UPSC Prelims 2017 Analysis

Subject wise MCQ distribution

Polity and Governance: The highest weightage in the exam, with questions focusing on core constitutional concepts like democracy and rights, highlighting a return to traditional themes. Many followed the assertion-reasoning format, testing analytical abilities.
Economy: Heavily current affairs-based, covering topics such as GST, Monetary Policy Committee, and post-1991 reforms. Conceptual clarity was crucial for elimination-based questions.
Geography and Environment: Required conceptual clarity and linkages with current affairs, such as the Indian Ocean Dipole. Many questions incorporated maps for better understanding.
History: Weightage remained consistent, but factual knowledge was essential, especially for match the following and multi-statement questions.
Science & Technology: Mostly news-based, testing awareness of recent developments in biotechnology, AI, and space technology.
Government Schemes & Initiatives: A prominent focus area, covering policies related to education, health, and nutrition. Many questions were framed using the elimination technique.

**Subject-Wise Weightage in UPSC Prelims 2017**

Difficulty analysis

Easy: Some Polity and Economy questions were straightforward for those who had covered NCERT and standard sources.
Moderate: Many required linking static and dynamic aspects, such as governance and current affairs.
Difficult: Environment, Geography, and factual History questions were particularly challenging.
Tricky: Questions on conventions and alliances where India is not a member, along with misleadingly framed government initiative questions, posed difficulties.

Variations in Question framing

Direct Questions: 42 direct questions, emphasizing understanding over rote memorization.
Multi-Statement Based Questions: A significant 58 multi-statement questions, requiring a mix of static and current affairs knowledge. These took longer to solve but allowed option elimination.
Application-Oriented Questions: Required candidates to link current events with static concepts, testing analytical abilities.
Elimination-Based Questions: Many options were closely framed, making elimination techniques challenging.
Deceptively Worded Questions: Designed to test deep knowledge, especially in areas like the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.

Key learning for Future Preparation

Strengthen Static Concepts: Read NCERTs and standard books thoroughly for a solid foundation.
Follow a Reliable Newspaper: Sources like The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, and PRS are essential for current affairs integration.
Regularly Revise Government Schemes: Many questions are framed around policies from the India Year Book.
Adopt a Balanced Approach: Expect a mix of analytical and factual questions; both require preparation.
Use the Elimination Technique Wisely: Read questions carefully and systematically eliminate options to maximize accuracy.
Avoid Over-Attempting: The tricky nature of the paper means reckless attempts can lead to penalties through negative marking.
Strengthen Core Subjects: Excelling in Polity or History can help maximize scores in difficult papers.
Solve Previous Year Papers: Recurring themes like the Trade Disputes Act and Liberalization highlight the importance of PYQs.

UPSC Prelims 2017 emphasized Polity, Economy, and Environment, with a mix of conceptual and current affairs-based questions. Multi-statement and elimination techniques were crucial for accuracy. A strong foundation in core subjects and current affairs was essential for success.

Subject-Wise Answer Key

All (100)Economy (18)Indian Polity (22)Geography (7)Medieval History (1)Environment & Ecology (14)Social Issues & Schemes (8)Science & Technology (10)Modern History (7)International Relations (7)Art & Culture (5)Ancient History (1)

QUESTION 1

Hard

Indian Geography

Prelims 2017

At one of the places in India if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the sea water recedes from the shoreline a few kilometres and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the sea floor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at -

A. Bhavnagar

B. Bheemunipatnam

C. Chandipur

D. Nagapattinam

Explanation

Chandipur Beach, located in the Balasore district of Odisha, is characterized by an exceptionally shallow gradient and a flat sea bed. This unique topography causes the seawater to recede by approximately 2 to 5 kilometers during low tide, exposing the sea floor and allowing people to walk on it. The water returns to the shore during high tide, a cycle that repeats twice daily following the rhythmic tidal fluctuations of the Bay of Bengal.

QUESTION 2

Medium

World Geography

Prelims 2017

The Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries?

Jordan
Iraq
Lebanon
Syria

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A. 1, 2 and 3 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 3 and 4 only

D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Jordan does not border the Mediterranean Sea; it is separated from it by Israel and the West Bank. While not landlocked, its only coastline is on the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). Statement 2 is Incorrect: Iraq does not border the Mediterranean Sea. It is located further east and has its only maritime access via the Persian Gulf. Statement 3 is Correct: Lebanon is a Levantine country with a coastline along the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Statement 4 is Correct: Syria borders the eastern Mediterranean Sea, situated between Turkey to the north and Lebanon to the south.

