UPSC Optional · 500 marks

Physics

Classical, EM, quantum, stat mech, thermodynamics, atomic/nuclear, electronics.

Five deep-dives: syllabus, booklist, paper analysis, strategy, PYQ trends (2021–2025).

What UPSC actually asked in Physics, 2021–2025

80 questions across 5 years, taken from the official papers. Every one has its own page with the directive word, marks, word limit and evaluation rubric.

Paper 1
40 questions · 2000 marks total
Paper 2
40 questions · 1940 marks total

Topics that came up

Quantum mechanics and atomic physics · Electromagnetism and thermodynamics · Atomic and Molecular Physics · Atomic and molecular spectroscopy · Atomic structure and spectroscopy · Black soil distribution and rivers economic development · Classical mechanics and special relativity · Classical mechanics and wave optics

Directive words used most

derive (30) · calculate (17) · solve (16) · explain (11) · prove (3) — see the directive words guide for how each one changes the answer you should write.

Mark distribution

78 questions at 50 marks · 2 questions at 20 marks

Browse all 80 Physics previous year questions →

Practice Physics answers, get AI feedback

Write an answer, upload it, and our evaluator scores it on content, structure, examples and directive-word fidelity — trained on UPSC-style marking.