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: In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of (1884) revolved around? women’s right to gain education age of consent restitution of conjugal rightsSelect the correct answer using the code given below:
In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of (1884) revolved around?
- women’s right to gain education
- age of consent
- restitution of conjugal rights
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because ofSelect the correct answer using the code given below:
Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?
Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?
- View Answer for: With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: Aurang — In-charge of treasury of the State Banian — Indian agent of the East India Company Mirasidar — Designated revenue payer to the StateWhich of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
- Aurang — In-charge of treasury of the State
- Banian — Indian agent of the East India Company
- Mirasidar — Designated revenue payer to the State
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by
The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by
- View Answer for: With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during freedom struggle, consider the following statements It warned against the Colonial State’s hypnotic conquest of the mind. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs. The use of ‘desh’ by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during freedom struggle, consider the following statements
- It warned against the Colonial State’s hypnotic conquest of the mind.
- It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs.
- The use of ‘desh’ by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because
Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because
- View Answer for: With reference to the history of India, Ulgulan or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?
With reference to the history of India, Ulgulan or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?
- View Answer for: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following? Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violenceSelect the correct answer using the code given below:
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?
- Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference
- Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
- Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
- Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
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