UPSC Prelims 2023 GS Paper — 98 Questions with Answers

GS Paper I of the 2023 Preliminary examination, held on 28 May 2023. 100 questions · 200 marks · one-third negative marking. The questions broke down as Economy 20, Environment & Ecology 17, Polity & Governance 14, Geography 13, History 13, General Science 11, Current Events 10.

  1. Q1 Consider the following statements : 1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake. 2. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake. 3. Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake. How many of the statements given above are correct?
    Geography· medium
  2. Q2 Consider the following pairs : Port : Well known as 1. Kamarajar Port : First major port in India registered as a company 2. Mundra Port : Largest privately owned port in India 3. Visakhapatnam Port : Largest container port in India How many of the above…
    Geography· medium
  3. Q3 Consider the following trees : 1. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) 2. Mahua (Madhuca indica) 3. Teak (Tectona grandis) How many of the above are deciduous trees?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  4. Q4 Consider the following statements : 1. India has more arable area than China. 2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China. 3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China. How many of…
    Economy· medium
  5. Q5 Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day extensive marshland?
    Geography· medium
  6. Q6 Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?
    Geography· easy
  7. Q7 About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by
    Geography· easy
  8. Q8 Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?
    Geography· medium
  9. Q9 Consider the following statements : 1. Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges. 2. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range. 3. Seshachalam Hills constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats. How…
    Geography· medium
  10. Q10 With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements : 1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat. 2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via…
    Geography· hard
  11. Q11 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II : Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity…
    General Science· medium
  12. Q12 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : Marsupials are not naturally found in India. Statement-II : Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  13. Q13 Invasive Species Specialist 'Group' (that develops Global Invasive Species Database) belongs to which one of the following organizations?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  14. Q15 Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food?
    Environment & Ecology· easy
  15. Q16 Consider the following statements : 1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties. 2. Some mushrooms have psycho-active properties. 3. Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties. 4. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties. How many of the above…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  16. Q17 Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels : 1. They build nests by making burrows in the ground. 2. They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground. 3. They are omnivorous. How many of the above statements are correct?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  17. Q18 Consider the following statements : 1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the boiling point of water. 2. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature below the freezing point of water. 3. Some microorganisms…
    General Science· medium
  18. Q19 Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  19. Q20 Consider the following : 1. Aerosols 2. Foam agents 3. Fire retardants 4. Lubricants In the making of how many of the above are hydrofluorocarbons used?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  20. Q21 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : Interest income from the deposits in Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) distributed to their investors is exempted from tax, but the dividend is taxable. Statement-II : InvITs are recognized as…
    Economy· hard
  21. Q22 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : In the post-pandemic recent past, many Central Banks worldwide had carried out interest rate hikes. Statement-II : Central Banks generally assume that they have the ability to counteract the rising consumer…
    Economy· medium
  22. Q23 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change. Statement-II : Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State. Which one of the…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  23. Q24 Which one of the following activities of the Reserve Bank of India is considered to be part of 'sterilization'?
    Economy· medium
  24. Q25 Consider the following markets : 1. Government Bond Market 2. Call Money Market 3. Treasury Bill Market 4. Stock Market How many of the above are included in capital markets?
    Economy· easy
  25. Q26 Which one of the following best describes the concept of 'Small Farmer Large Field'?
    Economy· hard
  26. Q27 Consider the following statements : 1. The Government of India provides Minimum Support Price for niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seeds. 2. Niger is cultivated as a Kharif crop. 3. Some tribal people in India use niger seed oil for cooking. How many of the above…
    Economy· hard
  27. Q28 Consider the investments in the following assets : 1. Brand recognition 2. Inventory 3. Intellectual property 4. Mailing list of clients How many of the above are considered intangible investments?
    Economy· easy
  28. Q29 Consider the following : 1. Demographic performance 2. Forest and ecology 3. Governance reforms 4. Stable government 5. Tax and fiscal efforts For the horizontal tax devolution, the Fifteenth Finance Commission used how many of the above as criteria other…
    Economy· medium
  29. Q30 Consider the following infrastructure sectors : 1. Affordable housing 2. Mass rapid transport 3. Health care 4. Renewable energy On how many of the above does UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative focus for its…
    Economy· hard
  30. Q31 In essence, what does 'Due Process of Law' mean?
    Polity & Governance· medium
  31. Q32 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : In India, prisons are managed by State Governments with their own rules and regulations for the day-to-day administration of prisons. Statement-II : In India, prisons are governed by the Prisons Act, 1894…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  32. Q33 Which one of the following statements best reflects the Chief purpose of the 'Constitution' of a country?
