UPSC Prelims 2009 Previous Year Questions with Answers and Explanations

146 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2009 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 · Indian Polity: Among the following Presidents of India, who was also the Secretary General of Non - Aligned Movement for some period?
Q2 · Indian Economy: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: List I (Person) A. Anil Agarwal B. Gautam H.…
Q3 · Current Affairs: To integrate cultural leaders into its meetings, which one of the following gives the "Crystal Award"?
Q4 · Environment & Ecology: In India, which one of the following States has the largest inland saline wetland?
Q5 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. MMTC Limited is India's largest international trading organisation. 2. Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited…
Q6 · Indian Economy: In which one of the following States has India's largest private sector sea port been commissioned recently?
Q8 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements: 1. INS Sindhughosh is an aircraft carrier. 2. INS Viraat is a submarine. Which of the statements given…
Q9 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices recommends the Minimum Support Prices for 32 crops.…
Q10 · Geography: In India, the ports are categorized as major and non - major ports. Which one of the following is a non - major port?
Q11 · Indian Economy: Among other things, which one of the following was the purpose for which the Deepak Parekh Committee was constituted?
Q12 · Art & Culture: The brothers Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are
Q13 · Art & Culture: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: List I (Famous person) A. Mandakini Amte B.…
Q14 · Current Affairs: With reference to Stree Shakti Puraskar, for which one of the following is the “Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award” given?
Q15 · Art & Culture: In which State is the Buddhist site Tabo Monastery located?
Q16 · Indian Economy: With which one of the following has the B. K. Chaturvedi Committee dealt?
Q17 · Art & Culture: Mahamasthakabhisheka, a great religious event, is associated with and done for who of the following?
Q18 · Art & Culture: Consider the following pairs: Tradition - State 1. Gatka, a traditional martial art : Kerala 2. Madhubani, a traditional painting : Bihar…
Q19 · Current Affairs: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: List I (Famous person) A. Anna Hazare B.…
Q20 · Art & Culture: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: List I (Famous person) A. Amrita Sher - Gil…
Q21 · Indian Economy: With reference to the schemes launched by the Union Government, consider the following statements: 1. Ministry of Health and Family…
Q22 · Current Affairs: Consider the following pairs: Persons - Sport 1. Anand Pawar : Chess 2. Akhil Kumar : Boxing 3. Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia : Golf Which…
Q23 · Art & Culture: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: List I (Book) A. In Custody B. Sea of…
Q25 · Art & Culture: Recently, which one of the following was included in the UNESCO's World Heritage list ?
Q26 · Art & Culture: Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located ?
Q27 · Current Affairs: Other than Venezuela, which one among the following from South America is a member of OPEC ?
Q28 · Indian Polity: Under the administration of which one of the following is the Department of Atomic Energy ?
Q29 · Indian Economy: Consider the following pairs : Large Bank Country of origin 1. ABN Amro Bank : USA 2. Barclays Bank : UK 3. Kookmin Bank : Japan Which of…
Q30 · Geography: Which among the following has the world's largest reserves of Uranium ?
Q31 · Current Affairs: Elephant Pass, which is frequently in the news, is mentioned in the context of the affairs of which one of the following ?
Q32 · Current Affairs: Consider the following countries : 1. Brunei Darussalam 2. East Timor 3. Laos Which of the above is/are member/members of ASEAN ?
Q33 · Current Affairs: Consider the following countries : 1. Switzerland 2. Malta 3. Bulgaria Which of the above are members of European Union ?
Q34 · Geography: Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Namibia 3. Brazil 4. Chile Through which of the above does the Tropic of Capricorn pass ?
Q35 · Geography: In the structure of planet Earth, below the mantle, the core is mainly made up of which one of the following ?
Q36 · Geography: Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ? City - River
Q37 · Art & Culture: Match List - I with List - II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists : List I (Famous Temple) List II (State)…
Q38 · Geography: Consider the following statements : 1. In the world, the tropical deserts occur along the western margins of continents within the trade…
Q39 · Geography: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists : List I (Geographic feature) A. Great…
Q40 · Geography: Consider the following statements : 1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than…
Q41 · Geography: Which one of the following rivers does not originate in India ?
