UPSC Prelims 2021 Analysis
Subject-Wise MCQ Distribution
- Environment & Ecology (18 questions): Consistently a major component due to its relevance in both the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) prelims. Several questions required maps for identifying key environmental regions.
- Indian Polity (18 questions): A high-weightage subject with several assertion-based and conceptual questions.
- Economy (14 questions): Covered major economic policies, fiscal measures, and budget-related aspects.
- Science & Technology (13 questions): Focused on innovations, emerging technologies, and applications in real-world scenarios.
- History (24 questions total):
- Ancient History: 3 questions
- Medieval History: 4 questions
- Modern History: 7 questions
- Art & Culture: 10 questions, including match the following-based formats.
- Geography (9 questions total):
- Indian Geography: 5 questions
- Physical Geography: 2 questions
- World Geography: 2 questions
- Social Issues & Schemes (2 questions): Covered important government initiatives and their societal impact.
- International Relations (2 questions): Focused on international organizations and global events, underlining the importance of reading newspapers and NCERT basics.

Difficulty Analysis
- Easy (35 questions): Required fundamental NCERT knowledge and factual recall.
- Medium (38 questions): Needed deeper analytical abilities and elimination techniques.
- Hard (27 questions): Demanded conceptual clarity, particularly in assertion-reasoning and interdisciplinary topics.

Variations in Question Framing
- Multi-Statement Based Questions: A large portion of the paper tested analytical abilities by requiring candidates to determine the correctness of multiple statements.
- Direct Questions: Some questions were fact-based, relying on static knowledge from textbooks and previous UPSC question papers.
- Application-Based Questions: Many questions in Economy and Science & Technology assessed real-world applications of concepts.
- Match the Following: Commonly seen in Art & Culture, Geography, and Environment sections.

Static vs Current Affairs Distribution
- Static Content: Dominated the paper with key subjects like History, Polity, Geography, and Economy forming the foundation.
- Current Affairs (22 questions): Focused on recent government policies, budget highlights, and global events influencing India.
Key Learnings for Future Preparation
- Master Static & Current Affairs: A blend of both is necessary, especially for high-weightage subjects like Polity, Economy, and Environment.
- Strengthen Analytical Abilities: Many questions required assertion-reasoning, elimination techniques, and multi-statement evaluation.
- Focus on Budget & Economic Policies: Economy and budget-related topics remain crucial for UPSC preparation.
- Practice Match the Following & Statement-Based MCQs: These were heavily featured in Geography, History, and Environment sections.
- Utilize Maps for Geography & Environment: Many UPSC last year question papers have included map-based questions, making this an essential skill.
Subject-Wise Answer Key
QUESTION 1
In reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
- In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
- The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 Only
C. 1 and 3
D. 3 Only
QUESTION 2
Consider the following statements::
- St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
- St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
- The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 Only
B. 2 and 3 Only
C. 1 and 3 Only
D. 1, 2 and 3
QUESTION 3
Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship :
- The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
- New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
QUESTION 4
Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000:
- American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
- The award was received mostly by ‘Formula One’ players so far.
- Roger Federer received this award maximum number of times compared to others.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
QUESTION 5
Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics:
- The official motto for this Olympics is 'A New World'.
- Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this, Olympics.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
QUESTION 6
With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous
A. Jain monks
B. Playwrights
C. Temple architects
D. Philosophers
QUESTION 7
Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:
- Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
- Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
- The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
A. 1 and 2 Only
B. 2 and 3 Only
C. 1 and 3 Only
D. 1, 2 and 3
QUESTION 8
With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:
- It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
- It is the only circular temple built in India.
- It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
- Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 and 3 Only
C. 1 and 4
D. 2, 3 and 4
QUESTION 9
Which one of the following statements is correct?
A. Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora river.
B. Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal river.
C. Pandu-lena Cave shrines lie in the gorge of Narmada river.
D. Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari river.
QUESTION 10
With reference to India, the terms ‘Halbi, Ho and Kui’ pertain to
A. Dance forms of Northwest India
B. Musical instruments
C. Pre-historic cave paint
D. Tribal languages