Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)'.
2. The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries.
3. The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments.
How many of the above statements are correct?

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) All three
• (d) None

Answer: (d) None. Several UN members, including the United States and some European states, did not endorse the GCM. The compact is legally non-binding and covers only international migration, not internal displacement. None of the statements is correct.

Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?

• (a) Angola
• (b) Costa Rica
• (c) Ecuador
• (d) Somalia

Answer: (d) Somalia. Somalia has faced decades of conflict and repeated droughts. In 2022-23 aid agencies warned it was on the brink of famine.

With reference to the 'Stability and Growth Pact' of the European Union, consider the following statements:
1. It sets the limits on the levels of budgetary deficit of the countries of the European Union.
2. It makes the countries of the European Union to share their infrastructure facilities.
3. It enables the countries of the European Union to share their technologies.
How many of the above statements are correct?

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) All three
• (d) None

Answer: (a) Only one. The Stability and Growth Pact is a set of fiscal rules. It caps budget deficits at 3% of GDP and public debt at 60% of GDP. It has nothing to do with sharing infrastructure or technology, so only one statement is correct.

Consider the following statements:
1. The G20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss the international economic and financial issues.
2. Digital public infrastructure is one of India's G20 priorities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. The G20 started in 1999 as a forum for finance ministers and central bank governors, and was raised to leaders' level in 2008. Digital public infrastructure was a headline priority of India's 2023 presidency.

Consider the following pairs:
Region often mentioned in news — Reason for being in news
1. North Kivu and Ituri — War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh — Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — Dispute between Israel and Lebanon
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) All three
• (d) None

Answer: (d) None. North Kivu and Ituri are conflict-hit provinces of the DR Congo. Nagorno-Karabakh was fought over by Armenia and Azerbaijan. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are Ukrainian regions in the Russia-Ukraine war. Every pair is wrong.

Consider the following infrastructure sectors:
1. Affordable housing
2. Mass rapid transport
3. Health care
4. Renewable energy
On how many of the above does UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative focus for its investments?

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) Only three
• (d) All four

Answer: (c) Only three. UNOPS's S3i initiative channels investment into affordable housing, renewable energy and health infrastructure in developing countries. Mass rapid transport is not one of its focus sectors.

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II: The 'Arab Peace Initiative' mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

• (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
• (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
• (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
• (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Israel has diplomatic ties with Egypt and Jordan, and since the 2020 Abraham Accords also with the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco. The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative was a Saudi proposal endorsed by the Arab League; Israel never signed it.

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The USA and the European Union (EU) have launched the Trade and Technology Council.
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

• (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
• (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
• (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
• (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. The US-EU Trade and Technology Council was launched in 2021 to coordinate trade and technology policy on shared democratic values. Neither side claims it is meant to bring technological progress under their control.

Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2
• (b) 2 only
• (c) 2 and 3
• (d) 3 only

Answer: (c) 2 and 3. Bidibidi is in north-western Uganda, not Kenya. It mostly shelters refugees from South Sudan. Kenya's Dadaab complex has long housed Somalis fleeing civil war, so statements 2 and 3 are correct.

With reference to the 'United Nations Credentials Committee', consider the following statements:
1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.
2. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year.
3. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 3 only
• (b) 1 and 3
• (c) 2 and 3
• (d) 1 and 2

Answer: (a) 3 only. The Credentials Committee is a nine-member body appointed by the General Assembly at each regular session, not by the Security Council. It usually meets once a year, in the autumn. It checks member states' credentials and reports to the Assembly.

Consider the following countries:
1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan
Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?

• (a) 1, 2 and 4
• (b) 1 and 3
• (c) 2 and 5
• (d) 3, 4 and 5

Answer: (c) 2 and 5. The Organization of Turkic States brings together Turkic-speaking nations: Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, with Hungary and Turkmenistan as observers. Armenia, Croatia and Romania are not members.

With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:
1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 2 and 3 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are provisions of UNCLOS: a territorial sea of up to 12 nautical miles, innocent passage for ships of all states, and an EEZ of up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.

