Q. Recently, a series of uprisings of people referred to as 'Arab Spring' originally started from (UPSC Prelims 2014)
Answer: Tunisia
Notes: The correct answer is [D] Tunisia. The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s.

• The Spark in Tunisia (Statement D – Correct): The movement began in December 2010 in the Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid. It was triggered by the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor, in protest against police corruption and ill-treatment by local officials.
• The Jasmine Revolution: This local protest quickly escalated into a country-wide uprising known as the "Jasmine Revolution," which led to the ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.
• The Domino Effect: The success in Tunisia inspired similar movements across the region:
  • Egypt (A): Protests centered in Tahrir Square led to the resignation of Hosni Mubarak.
  • Syria (C): Protests against Bashar al-Assad's regime unfortunately escalated into a long-standing civil war.
  • Libya: The uprising led to the fall and death of Muammar Gaddafi.
  • Yemen: Protests resulted in the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The Arab Spring is a significant event in modern history as it demonstrated the power of social media in mobilizing large-scale political movements and challenged long-standing autocratic regimes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.