UPSC Prelims 2021 GS Paper — 98 Questions with Answers

GS Paper I of the 2021 Preliminary examination, held on 10 October 2021. 100 questions · 200 marks · one-third negative marking. The questions broke down as History 21, Polity & Governance 19, Economy 18, Environment & Ecology 16, General Science 11, Geography 9, Current Events 4.

  1. Q1 Consider the following statements : 1. The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is appointed by the Central Government. 2. Certain provisions in the Constitution of India give the Central Government the right to issue directions to the RBI in public…
    Economy· medium
  2. Q2 With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements : 1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund coverage. 2. All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment. 3. The…
    Economy· medium
  3. Q3 Which among the following steps is most likely to be taken at the time of an economic recession?
    Economy· easy
  4. Q4 Consider the following statements : Other things remaining unchanged, market demand for a good might increase if 1. price of its substitute increases 2. price of its complement increases 3. the good is an inferior good and income of the consumers increases 4…
    Economy· medium
  5. Q5 With reference to 'Urban Cooperative Banks' in India, consider the following statements : 1. They are supervised and regulated by local boards set up by the State Governments. 2. They can issue equity shares and preference shares. 3. They were brought under…
    Economy· medium
  6. Q6 Indian Government Bond Yields are influenced by which of the following? 1. Actions of the United States Federal Reserve 2. Actions of the Reserve Bank of India 3. Inflation and short-term interest rates Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    Economy· medium
  7. Q7 Consider the following : 1. Foreign currency convertible bonds 2. Foreign institutional investment with certain conditions 3. Global depository receipts 4. Non-resident external deposits Which of the above can be included in Foreign Direct Investments?
    Economy· hard
  8. Q8 Consider the following statements : The effect of devaluation of a currency is that it necessarily 1. improves the competitiveness of the domestic exports in the foreign markets 2. increases the foreign value of domestic currency 3. improves the trade balance…
    Economy· medium
  9. Q9 Which one of the following effects of creation of black money in India has been the main cause of worry to the Government of India?
    Economy· easy
  10. Q10 Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effects?
    Economy· medium
  11. Q11 The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following?
    Economy· medium
  12. Q12 With reference to Indian economy, demand-pull inflation can be caused/increased by which of the following? 1. Expansionary policies 2. Fiscal stimulus 3. Inflation-indexing wages 4. Higher purchasing power 5. Rising interest rates Select the correct answer…
    Economy· medium
  13. Q13 With reference to India, consider the following statements : 1. Retail investors through demat account can invest in 'Treasury Bills' and 'Government of India Debt Bonds' in primary market. 2. The 'Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching' is a government…
    Economy· medium
  14. Q14 With reference to 'WaterCredit', consider the following statements : 1. It puts microfinance tools to work in the water and sanitation sector. 2. It is a global initiative launched under the aegis of the World Health Organization and the World Bank. 3. It…
    Economy· medium
  15. Q15 In India, the central bank's function as the 'lender of last resort' usually refers to which of the following? 1. Lending to trade and industry bodies when they fail to borrow from other sources 2. Providing liquidity to the banks having a temporary crisis 3…
    Economy· easy
  16. Q16 'R2 Code of Practices' constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  17. Q17 Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants? 1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment. 2. The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment. 3. They may release sulphur dioxide as a…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  18. Q18 With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements : 1. It is a product of oil refineries. 2. Some industries use it to generate power. 3. Its use causes sulphur emissions into environment. Which of the statements given above are correct?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  19. Q19 What is blue carbon?
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  20. Q20 In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil? 1. Fern 2. Lichen 3. Moss 4. Mushroom Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  21. Q21 Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  22. Q22 Consider the following kinds of organisms : 1. Copepods 2. Cyanobacteria 3. Diatoms 4. Foraminifera Which of the above are primary producers in the food chains of oceans?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  23. Q23 Consider the following animals : 1. Hedgehog 2. Marmot 3. Pangolin To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  24. Q24 With reference to the 'New York Declaration on Forests', which of the following statements are correct? 1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014. 2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests. 3. It is a legally…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  25. Q26 Which one of the following is a filter feeder?
