UPSC Prelims 2008 Previous Year Questions with Answers and Explanations

146 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2008 General Studies Paper I, each with the correct answer, a full explanation, why every option is right or wrong, and named sources. The other 4 questions of this paper are in the practice app while their explanations are checked.

Q1 · Science & Technology: In the series AABABCABCDABCDE... which letter occupies the 100th position?
Q2 · Science & Technology: What is the number of terms in the series 117, 120, 123, 126, ..., 333?
Q3 · Science & Technology: In how many different ways can four books A, B, C and D be arranged one above another in a vertical order such that the books A and B are…
Q4 · Science & Technology: Carpenter A can make a chair in 6 hours, carpenter B in 7 hours and carpenter C in 8 hours. If each carpenter works for 8 hours per day,…
Q5 · Science & Technology: A person purchases 100 pens at a discount of 10%. The net amount of money spent by the person to purchase the pens is Rs 600. The selling…
Q6 · Science & Technology: A schoolteacher has to select the maximum possible number of different groups of 3 students out of a total of 6 students. In how many…
Q7 · Science & Technology: In an examination, 70% of the students passed in the Paper I, and 60% of the students passed in the Paper II. 15% of the students failed…
Q8 · Science & Technology: What is Bisphenol A (BPA)?
Q9 · Indian Economy: Which of the following pairs about India's economic indicator and agricultural production (all in rounded figures) are correctly matched?…
Q10 · Science & Technology: March 1, 2008 was Saturday. Which day was it on March 1, 2002?
Q11 · Indian Economy: In August 2006, the Government of India notified the Rural Electrification Policy. This policy aims at provision of access to all…
Q12 · Indian Economy: As per India's National Population Policy, 2000, by which one of the following years is it our long - term objective to achieve population…
Q13 · Environment & Ecology: Which one of the following Union Ministries is implementing the Biodiesel Mission (as Nodal Ministry)?
Q14 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements with reference to Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): 1. All persons of 60 years or…
Q15 · Indian Economy: What is the name of the scheme which provides training and skills to women in traditional and non - traditional trades?
Q16 · Art & Culture: Consider the following statements: 1. Orange Prize is awarded to a work of published fiction in English by a woman. 2. Pulitzer Prize is…
Q17 · Art & Culture: Recently, the manuscripts of which one of the following have been included in the UNESCO's Memory of World Register?
Q18 · Science & Technology: Selene - 1, the lunar orbiter mission belongs to which one of the following?
Q19 · Science & Technology: From which one of the following did India buy the Barak anti - missile defence systems?
Q20 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following: 1. Rice fields 2. Coal mining 3. Domestic animals 4. Wetlands Which of the above are sources of methane, a major…
Q21 · Indian Polity: What is the number of spokes in the Dharmachakra in the National Flag of India?
Q22 · Geography: Which one of the following is not essentially a species of the Himalayan vegetation?
Q23 · Geography: Which of the following hills are found where the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats meet?
Q24 · Geography: Consider the following pairs: Tributary River - Main River 1. Chambal : Narmada 2. Sone : Yamuna 3. Manas : Brahmaputra Which of the pairs…
Q25 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. Salt - water crocodile is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 2. Shrew and tapir are found in…
Q26 · Indian Economy: Which one amongst the following has the largest livestock population in the world?
Q27 · Indian Polity: How many High Courts in India have jurisdiction over more than one State (Union Territories not included)?
Q28 · Science & Technology: In which one of the following kinds of organisms is the phenomenon found wherein the female kills the male after copulation?
Q29 · Environment & Ecology: For which one of the following snakes is the diet mainly composed of other snakes?
Q30 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following is an insectivorous plant?
Q31 · Current Affairs: Starting with the Australian Open Lawn Tennis Tournament, which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the other three…
Q32 · Geography: In which one of the following is Malta located?
Q33 · Science & Technology: ISRO successfully conducted a rocket test using cryogenic engines in the year 2007. Where is the test - stand used for the purpose, located?
