UPSC Prelims – Current Affairs (Objective / MCQs)

UPSC Prelims – Current Affairs (Objective / MCQs)

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1. Recommended Sources

Source	Purpose / Details
The Hindu	Comprehensive coverage of national, international, economic, science, and environment news. Editorials are useful for analytical understanding.
Indian Express	Provides critical analysis, investigative reports, government policies, and international relations insights.
PIB (Press Information Bureau)	Official government releases: policies, schemes, government statistics, initiatives. Most reliable for UPSC.
Yojana / Kurukshetra Magazine	Articles on socio-economic development, governance, environment, technology, and health, useful for conceptual understanding.

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2. Strategy to Cover Current Affairs for Prelims

Step 1: Daily News Reading

·         Focus on national and international news, government schemes, economic developments, and environment news.

·         Make short notes of:

o    Government schemes & initiatives

o    Important dates & events

o    Awards, summits, treaties

Step 2: Monthly Compilation

·         Prepare monthly capsules with:

o    Government policies & schemes

o    Economy & budget updates

o    Science & Technology developments

o    Environmental & disaster-related news

o    International relations & agreements

Step 3: Linking with Static Syllabus

·         Connect current affairs with Polity, Economy, Geography, Environment, and History.

·         Example: Link budget schemes with Economy, international conventions with Environment, etc.

Step 4: Revision & Practice

·         Revise capsules regularly (weekly or monthly)

·         Solve MCQs based on current affairs to improve retention and speed

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3. Important Topics for UPSC Prelims

Section	Key Points
National Affairs	Government schemes, policy updates, acts, legal amendments, elections
International Affairs	Summits, treaties, UN & global organizations, global conflicts, bilateral relations
Economy	Union Budget, Economic Survey highlights, RBI & monetary policy, inflation, GST updates
Science & Technology	Space missions, AI, IT, biotechnology, vaccines, innovations
Environment & Ecology	Climate change, biodiversity updates, natural disasters, conservation initiatives
Awards & Recognitions	International & national awards, sports, literature, and social sector recognitions
Reports & Indices	Human Development Index, Global Hunger Index, Ease of Doing Business, etc.

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4. Sample Questions – Current Affairs (Prelims MCQs)

1.      Which Indian city hosted the G20 Summit in 2023?
a) New Delhi
b) Bengaluru
c) Mumbai
d) Hyderabad
Answer: a) New Delhi

2.      The Economic Survey 2024 emphasizes:
a) Agriculture reforms and subsidies
b) Digital economy and start-up ecosystem
c) Green energy and climate action
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

3.      Which Indian state became the first to implement the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ system?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Maharashtra
d) Rajasthan
Answer: b) Andhra Pradesh

4.      Which of the following are biodiversity hotspots in India?

1.      Himalaya

2.      Indo-Burma

3.      Sundalands

4.      Western Ghats
a) 1, 2, 4
b) 1, 3, 4
c) 2, 3, 4
d) All of the above
Answer: a) 1, 2, 4

5.      Which country recently joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a member?
a) USA
b) France
c) Brazil
d) Germany
Answer: c) Brazil

6.      Swachh Bharat Mission primarily focuses on:
a) Renewable energy
b) Sanitation & waste management
c) Forest conservation
d) Biodiversity protection
Answer: b) Sanitation & waste management

7.      Which of the following indices is released by the World Bank?
a) Ease of Doing Business
b) Global Hunger Index
c) Human Development Index
d) Environmental Performance Index
Answer: a) Ease of Doing Business

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5. Preparation Tips – Current Affairs for Prelims

1.      Daily Reading: 30–45 minutes of The Hindu / Indian Express

2.      Monthly Capsules: Summarize PIB & Yojana updates

3.      Link Current Affairs with Static Syllabus → Polity, Economy, Geography, Environment, Science

4.      Revise Regularly → Avoid accumulation of news

5.      Solve MCQs Weekly → For speed, accuracy, and retention

6.      Use Mind Maps / Charts → Government schemes, reports, international treaties

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Summary

·         Sources: The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, Yojana

·         Topics: National & International Affairs, Economy, Science & Tech, Environment, Reports, Awards

·         Strategy: Daily reading → Monthly capsule → Link with static syllabus → Revise → Practice MCQs

·         Goal: Stay updated, integrate with static topics, score high in Prelims