Chat with us
Optional

UPSC Management — Previous Year Questions

Every question from Management papers in UPSC Civil Services Mains (2021–2026), organised by year. 96 questions in total, each with directive-word analysis, model answer points, and a full evaluation rubric.

96Questions
6Years covered

2026 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

View all →
Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2026

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Do you think that the traditional roles of managers are still relevant in today's digital and remote work… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) How do core management processes influence each stage of the value chain ? How can misalignment between them reduce… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Analyze how a Multinational Corporation can design its global management structures to support continuous… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Do modern management approaches represent a true evolution or just a modification of classical theories ? Justify… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Analyse the impact of adopting historical cost and fair value methods on the reliability and relevance of financial… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) A company operates under the following conditions : Selling Price = ₹ 60 Variable Cost = ₹ 50 Fixed Cost = ₹… 50 marks
  7. Q7 A manufacturing enterprise is evaluating a long-term investment proposal for the modernisation of its production… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) A manufacturing organisation processes its product through Process-I during May 2026. The company wants to apply… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Explain parametric test and non-parametric test. What are the applications of chi-square (χ²) test? Give one… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) ABC computer company is engaged in repairs and service of computers. It is trying to forecast the demand for next… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) (i) What is the meaning of positive and negative correlation? Explain with suitable example. (ii) Define… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) A clock manufacturing company is planning an assembly line to produce 195 clocks per 8-hour shift. The following… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Give a fair overview of regulatory framework of corporate governance in India. (10 marks) (b) What do you mean by… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) Small-scale industries are facing tough challenges in India. Elaborate the factors responsible for this. (10… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Explain the concept of SWOT analysis. Discuss, in detail with suitable examples, the external and internal business… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) What are the key objectives of the latest Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India? Explain the major… 50 marks

2025 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

View all →
Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2025

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Evaluate the potentials for entrepreneurial education and training to democratize access to entrepreneurial… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) In what ways can ethical behaviour in management contribute to a company's social responsibility efforts ? How can… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) As a Global Innovation Manager, you have been given a task of leading the new product development which will be… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) You have been recently appointed as the Operations Manager of a mid-sized manufacturing company. Discuss how you… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) How does management accounting information adapt its focus and detail across different management levels and time… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) A startup company is experiencing rapid growth in sales. However, its net income remains low. Explain the possible… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Elaborate the distinctions between job costing and process costing methodologies. Give relevant examples of… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) Company X experienced a significant increase in its Current Ratio from 1·5 : 1·0 to 2·5 : 1·0. However, its… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) A train is scheduled to arrive at a station at a random time between 09:00 AM and 09:30 AM. The actual arrival time… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) The electrical power demand of TATA Power Corporation from 2018 to 2024, measured in megawatts, is provided below… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) A company has an annual demand of 1600 units for an item, whose unit cost is ₹70/-. The annual holding cost… 50 marks
  4. Q4 4.(a) (i) "Expert Systems play a significant role in Organisations." Discuss it giving at least four benefits of Expert… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) "Have various Chambers of Commerce and other Industry Associations played their desired role effectively ?"… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) "Small-Scale Industries play a vital role in the growth of economic activities of a country." Explain giving… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Define Strategic Alliances. Discuss the reasons for strategic alliances. Also discuss types of strategic alliances… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Explain Joint Venture with suitable examples. Discuss the Life Cycle of a Joint Venture. (7+8=15 marks) (b) What is… 50 marks

2024 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

View all →
Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2024

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Elucidate the three categories of roles which a manager has to perform as suggested by Henry Mintzberg. 10 marks… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Discuss the various types of "Control Mechanisms" a manager can apply in order to take his organization to desired… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Discuss the key determinants of organisational structure and design. Among the emerging organisational design… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) How do variables like organisational culture and choice of performance criteria affect the design and functioning… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) How can Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) analysis be used to assess the effect of changes in sales volume, sales price and… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) A proforma cost sheet of a company provides the following data : | Cost per unit | ₹ | |-------------|---| | Raw… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Sunder Ltd. is planning an expansion programme which will require ₹30 crores and can be funded through one of the… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Directors of ABC Ltd. wish to diversify. Presently, ABC Ltd. is into selling finished goods from its own godown… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Explain the necessary conditions for application of simplex method to be applied to linear programming problems. 10… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) A company gives on-the-job training to its salesmen, which is followed by a test. The company is considering… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Discuss briefly capacity planning. Explain various kinds of capacity planning. 15 marks (b) Discuss in brief… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Discuss in brief the new information technology trends that will change the way of industry workings. 15 marks (b)… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) "SMEs are backbone of any country's industrial development." Critically analyze the statement in the Indian context… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) "Removing regional imbalance of industrial development should be top priority of Indian planners." Elaborate this… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) (i) "Global e-business is being applied by business firms to achieve greater profits." Explain this statement… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) "Strategic alliance helps in enhancing organizational capabilities." Explain giving examples. List any three… 50 marks

