UPSC Prelims 2023 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, Indian Polity carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 47% 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 65% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 35% 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 trees: Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Mahua (Madhuca indica) Teak (Tectona grandis)How many of the above are deciduous trees?
Consider the following trees:
- Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
- Mahua (Madhuca indica)
- Teak (Tectona grandis)
How many of the above are deciduous trees?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.How many of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
- Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake
- Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves. In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
- In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves.
- In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- View Answer for: Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?
Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?
- View Answer for: About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by
About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements :Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter. Statement-II: The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter. Statement-II: The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Statement-I : The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II : The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements: Statement-I : The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II : The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements: East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar. Bangladesh-China- India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.How many of the above statements are correct?
With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:
- East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
- Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
- Bangladesh-China- India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- View Answer for: With reference to the Earth's atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?
With reference to the Earth's atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following countries: Bulgaria Czech Republic Hungary Latvia Lithuania RomaniaHow many of the above-mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?
Consider the following countries:
- Bulgaria
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Romania
How many of the above-mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range. Seshachalam Hills Constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats.How many of the statements given above the correct?
Consider the following statements:
- Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.
- Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range.
- Seshachalam Hills Constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats.
How many of the statements given above the correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60% is required for the production of electricity.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60% is required for the production of electricity.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : None of them uses seawater. None of them is set up in water-stressed district. None of them is privately owned.How many of the above statements are correct?
With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements :
- None of them uses seawater.
- None of them is set up in water-stressed district.
- None of them is privately owned.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?
Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day extensive marshland?
Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day extensive marshland?
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