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Latest UPSC PYQ with Answers

121–140 of 320
  1. Q121 2025 Prelims GS

    Suppose the revenue expenditure is ₹80,000 crores and the revenue receipts of the Government are ₹60,000 crores. The Government budget also shows borrowings of ₹10,000 crores and interest payments of ₹6,000 crores. Which of the following statements are correct? I. Revenue deficit is ₹20,000 crores. II. Fiscal deficit is ₹10,000 crores. III. Primary deficit is ₹4,000 crores. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. I and II only
    2. II and III only
    3. I and III only
    4. I, II and III✓
    Answer explanation

    I, II and III Revenue deficit = Revenue expenditure − Revenue receipts = 80,000 − 60,000 = ₹20,000 crores (I correct). Fiscal deficit equals total borrowings (as fiscal deficit is financed by borrowings) = ₹10,000 crores (II correct).…

    BudgetEconomyFiscal deficit
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  2. Q122 2025 Prelims GS

    India, an International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which is one of its founding members. This corridor, a multi-modal transportation corridor, will connect

    1. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran✓
    2. India to Central Asia via China
    3. India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
    4. India to Europe through Azerbaijan
    Answer explanation

    India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multi-modal transport network connecting India to Central Asia and further to Europe (Russia and beyond) via Iran, using sea, rail and…

    GeographyInstcInternational corridors
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  3. Q123 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter. Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
    2. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
    3. Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
    4. Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct✓
    Answer explanation

    Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct The United States is actually the world's largest ethanol producer, producing more ethanol than Brazil, making Statement I incorrect.…

    BiofuelsEconomyEthanol production
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  4. Q124 2025 Prelims GS

    The World Bank has warned that India could become one of the first places in which wet-bulb temperatures will routinely exceed 35°C. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above-said report? I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts. II. The survival of all living beings including humans will be affected because it will become difficult for them to shed their body heat through perspiration. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. I only
    2. II only✓
    3. Both I and II
    4. Neither I nor II
    Answer explanation

    II only Wet-bulb temperature is a direct measure of the combined effect of heat and humidity on the human body's ability to cool itself through evaporation of sweat; when it routinely exceeds around 35°C, humans and animals cannot…

    Climate changeEnvironmentWet-bulb temperature
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  5. Q125 2025 Prelims GS

    A country's fiscal deficit stands at ₹50,000 crores. It is receiving ₹10,000 crores through non-debt creating capital receipts. The country's interest liabilities are ₹1,500 crores. What is its gross primary deficit?

    1. ₹48,500 crores✓
    2. ₹51,500 crores
    3. ₹58,500 crores
    4. None of the above
    Answer explanation

    ₹48,500 crores Gross primary deficit = Fiscal deficit − Interest payments = 50,000 − 1,500 = ₹48,500 crores. (The non-debt creating capital receipts figure is extraneous information for this particular calculation of gross primary deficit…

    EconomyFiscal deficitPrimary deficit
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  6. Q126 2025 Prelims GS

    Which of the following statements with regard to the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct? I. It has recommended grants of ₹4,800 crores from the year 2022-23 to 2025-26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes. II. 45% of the net proceeds of Union taxes should be shared with the States. III. ₹45,000 crores are to be kept as performance-based incentive for all States for carrying out agricultural reforms. IV. It reintroduced the tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. I, II and III
    2. I, II and IV
    3. I, III and IV✓
    4. II, III and IV
    Answer explanation

    I, III and IV The 15th Finance Commission recommended ₹4,800 crore grants (2022-23 to 2025-26) for incentivizing states on education outcomes (I correct), earmarked ₹45,000 crore as performance-based incentives for agricultural reforms…

    EconomyFinance commissionFiscal federalism
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  7. Q127 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements in respect of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD): I. It provides loans and guarantees to middle income countries. II. It works single-handedly to help developing countries reduce poverty. III. It was established to help Europe rebuild after the World War II. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. I and II only
    2. II and III only
    3. I and III only✓
    4. I, II and III
    Answer explanation

    I and III only The IBRD lends primarily to creditworthy middle-income and poorer developing countries (I correct) and was established after World War II (Bretton Woods, 1944) originally to help finance the reconstruction of war-torn Europe…

    EconomyIbrdWorld bank
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  8. Q128 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements regarding RTGS and NEFT: I. In RTGS, the settlement time is instantaneous, whereas in the case of NEFT, it takes some time to settle payments. II. In RTGS, the customer is charged for inward transactions while that is not the case for NEFT. III. Operating hours for RTGS are restricted on certain days while this is not true for NEFT. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. I only✓
    2. I and II
    3. I and III
    4. III only
    Answer explanation

    I only RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) settles transactions instantly on a one-to-one basis, whereas NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer) settles transactions in batches, taking some time (Statement I correct).…

    BankingEconomyRtgs neft
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  9. Q129 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following countries: I. United Arab Emirates II. France III. Germany IV. Singapore V. Bangladesh. Other than India, in how many of the above countries are international merchant payments accepted through UPI?

