UPSC Prelims 2014 Question Paper & Analysis
Get the UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question (PYQ) Paper with subject-wise trends, difficulty analysis, and detailed model answers — including diagrams, flowcharts, and structured writing for GS.
Subject-wise MCQ Distribution
Difficulty Analysis
Type of questions
Key Insights
- Environment & Ecology, Art & Culture, Economy carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 55% of the paper.
- The paper strongly favoured statement-based questions — multi-statement and assertion-reasoning questions together made up 64% of the paper, making careful reading and elimination especially important.
- The paper was largely easy to moderate in difficulty, with 74% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 26% classified as hard.
- Questions were spread across 13 subject areas, making broad syllabus coverage important rather than relying on a few traditionally dominant subjects.
- The question format demanded more than direct recall, with only 36% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India. Consider the following pairs: Famous Shrine|Location -- |-- 1. Tabo monastery and temple complex | Spiti Valley 2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple|Nako Zanskar Valley 3. Alchi temple complex | LadakhWhich of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India. Consider the following pairs:
Famous Shrine Location 1. Tabo monastery and temple complex Spiti Valley 2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple Nako Zanskar Valley 3. Alchi temple complex Ladakh Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?
Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?
- View Answer for: Consider the following towns of India: Bhadrachalam Chanderi Kancheepuram KarnalWhich of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees / fabric?
Consider the following towns of India:
- Bhadrachalam
- Chanderi
- Kancheepuram
- Karnal
Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees / fabric?
- View Answer for: Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was
Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs Garba : Gujarat Mohiniattam : Odisha Yakshagana : KarnatakaWhich of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs
- Garba : Gujarat
- Mohiniattam : Odisha
- Yakshagana : Karnataka
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to
With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to
- View Answer for: With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements: Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:
- Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
- It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
- It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘Changpa’ community of India, consider the following statement: They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool. They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to ‘Changpa’ community of India, consider the following statement:
- They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand.
- They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool.
- They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal. The Philosophy of PushtiMarg was propounded by Madhvacharya.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
- The Philosophy of PushtiMarg was propounded by Madhvacharya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?
Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?
- View Answer for: With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?
With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?
- View Answer for: A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their -
A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their -
- View Answer for: With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs: Famous work of sculpture|Site -- |-- 1. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below|Ajanta 2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rock|Mount Abu 3. “Arjuna’s Penance” /”Descent of Ganga” sculpted on the surface of huge boulders|MamallapuramWhich of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched?
With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs:
Famous work of sculpture Site 1. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below Ajanta 2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rock Mount Abu 3. “Arjuna’s Penance” /”Descent of Ganga” sculpted on the surface of huge boulders Mamallapuram Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: Consider the following languages: Gujarati Kannada TeluguWhich of the above has/have been declared as ‘Classical Language / Languages’ by the Government?
Consider the following languages:
- Gujarati
- Kannada
- Telugu
Which of the above has/have been declared as ‘Classical Language / Languages’ by the Government?
- View Answer for: The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from
The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from
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