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: A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of
A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of
- View Answer for: Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
- View Answer for: Which of the following statements is/are correct? Viruses can infect - Bacteria Fungi Plants
Which of the following statements is/are correct? Viruses can infect -
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Plants
- View Answer for: What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?
What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct? Other than the USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Other than the USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
- Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
- View Answer for: India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘Bitcoins’ sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other.Select the correct answer using the code given below.
With reference to ‘Bitcoins’ sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries.
- Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address.
- Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘LiFi’, recently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? It uses light as the medium for high-speed data transmission. It is a wireless technology and is many times faster than ‘WiFi’.
With reference to ‘LiFi’, recently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It uses light as the medium for high-speed data transmission.
- It is a wireless technology and is many times faster than ‘WiFi’.
- View Answer for: Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?
Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?
- View Answer for: Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?
Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?
- View Answer for: ‘Project Loon’, sometimes seen in the news, is related to -
‘Project Loon’, sometimes seen in the news, is related to -
- View Answer for: Regarding ‘DigiLocker’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme. It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.Select the correct answer using the code given below
Regarding ‘DigiLocker’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme.
- It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements regarding: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attemptWhich of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
- is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
- made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
- made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: In the context of the developments in bioinformatics, the term ‘transcriptome’, sometimes seen in the news, refers to -
In the context of the developments in bioinformatics, the term ‘transcriptome’, sometimes seen in the news, refers to -
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