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  26. Q27 In case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks is the main source of release of nutrient to enter the cycle?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  27. Q28 Which of the following are detritivores? 1. Earthworms 2. Jellyfish 3. Millipedes 4. Seahorses 5. Woodlice Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  28. Q29 The 'Common Carbon Metric', supported by UNEP, has been developed for
    Environment & Ecology· hard
  29. Q30 Which of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with other organisms? 1. Cnidarians 2. Fungi 3. Protozoa Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  30. Q31 With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements : 1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty. 2. It is the only circular temple built in India. 3. It was meant to promote the…
    History· hard
  31. Q32 Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
    History· easy
  32. Q33 In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located? 1. Broach 2. Chicacole 3. Trichinopoly Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    History· medium
  33. Q34 From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India? 1. The Guptas of Magadha 2. The Paramaras of Malwa 3. The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar 4. The Maukharis…
    History· medium
  34. Q35 According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas? 1. Wrestling 2. Astrology 3. Accounting 4. Soothsaying Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    History· hard
  35. Q36 With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?
    History· hard
  36. Q37 Consider the following pairs : ( Historical place ) ( Well-known for ) 1. Burzahom : Rock-cut shrines 2. Chandra-ketugarh : Terracotta art 3. Ganeshwar : Copper artefacts Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
    History· medium
  37. Q38 Consider the following statements : 1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince. 2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus…
    History· medium
  38. Q39 Consider the following statements : 1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order. 2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there. 3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year. Which…
    History· medium
  39. Q40 With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes. 2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the…
    History· hard
  40. Q41 With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous
    History· hard
  41. Q42 Consider the following statements : 1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21. 2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature. Which of the statements…
    History· medium
  42. Q43 With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?
    History· easy
  43. Q44 Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?
    History· easy
  44. Q45 With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?
    History· easy
  45. Q46 Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
    History· medium
  46. Q47 In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as
    History· easy
  47. Q48 With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State. 2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire. 3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories…
    History· hard
  48. Q49 Which one of the following statements is correct?
    History· easy
  49. Q50 Consider the following statements : 1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF. 2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. Which of the above…
    History· medium
  50. Q51 How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? 1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are pre-dominant. 2. Conventional chemical farming can cause…
    Economy· medium
  51. Q52 With reference to 'palm oil', consider the following statements : 1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia. 2. The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes. 3. The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel. Which…
    Economy· medium
  52. Q53 With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus direct. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus direct?
    Geography· medium
  53. Q54 With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of
    Geography· medium
  54. Q55 Consider the following rivers : 1. Brahmani 2. Nagavali 3. Subarnarekha 4. Vamsadhara Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?
    Geography· hard
  55. Q56 Consider the following statements : 1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters. 2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters. 3. 'Rare earth minerals' are…
    Geography· medium
  56. Q57 Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?
    Economy· medium
  57. Q58 Consider the following statements : 1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds. 2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than…
    Geography· medium
  58. Q59 In the context of India's preparation for Climate-Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements : 1. The 'Climate-Smart Village' approach in India is a part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  59. Q60 "Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare. Apart from trees, the vegetation is largely composed of plant forms that reach up into the canopy vicariously, by climbing the trees or growing as…
    Geography· medium
  60. Q61 The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees, but extensive areas have no trees. The forest development in such areas is generally kept in check by one or more or a combination of some conditions. Which of the following are such…
    Geography· medium
  61. Q62 With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements : 1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater. 2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of…
    Geography· medium
  62. Q63 Consider the following statements : 1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree. 2. Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia. 3. In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce. 4. India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa…
    Environment & Ecology· hard
  63. Q64 The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of
    Geography· easy
  64. Q65 With reference to recent developments regarding 'Recombinant Vector Vaccines', consider the following statements : 1. Genetic engineering is applied in the development of these vaccines. 2. Bacteria and viruses are used as vectors. Which of the statements…
    General Science· medium
  65. Q66 In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements : 1. Passing on mitochondrial diseases from parent to child can be prevented by mitochondrial replacement therapy either before or after in vitro fertilization of egg. 2. A child…
    General Science· medium
  66. Q67 Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of
    General Science· easy
  67. Q69 Consider the following : 1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Virus Which of the above can be cultured in artificial/synthetic medium?
