Staying updated with current affairs is crucial for UPSC aspirants, as a significant portion of Prelims and Mains exams focus on national and international events, government policies, and economic developments. Below is a list of important General Knowledge (GK) questions based on recent current affairs to help boost your exam preparation.
Latest UPSC Current Affairs GK Questions & Answers
1. National & International Affairs
Q1: Which country recently became the 31st member of NATO?
A) Ukraine
B) Finland
C) Sweden
D) Georgia
✅ Answer: B) Finland
📌 Finland officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in April 2023, strengthening its defense ties with Western nations.
Q2: The ‘Digital Personal Data Protection Bill’ was recently passed by which country’s parliament?
A) United States
B) India
C) United Kingdom
D) Australia
✅ Answer: B) India
📌 The bill aims to regulate data collection, protect privacy, and set guidelines for personal data usage in India.
Q3: What is India’s rank in the latest Global Innovation Index 2024?
A) 36th
B) 40th
C) 45th
D) 50th
✅ Answer: A) 36th
📌 India has consistently improved its position in the Global Innovation Index due to advancements in technology and research.
Q4: Which city recently hosted the G20 Summit in 2023?
A) Paris
B) New Delhi
C) Tokyo
D) Dubai
✅ Answer: B) New Delhi
📌 India hosted the G20 Summit in 2023, focusing on global economic stability, climate change, and sustainable development.
2. Economy & Banking
Q5: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently introduced a new payment system called?
A) UPI Lite
B) e-RUPI 2.0
C) Digital Rupee
D) Rupay Express
✅ Answer: C) Digital Rupee
📌 The RBI launched the Digital Rupee as India’s official Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) for secure digital transactions.
Q6: What is India’s projected GDP growth rate for 2024-25 as per the Economic Survey?
A) 5.5%
B) 6.1%
C) 6.5%
D) 7.0%
✅ Answer: C) 6.5%
📌 The Indian economy is expected to grow at a steady pace due to strong domestic consumption and economic reforms.
3. Science & Technology
Q7: What is the name of ISRO’s first solar mission launched in 2023?
A) Aditya L1
B) Surya Mission
C) Solar Explorer
D) Chandrayaan-4
✅ Answer: A) Aditya L1
📌 The Aditya L1 mission is designed to study the Sun’s atmosphere, solar winds, and magnetic field interactions.
Q8: NASA’s Artemis program aims to send astronauts to which celestial body?
A) Mars
B) Moon
C) Venus
D) Jupiter
✅ Answer: B) Moon
📌 NASA’s Artemis program plans to send astronauts back to the Moon, with a long-term goal of Mars exploration.
4. Environment & Climate Change
Q9: Which Indian city was recently declared the “cleanest city” in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings?
A) Bengaluru
B) Indore
C) Ahmedabad
D) Chennai
✅ Answer: B) Indore
📌 Indore has retained its position as the cleanest city in India for several consecutive years due to effective waste management.
Q10: The COP29 Climate Summit will be hosted by which country?
A) Brazil
B) South Korea
C) Azerbaijan
D) Germany
✅ Answer: C) Azerbaijan
📌 The 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) will focus on climate policies and carbon emission reduction goals.
5. Polity & Governance
Q11: Who was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India in 2024?
A) Rajiv Kumar
B) Sunil Arora
C) Sushil Chandra
D) Anup Chandra Pandey
✅ Answer: A) Rajiv Kumar
📌 Rajiv Kumar is responsible for overseeing elections and ensuring free and fair polling in India.
Q12: Which Indian state recently implemented the ‘Right to Health’ law?
A) Rajasthan
B) Kerala
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Karnataka
✅ Answer: A) Rajasthan
📌 Rajasthan became the first Indian state to pass the Right to Health Act, ensuring free healthcare services for residents.
6. Defense & International Relations
Q13: India recently signed a defense agreement with which country for advanced fighter jets?
A) Russia
B) France
C) Israel
D) United States
✅ Answer: B) France
📌 India signed an agreement with France to acquire additional Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.
Q14: Which Indian warship was recently commissioned into the Navy?
A) INS Vikrant
B) INS Visakhapatnam
C) INS Mormugao
D) INS Khanderi
✅ Answer: C) INS Mormugao
📌 INS Mormugao is an advanced stealth destroyer, enhancing India’s maritime defense capabilities.
FAQs on UPSC Current Affairs GK
Q1: How important are current affairs for the UPSC exam?
Current affairs play a vital role in UPSC Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages. They help aspirants understand government policies, international relations, economic trends, and scientific developments.
Q2: What are the best sources to study current affairs for UPSC?
- The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB for daily news
- Yojana & Kurukshetra Magazines for government policies
- Economic Survey & Budget Reports for economic updates
- Monthly Current Affairs Compilations for revision
Q3: How far back should I study current affairs for UPSC?
It is advisable to cover at least 12-18 months of current affairs before the UPSC Prelims and Mains examination.
Q4: How can I improve my current affairs retention?
- Make short notes and mind maps
- Revise regularly with quizzes and mock tests
- Follow daily and weekly current affairs analysis
Q5: How many current affairs questions appear in the UPSC Prelims?
On average, 15-25 questions in Prelims GS Paper 1 are from current affairs, covering topics like polity, economy, science, and international affairs.
Staying updated with current affairs is essential for UPSC success. Regular revision, newspaper reading, and practicing GK questions will help aspirants stay ahead in the competition. Keep tracking important government initiatives, economic trends, and scientific advancements to enhance your preparation!
📌 How many answers did you get right? Comment your score below! 🚀📚