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UPSC Prelims 2015 question paper

UPSC held the 2015 Preliminary examination on 23 August 2015 — GS Paper I from 9:30 to 11:30 am and CSAT from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. 174 questions from that day are below, each with the Commission's official answer and our explanation of why the other three options fail.

General Studies Paper I

100 questions

Economy 23 · History 16 · Environment & Ecology 15 · Geography 14 · Polity & Governance 12 · Current Events 10 · General Science 10

  1. Q1 ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’ has been launched for
  2. Q2 With reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It has increased the share of States in the central divisible pool from…
  3. Q3 The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’, recently in the news, is related to the affairs of
  4. Q4 A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following? 1. Slowing economic growth rate 2. Less equitable distribution of national income Select the correct…
  5. Q5 In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?
  6. Q6 Which one of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and westernmost State?
  7. Q7 Consider the following statements regarding the Directive Principles of State Policy : 1. The Principles spell out the socio-economic democracy in the country. 2. The provisions…
  8. Q8 In the ‘Index of Eight Core Industries’, which one of the following is given the highest weight?
  9. Q9 Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?
  10. Q10 Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation–India (NIF)? 1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology…
  11. Q11 What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture? 1. Proliferation of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in soil can occur. 2. Increase…
  12. Q12 With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and…
  13. Q13 The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is approved by the
  14. Q14 What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?
  15. Q15 Consider the following pairs : Place of Pilgrimage : Location 1. Srisailam : Nallamala Hills 2. Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills 3. Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills Which of the above pairs…
  16. Q16 With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the ‘Sedition Committee’. 2. In…
  17. Q17 Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently?
  18. Q18 With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks…
  19. Q19 With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a herbivorous marine animal. 2. It is found along the entire coast…
  20. Q20 Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India? 1. Dadabhai Naoroji 2. G. Subramania Iyer 3. R. C. Dutt Select the correct answer using the code…
  21. Q21 Which one of the following issues the ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report periodically?
  22. Q22 When the Reserve Bank of India reduces the Statutory Liquidity Ratio by 50 basis points, which of the following is likely to happen?
  23. Q23 With reference to the use of nano-technology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology. 2…
  24. Q24 In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the
  25. Q25 Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
  26. Q26 With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements : 1. It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes. 2. It wanted to establish the…
  27. Q27 Consider the following statements : 1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill. 2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants. 3. The…
  28. Q28 The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined
  29. Q29 Which of the following brings out the ‘Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers’?
  30. Q30 In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news : 1. It…
  31. Q31 The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures’ and ‘Peace Clause’ appear in the news frequently in the context of the…
  32. Q32 With reference to ‘Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a contactless communication technology that uses…
  33. Q33 The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to
  34. Q34 Convertibility of rupee implies
  35. Q35 Consider the following pairs : Medieval Indian State : Present Region 1. Champaka : Central India 2. Durgara : Jammu 3. Kuluta : Malabar Which of the above pairs is/are correctly…
  36. Q36 Consider the following rivers : 1. Vamsadhara 2. Indravati 3. Pranahita 4. Pennar Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?
  37. Q37 When a bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses of the Parliament, it has to be passed by
  38. Q38 Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
  39. Q39 Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha? 1. Avanti 2. Gandhara 3. Kosala 4. Magadha Select the correct answer using the code given below.
  40. Q40 Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?
  41. Q41 Consider the following : The arrival of Babur into India led to the 1. introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent 2. introduction of the arch and dome in the region's…
  42. Q42 The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the
  43. Q43 What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
  44. Q44 Consider the following statements : 1. The Executive Power of the Union of India is vested in the Prime Minister. 2. The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairman of the Civil…
  45. Q45 The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of
  46. Q46 Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
  47. Q47 Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south…
  48. Q48 Consider the following statements : 1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu. 2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress…