Q42 · Geography: Cape Canaveral, the site from which space shuttles are launched is located on the coast of
Q43 · Geography: At which one of the following places do two important rivers of India originate; while one of them flows towards north and merges with…
Q44 · Science & Technology: Who of the following scientists proved that the stars with mass less than 1·44 times the mass of the Sun end up as White Dwarfs when they…
Q46 · Geography: Consider the following statements : 1. India does not have any deposits of Thorium. 2. Kerala's monazite sands contain Uranium. Which of…
Q47 · Geography: Which one among the following South Asian countries has the highest population density ?
Q48 · Modern History: Consider the following statements : 1. The discussions in the Third Round Table Conference eventually led to the passing of the Government…
Q49 · Indian Economy: Consider the following : 1. Fringe Benefit Tax 2. Interest Tax 3. Securities Transaction Tax Which of the above is/are Direct Tax/Taxes ?
Q50 · Indian Polity: In India, who is the Chairman of the National Water Resources Council ?
Q51 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. There are no east flowing rivers in Kerala. 2. There are no west flowing rivers in Madhya Pradesh.…
Q52 · Modern History: In collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff, who of the following established Hindu College at Calcutta?
Q53 · Modern History: Who of the following Prime Ministers sent Cripps Mission to India?
Q54 · Art & Culture: Who of the following is the author of a collection of poems called “Golden Threshold”?
Q55 · Modern History: During the Indian Freedom Struggle, why did Rowlatt Act arouse popular indignation?
Q56 · Modern History: Which one of the following began with the Dandi March?
Q57 · Art & Culture: Anekāntavāda is a core theory and philosophy of which one of the following?
Q58 · Modern History: With which one of the following movements is the slogan “Do or die” associated?
Q59 · Modern History: Who of the following founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association?
Q60 · Modern History: In the context of the Indian freedom struggle, 16th October 1905 is well known for which one of the following reasons?
Q61 · Modern History: In the ‘Individual Satyagraha’, Vinoba Bhave was chosen as the first Satyagrahi. Who was the second?
Q62 · Modern History: Consider the following statements: The Cripps Proposals include the provision for 1. Full independence for India. 2. Creation of…
Q63 · Modern History: During the freedom struggle, Aruna Asaf Ali was a major woman organizer of underground activity in
Q64 · Medieval History: With whose permission did the English set up their first factory in Surat?
Q65 · Science & Technology: In a dry cell (battery), which of the following are used as electrolytes?
Q66 · Geography: Which one of the following planets has largest number of natural satellites or moons?
Q67 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements: 1. Sweet orange plant is propagated by grafting technique. 2. Jasmine plant is propagated by layering…
Q68 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following types of waves are used in a night vision apparatus ?
Q69 · Science & Technology: In the context of genetic disorders, consider the following: A woman suffers from colour blindness while her husband does not suffer from…
Q70 · Science & Technology: A person travels 12 km due North, then 15 km due East, after that 15 km due West and then 18 km due South. How far is he from the starting…
Q71 · Science & Technology: Six persons A, B, C, D, E and F are standing in a row. C and D are standing close to each other alongside E. B is standing beside A only.…
Q72 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following is used as an explosive ?
Q73 · Science & Technology: Consider the following : 1. Camphor 2. Chicory 3. Vanilla Which of the above is/are plant product(s) ?
Q74 · Science & Technology: In the context of Indian wild life, the flying fox is a
Q75 · Indian Economy: During which Five Year Plan was the Emergency clamped, new elections took place and the Janata Party was elected ?
Q76 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements : 1. Infant mortality rate takes into account the death of infants within a month after birth. 2. Infant…
Q77 · Indian Polity: If a Panchayat is dissolved, elections are to be held within
Q78 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements : 1. The Governor of Punjab is concurrently the Administrator of Chandigarh. 2. The Governor of Kerala…
Q79 · Current Affairs: Consider the following pairs : Organization - Location of Headquarters 1. Asian Development Bank - Tokyo 2. Asia - Pacific Economic…
Q80 · Current Affairs: With reference to the United Nations, consider the following statements : 1. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of UN consists of 24…
Q81 · Geography: In which one of the following places is the Shompen tribe found ?
