UPSC Prelims 2023 Analysis

Subject-Wise MCQ Distribution

Environment & Ecology had the highest weight (17 questions), as expected due to the combined exam of CSE and IFS. Many questions required analytical abilities and knowledge of maps to answer correctly.
Economy (16 questions) and Polity (15 questions) remained major focus areas. A combination of static NCERT concepts and current economic updates like the budget was essential.
History questions predominantly focused on Art and Culture, while the remaining topics were evenly distributed among Ancient, Medieval, and Modern History. Many required knowledge of historical maps to contextualize answers.
International Relations (10 questions) was a major surprise, emphasizing geopolitical events. Reading newspapers and investing time in Atlas and maps was helpful for tackling these questions.

**Subject-Wise Weightage in UPSC Prelims 2023**

Difficulty Analysis

Easy Questions (20): Required basic NCERT knowledge.
Medium-Level Questions (45): Demanded strong analytical abilities and multi-concept integration (e.g., linking budget policies with economic fundamentals).
Hard Questions (35): Designed to test deep conceptual clarity and the ability to tackle match the following and assertion-based formats.

**Difficulty-Level Distribution in UPSC Prelims 2023**

Variations in Question Framing

The largest portion of the paper (47 questions) comprised multi-statement, non-eliminable questions, requiring candidates to determine how many statements were correct (e.g., "Only one," "Only two"). This tested analytical abilities and assertion-reasoning skills.
UPSC deliberately reduced reliance on elimination techniques, making conceptual clarity even more crucial.
18 Assertion-Reason-based questions added further complexity.
The impact of this difficulty was reflected in the cut-off marks—the general category cut-off was just 75.41, the lowest in UPSC history.

**Variations of Questions in UPSC Prelims 2023**

Static vs Current Affairs Distribution

Static Questions (63%): Covered core UPSC Prelims test paper themes, such as constitutional articles, historical events, and core geography topics.
Current Affairs (37%): Focused heavily on global events, including wars, regime changes, and resource distribution (e.g., cobalt production). These often required analyzing maps and integrating static knowledge with recent developments.

Key Learnings for Future Preparation

The UPSC Prelims 2023 exam tested a mix of conceptual clarity, analytical abilities, and current affairs awareness.
High-weightage subjects like Environment, Economy, and Polity should be prioritized.
Strengthening NCERT basics is crucial, especially for Polity, History, and Geography.
Developing analytical abilities will help tackle assertion-reason and match the following questions effectively.
Maps are essential for Geography, International Relations, and Environment topics.
Aspirants must prepare for diverse question formats, including multi-statement, assertion-based, and budget-related economic questions.

The UPSC Prelims 2023 paper balanced factual recall with analytical reasoning, focusing on Environment, Economy, and Polity. The exam emphasized conceptual clarity and current affairs integration. A strategic preparation approach, covering both static and dynamic topics, is key for success.

Subject-Wise Answer Key

All (100)Geography (15)International Relations (10)Science & Technology (9)Environment & Ecology (17)Art & Culture (8)Medieval History (3)Indian Polity (15)Economy (16)Modern History (3)Social Issues & Schemes (3)Ancient History (1)

QUESTION 1

EasyModern HistoryPrelims 2023

By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?

A. The Regulating Act

B. The Pitt's India Act

C. The Charter Act of 1793

D. The Charter Act of 1833

Answer: D

Explanation

The Charter Act of 1833 was the final step towards centralisation in British India.
It made the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India and vested in him all civil and military powers. The act created, for the first time, the Government of India having authority over the entire territorial area possessed by the British in India.
Lord William Bentick was the first Governor-General of India.
It deprived the Governor of Bombay and Madras of their legislative powers. The Governor-General of India was given exclusive legislative powers for the entire British India.Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

MediumModern HistoryPrelims 2023

Consider the following statements : Statement-I: 7th August is declared as the National Handloom Day. Statement-II: It was in 1905 that the Swadeshi Movement was launched on the same day.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and StatementII is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

D. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: A

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct The National Handloom Day is observed annually on 7th August to honour the handloom weavers in the country and also highlight India's handloom industry. The first National Handloom Day was held on 7th August 2015. On this day, the handloom weaving community is honoured and the contribution of this sector in the socio-economic development of this country is highlighted.
Statement 2 is correct August 7 was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on August 7 in 1905 in Calcutta Town Hall to protest against the partition of Bengal by the British Government. The Swadeshi movement had aimed at reviving domestic products and production processes.

Hence Statement 2 is the correct explanation of Statement 1.

QUESTION 3

MediumModern HistoryPrelims 2023

With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with

A. Archaeological excavations

B. Establishment of English Press in Colonial India

C. Establishment of Churches in Princely States

D. Construction of railways in Colonial India

Answer: A

Explanation

Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess, and Walter Elliot were all prominent figures in the field of archaeology in India during the colonial period.
Alexander Rea (1858-1924) was a British archaeologist who worked mainly in South British India. He is known for unearthing a sarcophagus from the hillocks of Pallavaram in Tamil Nadu.
Albert Henry Longhurst (1876-1955) was a British archaeologist and art historian, working in India and Ceylon. From 1927 to 1931 he was in-charge of the systematic digging of Nagarjunakonda.
Robert Sewell (1845-1925) worked in the civil service of the Madras Presidency during the period of colonial rule in India. Sewell undertook archaeological work at the Buddhist stupa at Amaravati, which had already been largely destroyed prior to his arrival. The site had previously been surveyed by Colin Mackenzie and Walter Elliot (1803-1887)
James Burgess (1832-1916), was the founder of the Indian Antiquary in 1872 and an important archaeologist of British India in the 19th century. From 1886-89 he was Director General, Archaeological Survey of India.

Subject-Wise MCQ Distribution

Difficulty Analysis

Variations in Question Framing

Static vs Current Affairs Distribution

Key Learnings for Future Preparation

Subject-Wise Answer Key

UPSC Prelims 2023 Analysis

Subject-Wise MCQ Distribution

Difficulty Analysis

Variations in Question Framing

Static vs Current Affairs Distribution

Key Learnings for Future Preparation

Subject-Wise Answer Key

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

QUESTION 3

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UPSC Prelims GS Paper I Answer Key