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: In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them?
In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'. Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'. Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs : Regions : often Reason for being in news North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and LebanonHow many of the above pairs are correctly matched ?
Consider the following pairs : Regions : often Reason for being in news
- North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique
- Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and Lebanon
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched ?
- View Answer for: Consider the following infrastructure sectors: Affordable housing Mass rapid transport Health care Renewable energyOn how many of the above does UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative focus for its investments?
Consider the following infrastructure sectors:
- Affordable housing
- Mass rapid transport
- Health care
- Renewable energy
On how many of the above does UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative focus for its investments?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements: Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statement : Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)'. The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries. The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments.How many of the above statements are correct?
Consider the following statement :
- Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)'.
- The objectives and commitments stated in the GCM are binding on the UN member countries.
- The GCM addresses internal migration or internally displaced people also in its objectives and commitments.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located Donbas : Syria Kachin : Ethiopia Tigray : North YemenHow many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located
- Donbas : Syria
- Kachin : Ethiopia
- Tigray : North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?
Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements : The 'Stability and Growth Pact' of the European Union is a treaty that limits the levels of the budgetary deficit of the countries of the European Union makes the countries of the European Union to share their infrastructure facilities enables the countries of the European Union to share their technologiesHow many of the above statements are correct?
Consider the following statements : The 'Stability and Growth Pact' of the European Union is a treaty that
- limits the levels of the budgetary deficit of the countries of the European Union
- makes the countries of the European Union to share their infrastructure facilities
- enables the countries of the European Union to share their technologies
How many of the above statements are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements about G-20: The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss the international economic and financial issues. Digital public infrastructure is one of India's G-20 priorities.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements about G-20:
- The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss the international economic and financial issues.
- Digital public infrastructure is one of India's G-20 priorities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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