UPSC Prelims 2021 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
- Environment & Ecology, Indian Polity, Economy carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 51% of the paper.
- The paper strongly favoured statement-based questions — multi-statement and assertion-reasoning questions together made up 60% 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 40% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas? Wrestling Astrology Accounting SoothsayingSelect the correct answer using the codes given below.
According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?
- Wrestling
- Astrology
- Accounting
- Soothsaying
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- View Answer for: With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?
With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khawarezm prince. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khawarezm prince.
- It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
- It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct? The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijaynagara Empire. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State.
- The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijaynagara Empire.
- Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
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