    Polity & Governance· easy
  33. Q35 Consider the following organizations/bodies in India : 1. The National Commission for Backward Classes 2. The National Human Rights Commission 3. The National Law Commission 4. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission How many of the above are…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  34. Q36 Consider the following statements : 1. If the election of the President of India is declared void by the Supreme Court of India, all acts done by him/her in the performance of duties of his/her office of President before the date of decision become invalid…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  35. Q37 With reference to Finance Bill and Money Bill in the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements : 1. When the Lok Sabha transmits Finance Bill to the Rajya Sabha, it can amend or reject the Bill. 2. When the Lok Sabha transmits Money Bill to the…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  36. Q38 Consider the following statements : Once the Central Government notifies an area as a 'Community Reserve' 1. the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority of such forest 2. hunting is not allowed in such area 3. people of such area…
    Environment & Ecology· hard
  37. Q39 With reference to 'Scheduled Areas' in India, consider the following statements : 1. Within a State, the notification of an area as Scheduled Area takes place through an Order of the President. 2. The largest administrative unit forming the Scheduled Area is…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  38. Q40 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The Supreme Court of India has held in some judgements that the reservation policies made under Article 16(4) of the Constitution of India would be limited by Article 335 for maintenance of efficiency of…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  39. Q41 In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghikas, located?
    History· medium
  40. Q42 With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements : 1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin. 2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics. 3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition. How many of the…
    History· medium
  41. Q43 With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
    History· easy
  42. Q44 Which one of the following explains the practice of 'Vattakirutal' as mentioned in Sangam poems?
    History· hard
  43. Q45 Consider the following dynasties : 1. Hoysala 2. Gahadavala 3. Kakatiya 4. Yadava How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?
    History· medium
  44. Q46 With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs : Literary work Author 1. Devichandragupta : Bilhana 2. Hammira-Mahakavya : Nayachandra Suri 3. Milinda-panha : Nagarjuna 4. Nitivakyamrita : Somadeva Suri How many of the above pairs are…
    History· medium
  45. Q47 "Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects." The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following…
    History· easy
  46. Q48 Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometres long from the river to the capital city?
    History· medium
  47. Q49 Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese?
    History· medium
  48. Q50 By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?
    History· easy
  49. Q51 Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana : 1. It is a safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments. 2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women. 3. It aims to promote…
    Economy· medium
  50. Q52 Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy : 1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women. 2. It runs a campaign for…
    Economy· medium
  51. Q53 Consider the following statements : 1. Carbon fibres are used in the manufacture of components used in automobiles and aircrafts. 2. Carbon fibres once used cannot be recycled. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    General Science· medium
  52. Q54 Consider the following actions : 1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags almost instantaneously 2. Detection of accidental free fall of a laptop towards the ground which results in the immediate turning off of the hard…
    General Science· medium
  53. Q55 With reference to the role of biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System, consider the following statements : 1. Biofilters provide waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed. 2. Biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate. 3…
    General Science· medium
  54. Q56 Consider the following pairs : Objects in space : Description 1. Cepheids : Giant clouds of dust and gas in space 2. Nebulae : Stars which brighten and dim periodically 3. Pulsars : Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse…
    General Science· medium
  55. Q57 Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System?
    General Science· easy
  56. Q58 Consider the following statements : 1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight. 2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while…
    General Science· medium
  57. Q59 Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution : 1. Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world. 2. Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution. 3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury. How many…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  58. Q60 With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements : 1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion. 2. It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation. 3. It can be used in the hydrogen fuel…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  59. Q61 Consider the following countries : 1. Bulgaria 2. Czech Republic 3. Hungary 4. Latvia 5. Lithuania 6. Romania How many of the above-mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?
    Geography· medium
  60. Q62 With reference to the Earth's atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?
    Geography· medium
  61. Q63 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II : The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly. Which one of the…
    Geography· medium
  62. Q64 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter. Statement-II : The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface. Which one of the following is…
    Geography· medium
  63. Q65 Consider the following statements : 1. In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves. 2. In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right…
    Geography· easy
  64. Q66 With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements : 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in water-stressed district. 3. None of them is privately owned. How many of the above statements are…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  65. Q67 ‘Wolbachia method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following?