  49. Q49 Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct? 1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to…
  50. Q50 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was given to which one of the following?
  51. Q51 With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It recommended a federal government. 2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts. 3…
  52. Q52 Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?
  53. Q53 Amnesty International is
  54. Q54 With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
  55. Q55 With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential element/elements of the feudal system? 1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very…
  56. Q56 ‘BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes’ is managed by the
  57. Q57 India is a member of which among the following? 1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations 3. East Asia Summit Select the correct answer using…
  58. Q58 In India, the steel production industry requires the import of
  59. Q59 The provisions in Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to
  60. Q60 With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements : 1. The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to…
  61. Q61 Who/Which of the following is the custodian of the Constitution of India?
  62. Q62 Consider the following statements : 1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996–97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers. 2. The Command Area…
  63. Q63 The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the
  64. Q64 In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants? 1. Bangladesh 2. Cambodia 3. China 4. Myanmar 5…
  65. Q65 ‘Basel III Accord’ or simply ‘Basel III’, often seen in the news, seeks to
  66. Q66 Consider the following statements : 1. The winds which blow between 30° N and 60° S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies. 2. The moist air masses that cause…
  67. Q67 With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, consider the following statements : 1. It was established very recently in response to…
  68. Q68 Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?
  69. Q69 In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These…
  70. Q70 Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following? 1. Gravitational force of the Sun 2. Gravitational force of the Moon 3. Centrifugal force of the Earth Select…
  71. Q71 In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used? 1. Assessment of crop productivity 2. Locating groundwater resources 3. Mineral exploration…
  72. Q72 Consider the following States : 1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Mizoram In which of the above States do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?
  73. Q73 The term ‘IndARC’, sometimes seen in the news, is the name of
  74. Q74 With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society…
  75. Q75 Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
  76. Q76 With reference to an organization known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations…
  77. Q77 Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea?
  78. Q78 In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?
  79. Q79 ‘Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action’, often seen in the news, is
  80. Q80 “Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with…
  81. Q81 With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements : 1. The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product has steadily increased in the last decade. 2. The Gross…
  82. Q82 Consider the following statements : 1. The Legislative Council of a State in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State. 2. The…
  83. Q83 “To uphold and protect the Sovereignty, Unity and Integrity of India” is a provision made in the
  84. Q84 Which one of the following is the best description of the term ‘ecosystem’?
  85. Q85 The fundamental object of Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following? 1. People's participation in development 2. Political accountability 3. Democratic…
  86. Q86 With reference to Indian economy, consider the following : 1. Bank rate 2. Open market operations 3. Public debt 4. Public revenue Which of the above is/are component/components…
  87. Q87 With reference to inflation in India, which of the following statements is correct?
  88. Q88 Consider the following countries : 1. China 2. France 3. India 4. Israel 5. Pakistan Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the…
  89. Q89 The ideal of ‘Welfare State’ in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its
  90. Q90 The substitution of steel for wooden ploughs in agricultural production is an example of
  91. Q91 There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the
  92. Q92 H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?
  93. Q93 With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements : 1. The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal…
  94. Q94 The problem of international liquidity is related to the non-availability of
  95. Q95 With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements : 1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel…
  96. Q96 Kalamkari painting refers to
  97. Q97 Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept’?
  98. Q98 There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which of the following actions can be taken by the government to reduce the deficit? 1. Reducing revenue expenditure 2…
  99. Q99 Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status? 1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees 2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma 3. Tirupathi Laddu Select the correct…
  100. Q100 With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a Public Limited Government Company…

