Prelims GS I · 159 questions · 2011–2026
International relations & current affairs: every Prelims question, by topic
UPSC syllabus: “Current events of national and international importance.” Below, the topics inside it — most asked first — and how often each came up year by year.
International relations & current affairs in Prelims 2016: 23 questions
All years →- Q2 · Reports & indicesWhich of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? Undernourishment Child stunting Child mortality…
- Q7 · Government schemes & initiativesWhich one of the following is a purpose of 'UDAY', a scheme of the Government?…
- Q15 · International organisations & groupingsWith reference to the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), consider the following statements: IMFC discusses matters of concern affecting the global economy, and advises the Internat…
- Q19 · India & the world: places, pacts & relationsConsider the following pairs: Kurd — Bangladesh Madhesi — Nepal Rohingya — Myanmar…
- Q20 · International organisations & groupingsWith reference to 'Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)', consider the following statements: It is an organization of European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO. It mo…
- Q26 · Government schemes & initiativesWith reference to 'Stand Up India Scheme', which of the following statements is/are correct? Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. It provides for refinance t…
- Q32 · Government schemes & initiatives'Mission Indradhanush' launched by the Government of India pertains to…
- Q37 · Reports & indicesIndia’s ranking in the ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following has declared that ranking?…
- Q41 · International organisations & groupingsWith reference to the ‘Trans-Pacific Partnership’, consider the following statements: It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia. It is a strategic alliance for the…
- Q42 · India & the world: places, pacts & relationsConsider the following statements: The India-Africa Summit held in 2015 was the third such Summit was actually initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951…
- Q46 · Security, defence & exercisesWhich one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?…
- Q51 · International organisations & groupings'Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres)', often in the news, is…
- Q63 · Government schemes & initiatives'SWAYAM', an initiative of the Government of India, aims at…
- Q67 · International organisations & groupingsConsider the following statements: New Development Bank has been set up by APEC. The headquarters of New Development Bank is in Shanghai.…
- Q70 · International organisations & groupingsWhich of the following is not a member of 'Gulf Cooperation Council'?…
- Q72 · India & the world: places, pacts & relations'Belt and Road Initiative' is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of…
- Q75 · Reports & indices'Global Financial Stability Report' is prepared by the…
- Q77 · International organisations & groupingsThe term 'Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership' often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as…
- Q78 · Government schemes & initiativesOn which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Star Label? Ceiling fans Electric geysers Tubular fluorescent lamps…
- Q81 · International organisations & groupingsConsider the following statements: The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United N…
- Q82 · International organisations & groupings'European Stability Mechanism', sometimes seen in the news, is an…
- Q98 · International organisations & groupingsConsider the following statements: The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome'. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved…
- Q99 · Persons, awards & miscellanyA recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of…
International relations & current affairs in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 159 questions on International relations & current affairs in GS Paper I from 2011 to 2026 — about 10 a year, the most in 2016 (23). The most-asked topic is International organisations & groupings (56 questions).
| Year | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 21 |
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 8 Nov 2026.
- International organisations & groupings56 questions · asked in 14 of 16 years
- Government schemes & initiatives36 questions · asked in 15 of 16 years
- Persons, awards & miscellany22 questions · asked in 9 of 16 years
- India & the world: places, pacts & relations20 questions · asked in 11 of 16 years
- Security, defence & exercises15 questions · asked in 8 of 16 years
- Reports & indices10 questions · asked in 7 of 16 years
Latest questions
- 2026 · Q35 · Government schemes & initiativesConsider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India: I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic grow…
- 2026 · Q38 · International organisations & groupingsAt the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading vo…
- 2026 · Q60 · Security, defence & exercisesConsider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India:…
- 2026 · Q61 · India & the world: places, pacts & relationsConsider the following statements about river bridges connecting India with neighbouring countries:…
- 2026 · Q64 · India & the world: places, pacts & relationsWhich of the following international conventions have not been ratified by India?…
The same ground in Mains
These official Mains syllabus lines cover International relations & current affairs. Prelims facts become Mains arguments.
International relations & current affairs PYQs as a PDF — free
All 48 PDFs →Every International relations & current affairs question from 2011 to 2026, topic-wise, with answers and explanations — 98 pages. Free; sign up once.
International relations & current affairs PYQs: quick answers
How many International relations & current affairs questions has UPSC asked in Prelims from 2011 to 2026?
159 questions in GS Paper I — about 10 a year, the most in 2016 (23). Every one is on this page, under its topic, with UPSC's answer and an explanation.
Which International relations & current affairs topic does UPSC ask most in Prelims?
International organisations & groupings: 56 questions between 2011 and 2026, asked in 14 of 16 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
From 2016, yes: every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2011–2015, where UPSC published no key online, each answer is worked out from official sources and reviewed independently; for 2026 UPSC has so far published a provisional key, and those answers are labelled. Explanations cite official sources — NCERT and government pages first.
Can I download the International relations & current affairs PYQs as a PDF?
Yes — a print-ready PDF of every International relations & current affairs question with answers and explanations (98 pages, 2 MB), free after a one-time sign-up, from the Vault's downloads page.
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault; answers are UPSC's keys.