Consider the following statements:
1. Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world in the recent years.
2. Vietnam is led by a multi-party political system.
3. Vietnam's economic growth is linked to its integration with global supply chains and focus on exports.
4. For a long time Vietnam's low labour costs and stable exchange rates have attracted global manufacturers.
5. Vietnam has the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific region.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) 2 and 4
• (b) 3 and 5
• (c) 1, 3 and 4
• (d) 1 and 2

Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4. Vietnam has grown fast through export manufacturing tied to global supply chains, helped by cheap labour and a stable currency. It is a one-party Communist state, and the claim about the region's most productive e-service sector is unsupported.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?

• (a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.
• (b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.
• (c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.
• (d) Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man's land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.

Answer: (b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.. The Senkaku Islands are uninhabited islets in the East China Sea. Japan administers them, and China (as the Diaoyu Islands) and Taiwan also claim them.

Which one of the following statements best describes the 'Polar Code'?

• (a) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.
• (b) It is the agreement of the countries around the North Pole regarding the demarcation of their territories in the polar region.
• (c) It is a set of norms to be followed by the countries whose scientists undertake research studies in the North Pole and South Pole.
• (d) It is a trade and security agreement of the member countries of the Arctic Council.

Answer: (a) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.. The International Maritime Organization's Polar Code came into force in 2017. It sets mandatory safety and pollution-prevention rules for ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic waters.

Consider the following:
1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
2. Missile Technology Control Regime
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
India is a member of which of the above?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 3 only
• (c) 2 and 3 only
• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. India is a founding member and the second-largest shareholder of the AIIB. It joined the MTCR in 2016 and became a full member of the SCO in 2017.

Consider the following pairs:
Country — Important reason for being in the news recently
1. Chad — Setting up of permanent military base by China
2. Guinea — Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3. Lebanon — Severe and prolonged economic depression
4. Tunisia — Suspension of Parliament by President
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

• (a) Only one pair
• (b) Only two pairs
• (c) Only three pairs
• (d) All four pairs

Answer: (c) Only three pairs. In 2021, Guinea's military suspended the constitution, Lebanon sank into one of the world's worst economic depressions, and Tunisia's President suspended Parliament. China has no permanent base in Chad (its African base is in Djibouti), so three pairs are correct.

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 2 and 3 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. The General Assembly gives observer status to non-member states such as the Holy See and Palestine, and to intergovernmental organisations. Permanent observers may keep missions at UN headquarters, so all three statements are correct.

Consider the following pairs:
Region often mentioned in the news — Country
1. Anatolia — Turkey
2. Amhara — Ethiopia
3. Cabo Delgado — Spain
4. Catalonia — Italy
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

• (a) Only one pair
• (b) Only two pairs
• (c) Only three pairs
• (d) All four pairs

Answer: (b) Only two pairs. Anatolia is the Asian part of Turkey, and Amhara is a region of Ethiopia. Cabo Delgado is an insurgency-hit province of Mozambique, and Catalonia is in Spain, so only two pairs are correct.

Consider the following statements:
1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.
2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.
3. 'Rare earth minerals' are present on seafloor in international waters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 2 and 3 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only. The International Seabed Authority, not the Global Ocean Commission, issues exploration contracts for the deep seabed. India holds ISA contracts, for example for polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, and rare earth elements are found in seabed deposits.

Consider the following statements:
1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) 2 only. UNESCO, not UNICEF, declared 21 February International Mother Language Day, in memory of the 1952 Bengali Language Movement. The demand to make Bangla a national language was first raised in Pakistan's Constituent Assembly in 1948.

Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics:
1. The official motto for this Olympics is 'A New World'.
2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this Olympics.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) 2 only. The Tokyo 2020 Games, held in 2021, had the motto 'United by Emotion'. Sport climbing, surfing, skateboarding and karate made their debut there, and baseball/softball returned.

Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000:
1. American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
2. The award was received mostly by 'Formula One' players so far.
3. Roger Federer received this award maximum number of times compared to others.
Which of the above statements are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 2 and 3 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only. Tiger Woods won the first Laureus Sportsman of the Year award in 2000. Roger Federer has won it the most times. Most winners have been tennis players and athletes, not Formula One drivers.

Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship:
1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2. The finalists of the first World Test Championship were decided by the percentage of points earned, a rule adopted after COVID-19 cancellations, not by matches won. New Zealand finished ahead of England on that percentage.

Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:
1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 2 and 3 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. In Balaji Raghavan (1995) the Supreme Court held that these awards are not 'titles' under Article 18(1). The Padma awards were suspended twice (1977-80 and 1993-97), and at most three Bharat Ratnas may be given in a year. All three statements are wrong.

Consider the following statements:
Statement 1: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World.
Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

• (a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1
• (b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct but Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1
• (c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is not correct
• (d) Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct

Answer: (d) Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct. The Tree Cities of the World recognition is given by the FAO and the Arbor Day Foundation, not the UNCDF, so Statement 1 is wrong. Hyderabad was recognised for its commitment to growing and maintaining urban forests, so Statement 2 is right.

Consider the following pairs:
International agreement/set-up — Subject
1. Alma-Ata Declaration — Healthcare of the people
2. Hague Convention — Biological and chemical weapons
3. Talanoa Dialogue — Global climate change
4. Under2 Coalition — Child rights
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 4 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only. The 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration was about primary health care, and the Talanoa Dialogue was a UNFCCC climate process. The Hague Convention best known in the news is about child abduction, and the Under2 Coalition is a group of sub-national governments acting on climate.

In which one of the following groups are all the four countries members of G20?

• (a) Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey
• (b) Australia, Canada, Malaysia and New Zealand
• (c) Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam
• (d) Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea

Answer: (a) Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey. Argentina, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey are all G20 members. Malaysia, New Zealand, Iran, Vietnam and Singapore are not, so each of the other groups contains at least one non-member.

Consider the following statements:
1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
2. 'Textile and textile articles' constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.
3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) 3 only
• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 only. India-Sri Lanka trade has gone up and down rather than rising steadily. Bangladesh, not Nepal, has been India's largest trading partner in South Asia. Textiles, cotton and yarn are a major part of India-Bangladesh trade.

Recently, India signed a deal known as 'Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field' with which of the following countries?

• (a) Japan
• (b) Russia
• (c) The United Kingdom
• (d) The United States of America

Answer: (b) Russia. India and Russia signed this action plan in 2018. Russia is India's main partner in nuclear power and is building the Kudankulam plant.

Which one of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as 'General Data Protection Regulation' in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018?

• (a) Australia
• (b) Canada
• (c) The European Union
• (d) The United States of America

Answer: (c) The European Union. The GDPR is a European Union regulation. It was adopted in April 2016 and has applied in all member states since 25 May 2018.

Consider the following statements:
1. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a 'Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air'.
2. The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.
3. A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.
4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) 1 and 3 only
• (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
• (c) 2 and 4 only
• (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (c) 2 and 4 only. The migrant-smuggling protocol belongs to UNTOC, and the asset-recovery chapter is part of UNCAC, so statements 1 and 3 mix up the two conventions. UNCAC is the first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument, and UNODC supports both conventions.

Recently, in which of the following countries have lakhs of people either suffered from severe famine/acute malnutrition or died due to starvation caused by war/ethnic conflicts?

• (a) Angola and Zambia
• (b) Morocco and Tunisia
• (c) Venezuela and Colombia
• (d) Yemen and South Sudan

Answer: (d) Yemen and South Sudan. Civil war in Yemen and ethnic conflict in South Sudan led to famine warnings in 2017. Millions of people in both countries faced acute food insecurity.

Consider the following pairs:
Region often in news — Country
1. Catalonia — Spain
2. Crimea — Hungary
3. Mindanao — Philippines
4. Oromia — Nigeria
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

• (a) 1, 2 and 3
• (b) 3 and 4 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 2 and 4 only

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only. Catalonia is in Spain, and Mindanao is in the Philippines. Crimea is a peninsula on the Black Sea taken by Russia from Ukraine, and Oromia is a region of Ethiopia.

In the context of India, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the 'International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?