    1. Only two
    2. Only three✓
    3. Only four
    4. All the five
    Answer explanation

    Only three UPI-based international merchant payments have been extended to select countries, including the UAE, France, and Singapore (among the listed options), while Germany and Bangladesh are not among the countries where UPI merchant…

    Digital paymentsEconomyUpi
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  10. Q130 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements about 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana': I. Its target is to install one crore solar rooftop panels on the roofs of houses in the residential sector. II. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance and repairs of solar rooftop systems at the grassroot level. III. Its aim is, under the skill component of capacity building, to create more than three lakh skilled manpower through fresh skilling and upskilling. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. I and II only
    2. I and III only
    3. II and III only
    4. I, II and III✓
    Answer explanation

    I, II and III The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana targets installing rooftop solar systems on one crore households (I correct), the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to provide grassroots-level training on installation, operation…

    EconomyPm surya ghar yojanaRenewable energy
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  11. Q131 2025 Prelims GS

    "Sedition has become my religion" was the famous statement given by Gandhiji at the time of

    1. the Champaran Satyagraha
    2. publicly violating the Salt Law at Dandi✓
    3. attending the Second Round Table Conference (Second RTC) in London
    4. the launch of the Quit India Movement
    Answer explanation

    publicly violating the Salt Law at Dandi Gandhiji made the famous statement 'Sedition has become my religion' after publicly violating the Salt Law by making salt at Dandi during the Salt Satyagraha of 1930, defying colonial law as an act…

    Dandi marchGandhijiHistory
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  13. Q133 2025 Prelims GS

    Who provided legal defence to the people arrested in the aftermath of the Chauri Chaura incident?

    1. C.R. Das
    2. Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant✓
    3. Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Khwaja Hasan Nizami
    4. M.A. Jinnah
    Answer explanation

    Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant Madan Mohan Malaviya, along with Krishna Kant Malaviya, provided legal defence to those arrested in connection with the Chauri Chaura incident of 1922, in which a mob set fire to a police station…

    Chauri chauraFreedom struggleHistory
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  14. Q134 2025 Prelims GS

    Subsequent to which one of the following events did Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decide to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' in his political and social programme?

    1. The Poona Pact✓
    2. The Gandhi-Irwin Agreement (Delhi Pact)
    3. Arrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India Movement
    4. Promulgation of the Government of India Act, 1935
    Answer explanation

    The Poona Pact Following the Poona Pact of 1932, signed between Gandhiji and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar regarding representation for the Depressed Classes, Gandhiji formally decided to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' (his term for the…

    Harijan upliftmentHistoryPoona pact
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  15. Q135 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following fruits: I. Papaya II. Pineapple III. Guava. How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All the three✓
    4. None
    Answer explanation

    All the three Papaya, pineapple and guava are all New World fruits that were introduced into India by the Portuguese during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as part of the broader exchange of crops that followed European maritime…

    AgricultureHistoryPortuguese introductions
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  16. Q136 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following countries: I. United Kingdom II. Denmark III. New Zealand IV. Australia V. Brazil. How many of the above countries have more than four time zones (Time Zones)?

    1. All the five
    2. Only four
    3. Only three✓
    4. Only two
    Answer explanation

    Only three Countries with overseas territories often span more than four time zones. Among the listed countries, the UK, France-linked territories aside, and notably Australia, and other countries with distant island territories have…

    GeographyTime zones
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  17. Q137 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers apart from each other, but when people in these cities wake up and get ready for breakfast, it would be a different day. II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. Only I✓
    2. Only II
    3. I and II both
    4. Neither I nor II
    Answer explanation

    Only I Anadyr (Russia) and Nome (Alaska, USA) lie close to each other geographically but are separated by the International Date Line, so despite similar local clock times, the calendar date differs between them (Statement I is correct).…

    GeographyInternational date lineTime zones
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  18. Q138 2025 Prelims GS

    Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'?

    1. 'Periyar' E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker✓
    2. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
    3. Bhaskarrao Jadhav
    4. Dinkarrao Javalkar
    Answer explanation

    'Periyar' E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker The Self-Respect Movement was founded by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, popularly known as 'Periyar', in Tamil Nadu in the 1920s, aiming to promote social equality, rationalism, and to challenge caste-based…

    HistorySelf-respect movementSocial reform
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  19. Q139 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following pairs (Country : Resource-rich in): I. Botswana : Diamond II. Chile : Lithium III. Indonesia : Nickel. How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All the three✓
    4. None
    Answer explanation

    All the three Botswana is one of the world's largest diamond producers, Chile holds among the largest lithium reserves globally, and Indonesia is the world's largest producer of nickel. All three pairs are correctly matched.

    GeographyMiningNatural resources
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