UPSC Prelims 2020 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 55% of the paper.
- The paper strongly favoured statement-based questions — multi-statement and assertion-reasoning questions together made up 63% of the paper, making careful reading and elimination especially important.
- The paper was largely easy to moderate in difficulty, with 73% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 27% classified as hard.
- Questions were spread across 13 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 37% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: Which part of the Constitution of India declares the ideal of Welfare State?
Which part of the Constitution of India declares the ideal of Welfare State?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?
Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy. The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy.
- The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the Constitution is based.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to the provisions contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/are correct? They shall be enforceable by courts. They shall not be enforceable by any court. The principles laid down in this part are to influence the making of laws by the State.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
With reference to the provisions contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- They shall be enforceable by courts.
- They shall not be enforceable by any court.
- The principles laid down in this part are to influence the making of laws by the State.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by
In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by
- View Answer for: One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is
One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is
- View Answer for: The Preamble to the Constitution of India is
The Preamble to the Constitution of India is
- View Answer for: A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which
A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which
- View Answer for: In the context of India, which one of the following is the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy?
In the context of India, which one of the following is the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions. There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit.
- The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions.
- There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: A constitutional government by definition is a
A constitutional government by definition is a
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months. State cannot enter into any contract with private corporations for sharing of Aadhaar data. Aadhaar is mandatory for obtaining insurance products. Aadhaar is mandatory for getting benefits funded out of the Consolidated Fund of India.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months.
- State cannot enter into any contract with private corporations for sharing of Aadhaar data.
- Aadhaar is mandatory for obtaining insurance products.
- Aadhaar is mandatory for getting benefits funded out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)? Preamble Directive Principles of State Policy Fundamental Duties
Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)?
- Preamble
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Fundamental Duties
- View Answer for: Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in:
Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in:
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: According to the Constitution of India a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- According to the Constitution of India a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State.
- According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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