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: Consider the following aircraft: Rafale MiG-29 Tejas MK-1How many of the above are considered fifth generation fighter aircraft?
Consider the following aircraft:
- Rafale
- MiG-29
- Tejas MK-1
How many of the above are considered fifth generation fighter aircraft?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements:Statement-I: Giant stars live much longer than dwarf stars. Statement-II: Compared to dwarf stars, giant stars have a greater rate of nuclear reactions.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Giant stars live much longer than dwarf stars. Statement-II: Compared to dwarf stars, giant stars have a greater rate of nuclear reactions.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following is the exhaust pipe emission from Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, powered by hydrogen?
Which one of the following is the exhaust pipe emission from Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, powered by hydrogen?
- View Answer for: Consider the following activities: Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft Monitoring of precipitation Tracking the migration of animalsIn how many of the above activities can the radars be used?
Consider the following activities:
- Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft
- Monitoring of precipitation
- Tracking the migration of animals
In how many of the above activities can the radars be used?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following is synthesised in human body that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow ?
Which one of the following is synthesised in human body that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow ?
- View Answer for: Recently, the term "pumped-storage hydropower" is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which one of the following?
Recently, the term "pumped-storage hydropower" is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which one of the following?
- View Answer for: In which of the following are hydrogels used ? Controlled drug delivery in patients Mobile air-conditioning systems Preparation of industrial lubricantsSelect the correct answer using the code given below:
In which of the following are hydrogels used ?
- Controlled drug delivery in patients
- Mobile air-conditioning systems
- Preparation of industrial lubricants
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- View Answer for: Consider the following plants: Groundnut Horse-gram SoybeanHow many of the above belong to the pea family?
Consider the following plants:
- Groundnut
- Horse-gram
- Soybean
How many of the above belong to the pea family?
- View Answer for: Which one of the following words/phrases is most appropriately used to denote “an interoperable network of 3D virtual worlds that can be accessed simultaneously by millions of users, who can exert property rights over virtual items"?
Which one of the following words/phrases is most appropriately used to denote “an interoperable network of 3D virtual worlds that can be accessed simultaneously by millions of users, who can exert property rights over virtual items"?
- View Answer for: Consider the following: Battery storage Biomass generators Fuel cells Rooftop solar photovoltaic unitsHow many of the above are considered "Distributed Energy Resources"?
Consider the following:
- Battery storage
- Biomass generators
- Fuel cells
- Rooftop solar photovoltaic units
How many of the above are considered "Distributed Energy Resources"?
- View Answer for: With reference to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), consider the following statements: RTGs are miniature fission reactors. RTGs are used for powering the onboard systems of spacecrafts. RTGs can use Plutonium-238, which is a by-product of weapons development.Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), consider the following statements:
- RTGs are miniature fission reactors.
- RTGs are used for powering the onboard systems of spacecrafts.
- RTGs can use Plutonium-238, which is a by-product of weapons development.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
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