Q35 · Current Affairs: C. Rangarajan has been actively involved in the Pan - Asian Commission addressing to which one of the following issues?
Q36 · Science & Technology: What is the pH level of blood of a normal person?
Q37 · Indian Polity: Who among the following have held the office of the Vice - President of India? 1. Mohammad Hidayatullah 2. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed 3. Neelam…
Q38 · Modern History: Which was the Capital of Andhra State when it was made a separate State in the year 1953?
Q39 · Current Affairs: Which one of the following is correct in respect of Indian football team's performance in the Olympic Games?
Q40 · Geography: In which one of the following States are Namchik - Namphuk Coalfields located?
Q41 · Science & Technology: Norman Ernest Borlaug who is regarded as the father of the Green Revolution in India is from which country?
Q42 · Current Affairs: Yom Kippur War was fought between which sides/countries?
Q43 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements about probiotic food: 1. Probiotic food contains live bacteria which are considered beneficial to…
Q44 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. The albedo of an object determines its visual brightness when viewed with reflected light. 2. The…
Q45 · Indian Polity: Match List - I with List - II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List - I (Person) A. Nagender Singh B.…
Q46 · Ancient History: What does Baudhayana theorem (Baudhayana Sulva Sutra) relate to?
Q47 · Science & Technology: Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Theory/Law - Associated Scientist 1. Continental Drift : Edwin Hubble 2. Expansion…
Q48 · Geography: Which of the following minerals are found in a natural way in the State of Chhattisgarh? 1. Bauxite 2. Dolomite 3. Iron ore 4. Tin Select…
Q49 · Geography: On which one of the following rivers is the Tehri Hydropower Complex located?
Q50 · Geography: Which one of the following cities is nearest to the equator?
Q51 · Geography: Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Waterfalls - River 1. Kapildhara Falls : Godavari 2. Jog Falls : Sharavati 3.…
Q52 · Geography: Which one of the following straits is nearest to the International Date Line?
Q53 · Indian Economy: Which of the following pairs in respect of current power generation in India is/are correctly matched? (Rounded Figure) 1. Installed…
Q54 · Geography: Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Irrigation Project - State 1. Damanganga : Gujarat 2. Girna : Maharashtra 3. Pamba :…
Q55 · Modern History: Who among the following rejected the title of Knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for…
Q56 · Medieval History: During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the English East India Company establish its first factory in India?
Q57 · Indian Economy: The term “Prisoner’s Dilemma” is associated with which one of the following?
Q58 · Modern History: During the Indian Freedom Struggle, who of the following raised an army called ‘Free Indian Legion’?
Q59 · Modern History: Which one of the following suggested the reconstitution of the Viceroy’s Executive Council in which all the portfolios including that of…
Q60 · Science & Technology: What is Agent Orange?
Q61 · Geography: Which of the following countries share borders with Moldova? 1. Ukraine 2. Romania 3. Belarus Select the correct answer using the code…
Q62 · Indian Economy: India is a member of which of the following? 1. Asian Development Bank 2. Asia - Pacific Economic Cooperation 3. Colombo Plan 4.…
Q63 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. Ajman is one of the seven Emirates of the UAE. 2. Ras al - Khaimah was the last Sheikhdom to join…
Q64 · Geography: Which one of the following is the largest (area - wise) Lok Sabha constituency?
Q65 · Geography: For India, China, the UK and the USA, which one of the following is the correct sequence of the median age of their populations?
Q67 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements: 1. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer was the Chief Justice of India. 2. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer is…
Q68 · Art & Culture: Ebrahim Alkazi is an eminent personality in which one of the following areas?
Q69 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. Chikmagalur is well - known for sugar production. 2. Mandya is well - known as a coffee - producing…
Q70 · Art & Culture: Bimbavati Devi is a well - known dancer of which type of dance?
