Schemes, reports, indices and other current affairs: previous-year questions
62 real UPSC Prelims questions (2011–2026) with the official answer and a clear explanation. 32 of them came in the last five papers.
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Questions per year, counted from the official papers.
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Consider the following statements regarding ‘Earth Hour’ :
- 1. It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO.
- 2. It is a movement in which the participants switch off the lights for one hour on a certain day every year.
- 3. It is a movement to raise the awareness about the climate change and the need to save the planet.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (c) & explanation
Earth Hour was started by WWF in Sydney in 2007, not by UNEP or UNESCO, so statement 1 is wrong. People switch off non-essential lights for one hour on a set day each year, usually the last Saturday of March (2 correct), to raise awareness about climate change and protecting the planet (3 correct). So the answer is (c).
It has grown into one of the world's largest grassroots environmental events, with landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and India Gate going dark. Notice how symbolic actions build public will, the same idea behind India's Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?
Answer (a) & explanation
India adopted the Saka national calendar on 22 March 1957. Chaitra 1 falls on 22 March in a normal year and 21 March in a leap year, close to the spring equinox (a). The other dates do not match: 15 May (b), 31 March (c) and 21 April (d) are not linked to the national calendar's new year.
The Saka era began in 78 CE and is linked with the Kushana king Kanishka. The calendar was reformed by the Calendar Reform Committee led by Meghnad Saha. It is used alongside the Gregorian calendar in the Gazette of India and government notices. Notice how astronomy shaped the calendar's design.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.