UPSC Prelims 2018 GS Paper — 100 Questions with Answers

GS Paper I of the 2018 Preliminary examination, held on 3 June 2018. 100 questions · 200 marks · one-third negative marking. The questions broke down as Economy 26, History 22, Polity & Governance 14, General Science 13, Environment & Ecology 13, Current Events 7, Geography 5.

  1. Q1 Consider the following statements : 1. In the first Lok Sabha, the single largest party in the opposition was the Swatantra Party. 2. In the Lok Sabha, a "Leader of the Opposition" was recognised for the first time in 1969. 3. In the Lok Sabha, if a party…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  2. Q2 Which of the following leaf modifications occur(s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss ? 1. Hard and waxy leaves 2. Tiny leaves 3. Thorns instead of leaves Select the correct answer using the code given below :
    General Science· easy
  3. Q3 As per the NSSO 70th Round "Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households", consider the following statements : 1. Rajasthan has the highest percentage share of agricultural households among its rural households. 2. Out of the total agricultural…
    Economy· hard
  4. Q4 How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ? 1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government. 2. The NGT provides environmental justice…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  5. Q5 Consider the following statements : 1. The Parliament of India can place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India. 2. The validity of a law placed in the Ninth Schedule cannot be examined by any court and no judgement can be made on…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  6. Q6 Which one of the following best describes the term “Merchant Discount Rate” sometimes seen in news ?
    Economy· easy
  7. Q7 What is/are the consequence/consequences of a country becoming the member of the ‘Nuclear Suppliers Group’ ? 1. It will have access to the latest and most efficient nuclear technologies. 2. It automatically becomes a member of “The Treaty on the…
    Current Events· medium
  8. Q8 With reference to India’s decision to levy an equalization tax of 6% on online advertisement services offered by non-resident entities, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. It is introduced as a part of the Income Tax Act. 2. Non-resident…
    Economy· hard
  9. Q9 Consider the following statements : 1. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee Report has recommended a debt to GDP ratio of 60% for the general (combined) government by 2023, comprising 40% for the Central Government and 20%…
    Economy· hard
  10. Q10 Consider the following statements : 1. The quantity of imported edible oils is more than the domestic production of edible oils in the last five years. 2. The Government does not impose any customs duty on all the imported edible oils as a special case. Which…
    Economy· medium
  11. Q11 He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was
    History· medium
  12. Q12 Consider the following statements : 1. Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile. 2. Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  13. Q13 Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities ? 1. Aral Sea 2. Black Sea 3. Lake Baikal Select the correct answer using the code given below :
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  14. Q14 “Rule of Law Index” is released by which of the following ?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  15. Q15 Which one of the following links all the ATMs in India ?
    Economy· easy
  16. Q16 Consider the following statements : 1. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is the amount that banks have to maintain in the form of their own funds to offset any loss that banks incur if the account-holders fail to repay dues. 2. CAR is decided by each individual…
    Economy· medium
  17. Q17 The identity platform ‘Aadhaar’ provides open “Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)”. What does it imply ? 1. It can be integrated into any electronic device. 2. Online authentication using iris is possible. Which of the statements given above is/are…
    General Science· medium
  18. Q18 Very recently, in which of the following countries have lakhs of people either suffered from severe famine/acute malnutrition or died due to starvation caused by war/ethnic conflicts ?
    Current Events· easy
  19. Q19 Regarding Wood's Dispatch, which of the following statements are true ? 1. Grants-in-Aid system was introduced. 2. Establishment of universities was recommended. 3. English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended. Select the…
    History· medium
  20. Q20 With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  21. Q21 Consider the following statements : 1. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  22. Q22 Consider the following pairs : Tradition State 1. Chapchar Kut festival — Mizoram 2. Khongjom Parba ballad — Manipur 3. Thang-Ta dance — Sikkim Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?
    History· medium
  23. Q23 Consider the following statements : 1. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. 2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of Health Services in…
    Economy· medium
  24. Q24 The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of
    Current Events· easy
  25. Q25 With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements : 1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains. 2. The eldest…
    Economy· medium
  26. Q26 India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to
    Economy· easy
  27. Q27 Consider the following statements : 1. In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines. 2. Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines. 3. Rajasthan has iron ore mines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
    Geography· medium
  28. Q28 With reference to digital payments, consider the following statements : 1. BHIM app allows the user to transfer money to anyone with a UPI-enabled bank account. 2. While a chip-pin debit card has four factors of authentication, BHIM app has only two factors…
    Economy· medium
  29. Q29 Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi ?
    Geography· medium
  30. Q30 International Labour Organization's Conventions 138 and 182 are related to
    Economy· easy
  31. Q31 Regarding Money Bill, which of the following statements is not correct ?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  32. Q32 With reference to the election of the President of India, consider the following statements : 1. The value of the vote of each MLA varies from State to State. 2. The value of the vote of MPs of the Lok Sabha is more than the value of the vote of MPs of the…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  33. Q33 In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the 'International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)' ?
