Discover a comprehensive compilation of UPSC Prelims Topic Wise Questions focusing on General Knowledge – Miscellaneous. Dive into a diverse array of topics covering miscellaneous subjects essential for UPSC Preliminary examination preparation. This resource offers a structured approach to mastering key concepts and facts across various domains, ensuring thorough coverage of miscellaneous topics. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced aspirant, these meticulously curated questions provide valuable insights and practice opportunities to enhance your understanding and analytical skills. With a strategic emphasis on topic-wise questions, you can refine your knowledge base and bolster your confidence to tackle the UPSC Prelims effectively. Elevate your preparation, grasp essential insights, and optimize your performance in the UPSC Preliminary examination with proficiency in miscellaneous subjects.
Q1. The lead character in the film ‘The Bandit Queen, has been played by (1995)
(a) Pratiba Sinha
(b) Rupa Ganguly
(c) Seema Biswas
(d) Shabana Azmi
Ans. (c)
The lead character in the film “The Bandit Queen” is portrayed by Seema Biswas. Released in 1994, the film depicts the life of Phoolan Devi, based on the book “India’s Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi” by Indian author Mala Sen. It was written, produced, and directed by Shekhar Kapur. “The Bandit Queen” received several accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie, and Best Direction for that year. Additionally, it was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 67th Academy Awards, although it was not nominated.
Q2. The signatories to the treaty banning chemical weapons include (1995)
(a) U.S.A., Russia, India, Iran and Israel
(b) Iraq, Libya, India, Russia and China
(c) Brazil, Angola, North Korea, Pakistan and U.S.A.
(d) Syria, Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore and France
Ans. (a)
The signatories to the treaty banning chemical weapons include the USA, Russia, India, Iran, and Israel. The Convention aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, or use of chemical weapons by States Parties. The treaty entered into force on April 29th, 1997.
Q3. Which one of the following had legalised euthanasia? (1996)
(a) Texas in the USA
(b) Northern Territory in Australia
(c) Quebeec in Canada
(d) Maharashtra in India
Ans. (c)
There seems to be a misunderstanding. As of my last update, Texas has not legalized euthanasia. Euthanasia, which involves intentionally ending life to relieve pain and suffering, remains illegal in Texas and most parts of the United States.
However, euthanasia laws vary across different countries. In the Netherlands and Belgium, euthanasia is defined as the termination of life by a doctor at the request of a patient. In India, passive euthanasia has been legal since March 2018 under strict guidelines. Patients must provide consent through a living will, and they must be either terminally ill or in a vegetative state.
Q4. The language spoken by the largest number of people in the world is (1999)
(a) Hindi
(b) English
(c) Mandarin
(d) Spanish
Ans. (c)
The language spoken by the largest number of people in the world is Mandarin. It is spoken by approximately 918 million people worldwide. Mandarin is a group of Chinese languages primarily spoken across most of Northern and Southwestern China.
Spanish, the second-largest language spoken globally, is spoken by around 480 million people.
English, the third most spoken language, is spoken by approximately 379 million people worldwide.
Hindi, with around 341 million speakers, is the fourth largest language spoken in the world.
Q5. Consider the following features of newer models of 200 motor cars. (2000)
1. Radial tyres
2. Streamlined body
3. Multipoint fuel injection
4. Catalytic converter with exhaust
Which of the features given above make the new models of motor cars more fuel efficient?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4
Ans. (b)
Newer models of motor cars often feature streamlined bodies and multiple fuel injection systems to enhance performance and fuel efficiency.
The fuel efficiency of a vehicle depends on various factors, including its engine parameters, aerodynamic drag, weight, and rolling resistance.
Q6. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched? (2001)
(a) India’s first technicolour film: Jhansi Ki Rani
(b) India’s first 3-D film : My Dear Kuttichathan
(c) India’s first insured film : Taal
(d) India’s first actress to win the Bharat Ratna : Meena Kumari
Ans. (d)
Pair (d) is indeed incorrectly matched. No Indian actress has been awarded the Bharat Ratna. The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, has been bestowed upon 48 individuals in total, with only five of them being women. These women are Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Aruna Asaf Ali, M.S. Subbulakshmi, and Lata Mangeshkar.
Q7. Consider the following statements. (2003)
1. The Islamic Calendar is 12 days shorter than the Gregorian Calendar.
2. The Islamic Calendar began in AD 632.
3. The Gregorian Calendar is a solar calendar.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 2
(b) Only 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) None of these
Ans. (d)
Indeed, statement 3 is correct. The Gregorian Calendar is a solar calendar comprising 12 months, each with 28-31 days. It consists of 365 days in a year, with a leap day added to February in leap years.
However, statements 1 and 2 are incorrect. The Islamic Calendar, also known as the Hijri Calendar, has either 354 or 355 days in a year. It is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian Calendar in a standard year and 10 days shorter in a leap year. Additionally, the Islamic Calendar began in AD 622, not AD 632.
Q8. Where has world’s largest ever meet on HIV AIDS held in July, 2004? (2005)
(a) Bangkok
(b) Singapore
(c) New York
(d) Rome
Ans. (a)
The world’s largest-ever meeting on HIV/AIDS took place in July 2004 in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. This event marked the first international AIDS conference to be held in Southeast Asia. The XV International AIDS Conference in 2004 was attended by Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, marking the first time a UN Secretary-General participated in the conference since its inception. The inaugural conference was held in Atlanta, USA, in 1985.