Q72 · Geography: Where are Tapovan and Vishnugarh Hydroelectric Projects located?
Q73 · Art & Culture: Match List - I with List - II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List - I (Author) A. Bankimchandra B.…
Q74 · Modern History: Who among the following gave a systematic critique of the moderate politics of the Indian National Congress in a series of articles…
Q75 · Modern History: Who among the following used the phrase ‘Un - British’ to criticize the English colonial control of India?
Q76 · Art & Culture: Among the Indian languages, which one is spoken maximum in the world after Hindi?
Q77 · Science & Technology: Who among the following discovered heavy water?
Q78 · Current Affairs: Kim Dae - jung won the Nobel Prize for Peace. He is from which one of the following countries?
Q79 · Geography: Ogaden region has been a source of conflict between which countries?
Q80 · Art & Culture: Near which one of the following cities are Palitana Temples located?
Q81 · Current Affairs: Which one of the following countries won the Euro Football Tournament, 2004 held in Portugal?
Q82 · Science & Technology: In order of their distances from the Sun, which of the following planets lie between Mars and Uranus?
Q83 · Current Affairs: Cristina Kirchner succeeded her husband to become President of a South American country. Which is that country?
Q84 · Modern History: Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed?
Q85 · Science & Technology: In the year 2007, an earthquake led to massive radioactive water leakage in the largest nuclear plant in the world. In which country did…
Q86 · Geography: What is the approximate percentage of persons above 65 years of age in India's current population?
Q87 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following is a spacecraft?
Q88 · Science & Technology: In which one of the following locations is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project to be built?
Q89 · Science & Technology: What is the purpose of the US Space Agency's Themis Mission, which was recently in the news?
Q90 · Environment & Ecology: Out of all the Biosphere Reserves in India, four have been recognized on the World Network by UNESCO. Which one of the following is not…
Q91 · Geography: Which two countries follow China and India in the decreasing order of their populations?
Q92 · Geography: Amongst the following States, which one has the highest percentage of rural population to its total population (on the basis of the…
Q93 · Current Affairs: Match List - I with List - II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List - I (Organization) A. Amnesty…
Q94 · Current Affairs: Match List - I with List - II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List - I (Person) A. K. P. Singh B.…
Q95 · Environment & Ecology: Where was the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio + 10) held?
Q96 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in respect of carbon credits is one of the Kyoto Protocol…
Q97 · Geography: Which of the following are among the million - plus cities in India on the basis of data of the Census, 2001? 1. Ludhiana 2. Kochi 3.…
Q98 · Indian Economy: Which of the following are the public sector undertakings of the Government of India? 1. Balmer Lawrie and Company Ltd. 2. Dredging…
Q99 · Indian Polity: Under which one of the following Constitution Amendment Acts, four languages were added to the languages under the Eighth Schedule of the…
Q100 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements: The Constitution of India provides that 1. The Legislative Assembly of each State shall consist of not…
Q101 · Indian Polity: Which of the following is/are included in the Directive Principles of State Policy? 1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced…
Q102 · Indian Economy: How is the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference wherein the agreements were signed to set up IBRD, GATT and IMF, commonly known?
Q103 · Science & Technology: Where was the first desalination plant in India to produce one lakh litres freshwater per day based on low temperature thermal…
Q104 · Science & Technology: Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Institute - Location 1. National Centre for Cell Science : Mysore 2. Centre for DNA…
Q105 · Science & Technology: With which one of the following is BRIT (Government of India) engaged?
Q106 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following is the correct sequence in respect of the Roman numerals - C, D, L and M?
Q107 · Science & Technology: Who among the following scientists shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with his son?
Q108 · Art & Culture: Who among the following translated the Autobiography of Madam Curie in Hindi?
Q109 · Geography: Among the following, which one has the minimum population on the basis of data of Census of India, 2001?
Q110 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements in respect of a jet engine and a rocket: 1. A jet engine uses the surrounding air for its oxygen supply…
Q111 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following laser types is used in a laser printer?
