UPSC Prelims 2026
Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 2 solved UPSC Prelims 2026 Current Affairs questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
Which of the following countries are members of the European Union ?
- Belarus
- Poland
- Germany
- Switzerland
Select the answer using the code given below :
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 — Incorrect (Belarus) Belarus is an Eastern European country that is not an EU member. It maintains close political and economic ties with Russia and has never formally applied for EU membership.
Statement 2 — Correct (Poland) Poland is a full EU member state, having joined during the major eastward expansion of May 2004.
Statement 3 — Correct (Germany) Germany is a full EU member state and one of the original six founding members of the EU's predecessor — the European Economic Community (EEC), established in 1957 (Treaty of Rome).
Statement 4 — Incorrect (Switzerland) Switzerland is not an EU member. Despite being geographically surrounded by the EU, it:
- Participates in the EU Single Market and Schengen Area via bilateral treaties
- Maintains historic neutrality
- Is a member of EFTA (European Free Trade Association) instead
Quick Memory Aid:
| Country | EU Member? | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Belarus | ❌ No | Close ties with Russia |
| Poland | ✅ Yes | Joined 2004 |
| Germany | ✅ Yes | Founding member 1957 |
| Switzerland | ❌ No | EFTA member, neutral |
Which of the following statements with regard to the Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments is/are correct?
- The tournaments have a shared governance structure establishing the partnership among the four Grand Slam tournaments.
- They are open for entry to all internationally ranked tennis players above the age of 14.
- There is a limitation on the number of 'Wild Cards' a player may receive to compete in a Grand Slam Tournament.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 — Correct. The four Grand Slam tournaments (Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and US Open) collaborate through a shared governance structure called the Grand Slam Board (GSB). It coordinates activities of mutual interest including:
- Maintaining the unified Grand Slam Rule Book
- Officiating standards
- Managing relationships with ATP, WTA, and ITF
Statement 2 — Incorrect. Entry is NOT open to all internationally ranked players above age 14. According to the Grand Slam Rule Book's "Open Competition" section, a player must have a ranking of 500 or better. Simply being internationally ranked and above 14 is insufficient.
Statement 3 — Incorrect. While each tournament draw has a fixed maximum number of wild card slots (e.g., 8 in a 128-player draw), the official Rule Book features a "No Limitation" clause — there is no restriction on how many wild cards a specific individual can be granted over time.
Key Tricks:
- Statement 2 traps: age criterion alone is not enough — ranking ≤ 500 is also required
- Statement 3 traps: confuses per-draw slot limit (fixed) with per-player lifetime limit (none)
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UPSC Prelims 2026 - Current Affairs Chapter-wise Distribution
Awards & Honours
1 Qs (50%)International Relations
1 Qs (50%)UPSC Prelims 2026 - Current Affairs Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Current Affairs questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2026?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Current Affairs in UPSC Prelims 2026?
- Awards & Honours: 1 questions (50%)
- International Relations: 1 questions (50%)