Q9. What is the Universal Product Code (UPC) adopted 1000 for? (2005)
(a) Fire safety code in buildings
(b) Earthquake-resistant building code
(c) Bar code
(d) Against adulteration in eatables
Ans. (c)
The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a barcode system widely adopted for tracking trade items in stores worldwide. It consists of 12 digits assigned to each trade item, facilitating the scanning of items at the point of sale. The purpose of UPC is to simplify the identification of product features, such as brand name, item size, and color, when an item is scanned at the checkout. Additionally, UPCs are helpful in tracking inventory within a store or warehouse.
Q10. ‘Lectures from Colombo to Almore’ is based on the experiences of which one of the following? (2005)
(a) Veer Savarkar
(b) Annie Besant
(c) Ramkrishan Paramhansa
(d) Swami Vivekanand
Ans. (d)
“Lectures from Colombo to Almora” is indeed based on the experiences of Swami Vivekananda. In 1893, Swami Vivekananda traveled to the United States to participate in the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Over the next four years, from 1893 to 1897, he journeyed through various cities in the United States and England. He returned to India in 1897 via Colombo.
Upon reaching Colombo on January 15th, 1897, Vivekananda extensively traveled and visited many Indian states, delivering lectures on a variety of topics. On June 19th, 1897, he arrived in Almora. The lectures he delivered during this period were compiled into the book “Lectures from Colombo to Almora.” This book is often referred to as the ‘Charter for modern India.’
Q11. Who among the following wrote ‘The Communist Manifesto’ along with Karl Marx? (2006)
(a) Emile Durkheim
(b) Friedrich Engels
(c) Robert Owen
(d) Max Weber
Ans. (b)
German philosopher Friedrich Engels indeed co-authored “The Communist Manifesto” with Karl Marx, and it was published on February 21st, 1848.
“The Communist Manifesto,” originally titled the Manifesto of the Communist Party, presents an analytical approach to the class struggle and the conflicts arising from capitalism and the capitalist mode of production.
Summarizing Marx and Engels’ theories concerning society and politics, the manifesto also briefly outlines their ideas for how the capitalist society of their time would eventually be replaced by socialism.
In 2013, “The Communist Manifesto” was included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme along with Marx’s “Capital, Volume I.”
Q12. A very big refugee camp called Dadaab is located in (2009)
(a) Ethiopia
(b) Kenya
(c) Somalia
(d) Sudan
Ans. (b)
Dadaab is indeed located in Kenya. It serves as the site of a UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) base, hosting 223,420 registered refugees and asylum seekers across three camps (Dagahaley, Hagadera, and Ifo) as of May 13th, 2019, making it the third-largest such complex globally.
The center is managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, with its operations funded by foreign donors. Originally settled by refugees fleeing the civil war in Somalia, Dadaab has become a significant humanitarian hub providing assistance to displaced populations.
Q13. 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 by passing the ‘Climate Change Accountability Bill’? (2009)
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) Germany
(d) Japan
Ans. (b)
Canada did indeed pass significant climate legislation, but it wasn’t called the “Climate Change Accountability Bill.” Instead, it was known as the “Climate Change Accountability Act.” The House of Commons (Lower House) of Canada passed this bill on June 3, 2008, and the Senate (Upper House) passed it on June 22, 2010. However, the bill did not receive Royal Assent and thus did not become law.
Q15. Consider the following pairs. (2004)
| Famous Places | Countries |
| 1. Cannes | France |
| 2. Davos | Denmark |
| 3. Roland Garros | The Netherlands |
Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) All of these
Ans. (a)
You’ve correctly identified that pair (1) is matched correctly, as Cannes is indeed a city located on the French Riviera and hosts the annual Cannes Film Festival.
However, pair (2) is incorrect. Davos is a municipality in Switzerland, best known for hosting the World Economic Forum.
Pair (3) is also incorrect. The Roland-Garros, or French Open, is a major tennis tournament held at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, beginning in late May each year. The tournament and venue are named after the French aviator Roland Garros.
Q16. With reference to Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), consider the following statements. (2016)
1. It is an organisation of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO
2. It monitors chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.
3. It provides assistance and protection to states (parties) against chemical weapons threats
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (b)
Statements (2) and (3) are indeed correct. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) consists of four main provisions:
- Monitoring the chemical industry to prevent the re-emergence of new chemical weapons.
- Providing assistance and protection to state parties against chemical threats.
- Destroying all existing chemical weapons under international verification by the OPCW.
- Fostering international cooperation to strengthen the implementation of the convention and promote the peaceful use of chemistry.
Q17. The term ‘Two-State Solution’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of (2018)
(a) China
(b) Israel
(c) Iraq
(d) Yemen
Ans. (b)
The term “Two-State Solution” proposes that the only viable resolution to the Palestine-Israel conflict is the establishment of two separate states: one for Arabs and the other for Jews. This solution envisions the creation of an independent state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, situated west of the Jordan River.
Q18. Which one of the following best describes the term ‘Green Washing’? (2022)
(a) Conveying a false impression that a company’s products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound.
(b) Non-inclusion of ecological environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country.
(c) Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development.
(d) Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project programme.
Ans. (a)
Statement (a) does indeed best describe the term ‘Greenwashing.’ It accurately defines greenwashing as the practice of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company’s products are more environmentally sound. This involves making unsubstantiated claims to deceive consumers into believing that a company’s products are environmentally-friendly.
Q19. With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements: (2023)
1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.
2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of internal security.
3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some states.
How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans. (b)
Only statements (2) and (3) are accurate regarding the role and functions of Home Guards. Home Guards serve as an auxiliary force to the police, assisting in maintaining internal security and helping the community during emergencies such as air raids, fires, cyclones, earthquakes, and epidemics. Additionally, some states like Rajasthan have raised battalions known as Border Wing Home Guard to prevent infiltration along the international border. However, statement (1) is incorrect as Home Guards are typically raised under specific Home Guard Acts enacted by individual states or union territories, not under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the States/Union Territories.
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