UPSC Prelims 2019 GS Paper — 100 Questions with Answers

GS Paper I of the 2019 Preliminary examination, held on 2 June 2019. 100 questions · 200 marks · one-third negative marking. The questions broke down as Economy 29, Environment & Ecology 21, History 15, Polity & Governance 14, General Science 13, Geography 6, Current Events 2.

  1. Q1 With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? 1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to…
    History· medium
  2. Q2 With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?
    Economy· medium
  3. Q3 The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the
    Economy· easy
  4. Q4 Consider the following statements about 'the Charter Act of 1813' : 1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China. 2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories…
    History· medium
  5. Q5 With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements : 1. It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries. 2. The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement. Which of the…
    History· medium
  6. Q6 Consider the following pairs : Movement/Organization : Leader 1. All India Anti-Untouchability League : Mahatma Gandhi 2. All India Kisan Sabha : Swami Sahajanand Saraswati 3. Self-Respect Movement : E. V. Ramaswami Naicker Which of the pairs given above…
    History· medium
  7. Q7 Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
    History· easy
  8. Q8 In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
    History· hard
  9. Q9 Consider the following : 1. Deification of the Buddha 2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 3. Image worship and rituals Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?
    History· easy
  10. Q10 With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
    History· medium
  11. Q11 Building 'Kalyaana Mandapas' was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of
    History· medium
  12. Q12 Consider the following statements : 1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as 'Amil'. 2. The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution. 3. The office of 'Mir Bakshi' came…
    History· medium
  13. Q13 Consider the following statements : 1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar. 2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    History· medium
  14. Q14 With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements : 1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of 'indentured labour'. 2. In Lord Chelmsford's 'War Conference', Mahatma Gandhi did not support the…
    History· hard
  15. Q15 With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs : Person Position held 1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru : President, All India Liberal Federation 2. K. C. Neogy : Member, The Constituent Assembly 3. P. C. Joshi : General Secretary, Communist…
    History· hard
  16. Q16 With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?
    History· medium
  17. Q17 Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?
    History· medium
  18. Q18 Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine zone?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  19. Q19 Atal Innovation Mission is set up under the
    Economy· easy
  20. Q20 On 21st June, the Sun
    Geography· easy
  21. Q21 Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the 'New World' and introduced into the 'Old World'?
    Geography· medium
  22. Q22 Consider the following statements : 1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only. 2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only. 3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  23. Q23 Consider the following pairs : Famous place : River 1. Pandharpur : Chandrabhaga 2. Tiruchirappalli : Cauvery 3. Hampi : Malaprabha Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
    Geography· medium
  24. Q24 In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because
    Economy· easy
  25. Q25 In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  26. Q26 In the context of which one of the following are the terms 'pyrolysis and plasma gasification' mentioned?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  27. Q27 Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  28. Q28 Consider the following statements : 1. Some species of turtles are herbivores. 2. Some species of fish are herbivores. 3. Some species of marine mammals are herbivores. 4. Some species of snakes are viviparous. Which of the statements given above are correct?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  29. Q29 Consider the following pairs : Wildlife Naturally found in 1. Blue-finned Mahseer : Cauvery River 2. Irrawaddy Dolphin : Chambal River 3. Rusty-spotted Cat : Eastern Ghats Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  30. Q30 Why is there a great concern about the 'microbeads' that are released into environment?
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  31. Q31 Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of
    Environment & Ecology· hard
  32. Q32 For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used? 1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location 2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location 3. Land surface…
    General Science· medium
  33. Q33 Consider the following States : 1. Chhattisgarh 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Maharashtra 4. Odisha With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  34. Q34 Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of 'methane hydrate'? 1. Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits. 2. Large deposits of 'methane hydrate' are found in Arctic Tundra and under the seafloor. 3…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  35. Q35 Consider the following : 1. Carbon monoxide 2. Methane 3. Ozone 4. Sulphur dioxide Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  36. Q36 Consider the following pairs : Sea : Bordering country 1. Adriatic Sea : Albania 2. Black Sea : Croatia 3. Caspian Sea : Kazakhstan 4. Mediterranean Sea : Morocco 5. Red Sea : Syria Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
