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: Consider the following statements: The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenureWhich of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State.
- The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Which of the following statements is/are correct? A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
- A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation.
- A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct? As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases
- The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years. A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years.
- A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -
The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -
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