    Current Events· medium
  34. Q34 Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN ?
    Current Events· medium
  35. Q35 With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015. 2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding…
    Environment & Ecology· hard
  36. Q36 Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of "Digital India" Plan of the Government of India ? 1. Formation of India's own Internet companies like China did. 2. Establish a policy framework to encourage overseas multinational corporations that collect Big…
    Economy· medium
  37. Q37 Consider the following pairs : Towns sometimes mentioned in news Country 1. Aleppo — Syria 2. Kirkuk — Yemen 3. Mosul — Palestine 4. Mazar-i-sharif — Afghanistan Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?
    Current Events· medium
  38. Q38 In the Federation established by The Government of India Act of 1935, residuary powers were given to the
    History· medium
  39. Q39 Consider the following statements : 1. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly shall vacate his/her office if he/she ceases to be a member of the Assembly. 2. Whenever the Legislative Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker shall vacate his/her office immediately…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  40. Q40 Which one of the following reflects the most appropriate relationship between law and liberty ?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  41. Q41 Consider the following statements : 1. No criminal proceedings shall be instituted against the Governor of a State in any court during his term of office. 2. The emoluments and allowances of the Governor of a State shall not be diminished during his term of…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  42. Q42 The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the
    History· medium
  43. Q43 What is "Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)", sometimes seen in the news ?
    General Science· easy
  44. Q44 With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements : 1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna. 2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas. 3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries. 4…
    History· medium
  45. Q45 Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the "Rule of Law" ? 1. Limitation of powers 2. Equality before law 3. People's responsibility to the Government 4. Liberty and civil rights Select the correct answer using the code given below :
    Polity & Governance· medium
  46. Q46 Which one of the following statements correctly describes the meaning of legal tender money ?
    Economy· easy
  47. Q47 If a commodity is provided free to the public by the Government, then
    Economy· medium
  48. Q48 Increase in absolute and per capita real GNP do not connote a higher level of economic development, if
    Economy· easy
  49. Q49 Consider the following statements : Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables 1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital. 2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of…
    Economy· medium
  50. Q50 Despite being a high saving economy, capital formation may not result in significant increase in output due to
    Economy· medium
  51. Q51 After the Santhal Uprising subsided, what was/were the measure/measures taken by the colonial government ? 1. The territories called 'Santhal Paraganas' were created. 2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non-Santhal. Select the correct…
    History· medium
  52. Q52 Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the
    History· easy
  53. Q53 If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then
    Polity & Governance· medium
  54. Q54 Consider the following pairs : Craft — Heritage of 1. Puthukkuli shawls — Tamil Nadu 2. Sujni embroidery — Maharashtra 3. Uppada Jamdani saris — Karnataka Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?
    History· medium
  55. Q55 In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used ? 1. Mobile phone operations 2. Banking operations 3. Controlling the power grids Select the correct answer using the code given below :
    General Science· medium
  56. Q56 Consider the following statements : 1. The Reserve Bank of India manages and services Government of India Securities but not any State Government Securities. 2. Treasury bills are issued by the Government of India and there are no treasury bills issued by the…
    Economy· medium
  57. Q57 Consider the following statements : 1. The Earth's magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years. 2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide. 3. When living organisms originated…
    Geography· medium
  58. Q58 The terms 'WannaCry, Petya and EternalBlue' sometimes mentioned in the news recently are related to
    General Science· easy
  59. Q59 With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of "Conservation Agriculture" assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture ? 1. Avoiding the monoculture practices 2. Adopting minimum tillage 3…
    Economy· medium
  60. Q60 The term “sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction” is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  61. Q61 With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements : 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. 2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km…
    General Science· medium
  62. Q62 Consider the following phenomena : 1. Light is affected by gravity. 2. The Universe is constantly expanding. 3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time. Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity…
    General Science· medium
  63. Q63 With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements : 1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests. 2. GM…
    General Science· medium
  64. Q64 Consider the following pairs : Terms sometimes seen in news — Context/Topic 1. Belle II experiment — Artificial Intelligence 2. Blockchain technology — Digital/Cryptocurrency 3. CRISPR - Cas9 — Particle Physics Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly…
