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: Consider the following activities: Spraying pesticides on a crop field Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysisAt the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?
Consider the following activities:
- Spraying pesticides on a crop field
- Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes
- Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis
At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?
- View Answer for: With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units. Create meaningful short stories and songs. Disease diagnosis. Text-to-Speech Conversion. Wireless transmission of electrical energy.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?
- Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units.
- Create meaningful short stories and songs.
- Disease diagnosis.
- Text-to-Speech Conversion.
- Wireless transmission of electrical energy.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under “IAEA Safeguards” while others are not?
In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under “IAEA Safeguards” while others are not?
- View Answer for: “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft”. The experiment in question refers to
“The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft”. The experiment in question refers to
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent. A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.
- A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.
- Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements: It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements:
- It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
- The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
- Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for:
In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for:
- View Answer for: Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not. Plant cells do not have plasma membrane unlike animal cells which do. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells?
- Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not.
- Plant cells do not have plasma membrane unlike animal cells which do.
- Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct? VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780 nm. VLC is known as long-range optical wireless communication. VLC can transmit large amounts of data faster than Bluetooth VLC has no electromagnetic interference.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct?
- VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780 nm.
- VLC is known as long-range optical wireless communication.
- VLC can transmit large amounts of data faster than Bluetooth
- VLC has no electromagnetic interference.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements: They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body. They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of the human body. They can be used in biochemical sensors. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements:
- They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
- They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of the human body.
- They can be used in biochemical sensors.
- Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of
In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of
- View Answer for: What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India?
- These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
- Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
- These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? Construction of base road Improvement of agricultural soil Production of cementSelect the correct answer using the code given below:
Steel slag can be the material for which of the following?
- Construction of base road
- Improvement of agricultural soil
- Production of cement
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
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