    Geography· medium
  37. Q37 Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?
    Economy· easy
  38. Q38 Consider the following pairs : Glacier : River 1. Bandarpunch : Yamuna 2. Bara Shigri : Chenab 3. Milam : Mandakini 4. Siachen : Nubra 5. Zemu : Manas Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
    Geography· hard
  39. Q39 In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with apprehension. These chemicals are used as
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  40. Q40 Consider the following statements : 1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India. 2. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  41. Q41 Consider the following statements : 1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment. 2. Cattle release ammonia into environment. 3. Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds into environment. Which of the statements given above…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  42. Q42 What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?
    Geography· medium
  43. Q43 In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport, consider the following statements : 1. The main advantage of the use of H-CNG is the elimination of carbon monoxide emissions. 2. H-CNG as fuel…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  44. Q44 Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?
    General Science· medium
  45. Q45 Consider the following statements : 1. The 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review. 2. The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th Amendment to the Constitution of…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  46. Q46 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 Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 2. The Constitution of India defines and gives details of what…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  47. Q47 The Ninth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution of India during the prime ministership of
    Polity & Governance· easy
  48. Q48 Consider the following statements : 1. Coal sector was nationalized by the Government of India under Indira Gandhi. 2. Now, coal blocks are allocated on lottery basis. 3. Till recently, India imported coal to meet the shortages of domestic supply, but now…
    Economy· medium
  49. Q49 Consider the following statements : 1. The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 exempts several posts from disqualification on the grounds of 'Office of Profit'. 2. The above-mentioned Act was amended five times. 3. The term 'Office of…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  50. Q50 Under which Schedule of the Constitution of India can the transfer of tribal land to private parties for mining be declared null and void?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  51. Q51 Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India : 1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory. 2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status. 3. There are 95…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  52. Q52 With reference to the Constitution of India, prohibitions or limitations or provisions contained in ordinary laws cannot act as prohibitions or limitations on the constitutional powers under Article 142. It could mean which one of the following?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  53. Q53 With reference to the Legislative Assembly of a State in India, consider the following statements : 1. The Governor makes a customary address to Members of the House at the commencement of the first session of the year. 2. When a State Legislature does not…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  54. Q54 Consider the following statements : 1. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a 'Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air'. 2. The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument. 3. A…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  55. Q55 Consider the following statements : 1. As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas. 2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  56. Q56 Which Article of the Constitution of India safeguards one's right to marry the person of one's choice?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  57. Q57 Consider the following statements : 1. According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India. 2. In India, there is no Intellectual Property Appellate Board. 3. Plant varieties are not eligible to be patented in…
    Economy· hard
  58. Q58 Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought 2. lay…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  59. Q59 As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  60. Q60 Consider the following statements : As per the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central (Amendment) Rules, 2018 1. if rules for fixed-term employment are implemented, it becomes easier for the firms/companies to lay off workers 2. no notice of…
    Economy· hard
  61. Q61 The Service Area Approach was implemented under the purview of
    Economy· medium
  62. Q62 With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements : 1. Sand is a 'minor mineral' according to the prevailing law in the country. 2. State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the…
    Economy· hard
  63. Q63 Consider the following statements : 1. Most of India's external debt is owed by governmental entities. 2. All of India's external debt is denominated in US dollars. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    Economy· medium
  64. Q64 Which of the following is not included in the assets of a commercial bank in India?
    Economy· easy
  65. Q65 In the context of India, which of the following factors is/are contributor/contributors to reducing the risk of a currency crisis? 1. The foreign currency earnings of India's IT sector 2. Increasing the government expenditure 3. Remittances from Indians…
    Economy· medium
  66. Q66 Which one of the following suggested that the Governor should be an eminent person from outside the State and should be a detached figure without intense political links or should not have taken part in politics in the recent past?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  67. Q67 Which of the following is issued by registered foreign portfolio investors to overseas investors who want to be part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly?
