2025 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 21: International Relations and Current Affairs

Consider the following countries :

  1. IAustria
  2. IIBulgaria
  3. IIICroatia
  4. IVSerbia
  5. VSweden
  6. VINorth Macedonia

How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

aOnly three
bOnly four
cOnly five
dAll the six

AnswerThe answer is (b).

Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004, Croatia in 2009, North Macedonia in 2020 and Sweden in March 2024, giving four members. Austria is a constitutionally neutral country that has stayed out, and Serbia, though it cooperates with NATO through a partnership, is militarily neutral and is not a member. Remember: Sweden is now a member after Finland in 2023; Austria, Serbia, Switzerland and Ireland remain outside.

  • I. Austria is neutral and not a member.
  • II. Bulgaria joined in 2004.
  • III. Croatia joined in 2009.
  • IV. Serbia is militarily neutral and not a member.
  • V. Sweden joined in 2024.
  • VI. North Macedonia joined in 2020.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: four countries are members, not three.
  • (b) Right: Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia and Sweden are members.
  • (c) Wrong: Austria and Serbia are not members, so five overcounts.
  • (d) Wrong: Austria and Serbia are not NATO members.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.