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: With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements: It is a fungus. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:
- It is a fungus.
- It grows in some Himalayan forest areas.
- It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues. Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces. Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance.Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Consider the following statements:
- Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues.
- Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces.
- Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- View Answer for: If a major solar storm (solar-flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth? GPS and navigation systems could fail. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions. Power grids could be damaged. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.Select the correct answer using the code given below:
If a major solar storm (solar-flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?
- GPS and navigation systems could fail.
- Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
- Power grids could be damaged.
- Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
- Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
- Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
- Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often talked about in media ?
Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often talked about in media ?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body?
Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body?
- View Answer for: With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements : Web 3-0 technology enables people to control their own data. In Web 3-0 world, there can be blockchain based social networks. Web 3-0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements :
- Web 3-0 technology enables people to control their own data.
- In Web 3-0 world, there can be blockchain based social networks.
- Web 3-0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: DNA Barcoding can be a tool to: assess the age of a plant or animal. distinguish among species that look alike. identify undesirable animal or plant materials in processed foods.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements: DNA Barcoding can be a tool to:
- assess the age of a plant or animal.
- distinguish among species that look alike.
- identify undesirable animal or plant materials in processed foods.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi?
Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi?
- View Answer for: Consider the following communication technologies: Closed-circuit Television Radio Frequency Identification Wireless Local Area NetworkWhich of the above are considered Short-Range devices/technologies?
Consider the following communication technologies:
- Closed-circuit Television
- Radio Frequency Identification
- Wireless Local Area Network
Which of the above are considered Short-Range devices/technologies?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature. Nanoparticles of some metallic oxides are used in the manufacture of some cosmetics Nanoparticles of some commercial products which enter the environment are unsafe for humans.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature.
- Nanoparticles of some metallic oxides are used in the manufacture of some cosmetics
- Nanoparticles of some commercial products which enter the environment are unsafe for humans.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to “Software as a Service (SaaS)”, consider the following statements: SaaS buyers can customize the user interface and can change data fields. SaaS users can access their data through their mobile devices. Outlook, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to “Software as a Service (SaaS)”, consider the following statements:
- SaaS buyers can customize the user interface and can change data fields.
- SaaS users can access their data through their mobile devices.
- Outlook, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following is the context in which the term "qubit" is mentioned?
Which one of the following is the context in which the term "qubit" is mentioned?
- View Answer for: With reference to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), consider the following statements. They enable the digital representation of physical assets. They are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain. They can be traded or exchanged at equivalency and therefore can be used as a medium of commercial transactions.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), consider the following statements.
- They enable the digital representation of physical assets.
- They are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain.
- They can be traded or exchanged at equivalency and therefore can be used as a medium of commercial transactions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector-based platform. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine.Which of the statements given above are correct?
In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:
- The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
- Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector-based platform.
- COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast. The organisms in probiotics are found in foods we ingest but they do not naturally occur in our gut. Probiotics help in the digestion of milk sugars.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics
- Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast.
- The organisms in probiotics are found in foods we ingest but they do not naturally occur in our gut.
- Probiotics help in the digestion of milk sugars.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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