UPSC Test Question with Answers: Practice Set for UPSC Current Affairs

Practice makes one perfect and there is really no alternate method for this. Here in this article, you will get some amazing UPSC questions with answers that will help you crack the UPSC examination.

Question 1

In which country the organization “Siva Senai” has emerged to protect “Hindu rights?”

• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka
• Maldives

Correct answer Sri Lanka

Feedback- This organization, headed by Maravanpulavu Sachithananthan has deepened the communal divide in Sri Lanka.

Question 2

Which two companies have started a collaboration for training health professionals in India?

• Pfizer and Sun Microsystems
• Glaxo and Airtel
• Tata and GE
• Reliance and Philips

Correct answer Tata and GE

Feedback- GE will expand the training network from 10 to 25. Tata Trusts to provide interest-free loans of 86k, per candidate to cover the course fee. Currently, India needs 65 lac health professionals but has 3 lac.

Question 3

Consider the following about the postal ballots in India. (1) It can now be downloaded, using an OTP. (2) It can also be uploaded as a way of casting one’s vote. Which of the statements is/are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- Change in the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 People can download ballots with an OTP Will still have sent the votes by post.

Question 4

Consider the following statements. (1) Paul Beatty has won the Man Booker Prize for his novel “The Sellout”. (2) He is the second American to be awarded the honour. Which of the statements is/are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Question 5

Which of the following states faced the problem of a data breach of 1.5 Crore people due to uploading of personal data on a website?

• Tamilnadu
• Rajasthan
• Uttar Pradesh
• Kerala

Correct answer Kerala

Feedback- Kerala recently was in the eye of a storm, because of this huge data breach.

Question 6

Consider the following “ease of doing business” index. (1) It is generated by the World Bank. (2) India was ranked 130th in the latest survey. Which of the statements is/are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Both 1 and 2

Feedback- Indian government has been targeting improvement in this index but has gained just one position. Last year India was 131st, this year, it was ranked 130th.

Question 7

Which of the following states in India registered the highest preventive detention cases in 2015?

• Tamil Nadu
• Telangana
• Karnataka
• Gujarat

Correct Answer: Tamil Nadu

Feedback- Tamil Nadu has the political culture of preventive detention. It registered 1268 cases as against 339 in Telangana, 232 in Karnataka and 219 in Gujarat.

Question 8

What is “National Academic Depository”?

• Collection of all academic journals published in India
• Digital record of all the academic degrees and certificates for verification Video recording of all the lectures delivered at IITs Patents registered in a calendar year in Indian universities

Correct answer Digital record of all the academic degrees and certificates for verification

Feedback- In the National Academic Depository, all academic degrees, certificates and awards in the country will be available for digital verification. It will ensure same-day verification on requisitions of registered users.

Question 9

Which of the following states is not a party in Cauvery water distribution?

• Goa
• Karnataka
• Puducherry
• Kerala

Correct answer Goa

Feedback- The involved states are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

Question 10

Consider the following about “autophagy”. (1) It means the tendency of self-destruction in the cells. (2) It was coined by Yoshinori Ohsumi. Which of the statements is/are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- The 1974 Medicine laureate, Christian de Duve, coined the term autophagy (meaning “self-eating”) in 1963. “This concept emerged during the 1960s, when researchers first observed that the cell could destroy its own contents by enclosing it in membranes, forming sack-like vesicles that were transported to a recycling compartment, called the lysosome, for degradation. Yoshinori Ohsumi has won the Nobel Prize for his work on autophagy this year, but he did not discover it.

Also Read: 20 Tips to Practice Answer Writing for IAS Mains

Question 11

Consider the following facts about the NDTV ban. (1) It was done under clause 6 (1) (p) of the Programme Code for Cable TV networks in India. (2) It was decided by a committee of officials from the Ministry of I & B. Which of the statements is/are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- It was done by an inter-ministerial committee.

Question 12

“Five plus zero” initiative is related to which of the following fields?

• Judicial delays
• Unattended airways
• Poverty line calculations
• Start-up funding

Correct answer Judicial delays

Feedback- It’s an initiative which aims at having zero cases with the pendency of more than 5 years.

Question 13

To which country organization FARC is related?

• Finland
• Argentina
• Russia
• Colombia

Correct answer Colombia

Feedback- FARC is the revolutionary group of Colombia, which recently signed a peace pact with the government. The pact was rejected by the people in a referendum.

Question 14

Consider the following about the parliamentary privileges. 1. Without these privileges, parliament can neither maintain their authority, dignity and honour nor can protect their members from any obstruction in the discharge of their parliamentary responsibilities. 2. The constitution has extended parliamentary privileges to Parliament, including the Attorney General of India. Which of the statements is/are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- The privileges are not available to the Attorney General of India.