Q82 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements : 1. The Advocate General of a State in India is appointed by the President of India upon the…
Q83 · Indian Polity: In India, the first Municipal Corporation was set up in which one among the following ?
Q84 · Indian Polity: With reference to Lok Adalats, consider the following statements : 1. An award made by a Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree of a civil…
Q85 · Indian Polity: With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements : 1. The Constitution of India provides that all Cabinet Ministers…
Q86 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following Constitutional Amendments states that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the…
Q87 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements : 1. Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was set up during the Prime Ministership of Lal Bahadur…
Q88 · Indian Polity: With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements : 1. The number of Ministries at the Centre on 15th August 1947 was…
Q89 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements : 1. The first telegraph line in India was laid between Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and Diamond Harbour.…
Q90 · Environment & Ecology: Which one of the following Union Ministries implements the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety ?
Q91 · Environment & Ecology: Where is the headquarters of Animal Welfare Board of India located ?
Q92 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements regarding Indian Planning : 1. The Second Five - Year Plan emphasised on the establishment of heavy…
Q93 · Art & Culture: Consider the following statements : 1. The National School of Drama was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959. 2. The highest honour…
Q94 · Indian Polity: With reference to Union Government, consider the following statements : 1. The Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are…
Q95 · Science & Technology: A person has 4 coins each of different denomination. What is the number of different sums of money the person can form (using one or more…
Q96 · Science & Technology: How many numbers lie between 300 and 500 in which 4 comes only one time?
Q97 · Science & Technology: How many letters of the English alphabet (capitals) appear same when looked at in a mirror?
Q98 · Science & Technology: How many three - digit numbers can be generated from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 such that the digits are in ascending order?
Q99 · Science & Technology: There are four persons A, B, C, D; and A has some coins. A gave half of the coins to B and 4 more besides. B gave half of the coins to C…
Q100 · Science & Technology: While adding the first few continuous natural numbers, a candidate missed one of the numbers and wrote the answer as 177. What was the…
Q101 · Science & Technology: Four metal rods of lengths 78 cm, 104 cm, 117 cm and 169 cm are to be cut into parts of equal length. Each part must be as long as…
Q102 · Science & Technology: In an examination, there are three subjects A, B and C. A student has to pass in each subject. 20% students failed in A, 22% students…
Q103 · Science & Technology: There is a family of 6 persons A, B, C, D, E and F. There are two married couples in the family. The family members are lawyer, teacher,…
Q104 · Science & Technology: How many times are an hour hand and a minute hand of a clock at right angles during their motion from 1.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.?
Q105 · Science & Technology: There are 240 balls and n number of boxes B1, B2, B3, … , Bn. The balls are to be placed in the boxes such that B1 should contain 4 balls…
Q106 · Science & Technology: In a carrom board game competition, m boys and n girls (m > n > 1) of a school participate in which every student has to play exactly one…
Q107 · Science & Technology: There are three cans A, B and C. The capacities of A, B and C are 6 litres, 10 litres and 16 litres respectively. The can C contains 16…
Q108 · Indian Economy: Consider the following pairs : 1. Ashok Leyland : Hinduja Group 2. Hindalco Industries : A.V. Birla Group 3. Suzlon Energy : Punj Lloyd…
Q110 · Art & Culture: Consider the following houses: 1. Christie's 2. Osian's 3. Sotheby's Which of the above is/are auctioneer/auctioneers ?
Q111 · Environment & Ecology: In the context of CO₂ emission and Global Warming, what is the name of a market - driven device under the UNFCCC that allows developing…
Q112 · Environment & Ecology: The concept of carbon credit originated from which one of the following ?
Q113 · Current Affairs: Who among the following is the founder of World Economic Forum ?
Q114 · Current Affairs: The Security Council of UN consists of 5 permanent members, and the remaining 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of
Q115 · Current Affairs: From which one of the following did Kosovo declare its independence ?