    Economy· easy
  68. Q68 Consider the following statements : 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State levels. 2. People's participation is mandatory in the compensatory afforestation programmes carried out…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  69. Q69 In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? 1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament 2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees 3. Finance Commission 4…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  70. Q70 With reference to India's Five-Year Plans, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. From the Second Five-Year Plan, there was a determined thrust towards substitution of basic and capital good industries. 2. The Fourth Five-Year Plan adopted the…
    Economy· medium
  71. Q71 With reference to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements : 1. AIIB has more than 80 member nations. 2. India is the largest shareholder in AIIB. 3. AIIB does not have any members from outside Asia. Which of the…
    Economy· medium
  72. Q72 What was the purpose of Inter-Creditor Agreement signed by Indian banks and financial institutions recently?
    Economy· medium
  73. Q73 The Chairmen of public sector banks are selected by the
    Economy· easy
  74. Q74 Consider the following statements : 1. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the first regulatory body set up by the Government of India. 2. One of the tasks of PNGRB is to ensure competitive markets for gas. 3. Appeals against the decisions…
    Economy· medium
  75. Q75 With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)? 1. LTE is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G. 2. LTE is…
    General Science· medium
  76. Q76 Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017? 1. Pregnant women are entitled for three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave. 2. Enterprises with crèches must allow the mother…
    Economy· medium
  77. Q77 Which one of the following is not a sub-index of the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business Index'?
    Economy· easy
  78. Q78 In India, 'extended producer responsibility' was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  79. Q79 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
    Economy· medium
  80. Q80 In the context of any country, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capital?
    Economy· easy
  81. Q81 With reference to the Constitution of India, consider the following statements : 1. No High Court shall have the jurisdiction to declare any central law to be constitutionally invalid. 2. An amendment to the Constitution of India cannot be called into…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  82. Q82 Consider the following statements : 1. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) exchange rates are calculated by comparing the prices of the same basket of goods and services in different countries. 2. In terms of PPP dollars, India is the sixth largest economy in the…
    Economy· medium
  83. Q83 With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements : 1. Area under rice cultivation is the highest. 2. Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds. 3. Area of cotton…
    Economy· medium
  84. Q84 Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years?
    Economy· medium
  85. Q85 In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  86. Q86 Which one of the following is not the most likely measure the Government/RBI takes to stop the slide of Indian rupee?
    Economy· medium
  87. Q87 Consider the following statements : The Reserve Bank of India's recent directives relating to 'Storage of Payment System Data', popularly known as data diktat, command the payment system providers that 1. they shall ensure that entire data relating to payment…
    Economy· medium
  88. Q88 Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as 'General Data Protection Regulation' in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018?
    Current Events· easy
  89. Q89 Recently, India signed a deal known as 'Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field' with which of the following countries?
    Current Events· medium
  90. Q90 The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following?
    Economy· medium
  91. Q91 In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements : 1. In Augmented Reality (AR), a simulated environment is created and the physical world is completely shut out. 2. In Virtual Reality (VR), images generated from a…
    General Science· medium
  92. Q92 The word 'Denisovan' is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to
    General Science· easy
  93. Q93 With reference to the recent developments in science, which one of the following statements is not correct?
    General Science· medium
  94. Q94 Consider the following statements : A digital signature is 1. an electronic record that identifies the certifying authority issuing it 2. used to serve as a proof of identity of an individual to access information or server on Internet 3. an electronic method…
    General Science· medium
  95. Q95 In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices? 1. Location identification of a person 2. Sleep monitoring of a person 3. Assisting the hearing impaired person Select the correct answer using the…
    General Science· easy
  96. Q96 'RNA interference (RNAi)' technology has gained popularity in the last few years. Why? 1. It is used in developing gene silencing therapies. 2. It can be used in developing therapies for the treatment of cancer. 3. It can be used to develop hormone…
    General Science· medium
  97. Q97 Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?
    General Science· easy
  98. Q98 Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? 1. Genetic predisposition of some people 2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases 3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming 4…
    General Science· medium
  99. Q99 What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news?
    General Science· easy
  100. Q100 Which one of the following statements is not correct?
    General Science· medium

Question paper and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanations: UPSC Answer Check. Practise this paper with a timer →