    General Science· medium
  66. Q68 Consider the following activities : 1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively 2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime 3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean…
    Environment & Ecology· hard
  67. Q69 'Aerial metagenomics' best refers to which one of the following situations?
    General Science· medium
  68. Q70 'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of which one of the following?
    General Science· medium
  69. Q71 Consider the following statements with reference to India : 1. According to the 'Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006', the 'medium enterprises' are those with investments in plant and machinery between ₹ 15 crore and ₹ 25 crore…
    Economy· medium
  70. Q72 With reference to Central Bank digital currencies, consider the following statements : 1. It is possible to make payments in a digital currency without using US dollar or SWIFT system. 2. A digital currency can be distributed with a condition programmed into…
    Economy· medium
  71. Q73 In the context of finance, the term 'beta' refers to
    Economy· easy
  72. Q74 Consider the following statements : 1. The Self-Help Group (SHG) programme was originally initiated by the State Bank of India by providing microcredit to the financially deprived. 2. In an SHG, all members of a group take responsibility for a loan that an…
    Economy· medium
  73. Q75 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : India's public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care. Statement-II : Under India's decentralized approach to health care…
    Economy· medium
  74. Q76 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nations' 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quarter of the world's groundwater withdrawal each year. Statement-II : India needs to extract more than a…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  75. Q77 Consider the following statements : 1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances. 2. The Constitution of India exempts the States from providing legal counsel to a person being held…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  76. Q78 Which one of the following countries has been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in news in the recent past for its very severe famine?
    Current Events· easy
  77. Q79 Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol. 2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access and benefit…
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  78. Q80 Consider the following statements in respect of election to the President of India : 1. The members nominated to either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of States are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College. 2. Higher the…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  79. Q81 With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with
    History· hard
  80. Q82 Consider the following pairs : Site : Well known for 1. Besnagar : Shaivite cave shrine 2. Bhaja : Buddhist cave shrine 3. Sittanavasal : Jain cave shrine How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
    History· medium
  81. Q83 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : 7th August is declared as the National Handloom Day. Statement-II : It was in 1905 that the Swadeshi Movement was launched on the same day. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above…
    History· medium
  82. Q84 Consider the following statements in respect of the National Flag of India according to the Flag Code of India, 2002 : Statement-I : One of the standard sizes of the National Flag of India is 600 mm × 400 mm. Statement-II : The ratio of the length to the…
    Polity & Governance· hard
  83. Q85 Consider the following statements in respect of the Constitution Day : Statement-I : The Constitution Day is celebrated on 26th November every year to promote constitutional values among citizens. Statement-II : On 26th November, 1949, the Constituent…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  84. Q86 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : Switzerland is one of the leading exporters of gold in terms of value. Statement-II : Switzerland has the second largest gold reserves in the world. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the…
    Economy· medium
  85. Q87 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'. Statement-II : The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring…
    Current Events· medium
  86. Q88 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : India accounts for 3·2% of global export of goods. Statement-II : Many local companies and some foreign companies operating in India have taken advantage of India's 'Production-linked Incentive' scheme. Which…
    Economy· medium
  87. Q89 Consider the following statements : The 'Stability and Growth Pact' of the European Union is a treaty that 1. limits the levels of the budgetary deficit of the countries of the European Union 2. makes the countries of the European Union to share their…
    Economy· medium
  88. Q90 Consider the following statements : 1. Recently, all the countries of the United Nations have adopted the first-ever compact for international migration, the 'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)'. 2. The objectives and commitments…
    Current Events· medium
  89. Q91 With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government. 2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  90. Q92 With reference to India, consider the following pairs : Action : The Act under which it is covered 1. Unauthorized wearing of police or military uniforms : The Official Secrets Act, 1923 2. Knowingly misleading or otherwise interfering with a police officer…
    Polity & Governance· medium
  91. Q93 Consider the following pairs : Regions often mentioned in news : Reason for being in news 1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan 2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique 3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and…
    Current Events· medium
  92. Q94 Consider the following statements : Statement-I : Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. Statement-II : The 'Arab Peace Initiative' mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League. Which one of the following is…
    Current Events· medium
  93. Q95 Consider the following pairs with regard to sports awards : 1. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award : For the most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson over period of last four years 2. Arjuna Award : For the lifetime achievement by a…
    Current Events· medium
  94. Q96 Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022 : 1. It was the first time that Chess Olympiad was held in India. 2. The official mascot was named 'Thambi'. 3. The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Vera…
    Current Events· medium
  95. Q97 Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news : Country where it is located 1. Donbas : Syria 2. Kachin : Ethiopia 3. Tigray : North Yemen How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
    Current Events· easy
  96. Q98 In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them?
    Current Events· medium
  97. Q99 Consider the following heavy industries : 1. Fertilizer plants 2. Oil refineries 3. Steel plants Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing how many of the above industries?
    Environment & Ecology· medium
  98. Q100 Consider the following statements about G-20 : 1. The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss the international economic and financial issues. 2. Digital public infrastructure is one…
    Current Events· medium

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