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.
The UPSC Prelims 2022 exam balanced factual recall with analytical reasoning, focusing on Environment, Economy, and Science & Technology. It included, multi-statement questions, and interlinking static and current affairs. Strong preparation in these subjects, alongside map skills and staying updated on global developments, is essential for success
Subject-Wise Answer Key
QUESTION 1
HardAncient HistoryPrelims 2022
According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?
- A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
- If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
- If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son.
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
Answer: D