UPSC Prelims 2024 Analysis
Subject-Wise MCQ Distribution
- Polity: High representation with 15-20 questions, focusing on constitutional articles, governance, and recent amendments. Analytical abilities were essential to tackle assertion-based and statement-type questions.
- Economy: Approximately 12-15 questions, heavily tilted towards current economic developments, policies, and budget-related topics. A mix of static concepts from NCERT and dynamic updates was necessary.
- Environment & Ecology: 18-20 questions, with a strong emphasis on climate change, international agreements, and conservation efforts. Match the following questions played a significant role in this section.
- History: 12-14 questions, balanced between ancient, medieval, and modern, with increasing weightage on cultural aspects. Many questions required a combination of NCERT knowledge and historical maps for better context.
- Geography: 10-12 questions, mostly applied concepts like map-based and environmental geography questions.
- Science & Technology: 8-10 questions, leaning towards application-based knowledge on recent innovations and space technology.
- Current Affairs: 15-18 questions, interwoven with other subjects, often requiring assertion-reasoning skills to connect facts.
Difficulty Analysis
- Easy: ~30% of questions were straightforward and could be attempted with basic NCERT knowledge.
- Moderate: ~50% required analytical abilities, conceptual clarity, and elimination tactics.
- Difficult: ~20% were tricky, involving multi-layered reasoning or obscure facts.
Variations in Question Framing
- Statement-based MCQs: 60% of questions were framed in a two-statement or three-statement format, testing comprehension, elimination skills, and analytical abilities.
- Assertion-Reasoning: 13% of the questions assessed logical connections between concepts, requiring critical thinking.
- Match the Following: 10% of the questions required mapping terms with their definitions, locations, or features, particularly in Geography and Environment.
- Standalone Questions: 25% were direct, fact-based questions, but even these often required cross-referencing with maps or historical events.
- Notably, in 2024, UPSC introduced three-column Match the Following MCQs, increasing question complexity and demanding better comprehension skills.
Key Learnings for Future Preparation
- Integrated Approach: Focus on interlinking static NCERT subjects with current affairs, as many questions have contextual relevance.
- Master the Basics: A strong foundation in NCERTs is crucial for tackling conceptual questions, especially in Polity, History, and Geography.
- Develop Analytical Abilities: Statement-based and assertion-reasoning questions require critical thinking and elimination tactics.
- Focus on Trends: Emphasize high-yield topics like Environment, Economy, and Current Affairs to maximize scoring potential.
- Revise Maps and Schematics: Geography and Environmental questions often require map-based knowledge and spatial reasoning to answer correctly.
The Prelims 2024 paper demonstrated a balanced mix of factual recall and analytical
reasoning. A strategic approach to preparation—emphasizing both breadth and depth—is
critical for success.
Subject-Wise Answer Key
QUESTION 1
HardAncient HistoryPrelims 2024
Consider the following information:
| Archaeological Site | State | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Chandraketugarh | Odisha | Trading Port town |
| 2. Inamgaon | Maharashtra | Chalcolithic site |
| 3. Mangadu | Kerala | Megalithic site |
| 4. Salihundam | Andhra Pradesh | Rock-cut cave shrines |
In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched ?
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 and 3
C. 3 and 4
D. 1 and 4
Answer: B
QUESTION 2
MediumAncient HistoryPrelims 2024
Consider the following statements:
- There are no parables in Upanishads.
- Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
QUESTION 3
HardAncient HistoryPrelims 2024
With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets?
- Nayaputta
- Shakyamuni
- Tathagata
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. None of the above are epithets of Gautama Buddha
Answer: B