• (a) The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
• (b) The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of IAEA.
• (c) The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
• (d) The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.

Answer: (a) The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.. India's Additional Protocol widens IAEA access only to the civilian facilities it has declared for safeguards. Military facilities stay outside it, and the Protocol gives neither NSG membership nor any special right to buy fuel.

Consider the following pairs:
Towns sometimes mentioned in news — Country
1. Aleppo — Syria
2. Kirkuk — Yemen
3. Mosul — Palestine
4. Mazar-i-sharif — Afghanistan
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

• (a) 1 and 2
• (b) 1 and 4
• (c) 2 and 3
• (d) 3 and 4

Answer: (b) 1 and 4. Aleppo is in Syria, and Mazar-i-Sharif is in northern Afghanistan. Kirkuk and Mosul are both in Iraq.

'Two-state solution' is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of

• (a) China
• (b) Israel
• (c) Iraq
• (d) Yemen

Answer: (b) Israel. The two-state solution is the proposed settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Consider the following countries:
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. China
4. India
5. Japan
6. USA
Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN?

• (a) 1, 2, 4 and 5
• (b) 3, 4, 5 and 6
• (c) 1, 3, 4 and 5
• (d) 2, 3, 4 and 6

Answer: (c) 1, 3, 4 and 5. ASEAN has free trade agreements with China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia-New Zealand. Canada and the USA are dialogue partners but have no FTA with ASEAN.

What is/are the consequence/consequences of a country becoming the member of the 'Nuclear Suppliers Group'?
1. It will have access to the latest and most efficient nuclear technologies.
2. It automatically becomes a member of 'The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)'.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only. NSG members trade nuclear material and technology with each other under shared guidelines, which gives access to advanced technology. NSG membership is separate from the NPT and does not bring NPT membership with it.

International Labour Organization's Conventions 138 and 182 are related to

• (a) Child labour
• (b) Adaptation of agricultural practices to global climate change
• (c) Regulation of food prices and food security
• (d) Gender parity at the workplace

Answer: (a) Child labour. ILO Convention 138 sets a minimum age for work, and Convention 182 targets the worst forms of child labour. Both are core child-labour conventions, and India ratified them in 2017.

With reference to the role of UN-Habitat in the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements is/are correct?
1. UN-Habitat has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all.
2. Its partners are either governments or local urban authorities only.
3. UN-Habitat contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• (a) 1, 2 and 3
• (b) 1 and 3 only
• (c) 2 and 3 only
• (d) 1 only

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only. UN-Habitat has a General Assembly mandate for sustainable towns and adequate shelter, and it supports UN goals on poverty, water and sanitation. Its partners also include NGOs, the private sector and academia, not just governments.

What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?

• (a) India's trade with African countries will enormously increase.
• (b) India's relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened.
• (c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• (d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India.

Answer: (c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.. Chabahar, on Iran's south-east coast, gives India a sea-land route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan.

Consider the following statements:
1. Nuclear Security Summits are periodically held under the aegis of the United Nations.
2. The International Panel on Fissile Materials is an organ of International Atomic Energy Agency.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2. The Nuclear Security Summits (2010-2016) were started by the United States, not the UN. The International Panel on Fissile Materials is an independent group of experts, not an IAEA body.

Consider the following statements:
1. The first Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD) was held in India in 2006 on the theme 'Emerging Urban Forms - Policy Responses and Governance Structure'.
2. India hosts all the Annual Ministerial Conferences in partnership with ADB, APEC and ASEAN.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2. The first APMCHUD was held in New Delhi in 2006, but its theme was not the one stated. Later conferences have been held every two years in different member countries, not hosted by India with ADB, APEC and ASEAN.

Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) 2 only. The Indian Navy started IONS, and its first meeting was held in New Delhi in 2008, not 2015. It is a voluntary forum for cooperation among the navies of Indian Ocean littoral states.

Which of the following gives 'Global Gender Gap Index' ranking to the countries of the world?

• (a) World Economic Forum
• (b) UN Human Rights Council
• (c) UN Women
• (d) World Health Organization

Answer: (a) World Economic Forum. The World Economic Forum publishes the Global Gender Gap Report every year. It ranks countries on economic participation, education, health and political empowerment.

