UPSC Prelims 2008 questions (GS Paper 1)

136 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2008 (GS Paper 1), each on its own page with its options and the NCERT chapters that teach it. The two most recent years are free to read in full.

Q1Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the list: A B C D ListI (Person) — List II (Position); A. Nagender Singh …
Q2Consider the following statement: 1. The albedo of an object determines its visual brightness when viewed with reflected light. 2. The albedo of Mercury is…
Q3Consider the following statements about probiotic food: 1. Probiotic food contains live bacteria which are considered beneficial to humans. 2. Probiotic food…
Q4The Kippur War was fought between which sides/countries ?
Q5Norman Ernest Borlaug who is regarded as the father of the Green Revolution in India is from which country?
Q6In which one of the following states are Namchik Namphuk Coalfields located ?
Q7Which one of the the following is correct in respect of Indian football team’s performance in the Olympic Games?
Q8Which was the capital of Andhra state when it was made a separate State in the year 1953 ?
Q9Who among the following have held the office of the Vice-President of India ? 1. Mohammad Hidayatullah 2. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed 3. Neelam Sanjiva 4. Shankar…
Q10What is the pH level of blood of normal person?
Q11C.Rangarajan has been actively involved in the Pan Asian Commission addressing to which one of the following issues ?
Q12Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: A B C D List I (Service/Agency) — List II(Country); A. Foreign…
Q13ISRO successfully conducted a rocket test using cryogenic engines in the year 2007. Where is the test-stand used for the purpose, located ?
Q14In which one of the following is Malta located ?
Q15Starting with the Australian Open Lawn Tennis tournament, which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the other three major Lawn Tennis…
Q16Among the following, which one lays eggs and does not produce young ones directly ?
Q17The release of which one of the following into ponds and wells helps in controlling the mosquitoes ?
Q18Which schedule of the Constitution of India contains special provisions for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas in several States?
Q19Department of Border Management is a Department of which one of the following Union Ministries ?
Q20For which one of following reforms was a Commission set up under the Chairmanship of Veerappa Moily by the Government of India ?
Q21Elizabeth Hawley is well-known for her writing relating to which one of the following ?
Q22In India, how many states share the coastline ?
Q23Nobel Prize winning scientist James D. Wastson is known for his work in which area ?
Q24Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: A B C D List I (Board) — List II(Headquarters); A. Coffee Board…
Q25Which one among the following has the maximum number of National Parks ?
Q26Among the following, which one is not an ape ?
Q27Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? 1. Francis Collins: Mapping human genome 2. Sergey Brin: Google Search Engine 3. Jimmy Wales: Wikipedia…
Q28What does S&P 500 relate to ?
Q29Rajiv Gandhi National Flying Institute is being established in which State ?
Q30Who among the following has been the Captain of the Indian team in Cricket Test Matches for the maximum number of times?
Q31Who among the following wrote the poem, Subhe Azadi ?
Q32With which one of the following rivers is the Omkareshwar Project associated ?
Q33Consider the following statements: 1. The Nuclear Suppliers Group has 24 countries as the members. 2. India is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Which…
Q34In the context of the Indian defence, what is ‘Dhruv’?
Q35‘Hand-in-Hand 2007’, a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of which one of the following…
Q36Assertion (A): In Human body, liver has an important role in fat digestion. Reason(R): Liver produces two importance fat-digesting enzymes.
Q37Assertion (A): In the visible spectrum of light, red light is more energetic than green light. Reason (R): The wavelength of red light is more than that of…
Q38Assertion (A): Radio waves bend in a magnetic field. Reason (R): Radio waves are electromagnetic in nature.
Q39Assertion (A): The Congress did not accept the decision of the Viceroy to declare war against Germany and resigned in the year 1939. Reason (R): The Congress…
Q40Where was the First Session of the Indian National Congress held in December 1885?
Q41Which one of the following was a journal brought out by Abul Kalam Azad ?
Q42Who among the following Gandhi an followers was a teacher by Profession ?
Q43How much is one barrel of oil approximately equal to?
Q44Which one of the following pairs of metals constitutes the lightest metal and the heaviest metal, respectively?