    General Science· medium
  65. Q65 Which of the following statements best describes "carbon fertilization" ?
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  66. Q66 When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day's weather and also indicates the level of water in your…
    General Science· easy
  67. Q67 With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements : 1. India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units. 2. The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy…
    Economy· medium
  68. Q68 The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were
    History· medium
  69. Q69 Which one of the following is a very significant aspect of the Champaran Satyagraha ?
    History· easy
  70. Q70 Who among the following were the founders of the "Hind Mazdoor Sabha" established in 1948 ?
    History· hard
  71. Q71 With reference to the religious practices in India, the "Sthanakvasi" sect belongs to
    History· medium
  72. Q72 With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements : 1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri. 2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow…
    History· hard
  73. Q73 Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India ?
    History· medium
  74. Q74 With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world ?
    History· easy
  75. Q75 Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley ?
    History· medium
  76. Q76 Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India ? 1. Charter Act of 1813 2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823 3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy Select the correct answer using the code given below :
    History· medium
  77. Q77 Which one of the following is an artificial lake ?
    Geography· easy
  78. Q78 With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements : 1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial…
    Economy· medium
  79. Q79 In 1920, which of the following changed its name to "Swarajya Sabha" ?
    History· medium
  80. Q80 Which among the following events happened earliest ?
    History· medium
  81. Q81 Which of the following is/are the possible consequence/s of heavy sand mining in riverbeds ? 1. Decreased salinity in the river 2. Pollution of groundwater 3. Lowering of the water-table Select the correct answer using the code given below :
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  82. Q82 With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements : 1. A high content of organic matter in soil drastically reduces its water holding capacity. 2. Soil does not play any role in the sulphur cycle. 3. Irrigation over a period of time can…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  83. Q83 The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  84. Q84 "3D printing" has applications in which of the following ? 1. Preparation of confectionery items 2. Manufacture of bionic ears 3. Automotive industry 4. Reconstructive surgeries 5. Data processing technologies Select the correct answer using the code given…
    General Science· medium
  85. Q85 Consider the following statements : 1. The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory. 2. Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar. 3. The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained…
    Geography· medium
  86. Q86 Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in news ?
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  87. Q87 Consider the following statements : 1. Most of the world's coral reefs are in tropical waters. 2. More than one-third of the world's coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines. 3. Coral reefs host far more number of…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  88. Q88 “Momentum for Change : Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  89. Q89 With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs : Institution Founder 1. Sanskrit College at Benaras — William Jones 2. Calcutta Madarsa — Warren Hastings 3. Fort William College — Arthur Wellesley Which…
    History· medium
  90. Q90 Consider the following pairs : Regions sometimes mentioned in news Country 1. Catalonia — Spain 2. Crimea — Hungary 3. Mindanao — Philippines 4. Oromia — Nigeria Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?
    Current Events· medium
  91. Q91 Consider the following events : 1. The first democratically elected communist party government formed in a State in India. 2. India's then largest bank, 'Imperial Bank of India', was renamed 'State Bank of India'. 3. Air India was nationalised and became the…
    History· medium
  92. Q92 Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement ?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  93. Q93 Consider the following : 1. Areca nut 2. Barley 3. Coffee 4. Finger millet 5. Groundnut 6. Sesamum 7. Turmeric The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has announced the Minimum Support Price for which of the above ?
    Economy· medium
  94. Q94 In which one of the following States is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located ?
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  95. Q95 With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements : 1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV…
    General Science· medium
  96. Q96 With reference to the governance of public sector banking in India, consider the following statements : 1. Capital infusion into public sector banks by the Government of India has steadily increased in the last decade. 2. To put the public sector banks in…
    Economy· medium
  97. Q97 Consider the following items : 1. Cereal grains hulled 2. Chicken eggs cooked 3. Fish processed and canned 4. Newspapers containing advertising material Which of the above items is/are exempted under GST (Goods and Services Tax) ?
    Economy· medium
  98. Q98 Consider the following statements : 1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. 2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights. 3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  99. Q99 Consider the following : 1. Birds 2. Dust blowing 3. Rain 4. Wind blowing Which of the above spread plant diseases ?
    General Science· medium
  100. Q100 With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements : 1. 'The National Programme for Organic Production' (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development. 2. 'The Agricultural and…
    Economy· medium

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