71st BPSC Prelims 2025
Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 43 solved 71st BPSC Prelims 2025 Current Affairs questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
Share of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the country's Gross Value Added (GVA) has increased from_______ 2020-21 to_______ in 2022-23.
Detailed Explanation:
MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) contribution to India's Gross Value Added (GVA) increased from 27.3% in 2020-21 to 30.1% in 2022-23, as per Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) data.
MSME classification criteria: Micro (Investment ≤ ₹1 crore, Turnover ≤ ₹5 crore), Small (Investment ≤ ₹10 crore, Turnover ≤ ₹50 crore), Medium (Investment ≤ ₹50 crore, Turnover ≤ ₹250 crore).
Which of the following was NOT the outcome of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020?
Detailed Explanation:
Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020 introduced One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) for providing unified access to scientific journals across Indian institutions.
Research and Innovation Excellence Framework (RIEF) was proposed under STIP 2020 for evaluating research quality and promoting innovation.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) was launched by NITI Aayog in 2016, four years before STIP 2020, to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Therefore, AIM is NOT an outcome of STIP 2020.
According to Annual PLFS 2023-24 report:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Rural female LFPR increased from 23.3% (2021-22) to 41.7% (2023-24) — a rise of 18.4 percentage points. Urban female LFPR rose from 23.8% to 28.0% — only 4.2 points. The rural increase is substantially greater.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The PLFS 2023-24 does not report that 90% of states have WPR below 43.7%; no such state-wise statistic is provided.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Female agricultural participation remains high in rural areas; no significant decrease from 2017-18 to 2023-24 is documented in the report.
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Match List-I with List-II
| List-I | List-II |
| a) Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme | 1) Introduced in the Union Budget for 2023-24 |
| b) Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) | 2) Aims to reduce emissions in energy-intensive industries |
| c) The Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative | 3) Launched in 2019 as a national-level strategy |
| d) National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) | 4) Launched at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 |
Detailed Explanation:
a) Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme is a market-based mechanism under the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency that aims to reduce specific energy consumption in energy-intensive industries → matches with 2.
b) MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 for mangrove plantation along coastlines → matches with 1.
c) LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative was launched by the Prime Minister at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 to promote sustainable lifestyles → matches with 4.
d) National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 as a comprehensive national-level strategy to tackle air pollution across Indian cities → matches with 3.
Therefore, the correct matching is a-2, b-1, c-4, d-3.
As per NFHS-5 data, which of the following state(s) recorded less than 6% of the population as multidimensionally poor in 2019-20?
Detailed Explanation:
NITI Aayog's National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) based on NFHS-5 data (2019-20) shows states with less than 6% multidimensionally poor population.
Jammu & Kashmir: 2.81% – below the 6% threshold.
Himachal Pradesh: 3.88% – below the 6% threshold.
Uttar Pradesh: 37.79% – significantly above 6%.
Both Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh recorded less than 6% multidimensionally poor population, making the answer "More than one of the above".
India's foreign exchange reserves:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: India's foreign exchange reserves increased to around USD 640.3 billion by the end of December 2024, as per the Economic Survey 2024-25.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: India's forex reserves are the fourth largest in the world (after China, Japan, and Switzerland), not seventh.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Reserves actually increased by around USD 68 billion in FY24; there was no BoP deficit of USD 24 billion causing a decrease.
Answer: Only statement 1 is correct.
Before the launch of Kisan Rin Portal (KRP), farmers used to submit manual claims under the Interest Subvention and Prompt Repayment Incentive schemes to which of the following institution/s?
Detailed Explanation:
Kisan Rin Portal (KRP) digitized the manual claims submission process for Interest Subvention and Prompt Repayment Incentive schemes.
Before KRP's launch in September 2023, scheduled commercial banks submitted manual claims to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), while cooperative banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) submitted to NABARD.
The manual system caused delays, duplication, and lack of transparency; KRP now provides a single online portal for all banks.
Which state had the highest constructed road length under Bharatmala Pariyojana as of 31 October 2024?
Detailed Explanation:
Bharatmala Pariyojana is a national highway development program launched in October 2017 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, targeting 34,800 km in Phase I across economic corridors, border roads, and coastal routes.
As of 31 October 2024, Rajasthan had the highest constructed road length under the scheme, surpassing states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Which organization jointly developed the National Urban Innovation Stack (NUIS) Digital Blueprint with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)?
Detailed Explanation:
National Urban Innovation Stack (NUIS) is a digital public good framework jointly developed by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
The blueprint provides open APIs, standards, and protocols for urban local bodies and civic tech firms to build scalable digital solutions for urban governance.
Which of the following statement/s is/are NOT CORRECT about the U-WIN portal of Ministry of Health and Family welfare?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: U-WIN portal provides QR-based e-vaccination certificates for immunization records.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The portal facilitates creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) for both parents and children.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: U-WIN is accessible in 11 regional languages to ensure wider reach across India.
Since all three statements are correct, the answer is None of the above.
Which of the following countries had greater share than India in the global services export in 2023?
Detailed Explanation:
India was the 7th largest services exporter with approximately 4.6% share in global services exports in 2023.
Ireland had a significantly higher share (~6-7%) driven by its robust software, finance, pharmaceutical, and aircraft leasing services sectors. Russia and Indonesia both had smaller services export shares than India, with less developed global services sectors.
Therefore, only Ireland qualifies as having a greater share than India.
According to India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023):
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: According to ISFR 2023, the total forest and tree cover is 24.62% of India's geographical area, not 15%.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The top three states with largest recorded forest area (RFA) are Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, not Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar, and Manipur.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Maximum tree cover is found in Maharashtra, followed by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh as per ISFR 2023.
