UPSC Prelims 2016 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, Science & Technology carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 53% of the paper.
- The paper strongly favoured statement-based questions — multi-statement and assertion-reasoning questions together made up 56% of the paper, making careful reading and elimination especially important.
- The paper was largely easy to moderate in difficulty, with 77% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 23% classified as hard.
- Questions were spread across 11 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 44% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
- View Answer for: What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram? Both were built in the same period. Both belong to the same religious denomination. Both have rock-cut monuments.Select the correct answer using the code given below.
What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
- Both were built in the same period.
- Both belong to the same religious denomination.
- Both have rock-cut monuments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- View Answer for: With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements : The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements :
- The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
- Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
- Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?
Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?
- View Answer for: With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements: Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements:
- Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
- Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs:Famous place|Region -- |-- 1. Bodhgaya | Baghelkhand 2. Khajuraho|Bundelkhand 3. Shirdi | Vidarbha 4. Nasik (Nashik)|Malwa 5. Tirupati|RayalaseemaWhich of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:
Famous place Region 1. Bodhgaya Baghelkhand 2. Khajuraho Bundelkhand 3. Shirdi Vidarbha 4. Nasik (Nashik) Malwa 5. Tirupati Rayalaseema Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epictales was the profession of which of the following?
With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epictales was the profession of which of the following?
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