UPSC Prelims 2024 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
- Indian Polity, Environment & Ecology, Economy carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 45% of the paper.
- The paper strongly favoured statement-based questions — multi-statement and assertion-reasoning questions together made up 73% of the paper, making careful reading and elimination especially important.
- The paper was largely easy to moderate in difficulty, with 82% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 18% 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 27% of questions being direct, while most required evaluating multiple statements or reasoning through assertions.
PYQs with Detailed Answers
- View Answer for: "Membrane Bioreactors" are often discussed in the context of:
"Membrane Bioreactors" are often discussed in the context of:
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements : Lions do not have a particular breeding season. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking.Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements :
- Lions do not have a particular breeding season.
- Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar.
- Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: Consider the following: Carabid beetles Centipedes Flies Termites WaspsParasitoid species are found in how many of the above kind of organisms?
Consider the following:
- Carabid beetles
- Centipedes
- Flies
- Termites
- Wasps
Parasitoid species are found in how many of the above kind of organisms?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements:Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Statement-II: The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Statement-II: The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: Consider the following materials: Agricultural residues Corn grain Wastewater treatment sludge Wood mill wasteWhich of the above can be used as feedstock for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel ?
Consider the following materials:
- Agricultural residues
- Corn grain
- Wastewater treatment sludge
- Wood mill waste
Which of the above can be used as feedstock for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel ?
- View Answer for: Consider the following: Butterflies Fish FrogsHow many of the above have poisonous species among them?
Consider the following:
- Butterflies
- Fish
- Frogs
How many of the above have poisonous species among them?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following shows a unique relationship with an insect that has coevolved with it and that is the only insect that can pollinate this tree?
Which one of the following shows a unique relationship with an insect that has coevolved with it and that is the only insect that can pollinate this tree?
- View Answer for: With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements : PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and food packaging materials. PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment. Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements :
- PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and food packaging materials.
- PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment.
- Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- View Answer for: One of the following regions has the world's largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region?
One of the following regions has the world's largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements:Statement-I: The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation. Statement-II: Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation. Statement-II: Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: The organisms "Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater" are:
The organisms "Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater" are:
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements :Statement-I: Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution. Statement-II: Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution. Statement-II: Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?
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