Q116 · Current Affairs: Which one of the following pairs of countries fought wars over a region called Ogaden ?
Q117 · Current Affairs: In the middle of the year 2008 the Parliament of which one of the following countries became the first in the world to enact a Climate Act…
Q118 · Science & Technology: Which one among the following has the highest energy ?
Q119 · Indian Economy: In the context of independent India's economy, which one of the following was the earliest event to take place ?
Q120 · Current Affairs: Consider the following pairs : Automobile Manufacturer : Headquarters 1. BMW AG : USA 2. Daimler AG : Sweden 3. Renault S.A.: France 4.…
Q121 · Current Affairs: Which one of the following is not a drug/pharma company ?
Q122 · Current Affairs: Who of the following is the author of the book "The Audacity of Hope" ?
Q123 · Current Affairs: A present group of nations known as 'G - 8' started first as G - 7. Which one among the following was not one of them ?
Q124 · Geography: Consider the following statements : 1. The Baglihar Power Project had been constructed within the parameters of the Indus Water Treaty. 2.…
Q125 · Current Affairs: When Leander Paes won the "mixed doubles" at the US Open in the year 2008, who of the following was his partner ?
Q126 · Indian Economy: In the context of Indian news in recent times, what is MCX - SX ?
Q127 · Current Affairs: Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?
Q128 · Science & Technology: India has recently landed its Moon Impact Probe on the Moon. Among the following countries, which one landed such probe on the Moon…
Q129 · Current Affairs: Who of the following is a football player ?
Q130 · Current Affairs: Consider the following pairs: Famous place : Country 1. Cannes : France 2. Davos : Denmark 3. Roland Garros : The Netherlands Which of the…
Q131 · Current Affairs: Among the following, which one is not a football club ?
Q132 · Environment & Ecology: The marine animal called dugong which is vulnerable to extinction is a/an
Q133 · Geography: The Dul Hasti Power Station is based on which one of the following rivers ?
Q134 · Current Affairs: Consider the following statements : 1. V.K. Krishna Menon Foundation is based in New Delhi. 2. The first recipient of the V.K. Krishna…
Q135 · Geography: Which one of the following is the country's administrative capital/new federal administrative centre of Malaysia ?
Q136 · Science & Technology: In the context of Indian defence, consider the following statements : 1. The Shourya missile flies with a speed of more than 8 Mach. 2.…
Q137 · Science & Technology: WiMAX is related to which one of the following ?
Q138 · Science & Technology: For outstanding contribution to which one of the following fields is Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize given ?
Q139 · Science & Technology: In making the saffron spice, which one of the following parts of the plant is used ?
Q140 · Science & Technology: In the year 2008, which one of the following conducted a complex scientific experiment in which sub - atomic particles were accelerated to…
Q141 · Current Affairs: A very big refugee camp called Dadaab, recently in the news, is located in
Q142 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following names : 1. Ike 2. Kate 3. Gustav Which of the above are the names of hurricanes that had occurred very recently ?
Q143 · Environment & Ecology: In the context of alternative sources of energy, ethanol as a viable bio - fuel can be obtained from
Q144 · Art & Culture: Consider the following famous names: 1. Amrita Sher - Gil 2. Bikash Bhattacharjee 3. N. S. Bendre 4. Subodh Gupta Who of the above is/are…
Q145 · Current Affairs: NAMA - 11 (Nama - 11) group of countries frequently appears in the news in the context of the affairs of which one of the following?
Q146 · Current Affairs: In the latter half of the year 2008, which one of the following countries pulled out of Commonwealth of Independent States?
Q147 · Current Affairs: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: List I (Persons in news) A. Luisa Dias Diogo…
Q148 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following regions: 1. Eastern Himalayas 2. Eastern Mediterranean region 3. North - western Australia Which of the above…
Q149 · Science & Technology: With reference to the evolution of living organisms, which one of the following sequences is correct?
Q150 · Environment & Ecology: The Panda belongs to the same family as that of

Other years

2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2008 · 2007 · 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000

Practise in the app Take a timed mock