UPSC Prelims 2026 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
- Science & Technology, Economy, International Relations carried the highest weightage, together accounting for 47% 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 66% of questions falling in the easy or medium range and only 34% classified as hard.
- Questions were spread across 12 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: Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are not correctly matched ? Senguttuvan : Chera Udiyanjeral : Chola Nedunjeliyan : PandyaSelect the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are not correctly matched ?
- Senguttuvan : Chera
- Udiyanjeral : Chola
- Nedunjeliyan : Pandya
Select the answer using the code given below :
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period :I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface. II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.Which of the following information support/supports the above statements ? There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu / kulisha (axe) and datra / sreni (sickle). There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period :
I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface. II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.
Which of the following information support/supports the above statements ?
- There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
- Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu / kulisha (axe) and datra / sreni (sickle).
- There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.
Select the answer using the code given below :
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements :I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika. II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.The above statements have been associated with which of the following ? Emergence of urban life Transition to money economySelect the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements :
I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika. II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.
The above statements have been associated with which of the following ?
- Emergence of urban life
- Transition to money economy
Select the answer using the code given below :
- View Answer for: In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni ('mistress of the field') originate ?
In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni ('mistress of the field') originate ?
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns :I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels. II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered. III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms.Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements ? Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home. Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed. Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system.Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns :
I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels. II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered. III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms.
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements ?
- Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home.
- Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed.
- Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system.
Select the answer using the code given below :
- View Answer for: Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched ? Vitasta : Chenab Asikni : Jhelum Parushni : Ravi Yavyavati : BeasSelect the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched ?
- Vitasta : Chenab
- Asikni : Jhelum
- Parushni : Ravi
- Yavyavati : Beas
Select the answer using the code given below :
- View Answer for: Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India : The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595 – 596). In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India. The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India :
- The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595 – 596).
- In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India.
- The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
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