Which of the following is not among the top ten principal commodities of India's export during April-September 2024-25?
Detailed Explanation:
Top Ten Principal Commodities (April-September 2024-25): Petroleum Products, Gems & Jewellery, Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, Engineering Goods, Iron & Steel, Organic & Inorganic Chemicals, RMG of Textiles, Electronic Goods, Marine Products, and Non-Basmati Rice as per DGCI&S data (Ministry of Commerce).
Basmati Rice is a major agricultural export but did not feature in the top ten list for this period. Only Option 3 is excluded; Petroleum Products and Iron & Steel are both in the top ten.
Which of the following statement/s is/are correct about Capability Poverty Measure (CPM) developed by the UNDP?
- CPM includes child malnutrition as a proxy for lack of health and nourishment.
- Female illiteracy is included to reflect deprivation in education and knowledge.
- It considers male illiteracy as a key indicator of capability poverty.
- It includes lack of access to clean drinking water as an important indicator of capability poverty.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: CPM (Capability Poverty Measure) includes child malnutrition (proportion of children under 5 who are underweight) as a proxy for deprivation in health and nourishment.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Female illiteracy rate is used to reflect deprivation in education and knowledge, recognizing gender-based capability gaps.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: CPM uses only female illiteracy, not male illiteracy, as the education indicator.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Access to clean drinking water is not included in CPM; the third indicator is proportion of births unattended by trained health personnel (not water access).
What is the title of the book by Banu Mushtag that won the 2025 International Booker Prize?
Detailed Explanation:
Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq won the 2025 International Booker Prize.
Translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, it is the first short story collection and first Kannada work to win this prize; the 12 stories depict women's lives in patriarchal communities in southern India (1990–2023).
Which day is observed as Holocaust Memorial Day?
Detailed Explanation:
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed on January 27 each year, commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp by Soviet forces on 27 January 1945.
Designated by the UN General Assembly in 2005, this day honors the six million Jews and millions of other victims including Roma, disabled persons, and political prisoners murdered during the Holocaust.
Which of the following defence platforms are part of India's growing indigenous military ecosystem supported by the Make in India initiaive?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ F-35 Lightning II – Incorrect: American stealth multirole fighter developed by Lockheed Martin; not part of India's indigenous defence ecosystem.
✅ Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun – Correct: Indigenous third-generation MBT developed by DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) and manufactured by Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi; flagship Make in India project.
✅ Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) – Correct: Indigenous 155mm/52-calibre howitzer developed by DRDO in partnership with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems Limited; successfully tested and part of Make in India initiative.
Both MBT Arjun and ATAGS are indigenous platforms under Make in India.
Which of the following statements are true about Akashteer?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Akashteer is the automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System serving as the core of the Indian Army's Air Defence (AAD) network.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: It seamlessly integrates with IAF's IACCS and Navy's TRIGUN systems, forming part of India's larger C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) framework.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The system reflects a strategic shift from passive defence to proactive air defence through real-time threat detection, automation, and rapid response capabilities.
All three statements are correct, making Option 4 the right answer.
Which of the following individuals or organisations was a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2024?
Detailed Explanation:
Ramon Magsaysay Award 2024 was conferred upon multiple recipients across different fields in Asia.
✓ Karma Phuntsho (Bhutan) – Scholar and founder of Loden Foundation, first Bhutanese recipient in over 60 years, honored for preserving Bhutanese cultural heritage.
✓ Rural Doctors Movement (Thailand) – Healthcare organization recognized for expanding rural healthcare access and contributing to universal health coverage in Thailand.
✓ Miyazaki Hayao (Japan) – Co-founder of Studio Ghibli, renowned animator honored for films exploring themes of nature, peace, and humanity.
Since all three were 2024 recipients, the correct answer is Option 4 – More than one of the above.
Which Gujarati film won the 70t National Film Award for Best Feature Film promoting national, social and envirenmental values?
Detailed Explanation:
Kutch Express won the 70th National Film Award for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.
The film's lead actress Manasi Parekh also won the Best Actress award at the same ceremony, while Hellaro had won Best Feature Film at the 66th National Awards and Chhello Show was India's official Oscar entry but did not win this specific category.
71st BPSC Prelims 2025 - Current Affairs Chapter-wise Distribution
Government Schemes & Initiatives
9 Qs (20.9%)Important Days & Miscellaneous
7 Qs (16.3%)Economy & Finance
7 Qs (16.3%)Awards & Honours
6 Qs (14%)Science & Technology
4 Qs (9.3%)International Relations
3 Qs (7%)Reports, Indices & Surveys
2 Qs (4.7%)Environment & Ecology
2 Qs (4.7%)Personalities in News
1 Qs (2.3%)Geography
1 Qs (2.3%)Polity & Governance
1 Qs (2.3%)71st BPSC Prelims 2025 - Current Affairs Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Current Affairs questions were asked in 71st BPSC Prelims 2025?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Current Affairs in 71st BPSC Prelims 2025?
- Government Schemes & Initiatives: 9 questions (20.9%)
- Important Days & Miscellaneous: 7 questions (16.3%)
- Economy & Finance: 7 questions (16.3%)
- Awards & Honours: 6 questions (14%)
- Science & Technology: 4 questions (9.3%)
- International Relations: 3 questions (7%)
- Reports, Indices & Surveys: 2 questions (4.7%)
- Environment & Ecology: 2 questions (4.7%)
- Personalities in News: 1 questions (2.3%)
- Geography: 1 questions (2.3%)
- Polity & Governance: 1 questions (2.3%)