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.

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.
Subject-Wise Answer Key
QUESTION 1
What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?
A. Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and government’s education system and local communities.
B. Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
C. Strengthening India’s scientific research institutions in order to make India a scientific and technological power.
D. Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them.
QUESTION 2
What is the purpose of ‘Vidyanjali Yojana’?
- To enable the famous foreign educational institutions to open their campuses in India.
- To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community.
- To encourage voluntary monetary contributions from private individuals and organizations so as to improve the infrastructure facilities for primary and secondary schools. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
A. 2 only
B. 3 only
C. 1 and 2 only
D. 2 and 3 only
QUESTION 3
Consider the following in respect of ‘National Career Service’:
- National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
- National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
QUESTION 4
With reference to ‘National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)’, which of the statements given below is/are correct?
- Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning.
- An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education. 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
QUESTION 5
‘Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme’ is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to
A. Certifying the skills acquired by construction workers through traditional channels.
B. Enrolling the persons in Universities for distance learning programmes.
C. Reserving some skilled jobs to the rural and urban poor in some public sector undertakings.
D. Certifying the skills acquired by trainees under the National Skill Development Programme.
QUESTION 6
Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’?
- To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
- To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
- To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice.
- To promote the consumption of poultry eggs. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 4 only
D. 3 and 4 only
QUESTION 7
Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)?
A. Resident Indian citizens only
B. Persons of age from 21 to 55 only
C. All State Government employees joining the services after the date of notification by the respective State Governments
D. All Central Government employees including those of Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1st April 2004
QUESTION 8
Which of the following gives the ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world?
A. World Economic Forum
B. UN Human Rights Council
C. UN Women
D. World Health Organization