UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I
Question 69: Economy and Social Development
Consider the following countries :
- IUnited Arab Emirates
- IIFrance
- IIIGermany
- IVSingapore
- VBangladesh
How many countries amongst the above are there other than India where international merchant payments are accepted under UPI?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
UPI merchant payments were available in the United Arab Emirates, France and Singapore at the time of the paper, along with Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. France began accepting UPI at the Eiffel Tower in 2024. Germany was not on the list, and Bangladesh was not a UPI merchant payment country. So three of the five countries named qualify.
- I. UPI merchant payments work in the UAE.
- II. UPI is accepted in France, as at the Eiffel Tower.
- III. UPI merchant payments were not available in Germany.
- IV. UPI merchant payments work in Singapore.
- V. Bangladesh was not a UPI merchant payment country.
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: three countries qualify.
- (b) Right: the UAE, France and Singapore accept UPI merchant payments.
- (c) Wrong: Germany and Bangladesh did not accept UPI merchant payments.
- (d) Wrong: Germany and Bangladesh were not on the list.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.