UPSC Prelims 2022 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, Economy, Science & Technology carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 49% of the paper.
- The paper strongly favoured statement-based questions — multi-statement and assertion-reasoning questions together made up 72% 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 28% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs:Region often mentioned in the news - Country Anatolia – Turkey Amhara – Ethiopia Cabo Delgado – Spain Catalonia – ItalyHow many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:
Region often mentioned in the news - Country
- Anatolia – Turkey
- Amhara – Ethiopia
- Cabo Delgado – Spain
- Catalonia – Italy
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:
In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs: Peak|Mountains -- |-- 1. Namcha Barwa | A. Garhwal Himalaya 2. Nanda Devi|B. Kumaon Himalaya 3. Nokrek | C. Sikkim Himalaya Which of the statements given above is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:
Peak Mountains 1. Namcha Barwa A. Garhwal Himalaya 2. Nanda Devi B. Kumaon Himalaya 3. Nokrek C. Sikkim Himalaya Which of the statements given above is/are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: Consider the following countries: Azerbaijan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan UzbekistanWhich of the above have borders with Afghanistan?
Consider the following countries:
- Azerbaijan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?
- View Answer for: Consider the following States: Andhra Pradesh Kerala Himachal Pradesh TripuraHow many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?
Consider the following States:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Kerala
- Himachal Pradesh
- Tripura
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?
- View Answer for: The term "Levant" often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions?
The term "Levant" often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth. Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth's surface and thus cause a warming effect.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.
- Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth's surface and thus cause a warming effect.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?
Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?
- View Answer for: With reference to India, consider the following statements: Monazite is a source of rare earths. Monazite contains thorium. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to India, consider the following statements:
- Monazite is a source of rare earths.
- Monazite contains thorium.
- Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
- In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs:Reservoirs — States Ghataprabha — Telangana Gandhi Sagar — Madhya Pradesh Indira Sagar — Andhra Pradesh Maithon — ChhattisgarhHow many pairs given above are not correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:
Reservoirs — States
- Ghataprabha — Telangana
- Gandhi Sagar — Madhya Pradesh
- Indira Sagar — Andhra Pradesh
- Maithon — Chhattisgarh
How many pairs given above are not correctly matched?
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