NSG has 48 members and any new addition can be made by consensus.

Question 15

Consider the following statements. 1. Nikesh Arora stepped down as the President of Softbank. 2. Softbank was founded by Masayoshi Son. Which of the following statements is/are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Both 1 and 2

Feedback- Nikesh Arora was the most highly paid executive of the world. He stepped down from Softbank.

Question 16

Consider the following about the Indo-Japan nuclear deal. (1) It is subject to approval from the Japanese legislature. (2) The deal can be nullified if India conducts a nuclear test. Which of the facts is/are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Both 1 and 2

Feedback- Both the facts are correct. Negotiations on this deal were stuck since 2010 due to India’s not signing NPT.

Question 17

Consider the following about India’s NFU policy. (1) It bars the country to be the first user of a nuclear weapon against any other country. (2) It also restricts the use of nuclear weapons when attacked in a non-nuclear way. Which of the statements are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Both 1 and 2

Feedback- Both the statements are true. NFU policy may be applicable to chemical and biological weapons as well. It was in the news when Manohar Parrikar questioned the logic of it.

Question 18

Which of the following is not a declared target of demonetization?

• Curbing black economy
• Slow down overheated economy to reduce inflationary pressure
• Digitalization of transactions
• Tackle the issue of counterfeit currency

Correct answer Slow down overheated economy to reduce inflationary pressure

Feedback- Reduction of inflation was not a target announced by the government. Though it will be there for sure in the economy.

Question 19

Who is Naela Qadari?

• A scientist in Iran
• A Baloch leader
• First transgender to contest an election in Pakistan
• The first female legislator in Saudi Arabia

Correct answer A Baloch leader

Feedback- She is a firebrand Baloch leader, who was in the news as she was denied a visa by the Indian government.

Question 20

SC has recently declared a law on river sharing, passed by Punjab assembly to be invalid. Which of the following statements about that is/are true? (1) It was declared unconstitutional because no state legislature can circumvent an SC ruling by passing a law. (2) It was regarding the sharing of water of Sutlej and Beas.

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- SC’s ruling can be circumvented by the parliament, as they are considered as a constitutional amendment. The law was about sharing water of Ravi and Beas.

Also Read : List of Geography Books for UPSC: A Guide Through the UPSC Geography Syllabus

Question 21

What is the term “perigee-syzygy” related to?

• New fertility treatment
• Incident of supermoon
• New species of rabbit
• New material added to the periodic table

Correct answer Incident of the supermoon

Feedback- Recent incident of a supermoon (extreme closeness of moon to earth) was named as Perigee Syzygy.

Question 22

What is “Linke Hofmann Busch” technology related to?

• Railway coach
• Fighter jet
• Missile defence system
• Nuclear reactor

Correct answer Railway coach

Feedback- It’s a technology for making Railway coaches, which don’t smash into each other in case of an accident. It was in the news because of the recent train accident at Kanpur.

Question 23

Consider the following about “Status of the Global Climate Report”. (1) The total temperature rise as compared to the pre-industrial era is 1.2 degree. (2) It was issued by WMO.

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Neither 1 nor 2

Feedback- Both the statements are true. In this report, the risk of breaching the ambitious 1.5-degree mark is very high, while the Paris agreement accepted cutoff is 2 degree.

Question 24

Consider the following about the LIGO India project. (1) The lab is being set up in Dudhala village in Maharashtra. (2) It is the third such lab in the world, fist 2 being in China. Which of the statements is/are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer only 1

Feedback- The lab is coming up at Dudhala in Maharashtra. The first 2 such labs are in the USA.

Question 25

Consider the following about the S4A debts. (1) They are meant for restructuring the stressed assets. (2) First such debt has been approved for construction major HCC. Which of the facts is/ are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Both 1 and 2

Feedback- First S4A debt has been approved for construction major HCC. It is a sustainable structuring of stressed assets. RBI’s oversight committee passed it.

Question 26

Consider the following about India and Sri Lanka’s fishermen agreement. (1) Both the countries have formed a Joint Working Group, which will meet once every month. (2) Fisheries ministers of both countries will meet once every year. Which of the facts is/are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Neither 1 nor 2

Feedback-

• Formed joint working group
• A hotline between coast guards of both countries
• Meeting of the JWG once every 3 month
• Meeting of fisheries ministries every 6 months No violence or loss of life of fishermen

Question 27

Which of the following facts is/are NOT true. (1) Chandrabhaga is a mythical lost river, which IIT Kharagpur scientists have claimed to have found out. (2) It has been found near Amravati in Maharashtra.

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer only 1

Feedback- It has been found near the Konark Temple in Odisha.

