UPSC Prelims 2018 Analysis

Subject wise MCQ distribution

  • Economy (20 Questions): The highest weightage in the paper, covering macroeconomic indicators, policies, and economic development themes. Analytical abilities were essential to interpret trends.
  • Environment & Ecology (15 Questions): A significant presence, likely reflecting UPSC’s increasing focus on climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Maps were useful in location-based questions.
  • Indian Polity (15 Questions): A core subject, testing governance, constitutional provisions, and landmark judgments. Many questions followed an assertion-reasoning pattern.
  • Modern History (13 Questions): A relatively high emphasis on the freedom struggle, key personalities, and movements.
  • Science & Technology (12 Questions): Covered advancements in AI, biotechnology, and space technology, requiring both static and current knowledge.
  • Art & Culture (7 Questions): More weightage than in some later years, indicating an expectation for deeper knowledge of cultural heritage.
  • International Relations (7 Questions): Focused on global organizations, treaties, and India's foreign policy.
  • Medieval History (1 Question): Minimal representation, following the usual trend of fewer medieval history questions.
  • Geography (Indian Geography: 4, Physical Geography: 2, World Geography: 0): The focus was on Indian geography, with limited physical geography and no direct world geography questions.
Prelims 2018
Subject-Wise Weightage in UPSC Prelims 2018

Difficulty analysis

  • Medium Difficulty (50 Questions): The largest segment, requiring a balance of factual knowledge and application skills.
  • Hard Questions (29 Questions): A significant portion of the paper, making elimination techniques and conceptual clarity essential.
  • Easy Questions (21 Questions): Fewer than in later years, indicating a relatively tougher paper.

The 2018 Prelims had tougher questions than before, which made them hard to solve. This is reflected in the final cut-off, which was only 98 marks.

Prelims 2018
Difficulty-Level Distribution in UPSC Prelims 2021

Variations in Question framing

Multi-Statement Questions (58%):

  • The most common type, requiring elimination techniques and conceptual clarity.
  • Particularly prevalent in Polity, Economy, and Environment sections.
  • Many followed match the following and assertion-reasoning formats.

Direct Questions (42%):

  • Straightforward factual questions, especially in History and Geography.
  • Easier to score but required precise knowledge.
12.PNG
Variations of Questions in UPSC Prelims 2021

Current Affairs vs. Static Questions

  • Current Affairs-Based (44 Questions): UPSC maintained a strong current affairs focus, particularly in Economy, Science & Technology, and International Relations.
  • Static (56 Questions): A balanced approach, with a considerable portion testing foundational knowledge, often derived from NCERT books.

Key learning for Future Preparation

  • Strengthen Economy and Polity: These subjects consistently hold high weightage and require an in-depth understanding of fundamental concepts.
  • Master Multi-Statement Questions: Since a majority of questions require elimination skills, practice structured reasoning techniques.
  • Balance Static and Current Affairs: While static knowledge remains crucial, integrating dynamic current developments is essential for scoring well.
  • Prepare for Moderate to Hard Questions: The paper had a higher proportion of challenging questions, so aspirants should refine their approach to conceptual application and strategic guessing.
  • History and Culture Awareness: Despite variations in different years, Art & Culture and Modern History continue to hold importance, making them key focus areas.
The Prelims 2018 paper had a strong focus on Economy, Environment, and Polity, with a majority of multi-statement questions requiring elimination techniques. A mix of current affairs and static knowledge highlighted the need for an integrated approach. The moderate-to-hard difficulty level and a low cutoff of 98 marks reflected the paper’s complexity.

QUESTION 1

HardArt & CulturePrelims 2018

With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

  1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
  2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
  3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
  4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 3 only

B. 2 and 4 only

C. 1, 2 and 3

D. 2, 3 and 4

Answer: B

Explanation

Incorrect (1) Most of Thyagaraja's kritis (compositions) are devotional songs in praise of Lord Rama, not Krishna.

Correct (2) Tyagaraja is credited with creating several new ragas (melodic scales) in Carnatic music.

Incorrect (3) Annamacharya and Tyagaraja were not contemporaries. Annamacharya lived in the 15th century, while Tyagaraja lived in the 18th-19th century.

Correct (4) Annamacharya's kirtanas (devotional songs) are indeed known for praising Lord Venkateshwara, a form of Vishnu.


QUESTION 2

MediumArt & CulturePrelims 2018

The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the

A. Bundi school

B. Jaipur school

C. Kangra school

D. Kishangarh school

Answer: D

Explanation

"Bani Thani" is a famous painting associated with the Kishangarh school of painting, which flourished in the princely state of Kishangarh in Rajasthan during the 18th century. This painting is particularly renowned for its elegance and depiction of Indian beauty.


QUESTION 3

MediumArt & CulturePrelims 2018

With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?

A. Avalokiteshvara

B. Lokesvara

C. Maitreya

D. Padmapani

Answer: C

Explanation

The future Buddha, yet to come to save the world according to Buddhist tradition, is referred to as Maitreya.


QUESTION 4

MediumArt & CulturePrelims 2018

With reference to the religious practices in India, the "Sthanakvasi" sect belongs to -

A. Buddhism

B. Jainism

C. Vaishnavism

D. Shaivism

Answer: B

Explanation

The Sthanakvasi sect is a subsect of Jainism. It is known for its emphasis on ascetic practices and the abandonment of idol worship.

Members of the Sthanakvasi sect believe in the concept of Sthanak or a place for meditation, hence the name "Sthanakvasi," which translates to "those who dwell in a place for meditation."


QUESTION 5

HardArt & CulturePrelims 2018

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?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2

C. 3 only

D. 2 and 3

Answer: A

Explanation

Puthukkuli shawls These embroidered textiles are a traditional craft of the Toda people in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu.

Sujni embroidery This embroidery style originates from the Bhusura village in Bihar, not Maharashtra.

Uppada Jamdani saris Uppada Jamdani saris are known for their diaphanous silk and are native to Uppada in Andhra Pradesh, not Karnataka.


QUESTION 6

HardArt & CulturePrelims 2018

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

  1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
  2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. None

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. 1 Only

Answer: A

Explanation

Statement 1 (Incorrect) Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri were primarily constructed using red sandstone, not white marble. While the structures might incorporate some decorative elements with white marble inlay, red sandstone is the dominant material.

Statement 2 (Incorrect) Bara Imambara in Lucknow is primarily constructed using brick with stucco plaster, not red sandstone and marble. Rumi Darwaza, on the other hand, is built mainly with bricks and lime plaster.


QUESTION 7

HardArt & CulturePrelims 2018

Consider the following pairs :

TraditionState
1. Chapchar Kut festivalMizoram
2. Khongjom Parba balladManipur
3. Thang-Ta danceSikkim

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?

A. 1 only

B. 1 and 2

C. 3 only

D. 2 and 3

Answer: B

Explanation

Chapchar Kut is a harvest festival celebrated in Mizoram.

Khongjom Parba is a ballad commemorating the Battle of Khongjom, which took place in Manipur.

Thang-Ta is a martial art form that originated in Manipur, not Sikkim.

So, only options 1 and 2 are correct.

Share