UPSC Prelims 2020 Previous Year Questions with Answers and Explanations
99 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2020 General Studies Paper I, each with the correct answer, a full explanation, why every option is right or wrong, and named sources. The other 1 questions of this paper are in the practice app while their explanations are checked.
- Q1 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements: 1. Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months. 2. State cannot enter into any…
- Q2 · Indian Polity: Rajya Sabha has equal powers with Lok Sabha in
- Q4 · Indian Polity: Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporates protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?
- Q5 · Indian Polity: In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by
- Q6 · Indian Economy: Along with the Budget, the Finance Minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include 'The Macro Economic Framework…
- Q7 · Indian Polity: A constitutional government by definition is a
- Q8 · Indian Polity: Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflects the principles and…
- Q9 · Indian Polity: In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens? 1. Person with an annual…
- Q10 · Current Affairs: Consider the following pairs: International agreement/set - up - - - Subject 1. Alma - Ata Declaration - - - Healthcare of the people 2.…
- Q11 · Indian Polity: A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which
- Q12 · Indian Polity: Which part of the Constitution of India declares the ideal of Welfare State ?
- Q13 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements : 1. The Constitution of India defines its 'basic structure' in terms of federalism, secularism,…
- Q14 · Modern History: One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is
- Q15 · Indian Polity: In the context of India, which one of the following is the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy ?
- Q16 · Indian Polity: The Preamble to the Constitution of India is
- Q17 · Indian Economy: "Gold Tranche" (Reserve Tranche) refers to
- Q18 · Indian Polity: With reference to the provisions contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1.…
- Q19 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements: 1. According to the Constitution of India, a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a…
- Q20 · Indian Polity: Consider the following statements : 1. The President of India can summon a session of the Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit.…
- Q21 · Modern History: With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Aurang - In - charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian - Indian…
- Q22 · Ancient History: With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism. 2.…
- Q23 · Modern History: Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth…
- Q24 · Ancient History: Consider the following events in the history of India: 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under…
- Q25 · Ancient History: Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post - Harsha period?
- Q26 · Modern History: With reference to the book ‘Desher Katha’ written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the Swadeshi Movement, consider the following…
- Q27 · Modern History: Gandhi - Irwin Pact included which of the following? 1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference 2. Withdrawal…
- Q28 · Modern History: The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by
- Q29 · Ancient History: With reference to the history of India, the terms ‘Kulyavapa’ and ‘Dronavapa’ denote
- Q30 · Ancient History: Which one of the following rulers advised his subjects through an inscription thus: "Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other…
- Q31 · Art & Culture: With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term "paramitas"?
- Q32 · Modern History: In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around 1. Women's right to gain education 2. Age of consent 3.…
- Q33 · Modern History: Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of
- Q34 · Modern History: Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because
- Q35 · Modern History: With reference to the history of India, "Ulgulan" or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?
- Q36 · Art & Culture: With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements: 1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra…
- Q37 · Science & Technology: In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for
- Q38 · Science & Technology: With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? 1. Bring down electricity…
- Q39 · Science & Technology: With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct? 1. VLC uses electromagnetic…
- Q40 · Science & Technology: With reference to "Blockchain Technology", consider the following statements : 1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but…
- Q41 · Science & Technology: With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements : 1. They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human…
- Q42 · Science & Technology: Consider the following activities : 1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field 2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes 3. Collecting…
- Q43 · Science & Technology: “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million…
- Q44 · Science & Technology: Consider the following statements : 1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.…
- Q45 · Science & Technology: What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India ? 1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as…
- Q46 · Science & Technology: In India, the term 'Public Key Infrastructure' is used in the context of
- Q47 · Science & Technology: Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells ? 1. Plant cells have…
- Q48 · Environment & Ecology: Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? 1. Automobile exhaust 2. Tobacco smoke 3. Wood burning…
- Q49 · Indian Economy: If another global financial crisis happens in the near future, which of the following actions/policies are most likely to give some…
- Q50 · Indian Economy: If you withdraw 8 1,00,000 in cash from your Demand Deposit Account at your bank, the immediate effect on aggregate money supply in the…
- Q51 · Indian Economy: With reference to Foreign Direct Investment in India, which one of the following is considered its major characteristic?
- Q52 · Indian Economy: With reference to the international trade of India at present, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. India’s merchandise…
- Q53 · Indian Economy: The term ‘West Texas Intermediate’, sometimes found in news, refers to a grade of
- Q54 · Indian Economy: In the context of the Indian economy, non - financial debt includes which of the following? 1. Housing loans owed by households 2. Amounts…
- Q55 · Science & Technology: In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under “IAEA Safeguards” while others are not?