Question 28

Consider the following about Operation Raftaar. (1) It is a project aimed at creating high-speed trains on Delhi Mumbai and Delhi Howrah corridor. (2) It targets to make trains run at a speed of 200Kmph. Which of the statements is/ are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- It aims at creating trains which will run at a speed of 160 Kmph.

Question 29

Consider the following about High Court judges’ appointment in India. (1) It is decided by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice of that high court along with 4 senior-most judges. (2) Governor can send the recommendation back to the court for reconsideration. Which of the facts is/ are NOT true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Both 1 and 2

Feedback- The appointments of HC judges are made by the collegium constituting of senior-most Supreme Court judges only. The recommendations can be sent back by the Central government. State governments have no role to play in appointments in higher judiciary.

Question 30

Which of the following features of the fundamental rights under the Indian constitution is/are not correct? (1)They are above ordinary laws(2) They are absolute(3) They are justiciable(4) They are inspired by the constitution of Finland.

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 2 and 4

Feedback- Fundamental rights are superior to ordinary law, as any law breaching them is unconstitutional. They are not absolute and come with some limitations. They can be enforced by the court of law and are inspired by the constitution of the USA.

Question 31

Consider the following about the fundamental rights. (1) They are generally positively worded, as they provide the citizens with rights over the state. (2) They are an effective tool to limit the state’s hegemony over policymaking. Which of the above are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 2 and 4

Feedback- Fundamental rights are negatively worded as they tend to limit the rights the state has over citizens, and thus they limit the hegemony over policy-making as well.

Question 32

Consider the following about the applicability of fundamental rights. (1) Right for eH4- Question Equality before the law is applicable for citizens only(2) State is free to prosecute any alien with different laws. Which of the above are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer Neither 1 nor 2

Feedback- Article 14 is applicable for all the citizens as well as aliens. The state has to follow the equal law for everyone.

Question 33

Which of the following is the correct constitutional doctrine?

• Equality among all
• Equality among none
• Equality among equals
• None of the above

Correct answer Equality among equals.

Feedback- Indian constitution envisages eH4- Questionuality among eH4- Questionuals, which paves way for the positive discrimination.

Question 34

Consider the following facts about the demonetization move. 1. It is a partial demonetization. 2. It was the first time such a step has been taken in India. Which of the facts is correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- It is partial, as not all the currency has ceased to be legal tender. It was done earlier as well by Morarji Desai government in 1978.

Question 35

Why is Qamar Javed Bajwa famous

• Paralympics champion
• Dean of Business at Harvard University
• Pakistan’s Army Chief
• Sufi singer

Correct answer Pakistan’s Army Chief

Feedback- Bajwa recently replaced Raheel Sharif as the chief of Pakistan’s army.

Question 36

Consider the following about Zika virus.1. It was taken off the emergency list of international concern by UNICEF recently. 2. It causes Microcephaly, the reduction in the size of the head. Which of the above is/ are NOT true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 2 only

Feedback- Zika has been put off the list of medical emergency list of international concern by WHO.

Question 37

Consider the following about the US President.1. The new President takes oath on 20th January, after the elections. 2. A person is allowed a maximum of one term as the President of the US.

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- Inauguration of the US President takes place on January 20th every year. Anyone can have a maximum 2 terms as the President

Question 38

Which of the following is the new mascot of “Incredible India”?

• Aamir Khan
• P.V. Sindhu
• Sakshi Malik
• Narendra Modi

Correct answer Narendra Modi

Feedback- After expiry of Aamir Khan’s contract, the government decided to go for the Prime Minister only as a mascot.

Question 39

Consider the following about OROP issue.1. The prime reason for non-commitment is the poor estimation of the actual cost. 2. It calls for equal emolument for all the soldiers based on the length of service. Which of the statements is/ are true?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer 1 only

Feedback- The actual cost of total implementation is unknown as it has never been calculated thoroughly. It calls for the same pensions for people retiring from the same posts.

Question 40

Consider the following about the Supreme Court’s judgment on anthem? 1. It was passed on a writ filed by PUCL.2. It makes it mandatory to play the national anthem at the beginning of the day in all cinema halls.

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer  Neither 1 nor 2

Feedback- It was on a PIL filed by Shyan Narayan Chouksey. Playing the national anthem will be mandatory before every show.

Question 41

Consider the following about the new GST slabs. (1) There will be 4 slabs of tax, having slabs of 0, 6, 16 and 28%. (2) Foodgrains will be kept in the zero tax bracket. Which of the statements is/ are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer  2 only

Feedback- The tax brackets will be 0, 5, 18 and 28%. Foodgrains along with almost half the consumer basket will be in the zero tax bracket.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this practice mock consisting of 41 UPSC questions with answers will help you crack the current affairs for UPSC. Best of luck.

Also Read : UPSC Preparation Tips for Better Answer Writing in The Exam: Guide to Great Score