CSAT Paper II

74 questions

Comprehension 32 · Logical Reasoning 20 · Basic Numeracy 16 · Mental Ability 5 · Data Interpretation 1

  1. Q1 Which one of the following statements is least essential as a part of the argument in the above passage ?
  2. Q2 Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage ?
  3. Q3 With reference to the above passage, which of the following is the most valid assumption ?
  4. Q4 Which is the critical inference that can be made from the above passage ?
  5. Q5 With reference to the above passage, which of the following statements is/are true ? 1. Consuming regionally grown food and not depending on long travelled food is a part of…
  6. Q6 The author says that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes his tongue or pen. Which one of the following is not a valid reason for this ?
  7. Q7 The most appropriate reason for the author to be spared many a mishap is that
  8. Q8 For the author, silence is necessary in order to surmount
  9. Q9 Twelve people form a club. By picking lots, one of them will host a dinner for all once in a month. The number of dinners a particular member has to host in one year is
  10. Q10 An automobile owner reduced his monthly petrol consumption when the prices went up. The price-consumption relationship is as follows : Price (in ₹ per litre) 40 50 60 75 Monthly…
  11. Q12 Consider the following matrix : | 3 | 8 | 10 | 2 | ? | 1 | | 6 | 56 | 90 | 2 | 20 | 0 | What is the missing number at ‘?’ in the matrix ?
  12. Q13 What is the missing number ‘X’ of the series 7, X, 21, 31, 43 ?
  13. Q15 In a test, a candidate attempted only 8 questions and secured 50% marks in each of the questions. If he obtained a total of 40% in the test and all questions in the test carried…
  14. Q16 A father is nine times as old as his son and the mother is eight times as old as the son. The sum of the father's and the mother's age is 51 years. What is the age of the son ?
  15. Q17 Four persons A, B, C and D consisting of two married couples are in a group. Both the women are shorter than their respective husbands. A is the tallest among the four. C is…
  16. Q18 Consider the following statements : 1. A man had a wife, two sons and two daughters in his family. 2. The daughters were invited to a feast and the male members of the family went…
  17. Q19 Geeta : Naresh has become a better boxer since he started meditation. Radha : Impossible. A boxer's most important asset is his aggressiveness. Radha's statement reflects her…
  18. Q20 All good athletes want to win and all athletes who want to win eat a well-balanced diet; therefore all athletes who do not eat a well-balanced diet are bad athletes. The best…
  19. Q21 Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage ?
  20. Q22 This is a sensitive issue-based story which tries to sensitise the readers about
  21. Q23 Which among the following is the most logical and rational inference that can be made from the above passage ?
  22. Q24 Which among the following is the most logical and rational assumption that can be made from the above passage ?
  23. Q25 Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage ?
  24. Q26 What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage ?
  25. Q27 With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements : 1. In developing countries, a strong institutional framework is the only requirement for human development…
  26. Q28 With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made : 1. Higher economic growth is essential to ensure reduction in economic disparity. 2. Environmental…
  27. Q29 If A runs less fast than B, and B runs as fast but not faster than C; then, as compared to A, C runs
  28. Q30 Each of A, B, C and D has ₹ 100. A pays ₹ 20 to B, who pays ₹ 10 to C, who gets ₹ 30 from D. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct ?
  29. Q31 In a town, 45% population read magazine A, 55% read magazine B, 40% read magazine C, 30% read magazines A and B, 15% read magazines B and C, 25% read magazines A and C; and 10%…
  30. Q32 Examine the following statements : 1. Lady's finger is tastier than cabbage. 2. Cauliflower is tastier than lady's finger. 3. Cabbage is not tastier than peas. The conclusion that…
  31. Q33 Shahid and Rohit start from the same point in opposite directions. After each 1 km, Shahid always turns left and Rohit always turns right. Which of the following statements is…
  32. Q34 In a 500 metres race, B starts 45 metres ahead of A, but A wins the race while B is still 35 metres behind. What is the ratio of the speeds of A to B assuming that both start at…
  33. Q35 Two equal glasses of same type are respectively 1/3 and 1/4 full of milk. They are then filled up with water and the contents are mixed in a pot. What is the ratio of milk and…
  34. Q36 Out of 130 students appearing in an examination, 62 failed in English, 52 failed in Mathematics, whereas 24 failed in both English and Mathematics. The number of students who…
  35. Q37 In a group of persons travelling in a bus, 6 persons can speak Tamil, 15 can speak Hindi and 6 can speak Gujarati. In that group none can speak any other language. If 2 persons in…
  36. Q38 In a parking area, the total number of wheels of all the cars (four-wheelers) and scooters/motorbikes (two-wheelers) is 100 more than twice the number of parked vehicles. The…
  37. Q39 The mangroves can shed tons of leaves per acre every year; fungi and bacteria break down this leaf litter and consume it, they then are consumed by tiny worms and crustaceans…
  38. Q40 “By liberty I mean the eager maintenance of that atmosphere in which men have the opportunity to be their best selves.” Which one of the following expresses the view implied in…
