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 2024: 15 questions
All years →- Q24 · International organisations & groupingsConsider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization: It is one of the agencies of the United Nations. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiativ…
- Q26 · International organisations & groupingsWhich one of the following is the correct description of "100 Million Farmers"?…
- Q35 · Security, defence & exercisesConsider the following aircraft: Rafael MiG-29 Tejas MK-1…
- Q59 · International organisations & groupingsConsider the following statements: India is a member of the International Grains Council. A country needs to be a member of the International Grains Council for exporting or importing rice and wheat.…
- Q69 · Security, defence & exercisesWhich of the following is/are correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence forces? Brigadier — Air Commodore — Commander Major General — Air Vice Marshal — Vic…
- Q77 · Security, defence & exercisesWhat are the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Head of the Department of Military Affairs? Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee Exercise military command over the three Service …
- Q78 · Security, defence & exercisesOperations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called:…
- Q82 · Security, defence & exercisesWhich of the following statements about 'Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023' are correct? This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh. It commenced in Aundh (Pune). Joint response during c…
- Q86 · Persons, awards & miscellanyWho of the following is the author of the books "The India Way" and "Why Bharat Matters"?…
- Q87 · India & the world: places, pacts & relationsConsider the following pairs: Argentina — Worst economic crisis Sudan — War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces Turkey — Rescinded its membership of NATO…
- Q91 · Security, defence & exercisesConsider the following statements: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region i…
- Q97 · India & the world: places, pacts & relationsConsider the following statements: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries. Venezue…
- Q98 · Government schemes & initiativesWith reference to the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme, consider the following statements: To implement the scheme, the Central Government provides 100% funding. Under the Scheme, Ca…
- Q99 · Government schemes & initiativesWith reference to the ‘Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan’, consider the following statements: This scheme guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their second and t…
- Q100 · Government schemes & initiativesWith reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana, consider the following statements: The entry age group for enrolment in the scheme is 21 to 40 years. Age specific contributi…
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.
