UPSC Prelims 2018 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
- Economy, Environment & Ecology, Indian Polity carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 50% 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 71% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 29% 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 42% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements : Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna. Tyagaraja created several new ragas. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :
- Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
- Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
- Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
- Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs : Tradition|State -- |-- 1. Chapchar Kut festival | Mizoram 2. Khongjom Parba ballad|Manipur 3. Thang-Ta dance | SikkimWhich of the pairs given above is/are correct ?
Consider the following pairs :
Tradition State 1. Chapchar Kut festival Mizoram 2. Khongjom Parba ballad Manipur 3. Thang-Ta dance Sikkim Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?
- View Answer for: With reference to the religious practices in India, the "Sthanakvasi" sect belongs to -
With reference to the religious practices in India, the "Sthanakvasi" sect belongs to -
- View Answer for: With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements : White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements :
- White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
- Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs: Craft | Heritage of -----------------------|---------------- 1. Puthukkuli shawls | Tamil Nadu 2. Sujni embroidery | Maharashtra 3. Uppada Jamdani saris | Karnataka Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
Consider the following pairs:
Craft Heritage of 1. Puthukkuli shawls Tamil Nadu 2. Sujni embroidery Maharashtra 3. Uppada Jamdani saris Karnataka Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?
With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?
- View Answer for: The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the
The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the
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