  39. Q41 Which among the following is the most logical corollary to the above passage ?
  40. Q42 Which among the following is the most rational and critical inference that can be made from the above passage ?
  41. Q43 Which among the following is the most critical inference that can be made from the above passage ?
  42. Q44 Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage ?
  43. Q45 With reference to the above passage, consider the following statements : 1. Indian financial institutions do not offer any financial instruments to rural households to mobilise…
  44. Q46 What is the crucial message conveyed in the passage ?
  45. Q47 Which among the following is the most logical assumption that can be made from the above passage ?
  46. Q48 A selection is to be made for one post of Principal and two posts of Vice-Principal. Amongst the six candidates called for the interview, only two are eligible for the post of…
  47. Q49 A student has to opt for 2 subjects out of 5 subjects for a course, namely, Commerce, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics I and Mathematics II. Mathematics II can be offered only…
  48. Q50 A person ordered 5 pairs of black socks and some pairs of brown socks. The price of a black pair was thrice that of a brown pair. While preparing the bill, the bill clerk…
  49. Q53 Two pipes A and B can independently fill a tank completely in 20 and 30 minutes respectively. If both the pipes are opened simultaneously, how much time will they take to fill the…
  50. Q54 Each of the six different faces of a cube has been coated with a different colour i.e., V, I, B, G, Y and O. Following information is given : 1. Colours Y, O and B are on adjacent…
  51. Q55 Consider the following statements followed by two conclusions : Statements : Some men are great. Some men are wise. Conclusion I : Men are either great or wise. Conclusion II…
  52. Q56 Consider the following statements : 1. Some claim to have seen UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects). 2. Life on other heavenly bodies is considered to be a possibility. 3. Voyage to…
  53. Q57 If ABC × DEED = ABCABC; where A, B, C, D and E are different digits, what are the values of D and E ?
  54. Q60 Usha runs faster than Kamala, Priti runs slower than Swati, Swati runs slower than Kamala. Who is the slowest runner ?
  55. Q61 What is the most logical, rational and crucial message that is implied in the above passage ?
  56. Q62 In the light of the argument in the above passage, which one of the following statements is the most convincing explanation ?
  57. Q63 The author's viewpoint can be best summed up in which of the following statements ?
  58. Q64 According to the passage, which of the following is/are a matter of intense debate in the multilateral negotiations under UNFCCC regarding the role of developing countries in…
  59. Q65 In this passage, the Convention puts the responsibility for the provision of financial support on the developed countries because of 1. their higher level of per capita incomes…
  60. Q66 With regards to developing countries, it can be inferred from the passage that climate change is likely to have implications on their 1. domestic finances. 2. capacity for…
  61. Q67 Which one of the following is essentially discussed in the passage ?
  62. Q68 Between 6 PM and 7 PM the minute hand of a clock will be ahead of the hour hand by 3 minutes at
  63. Q69 There are 5 tasks and 5 persons. Task-1 cannot be assigned to either person-1. or person-2. Task-2 must be assigned to either person-3 or person-4. Every person is to be assigned…
  64. Q70 The monthly incomes of Peter and Paul are in the ratio of 4 : 3. Their expenses are in the ratio of 3 : 2. If each saves ₹ 6,000 at the end of the month, their monthly incomes…
  65. Q71 Two cities A and B are 360 km apart. A car goes from A to B with a speed of 40 km/hr and returns to A with a speed of 60 km/hr. What is the average speed of the car ?
  66. Q72 Which one of the following is possible ?
  67. Q73 What is the number of logically possible orders of all six cousins in terms of increasing age ?
  68. Q74 In a society it is customary for friends of the same sex to hug and for friends of opposite sex to shake hands when they meet. A group of friends met in a party and there were 24…
  69. Q75 Two men, Anil and David, and two women, Shabnam and Rekha are in a sales group. Only two speak Tamil. The other two speak Marathi. Only one man and one woman can drive a car…
  70. Q76 In a plane, line X is perpendicular to line Y and parallel to line Z; line U is perpendicular to both lines V and W; line X is perpendicular to line V. Which one of the following…
  71. Q77 A cow costs more than 4 goats but less than 5 goats. If a goat costs between ₹ 600 and ₹ 800, which of the following is a most valid conclusion ?
  72. Q78 A society consists of only two types of people — fighters and cowards. Two cowards are always friends. A fighter and a coward are always enemies. Fighters are indifferent to one…
  73. Q79 In a box of marbles, there are three less white marbles than the red ones and five more white marbles than the green ones. If there are a total of 10 white marbles, how many…
  74. Q80 Candidates in a competitive examination consisted of 60% men and 40% women. 70% men and 75% women cleared the qualifying test and entered the final test where 80% men and 70%…

Question papers and answer keys: Union Public Service Commission. Explanations: UPSC Answer Check.

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