Q45Mixture of which one of the following pairs of gases is the cause of occurrence of most of the explosions in mines?
Q46Which one of the following is also called Stranger Gas?
Q47What are Rubies and Sapphires chemically known as?
Q48Consider the following statement: 1. A widely used musical scale called diatonic scale has seven frequencies. 2. The frequency of the note Sā is 256 Hz and…
Q49Which one of the following laser types is used in a laser printer?
Q50Consider the following statements in respect of a jet engine and a rocket: 1. A jet engine uses the surrounding air for its oxygen supply and so is unsuitable…
Q51Among the following, which one has the minimum population on the basis of data of Census of India, 2001?
Q52Who among the following translated the Autobiography of Madam Curie in Hindi ?
Q53Who among the following scientists shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with his son ?
Q54Which one of the following is the correct sequences in respect of the Roman numerals C, D, L and M ?
Q55What does Baudhayan theorem (Baudhayan Sulva Sautra) related to?
Q56Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Theory/Law — Associated Scientist; 1. Continental Drift — Edwin Hubble; 2. Expansion of Universe …
Q57Which 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 the correct answer…
Q58On which one of the following rivers is the Tehri Hydropower Complex located?
Q59Which one of the following cities is nearest to the equator?
Q60Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Select the correct answer using the code given below: Waterfalls — River; 1. Kapildhara Falls — Godavari…
Q61Which one of the following straits is nearest to the International Date Line ?
Q62Which of the following pairs in respect of correct Power generation in India is/are correctly matched ? (Rounded Figure) 1. Installed electricity generation…
Q63Which of the following pairs are correctly matched ? Select the correct answer using the code given below: Irrigation Project — State; 1. Damanganga …
Q64Who among the following rejected the title of knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India ?
Q65During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the English East India Company establish its first factory in India ?
Q66The term “prisoner’s Dilemma” is associated with which one of the following ?
Q67During the Indian Freedom Struggle, who of the following raised an army called ‘Free Indian Legion’?
Q68Which one of the following suggested the reconstitution of the Viceroy’s Executive council in which all the portfolios including that of War Members were to…
Q69What is the Agent Orange?
Q70Which two countries follow China and India in the decreasing order of their populations?
Q71Amongst the following States, Which one has the highest percentage of rural population (on the basis of the Census, 2001)?
Q72Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: A B C D List I (Organization) — List-II (Associated Convention/…
Q73Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: A B C D List I (Person) — List II (Area); A. K.P. Singh — 1.…
Q74Where was the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) held?
Q75Consider the following statements: 1. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in respect of carbon credits in one of the Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms. 2. Under the…
Q76Which 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. Surat 4. Nagpur Select the…
Q77Which of the following are the public sector undertakings of the Government of India? 1. Balmer Lawrie and Company Ltd. 2. Dredging Corporation of India 3.…
Q78Under which one of the following Constitution Amendments Acts, four languages were added to the languages under the Eighth schedule of the Constitution of…
Q79Consider the following statements: The Constitution of India Provides that 1. The Legislative Assembly of each State shall Consist of not more than 450…
Q80Which of the following is/are included in the Directive Principles of State policy? 1. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour 2. Prohibition…
Q81How is the United Nations Monetary and financial Conference wherein the agreements were signed to set up IBRD, GATT and IMF, commonly known?
Q82Where was the first desalination plant in India to produce one lakhs litres freshwater per day based on low temperature thermal desalination principle…
Q83Which of the following pairs are correctly matched ? Select the correct answer using the code given below: Institute — Location; 1. National Centers for Cell…
Q84With which one of the following is BRIT (Government Of India) engaged?
Q85Who among the following used the phrase ‘Un-British’ to criticize the English colonial control of India?
Q86Who among the following gave a systematic critique of the moderate politics of the Indian National Congress in a series of articles entitled new Lamps for Old?
Q87Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: A B C List-I (Author) — List-II (Work); A. Bankimchandra — 1.…
Q88Where are Tapovan and Vishnugarh Hydroelectric Projects located?
Q89How is Sarosh Zaiwalia well-kKnown as?
Q90Bimbavati Devi is a well-known dancer of which type of dance?
