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

All (100)Science & Technology (11)Environment & Ecology (13)Indian Polity (19)Economy (13)Modern History (3)Geography (20)Art & Culture (4)International Relations (6)Social Issues & Schemes (7)Ancient History (3)Medieval History (1)

QUESTION 1

EasyArt & CulturePrelims 2024

Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO ?

A. Chhau dance

B. Durga puja

C. Garba dance

D. Kumbh mela

Answer: C

Explanation

Chhau dance - Chhau is a traditional Indian dance-drama form originating from eastern India, primarily in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It has three styles: Seraikella Chhau (Jharkhand), Mayurbhanj Chhau (Odisha) and Purulia Chhau (West Bengal). Chhau dance got inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in the year 2010.

Intangible Heritage List

*   Please Note: Chhau is basically a mask dance. However, Mayurbhanj Chhau is the only one which is performed without a mask.

Durga Puja (West Bengal) - It is an annual Hindu festival particularly significant in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and other parts of India. Durga Puja was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in the year 2021.
Garba Dance (Gujarat) - has been inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity by UNESCO, under the provisions of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage from 5th -9th December 2023 in Kasane, Botswana.
Kumbh Mela - Kumbh Mela is a major Hindu pilgrimage and festival celebrated at four sites: Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Nashik (Maharashtra). The Kumbh Mela was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in the year 2017.

QUESTION 2

HardArt & CulturePrelims 2024

Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on :

A. Prajnaparamita Sutra

B. Visuddhimagga

C. Sarvastivada Vinaya

D. Lalitavistara

Answer: C

Explanation

Sanghabhuti was a prominent Buddhist scholar known for his work on the Sarvastivada school of Buddhism, particularly their Vinaya texts. Vinaya texts focus on monastic rules and discipline. He traveled to China to translate these texts, making them accessible to Chinese Buddhists.

Let's look at the other options:

Prajnaparamita Sutra: These sutras are central to Mahayana Buddhism and focus on the concept of 'emptiness' (sunyata). While important, they are not primarily associated with Sanghabhuti's work.
Visuddhimagga: This text, meaning 'Path of Purification,' is a comprehensive Theravada Buddhist treatise written by Buddhaghosa, not Sanghabhuti.
Lalitavistara: This Mahayana sutra narrates the life of the Buddha and is not directly linked to Sanghabhuti's scholarship.

QUESTION 3

MediumArt & CulturePrelims 2024

Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:

Shantiniketan
Rani-ki-Vav
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023?

A. Only one

B. Only two

C. Only three

D. All four

Answer: B

Explanation

Out of the four sites listed, two were included in the World Heritage List (WHS) in 2023: Shantiniketan and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas. While Rani-ki-Vav was added to the WHS list in 2014 and the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya in 2002.

Shantiniketan: It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore's father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, in 1863 as a spiritual retreat. Shantiniketan was further expanded by Rabindranath Tagore into Visva-Bharati University in 1921, emphasizing the fusion of traditional Indian and modern Western education.
Rani ki Vav: It was built in the 11th century CE by Queen Udayamati of the Solanki dynasty in Patan, Gujarat, as a memorial to her husband, King Bhimdev I. It is an exceptional example of stepwell design.
Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas: These were built during the 12th-13th centuries CE under the patronage of the Hoysala dynasty, centered in Karnataka. Hoysala temples are characterized by star-shaped platforms (jagatis). Some of the renowned temples are Chennakeshava Temple (Belur), Hoysaleswara Temple (Halebidu), and Keshava Temple (Somanathapura).
Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya: It was built during the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE at the site where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

QUESTION 4

HardArt & CulturePrelims 2024

Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa?

A. Kavyalankara

B. Natyashastra

C. Madhyama-vyayoga

D. Mahabhashya

Answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is (C) Madhyama-vyayoga. Here's why:

Bhasa was an ancient Indian playwright believed to have predated Kalidasa. He is known for his Sanskrit plays, often characterized by their dramatic intensity and focus on emotions.
Madhyama-vyayoga (meaning 'The Middle One') is one of Bhasa's famous plays. It's part of a trilogy and tells a story from the Mahabharata.

Let's look at the other options:

Kavyalankara is a work on Sanskrit poetics by the renowned scholar Bhamaha.
Natyashastra is the foundational text on Indian classical dance and drama, attributed to the sage Bharata Muni.
Mahabhashya is a comprehensive commentary on the Sanskrit grammar of Patanjali, based on Panini's Ashtadhyayi.

Subject-Wise MCQ Distribution

Difficulty Analysis

Variations in Question Framing

Key Learnings for Future Preparation

Subject-Wise Answer Key

UPSC Prelims 2024 Analysis

Subject-Wise MCQ Distribution

Difficulty Analysis

Variations in Question Framing

Key Learnings for Future Preparation

Subject-Wise Answer Key

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

QUESTION 3

QUESTION 4

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UPSC Prelims GS Paper I Answer Key