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: ‘SWAYAM’, an initiative of the Government of India, aims at
‘SWAYAM’, an initiative of the Government of India, aims at
- View Answer for: ‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to -
‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to -
- View Answer for: ‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to -
‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to -
- View Answer for: What is/are the purpose of ‘District Mineral Foundations” in India? Promoting mineral explorative activities in mineral-rich districts Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations Authorizing State Governments to issue licenses for mineral explorationSelect the correct answer using the code given below:
What is/are the purpose of ‘District Mineral Foundations” in India?
- Promoting mineral explorative activities in mineral-rich districts
- Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations
- Authorizing State Governments to issue licenses for mineral exploration
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Regarding ‘Atal Pension Yojana’, which of the following statements is/are correct? It is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme mainly targeted at unorganized sector workers Only one member of a family can join the scheme Some amount of pension is guaranteed for the spouse for life after the subscriber’s death.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Regarding ‘Atal Pension Yojana’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme mainly targeted at unorganized sector workers
- Only one member of a family can join the scheme
- Some amount of pension is guaranteed for the spouse for life after the subscriber’s death.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct? This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.Select the correct answer using the code given below.
With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
- Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
- An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- View Answer for: Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at -
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at -
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘Stand Up India Scheme’, which of the following statements is/are correct? Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs. It provides for refinancing through SIDBI.Select the correct answer using the code given below.
With reference to ‘Stand Up India Scheme’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
- It provides for refinancing through SIDBI.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- View Answer for: Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? Undernourishment Child stunting Child mortalitySelect the correct answer using the code given below:
Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?
- Undernourishment
- Child stunting
- Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the following statements: Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two per cent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year. This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, consider the following statements:
- Under this scheme, farmers will have to pay a uniform premium of two per cent for any crop they cultivate in any season of the year.
- This scheme covers post-harvest losses arising out of cyclones and unseasonal rains.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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