Q112 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements: 1. A widely used musical scale called diatonic scale has seven frequencies. 2. The frequency of the…
Q113 · Science & Technology: What are Rubies and Sapphires chemically known as?
Q114 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following is also called Stranger Gas?
Q115 · Science & Technology: Mixture of which one of the following pairs of gases is the cause of occurrence of most of the explosions in mines?
Q116 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following pairs of metals constitutes the lightest metal and the heaviest metal, respectively?
Q117 · Indian Economy: How much is one barrel of oil approximately equal to?
Q118 · Modern History: Who among the following Gandhian followers was a teacher by profession?
Q119 · Modern History: Which one of the following was a journal brought out by Abul Kalam Azad?
Q120 · Modern History: Where was the First Session of the Indian National Congress held in December 1885?
Q121 · Science & Technology: Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? 1. Francis Collins - Mapping human genome 2. Sergey Brin : Google Search Engine 3.…
Q122 · Indian Economy: What does S & P 500 relate to?
Q123 · Current Affairs: Rajiv Gandhi National Flying Institute is being established in which State?
Q124 · Current Affairs: Who among the following has been the Captain of the Indian team in Cricket Test Matches for the maximum number of times?
Q125 · Art & Culture: Who among the following wrote the poem, Subh - e Azadi?
Q126 · Science & Technology: How can the height of a person who is six feet tall be expressed (approximately) in nanometres?
Q127 · Science & Technology: A person is sitting in a car which is at rest. The reaction from the road at each of the four wheels of the car is R. When the car runs on…
Q128 · Geography: With which one of the following rivers is the Omkareshwar Project associated?
Q129 · Current Affairs: Consider the following statements: 1. The Nuclear Suppliers Group has 24 countries as its members. 2. India is a member of the Nuclear…
Q130 · Science & Technology: In the context of the Indian defence, what is ‘Dhruv’?
Q131 · Current Affairs: ‘Hand - in - Hand 2007’, a joint anti - terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of…
Q132 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): In human body, liver has an important role in fat digestion. Reason (R): Liver produces two important fat - digesting…
Q133 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): In the visible spectrum of light, red light is more energetic than green light. Reason (R): The wavelength of red light is…
Q134 · Science & Technology: Assertion (A): Radio waves bend in a magnetic field. Reason (R): Radio waves are electromagnetic in nature.
Q135 · Modern History: Assertion (A): The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in the year 1939. Reason (R): The Congress did not accept the…
Q136 · Science & Technology: Among the following, which one lays eggs and does not produce young ones directly?
Q137 · Environment & Ecology: The release of which one of the following into ponds and wells helps in controlling the mosquitoes?
Q139 · Indian Polity: Department of Border Management is a Department of which one of the following Union Ministries?
Q140 · Indian Polity: For which one of the following reforms was a Commission set up under the Chairmanship of Veerappa Moily by the Government of India?
Q141 · Current Affairs: Elizabeth Hawley is well - known for her writings relating to which one of the following?
Q142 · Geography: In India, how many States share the coastline?
Q143 · Science & Technology: Nobel Prize - winning scientist James D. Watson is known for his work in which area?
Q144 · Indian Economy: Match List - I with List - II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List - I (Board) A. Coffee Board B.…
Q145 · Environment & Ecology: Which one among the following has the maximum number of National Parks?
Q146 · Environment & Ecology: Among the following, which one is not an ape?
Q147 · Science & Technology: In how many different ways can all of 5 identical balls be placed in the cells shown above such that each row contains at least 1 ball?
Q148 · Science & Technology: There are 6 different letters and 6 correspondingly addressed envelopes. If the letters are randomly put in the envelopes, what is the…
Q149 · Science & Technology: There are two identical red, two identical black and two identical white balls. In how many different ways can the balls be placed in the…
Q150 · Science & Technology: How many different triangles are there in the figure shown above?

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