- Q56 · Indian Economy: With reference to Trade - Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Quantitative…
- Q57 · Indian Economy: If the RBI decides to adopt an expansionist monetary policy, which of the following would it not do? 1. Cut and optimize the Statutory…
- Q58 · Indian Economy: With reference to the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalization, consider the following statements: 1. Worker productivity…
- Q59 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. In terms of short - term credit delivery to the agriculture sector, District Central Cooperative…
- Q60 · Science & Technology: In India, under cyber insurance for individuals, which of the following benefits are generally covered, in addition to payment for the…
- Q61 · Indian Economy: In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? 1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural…
- Q62 · Indian Economy: What is the importance of the term “Interest Coverage Ratio” of a firm in India? 1. It helps in understanding the present risk of a firm…
- Q63 · Indian Economy: Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past? 1. Minimum Support Price 2.…
- Q64 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. The value of Indo - Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade. 2. “Textile and…
- Q65 · Current Affairs: Which of the following sets of countries are all members of the G20?
- Q66 · Indian Economy: Under the ‘Kisan Credit Card’ scheme, for which of the following purposes can farmers avail of short - term credit support? 1. Working…
- Q67 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements: 1. The weight of food items is higher in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) than in the Wholesale Price…
- Q68 · Geography: Consider the following pairs: River - Flows into 1. Mekong - Andaman Sea 2. Thames - Irish Sea 3. Volga - Caspian Sea 4. Zambezi - Indian…
- Q69 · Indian Economy: Consider the following statements : 1. In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil - seeds, the procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP)…
- Q70 · Indian Economy: With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements : 1. ‘Commercial Paper’ is a short - term unsecured promissory…
- Q71 · Ancient History: With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs : 1. Parivrajak - Renunciant and Wanderer 2. Shramana -…
- Q72 · Environment & Ecology: With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements : 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum…
- Q73 · Environment & Ecology: Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin ? 1. Nagarhole National Park 2. Papikonda National Park 3.…
- Q74 · Environment & Ecology: With reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray - chinned minivet and White - throated redstart are
- Q75 · Environment & Ecology: Which one of the following protected areas is well - known for the conservation of a sub - species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha)…
- Q76 · Environment & Ecology: Steel slag can be the material for which of the following ? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agricultural soil 3. Production…
- Q77 · Environment & Ecology: Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? 1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary 2. Gangotri…
- Q78 · Environment & Ecology: In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon…
- Q79 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury. 2. Coal - fired power plants release sulphur dioxide…
- Q80 · Environment & Ecology: What is the use of biochar in farming? 1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming. 2. When biochar is a…
- Q81 · Environment & Ecology: If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?
- Q82 · Ancient History: With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as
- Q83 · Environment & Ecology: What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture? 1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of…
- Q84 · Environment & Ecology: According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw material for the production of biofuels? 1.…
- Q85 · Environment & Ecology: Which one of the following statements best describes the term ‘Social Cost of Carbon’? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the
- Q86 · Geography: With reference to the production of pulses in India, consider the following statements: 1. Black gram (urad) can be cultivated both as…
- Q87 · Geography: "The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimetres of…
- Q88 · Science & Technology: With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements: 1. Solar power can be used for running surface pumps but not for…
- Q89 · Geography: With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements: 1. A substantial saving…
- Q90 · Environment & Ecology: In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco - friendly agriculture? 1. Crop diversification…
- Q91 · Environment & Ecology: What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture? 1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible. 2. Efficient…
- Q92 · Geography: Consider the following minerals: 1. Bentonite 2. Chromite 3. Kyanite 4. Sillimanite In India, which of the above is/are officially…
- Q93 · Geography: With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C…
- Q94 · Indian Economy: With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements: 1. At present, the retail price of chemical…
- Q95 · Environment & Ecology: With reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is spread over two districts. 2.…
- Q96 · Geography: Siachen Glacier is situated to the
- Q97 · Medieval History: With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: Famous Place - Present State 1. Bhilsa - Madhya Pradesh 2.…
- Q98 · Environment & Ecology: Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water…
- Q99 · Geography: Consider the following statements: 1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only. 2. Only some cyclones develop an eye. 3. The…
- Q100 · Environment & Ecology: Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?
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