UPSC Prelims 2019 Previous Year Questions with Answers and Explanations

100 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2019 General Studies Paper I, each with the correct answer, a full explanation, why every option is right or wrong, and named sources.

Q1 · Medieval History: With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? 1. Jagirdars were holders of land…
Q2 · Indian Economy: With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q3 · Indian Economy: The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the
Q4 · Modern History: Consider the following statements about ‘the Charter Act of 1813’: 1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India…
Q5 · Modern History: With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements: 1. It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts…
Q6 · Modern History: Consider the following pairs: Movement/Organization : Leader 1. All India Anti-Untouchability League : Mahatma Gandhi 2. All India Kisan…
Q7 · Ancient History: Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
Q8 · Ancient History: In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
Q9 · Art & Culture: Consider the following: 1. Deification of the Buddha 2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 3. Image worship and rituals Which of the above…
Q10 · Ancient History: With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q11 · Art & Culture: Building ‘Kalyana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of
Q12 · Medieval History: Consider the following statements: 1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in - charge of revenue collection was known as…
Q13 · Medieval History: Consider the following statements: 1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar. 2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad…
Q14 · Modern History: With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements: 1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the…
Q15 · Modern History: With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs: Person - Position held 1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru : President, All…
Q16 · Art & Culture: With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?
Q17 · Art & Culture: Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?
Q18 · Environment & Ecology: Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine zone?
Q19 · Indian Economy: Atal Innovation Mission is set up under the
Q20 · Geography: On 21st June, the Sun
Q21 · Geography: Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’?
Q22 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only. 2. Double - humped camel is naturally found in India…
Q23 · Geography: Consider the following pairs: Famous place - River 1. Pandharpur : Chandrabhaga 2. Tiruchirappalli : Cauvery 3. Hampi : Malaprabha Which…
Q24 · Indian Economy: In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because
Q25 · Environment & Ecology: In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of…
Q26 · Environment & Ecology: In the context of which one of the following are the terms ‘pyrolysis’ and ‘plasma gasification’ mentioned?
Q27 · Environment & Ecology: Which of the following are in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve?
Q28 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. Some species of turtles are herbivores. 2. Some species of fish are herbivores. 3. Some species of…
Q29 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following pairs: Wildlife - Naturally found in 1. Blue - finned Mahseer - Cauvery River 2. Irrawaddy Dolphin - Chambal River…
Q30 · Environment & Ecology: Why is there a great concern about the 'microbeads' that are released into environment?
Q31 · Environment & Ecology: Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is…
Q32 · Science & Technology: For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used? 1. Chlorophyll content in the…
Q33 · Geography: Consider the following States: 1. Chhattisgarh 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Maharashtra 4. Odisha With reference to the States mentioned above, in…
Q34 · Environment & Ecology: Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’? 1. Global warming might trigger the release of…
Q35 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following: 1. Carbon monoxide 2. Methane 3. Ozone 4. Sulphur dioxide Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to…
Q36 · Geography: Consider the following pairs: Sea - Bordering country 1. Adriatic Sea : Albania 2. Black Sea : Croatia 3. Caspian Sea : Kazakhstan 4.…
Q37 · Geography: Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?
Q38 · Geography: Consider the following pairs: Glacier - River 1. Bandarpunch : Yamuna 2. Bara Shigri : Chenab 3. Milam : Mandakini 4. Siachen : Nubra 5.…
Q39 · Science & Technology: In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with apprehension. These chemicals are used as
Q40 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and…
Q41 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements : 1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment. 2. Cattle release ammonia into…
Q42 · Geography: What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?
Q43 · Science & Technology: In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen - enriched CNG (H - CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport, consider the following…
Q44 · Geography: Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?
Q45 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements : 1. The 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the…
Q46 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements: 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the…
Q47 · Indian Polity: The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution of India during the prime ministership of
Q48 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. Coal sector was nationalised by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi. 2. Now, coal blocks are…
Q49 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements: 1. The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from…
Q50 · Indian Polity: Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void?
Q51 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: 1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union…
Q52 · Indian Polity: With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as…
Q53 · Indian Polity: With reference to the Legislative Assembly of a State in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Governor makes a customary…
Q54 · Current Affairs: Consider the following statements: 1. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a 'Protocol against the Smuggling of…
Q55 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the…
Q56 · Indian Polity: Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one's right to marry the person of one's choice?
Q57 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements: 1. According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India.…
Q58 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. State the requirement of…
Q59 · Environment & Ecology: As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q60 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: As per the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018 1. If rules for…
Q61 · Indian Economy: The Service Area Approach was implemented under the purview of
Q62 · Indian Economy: With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements: 1. Sand is a 'minor mineral' according to…
Q63 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. Most of India's external debt is owed by governmental entities. 2. All of India's external debt is…
Q64 · Indian Economy: Which of the following is not included in the assets of a commercial bank in India?
Q65 · Indian Economy: In the context of India, which of the following factors is/are contributor/contributors to reducing the risk of a currency crisis? 1. The…
Q66 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure…
Q67 · Indian Economy: Which of the following is issued by registered foreign portfolio investors to overseas investors who want to be part of the Indian stock…
Q68 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both…
Q69 · Indian Polity: In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad…
Q70 · Indian Economy: With reference to India's Five - Year Plans, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. From the Second Five - Year Plan, there…
Q71 · Indian Economy: With reference to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements: 1. AIIB has more than 80 member nations.…
Q72 · Indian Economy: What was the purpose of Inter - Creditor Agreement signed by Indian banks and financial institutions recently?
Q73 · Indian Economy: The Chairmen of public sector banks are selected by the
Q74 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the first regulatory body set up by the…
Q75 · Science & Technology: With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long - Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice…
Q76 · Indian Polity: Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017? 1. Pregnant women are entitled for…
Q77 · Indian Economy: Which one of the following is not a sub - index of the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’?
Q78 · Environment & Ecology: In India, ‘extended producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?
Q79 · Indian Economy: The economic cost of food grains to the Food Corporation of India is Minimum Support Price and bonus (if any) paid to the farmers plus
Q80 · Indian Economy: In the context of any country, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capital?
Q81 · Indian Polity: With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare…
Q82 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) exchange rates are calculated by comparing the prices of the same…
Q83 · Indian Economy: With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements: 1. Area under rice…
Q84 · Indian Economy: Among the following agricultural commodities imported by India, which one has been the highest in terms of value in the last five years?
Q85 · Indian Polity: In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty?
Q86 · Indian Economy: Which one of the following is not the most likely measure the Government/RBI takes to stop the slide of Indian rupee?
Q87 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: The Reserve Bank of India’s recent directives relating to ‘Storage of Payment System Data’, popularly…
Q88 · Science & Technology: Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ in…
Q89 · Current Affairs: Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with…
Q90 · Indian Economy: The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following?
Q91 · Science & Technology: In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements: 1. In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated…
Q92 · Science & Technology: The word 'Denisovan' is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to
Q93 · Science & Technology: With reference to the recent developments in science, which one of the following statements is not correct?
Q94 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements. A digital signature is 1. An electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it 2.…
Q95 · Science & Technology: In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices? 1. Location identification of…
Q96 · Science & Technology: 'RNA interference (RNAi) technology has gained popularity in the last few years. Why? 1. It is used in developing gene silencing…
Q97 · Science & Technology: Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light - years away from the Earth. What is the significance of…
Q98 · Science & Technology: Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi - drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? 1. Genetic…
Q99 · Science & Technology: What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news?
Q100 · Science & Technology: Which one of the following statements is not correct?

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