UPSC Prelims 2015 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, Economy, Indian Polity carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 49% of the paper.
- The paper strongly favoured statement-based questions — multi-statement and assertion-reasoning questions together made up 46% of the paper, making careful reading and elimination especially important.
- The paper was largely easy to moderate in difficulty, with 83% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 17% 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 54% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of the living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As time passes these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘Living Root Bridges’ are found in -
In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of the living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As time passes these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘Living Root Bridges’ are found in -
- View Answer for: Tides occur in oceans and seas due to which among the following? Gravitational Force of the Sun Gravitational Force of the Moon Centrifugal force of the EarthSelect the correct answer using the code given below
Tides occur in oceans and seas due to which among the following?
- Gravitational Force of the Sun
- Gravitational Force of the Moon
- Centrifugal force of the Earth
Select the correct answer using the code given below
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs:Place of Pilgrimage|Location -- |-- 1. Srisailam | Nallamala Hills 2. Omkareshwar|Satmala Hills 3. Pushkar | Mahadeo HillsWhich of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:
Place of Pilgrimage Location 1. Srisailam Nallamala Hills 2. Omkareshwar Satmala Hills 3. Pushkar Mahadeo Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: Which of the following pairs of States of India indicates the Easternmost and Westernmost State?
Which of the following pairs of States of India indicates the Easternmost and Westernmost State?
- View Answer for: In India the steel production industry requires the import of
In India the steel production industry requires the import of
- View Answer for: What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?
What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?
- View Answer for: Consider the following States: Arunachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh MizoramIn which of the following states do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?
Consider the following States:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Himachal Pradesh
- Mizoram
In which of the following states do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?
- View Answer for: Consider the following rivers : Vamsadhara Indravati Pranahita PennarWhich of the above are tributaries of Godavari?
Consider the following rivers :
- Vamsadhara
- Indravati
- Pranahita
- Pennar
Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: The winds that blow between 30 degrees N and 60 degrees S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in the North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- The winds that blow between 30 degrees N and 60 degrees S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
- The moist air masses that cause winter rains in the North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea?
Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea?
- View Answer for: In the South Atlantic and South Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?
In the South Atlantic and South Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?
- View Answer for: “Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form than rain comes with thunder and lightning. But the rain is soon over.”Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?
“Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form than rain comes with thunder and lightning. But the rain is soon over.”
Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?
- View Answer for: In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?
In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?
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