    General Science· easy
  68. Q70 Consider the following statements : 1. Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes. 2. Common cold is sometime caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus. Which of the statements…
    General Science· medium
  69. Q71 Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because
    General Science· easy
  70. Q72 With reference to street-lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps? 1. Sodium lamps produce light in 360 degrees but it is not so in the case of LED lamps. 2. As street-lights, sodium lamps have longer life span than LED lamps. 3. The spectrum of…
    General Science· medium
  71. Q73 The term 'ACE2' is talked about in the context of
    General Science· easy
  72. Q74 Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key component in the manufacture of which of the following kinds of plastics?
    General Science· easy
  73. Q75 ‘Triclosan’, considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which of the following?
    General Science· easy
  74. Q76 Which one of the following is a reason why astronomical distances are measured in light-years?
    General Science· easy
  75. Q77 We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model? 1. As regards legislation, the British Parliament is supreme or sovereign but in India, the power of the Parliament to legislate is limited. 2. In…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  76. Q78 With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements : 1. N. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be designated solely for pursuing the subject of administrative reform and promoting it. 2. In 1970, the…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  77. Q79 'Right to Privacy' is protected under which Article of the Constitution of India?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  78. Q80 Consider the following statements : 1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies. 2. In 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies. 3. As…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  79. Q81 Consider the following statements : 1. 'Right to the City' is an agreed human right and the UN-Habitat monitors the commitments made by each country in this regard. 2. 'Right to the City' gives every occupant of the city the right to reclaim public spaces and…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  80. Q82 With reference to India, consider the following statements : 1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such accused is locked up in police station, not in jail. 2. During judicial custody, the police officer in…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  81. Q83 With reference to India, consider the following statements : 1. When a prisoner makes out a sufficient case, parole cannot be denied to such prisoner because it becomes a matter of his/her right. 2. State Governments have their own Prisoners Release on Parole…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  82. Q84 At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  83. Q85 A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of application of law violates which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  84. Q86 Which one of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  85. Q87 Which one of the following best defines the term 'State'?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  86. Q88 With reference to Indian judiciary, consider the following statements : 1. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act as a Supreme Court judge by the Chief Justice of India with prior permission of the President of…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  87. Q89 With reference to India, consider the following statements : 1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile. 2. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. 3. A foreigner once granted the citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  88. Q90 Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  89. Q91 Under the Indian Constitution, concentration of wealth violates
    Polity & Governance· easy
  90. Q92 What is the position of the Right to Property in India?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  91. Q93 What was the exact constitutional status of India on 26th January, 1950?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  92. Q94 Constitutional government means
    Polity & Governance· easy
  93. Q95 With reference to India, the terms 'Halbi, Ho and Kui' pertain to
    History· easy
  94. Q96 Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards : 1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India. 2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  95. Q97 Consider the following statements : Statement 1 : The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World. Statement 2 : Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for…
    Current Events· medium
  96. Q98 Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000 : 1. American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award. 2. The award was received mostly by 'Formula One' players so far. 3…
    Current Events· medium
  97. Q99 Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics : 1. The official motto for this Olympics is 'A New World'. 2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this Olympics. Which of the above statements…
    Current Events· medium
  98. Q100 Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship : 1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won. 2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England. Which of the above…
    Current Events· medium

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