The term 'Digital Single Market Strategy' seen in the news refers to

• (a) ASEAN
• (b) BRICS
• (c) EU
• (d) G20

Answer: (c) EU. The European Commission launched the Digital Single Market Strategy in 2015. It aims to remove online barriers between EU member states and create one digital market.

'European Stability Mechanism', sometimes seen in the news, is an

• (a) agency created by EU to deal with the impact of millions of refugees arriving from Middle East
• (b) agency of EU that provides financial assistance to eurozone countries
• (c) agency of EU to deal with all the bilateral and multilateral agreements on trade
• (d) agency of EU to deal with the conflicts arising among the member countries

Answer: (b) agency of EU that provides financial assistance to eurozone countries. The European Stability Mechanism was set up in 2012 after the eurozone debt crisis. It is a permanent rescue fund that lends to euro-area countries in financial trouble.

With reference to the 'Trans-Pacific Partnership', consider the following statements:
1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.
2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2. The TPP was a trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries, not all of them except China and Russia. Its subject was trade and investment, not maritime security.

'Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres)', often in the news, is

• (a) a division of World Health Organization
• (b) a non-governmental international organization
• (c) an inter-governmental agency sponsored by European Union
• (d) a specialized agency of the United Nations

Answer: (b) a non-governmental international organization. Medecins Sans Frontieres is an independent international medical-humanitarian NGO, founded in France in 1971. It is not part of the UN or the EU.

Consider the following pairs:
Community sometimes mentioned in the news — In the affairs of
1. Kurd — Bangladesh
2. Madhesi — Nepal
3. Rohingya — Myanmar
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

• (a) 1 and 2
• (b) 2 only
• (c) 2 and 3
• (d) 3 only

Answer: (c) 2 and 3. The Madhesis live in Nepal's Terai plains and protested against its 2015 constitution. The Rohingya are a persecuted minority in Myanmar. The Kurds live in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, not Bangladesh.

'Belt and Road Initiative' is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of

• (a) African Union
• (b) Brazil
• (c) European Union
• (d) China

Answer: (d) China. The Belt and Road Initiative is China's plan, launched in 2013, for overland and maritime infrastructure linking Asia, Europe and Africa.

Which of the following is not a member of 'Gulf Cooperation Council'?

• (a) Iran
• (b) Saudi Arabia
• (c) Oman
• (d) Kuwait

Answer: (a) Iran. The GCC has six members: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Iran is not one of them.

With reference to 'Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)', consider the following statements:
1. It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.
2. It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.
3. It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 and 3 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only. The OPCW, based in The Hague, implements the Chemical Weapons Convention. It is an independent intergovernmental body, not an EU organisation. It inspects the chemical industry and helps member states against chemical-weapon threats.

Consider the following statements in respect of India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only. The first India-Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi in 2008, followed by Addis Ababa in 2011. The October 2015 summit in New Delhi was the third.

The term 'Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership' often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as

• (a) G20
• (b) ASEAN
• (c) SCO
• (d) SAARC

Answer: (b) ASEAN. RCEP was negotiated between the ten ASEAN countries and their FTA partners. India left the talks in 2019.

Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?
1. Undernourishment
2. Child stunting
3. Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 and 3 only
• (c) 1, 2 and 3
• (d) 1 and 3 only

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3. The Global Hunger Index then included undernourishment, child undernutrition (stunting and wasting) and child mortality. All three listed items were used.

Consider the following statements:
1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only
• (b) 2 only
• (c) Both 1 and 2
• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only. India and France launched the International Solar Alliance at COP21 in Paris in 2015. Membership is open to countries that join it and was originally aimed at sun-rich countries; it does not include every UN member.

'The Man Who Knew Infinity', which was in the news recently, is the biography of

• (a) S. Ramanujan
• (b) S. Chandrasekhar
• (c) S. N. Bose
• (d) C. V. Raman

Answer: (a) S. Ramanujan. 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' is Robert Kanigel's biography of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. A film based on it was released in 2015-16, which put it in the news.