UPSC Prelims 2022 Analysis

Subject-Wise Weightage

• Environment & Ecology (18 questions): The highest representation, emphasizing topics like biodiversity, climate change, and maps for environmental hotspots.
• Economy (16 questions): Focused on fiscal policies, budget trends, and government schemes.
• Science & Technology (15 questions): Covered emerging technologies, space missions, and their applications.
• Indian Polity (12 questions): Standard focus on constitutional principles, assertion-based questions, and governance issues.
• Other Notable Areas: International Relations (11), Art & Culture (7), and Geography (10 combined), with many match the following type questions.
   

Difficulty Distribution

• Easy (25 questions): Covered fundamental NCERT concepts and basic factual recall.
• Medium (48 questions): Required analytical abilities, conceptual clarity, and deeper reasoning.
• Hard (27 questions): Tested multi-dimensional application and assertion-reasoning skills.
   

Nature of Questions

• Statement-Fact (40): Majority of the paper, checking direct factual correctness.
• Statement-Assertion (23) & Current Affairs-Specific (21): Required knowledge of contemporary issues with logical reasoning.
   

Conceptual Coverage

• Single Concept (68 questions): Focused on in-depth understanding within individual subjects.
• Multiple Concepts (32 questions): Required interlinking themes across topics like static history with modern political developments.
   

Question Variations

• Multi-Statement (72 questions): Most questions were assertion-reason or "how many of the above are correct?" formats.
• Direct (28 questions): Fact-based, often sourced from NCERT and standard books.
• Match the Following: Commonly seen in Geography, Environment, and Economy questions.
   

Actionable Insights

• Leverage Easy Questions (25): Build a strong NCERT foundation to secure these marks.
• Prepare for Medium-Difficulty Questions (48): Strengthen analytical abilities to handle the majority of the paper effectively.
• Strategize for Hard Questions (27): Tackle assertion-based and multi-concept questions using elimination techniques.
• Practice Multi-Statement Questions: Since they dominate the paper, mastering them is essential.
• Focus on High-Weightage Subjects: Prioritize Environment, Economy, and Science, given their significant share in the exam.
• Stay Updated with Current Affairs: Particularly for Economy (budget, fiscal policies), Environment, and International Relations, integrate recent developments into your preparation.