QUESTION 3

Hard

Indian Geography

Prelims 2017

If you travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, what is the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel, including the origin and the destination?

A. 6

B. 7

C. 8

D. 9

Explanation

To travel from Kohima (Nagaland) to Kottayam (Kerala) by road, the minimum number of states one must pass through is 7. The most direct route follows this sequence:

Nagaland (Origin: Kohima)
Assam (Necessary to connect from Nagaland to mainland India)
West Bengal (Must pass through the Siliguri Corridor)
Odisha
Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu (or Karnataka)
Kerala (Destination: Kottayam)

To reach Kerala from Andhra Pradesh by road, one must pass through either Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. Therefore, the total count including the origin and destination states is 7.

QUESTION 4

Medium

World Geography

Prelims 2017

Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?

A. Sumatra

B. Borneo

C. Java

D. Sri Lanka

Explanation

Sumatra is the geographically closest island to Great Nicobar, separated by the Great Channel (also known as the Six Degree Channel). The distance between the southernmost point of Great Nicobar and the northern tip of Sumatra (Aceh province, Indonesia) is approximately 145–150 km.

In contrast, Sri Lanka is located about 1,200 km to the west of the Nicobar Islands. Java is located to the southeast of Sumatra, and Borneo is situated much further east in the Malay Archipelago, making both significantly more distant from Great Nicobar than Sumatra.

QUESTION 5

Medium

Indian Geography

Prelims 2017

With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements:

The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.
River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.
River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 3 only

B. 2 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Teesta River originates from the Pahunri (or Teesta Kangse) glacier and Tso Lhamo Lake in North Sikkim. In contrast, the Brahmaputra River originates from the Angsi Glacier (or Chemayungdung Glacier) in the Kailash range of Tibet. Therefore, their sources are not the same.

Statement 2 is Correct: The Rangeet River originates from the Rathong Glacier in West Sikkim. It is the largest tributary of the Teesta River and joins it at Melli, near the border of Sikkim and West Bengal.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: After flowing through Sikkim and West Bengal, the Teesta enters Bangladesh and joins the Brahmaputra River (known as the Jamuna in Bangladesh) at Fulchhari. It does not flow directly into the Bay of Bengal, nor does it reach the sea on the India-Bangladesh border.

Hence, option B is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

Hard

Indian Geography

Prelims 2017

Consider the following statements:

In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only.
The Western Ghats are spread over five States only.
Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 3 only

C. 2 and 3 only

D. 1 and 3 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Himalayas stretch across several states in northern and northeastern India, including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Assam and West Bengal.

Spread of Himalayas

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Western Ghats encompass six states in western India Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

Western Ghats

Statement 3 is correct: Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India, situated on the Coromandel Coast. It is shared by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Distribution: Roughly 84% of the lake lies in the Tirupati district (formerly Nellore) of Andhra Pradesh, and about 16% lies in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.

Pulicat Lake

Hence, option B is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Hard

Indian Geography

Prelims 2017

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct?

IOD phenomenon is characterized by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
An IOD phenomenon can influence El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is characterized by a difference in sea surface temperature between the tropical Western Indian Ocean and the tropical Eastern Indian Ocean. The comparison involving the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean refers to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, not the IOD.

Statement 2 is Correct: The IOD can significantly influence the impact of El Niño on the Indian monsoon. A positive IOD often compensates for the deficit rainfall usually associated with El Niño, while a negative IOD can exacerbate the drought conditions caused by El Niño. These two climate patterns interact to determine the overall strength of the monsoon.

Subject wise MCQ distribution

Difficulty analysis

Variations in Question framing

Key learning for Future Preparation

Subject-Wise Answer Key

UPSC Prelims 2017 Analysis

Subject wise MCQ distribution

Difficulty analysis

Variations in Question framing

Key learning for Future Preparation

Subject-Wise Answer Key

QUESTION 1

Explanation

QUESTION 2

Explanation

QUESTION 3

Explanation

QUESTION 4

Explanation

QUESTION 5

Explanation

QUESTION 6

Explanation

QUESTION 7

Explanation

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UPSC Prelims GS Paper I Answer Key

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