Q91Consider the following statements: 1. Chikmagalur is well-known for sugar production. 2. Mandya is well-known as a coffee-production region. Which of the…
Q92Ebraham Alkazi is an eminent Personality in which one of the following areas ?
Q93Consider the following statements: 1. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer was the Chief Justice of India. 2. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer is considered as one of the…
Q94Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: A B C D List-I (Person) — List II (Area); A. Sabyasachi…
Q95For India, China the UK and the USA, which one of the following is the correct sequence of the median age of their populations ?
Q96Which one of the following is the largest (area wise) Lok Sabha constituency?
Q97Consider the following statements: 1. Ajman is one of the seven Emirates of the UAE. 2. Ras al-khaimah was the last Sheikhdom to join the UAE. Which of the…
Q98India is a member of which of the following ? 1. Asian Development Bank 2. AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation 3. Colombo Plan 4. Organization for Economic…
Q99Which of the following countries share borders with Moldova? 1. Ukraine 2. Romania 3. Belarus Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q100Out of all the Biosphere Reserves in India, four have been recognized on the World Network by UNESCO. Which one of the following is not one of them?
Q101What is the purpose of the US Space Agency’s Themis Mission, which was recently in the news?
Q102In which one of the following locations is the Internationals Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project to be built ?
Q103Which one of the following is a spacecraft ?
Q104What is the approximate percentage of persons above 65 years of age in India’s current population?
Q105In the year 2007, an earthquake led to massive radioactive water leakage in the largest nuclear plant in the world. In which country did it occur ?
Q106Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was Passed ?
Q107Cristina Kirchner succeeded her husband to become President of a South American country. Which is that country ?
Q108In order of their distance from the Sun, which of the following planets lie between Mars and Uranus ?
Q109Which one of the following countries won the Euro Football Tournament, 2004 held in Portugal ?
Q110Near which one of the following cities are Palitana Temples located?
Q111Ogaden region has been a source of conflict between which countries?
Q112Kim Dae-Jung won the Nobel Prize for Peace. He is from which one of the following countries?
Q113Who among the following discovered heavy water?
Q114Among the Indian languages, which one is spoken maximum in the world after Hindi ?
Q115Which one of the following is an insectivorous plant?
Q116For which one of the following snakes is the diet mainly composed of other snakes?
Q117In which one of the following kids of organisms is the phenomenon found wherein the female kills the male after copulation?
Q118How many high Courts in India have jurisdiction over more than one State (Union Territories not included)?
Q119Which one amongst the following has the largest livestock population in the world?
Q120Consider the following statements: 1. Saltwater crocodile is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 2. Shrew and tapir are found in the Western Ghats of…
Q121Consider the following statements: Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ? Tributary River — Main River; 1. Chambal — Narmada; 2. Sone …
Q122Which of the following hills are found where the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats meet?
Q123Which one of the following is not essentially a species of the Himalayan vegetation?
Q124What is the number of spokes in the Dharma chakra in the National Flag of India?
Q125Consider the following 1. Rice fields 2. Coal mining 3. Domestic animals 4. Wetlands Which of the above are sources of methane, a major greenhouse gas ?
Q126From which one of the following did India buy the Barak anti-missile defence systems?
Q127Selence-1, the lunar orbiter mission belongs to which one of the following?
Q128Recently, the manuscripts of which one of the following have been included in the UNESCO’s Memory of World Register?
Q129Consider the following statements: 1. Orange Prize is awarded to a work of published fiction in English by a woman. 2. Pulitzer Prize is awarded by the…
Q130What is Bisphenol A (BPA) ?
Q131Which of the following pairs about India’s economic indicator and agricultural production (all in rounded figures) are correctly matched ? 1. GDP per capita…
Q132In August 2006, the Government of India notified the Rural Electrification Policy. This Policy aims at provision of access to all household by which year?
Q133As per India’s National Population Policy, 2000, by which one of the following years is it our longterm objective to achieve population stabilization ?
Q134Which one of the following Union Ministries is implementing the Biodiesel Mission (as Nodal Ministry) ?
Q135Consider the following statements with reference to Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): 1. All persons of 60 years or above belonging to…
Q136What is the name of the scheme which provides training and skills to women in traditional and non-traditional trades?