UPSC Prelims 2022 Analysis
Subject-Wise Weightage
- Environment & Ecology (18 questions): The highest representation, emphasizing topics like biodiversity, climate change, and maps for environmental hotspots.
- Economy (16 questions): Focused on fiscal policies, budget trends, and government schemes.
- Science & Technology (15 questions): Covered emerging technologies, space missions, and their applications.
- Indian Polity (12 questions): Standard focus on constitutional principles, assertion-based questions, and governance issues.
- Other Notable Areas: International Relations (11), Art & Culture (7), and Geography (10 combined), with many match the following type questions.

Difficulty Analysis
- Easy (25 questions): Covered fundamental NCERT concepts and basic factual recall.
- Medium (48 questions): Required analytical abilities, conceptual clarity, and deeper reasoning.
- Hard (27 questions): Tested multi-dimensional application and assertion-reasoning skills.

Variations in Question Framing
- Multi-Statement (72 questions): Most questions were assertion-reason or "how many of the above are correct?" formats.
- Direct (28 questions): Fact-based, often sourced from NCERT and standard books.
- Match the Following: Commonly seen in Geography, Environment, and Economy questions.

Key Learnings for Future Preparation
- Leverage Easy Questions (25): Build a strong NCERT foundation to secure these marks.
- Prepare for Medium-Difficulty Questions (48): Strengthen analytical abilities to handle the majority of the paper effectively.
- Strategize for Hard Questions (27): Tackle assertion-based and multi-concept questions using elimination techniques.
- Practice Multi-Statement Questions: Since they dominate the paper, mastering them is essential.
- Focus on High-Weightage Subjects: Prioritize Environment, Economy, and Science, given their significant share in the exam.
- Stay Updated with Current Affairs: Particularly for Economy (budget, fiscal policies), Environment, and International Relations, integrate recent developments into your preparation.
Subject-Wise Answer Key
QUESTION 1
Medium
Modern History
Prelims 2022
In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Government were divided into “Reserved” and “Transferred” subjects. Which of the following were treated as “Reserved” subjects?
- Administration of Justice
- Local Self-Government
- Land Revenue
- Police
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1, 2 and 3
B. 2, 3 and 4
C. 1, 3 and 4
D. 1, 2 and 4
QUESTION 2
Medium
Modern History
Prelims 2022
Consider the following freedom fighters:
- Barindra Kumar Ghosh
- Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
- Rash Behari Bose
Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3
D. 3 only
QUESTION 3
Medium
Modern History
Prelims 2022
With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:
- The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States.
- Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution, would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2