UPSC Prelims 2017 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
- Indian Polity, Economy, Environment & Ecology carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 54% of the paper.
- The paper strongly favoured statement-based questions — multi-statement and assertion-reasoning questions together made up 58% of the paper, making careful reading and elimination especially important.
- The paper was largely easy to moderate in difficulty, with 66% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 34% classified as hard.
- Questions were spread across 12 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 42% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)? It decides the RBI’s benchmark interest rates. It is a 12-member body including the Governor of RBI and is reconstituted every year. It functions under the chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister.Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)?
- It decides the RBI’s benchmark interest rates.
- It is a 12-member body including the Governor of RBI and is reconstituted every year.
- It functions under the chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘Quality Council of India (QCI)', consider the following statements: QCI was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry. Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendations of the industry to the Government.Which of the above statements is/are correct?
With reference to ‘Quality Council of India (QCI)', consider the following statements:
- QCI was set up jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry.
- Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendations of the industry to the Government.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘National Investment and Infrastructure Fund’, which of the following statements is/are correct? It is an organ of NITI Aayog. It has a corpus of Rs. 4, 00,000 crores at present.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
With reference to ‘National Investment and Infrastructure Fund’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is an organ of NITI Aayog.
- It has a corpus of Rs. 4, 00,000 crores at present.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: What is the purpose of setting up of Small Finance Banks (SFBs) in India? To supply credit to small business units To supply credit to small and marginal farmers To encourage young entrepreneurs to set up business particularly in rural areas.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
What is the purpose of setting up of Small Finance Banks (SFBs) in India?
- To supply credit to small business units
- To supply credit to small and marginal farmers
- To encourage young entrepreneurs to set up business particularly in rural areas.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements : The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at expanding the cultivable area under irrigation. enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality. checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands.Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Consider the following statements : The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at
- expanding the cultivable area under irrigation.
- enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality.
- checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- View Answer for: The term ‘Digital Single Market Strategy’ seen in the news refers to -
The term ‘Digital Single Market Strategy’ seen in the news refers to -
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) helps in promoting financial inclusion in the country. NPCI has launched RuPay, a card payment scheme.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) helps in promoting financial inclusion in the country.
- NPCI has launched RuPay, a card payment scheme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
- AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Which of the following has/have occurred in India after its liberalization of economic policies in 1991? The share of agriculture in GDP increased enormously. The share of India’s exports in world trade increased. FDI inflows increased. India’s foreign exchange reserves increased enormously.Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
Which of the following has/have occurred in India after its liberalization of economic policies in 1991?
- The share of agriculture in GDP increased enormously.
- The share of India’s exports in world trade increased.
- FDI inflows increased.
- India’s foreign exchange reserves increased enormously.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
- View Answer for: What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’? It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India. It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves. It will enormously increase the growth and size of the economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’?
- It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India.
- It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves.
- It will enormously increase the growth and size of the economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements : Tax revenue as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade. Fiscal deficit as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements :
- Tax revenue as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade.
- Fiscal deficit as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the ‘National Agriculture Market’ (NAM) scheme? It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities. It provides the farmers access to the nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce.Select the correct answer using the code given below :
What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the ‘National Agriculture Market’ (NAM) scheme?
- It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.
- It provides the farmers access to the nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- View Answer for: With reference to ‘National Intellectual Property Rights Policy’, consider the following statements: It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS Agreement. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is the nodal agency for regulating intellectual property rights in India.Which of the above statements is/are correct?
With reference to ‘National Intellectual Property Rights Policy’, consider the following statements:
- It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS Agreement.
- Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is the nodal agency for regulating intellectual property rights in India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to the ‘Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (PBPT Act) consider the following statements: A property transaction is not treated as a benami transaction if the owner of the property is not aware of the transaction. Properties held benami are liable for confiscation by the Government. The Act provides for three authorities for investigations but does not provide for any appellate mechanism.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to the ‘Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (PBPT Act) consider the following statements:
- A property transaction is not treated as a benami transaction if the owner of the property is not aware of the transaction.
- Properties held benami are liable for confiscation by the Government.
- The Act provides for three authorities for investigations but does not provide for any appellate mechanism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: The Global Infrastructure Facility is a/an -
The Global Infrastructure Facility is a/an -
- View Answer for: The term ‘Domestic Content Requirement’ is sometimes seen in the news with reference to -
The term ‘Domestic Content Requirement’ is sometimes seen in the news with reference to -
- View Answer for: Which of the following is the most likely consequence of implementing the ‘Unified Payments Interface (UPI)’?
Which of the following is the most likely consequence of implementing the ‘Unified Payments Interface (UPI)’?
- View Answer for: Which of the following statements best describes the term ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A)’, recently seen in the news?
Which of the following statements best describes the term ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A)’, recently seen in the news?
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