2023 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

View all →
Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2023

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) "Span of management plays important role in deciding organization structure." Explain. (10 marks) (b) "Dependency… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) How do mission, vision and values help in developing good plan for an organization? Explain planning premises. (20… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) "A person can have thousands of attitudes but organizational behaviour focuses its attention on a very limited… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Highlight the key differences between human resource information system, human resource analytics and enterprise… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Discuss on the objectives and categories of decisions of the finance function in an organization. (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Given below is the data of two firms in the same industry: | Particulars | Firm A (₹) | Firm B (₹) |… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) A Ltd's EBIT is ₹ 10,00,000. The company has 12%, ₹ 30 lakhs debentures. The equity capitalization rate, i.e., Kₑ… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) During a month, 4500 units were introduced into process A. The normal loss was estimated at 8% on input. At the end… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) State the chief characteristics of Index Numbers. (10 marks) (b) What do you mean by Information Resource… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) The following table gives the production in three shifts and the corresponding number of defective goods that… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) State the different forms of waste management. 15 marks (b) State the various factors affecting plant location. 15… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) (i) Define e-Governance. (ii) State the advantages of e-Governance. (iii) State the e-Governance initiatives… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Examine the impact of privatisation of PSUs on the economic development of India. 10 (b) "A country can truly… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) "The role of Board of Directors is to govern and not to manage." Comment on the statement and bring out the… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) (i) How do companies scan the environment and analyse the same to reset the objectives and formulate strategies ?… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) "Regional Economic Cooperation can play an important role in India's unfavourable Balance of Trade." Comment. 5… 50 marks

2022 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

View all →
Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2022

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Identify key differences between a manager and a leader. Justify your answer with suitable examples. (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Differentiate between 'Entrepreneur' and 'Intrapreneur' with suitable examples. Identify key traits of a successful… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Recent international events such as the pandemic Covid-19 and the Russian-Ukraine war significantly impacted global… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Explain the management concepts of Frederick W. Taylor and Henri Fayol. Identify key differences between the two… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Highlight various limitations of financial statements. How can these be minimized or resolved ? (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Explain the circumstances under which different methods of depreciation can be employed by giving suitable… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Why is Budgetary control required in a business concern ? What are its limitations ? (15 marks) (b) What is… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) The data below relates to ABC Ltd. which makes and sells laptops. [Table showing: February - Sales 8000 units… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) A newly constructed house can collapse due to fault in its design. It can also collapse even if it does not have a… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) The area sales manager of a company has compiled the following data for the eight territories under his/her… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) (i) List the strategic objectives of aggregate planning. 5 (ii) Describe the chase and level strategies for… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) What exactly is an information system? How does it work? What are its management, organization and technological… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Is State participation in business essential? Discuss the objectives of liberalization, privatization and… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Critically examine government's policy with regard to Small-Scale Industries (SSIs). Highlight the role of… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) "Strategies are formulated and operated at different levels of management." Discuss this statement. Explain with… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) Discuss the importance of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for developing economies like India. Should these… 50 marks

2021 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

View all →
Paper I 8 Qs · 400 marksPaper II 8 Qs · 400 marks
All 16 questions from 2021

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) 'Globalization' seems to be at 'cross-roads' as increasingly large number of countries embrace 'neo-nationalism'… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Compare the process and effectiveness of : (i) Interacting (ii) Brainstorming (iii) Nominal (iv) Electronic… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Briefly explain the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with industry illustrations. Critically… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) List the various types of conceptual blocks that come in the way of thinking creatively. What is the process of… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Elucidate the basic process of marketing communication. What makes international marketing communication process… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) What is Variance Analysis ? What are the possible reasons for different Cost Variances ? 15 marks (b) Explain in… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) During the current financial year, XYZ Ltd. generated a profit of ₹5,00,000/- on a sale of ₹1,05,00,000/-. The… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) How is the income summary of the last accounting period connected with the balance sheet of the future accounting… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) The mean annual income of workers in a company is ₹ 5,000 with a standard deviation of ₹ 1,200. It is suspected… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) (i) 'A' can hit a target 4 times in 5 shots, 'B' 3 times in 4 shots and 'C' twice in 3 shots. Calculate the… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) (i) What is e-business architecture? Which technological innovations have had a major impact on it? 5 marks (ii)… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) (i) How does the balancing line reduce the cost of idleness? Describe the steps involved in solving a line… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) "The Government of India has been making efforts to remove the regional imbalances in development by providing… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) (i) What is the rationale behind liberalization strategies adopted by the New Industrial Policy? (6 marks) (ii)… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) (i) "Generic strategies help a firm to gain and sustain competitive advantage over its rivals." Elaborate this… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) (i) What are the similarities and dissimilarities between domestic operations management and international… 50 marks

How Management answers are marked

The shape the examiner expects, what earns the marks and the traps that lose them: the same card our rubrics for this subject are written from.

Answer skeleton

  1. Concept
  2. Named framework
  3. Application
  4. Limitation and recommendation

What earns the marks

  • Use a named framework and label it
  • Apply to a concrete organisational situation
  • State the model's limits
  • Draw the matrix or process

What earns the extra mark

  • Real company example
  • Recent regulatory change

Traps that cost marks

  • Textbook definitions with no application
  • Framework without a verdict
The full answer-writing guide →

Want to practise Management answer writing?

Pick any question above, write your answer, and have it marked point by point against that question's rubric and model answer.

Start free evaluation →

Write this answer and get it marked in about 20 seconds

Free account: 5 AI evaluations a month, marked against the rubric above.

Start free

Already have an account? Log in