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UPSC Psychology — Previous Year Questions

Every question from Psychology 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

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

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Discuss various applications of psychology with reference to war and peace. (10 marks) (b) Discuss the role of… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Critically examine the top-down and bottom-up processing in perception. How can we make the combined use of both… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Discuss various types of long-term memory. Explain how primacy and recency effect illustrate the serial position… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Explain how learning takes place through classical conditioning. Discuss the role of reflexive behaviour and… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) How does knowledge influence deductive reasoning? Give suitable examples. (10 marks) (b) Explain the relationship… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) What do you mean by defense mechanism? Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy defense mechanisms. Explain how it… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Discuss the nature and functions of attitudes and values with reference to development of human behaviour. Suggest… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Why do the people in almost every culture use psychoactive drugs? Discuss the effects of various stimulants and… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) How do psychologists explain the causes of anxiety disorder ? (10 marks) (b) What is the role of citizenship… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Compare and contrast Norm referenced vs criterion referenced measurement. (15 marks) (b) “Therapeutic approaches… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Compare and contrast psychodynamic, behavioural and cognitive therapies. Which is more effective in modern clinical… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) What do you understand by Individual Differences ? Comment on the major methodological issues in construction of… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Suggest measures to overcome social conflicts and communal tensions using psychological principles. (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) What are the consequences of facing deprivation in early childhood ? (15 marks) (b) Define social integration and… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Clarifying the conceptual model of team cohesion, enumerate the antecedent factors that shape and build team… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Analyse the impact of gender based psychological construct, ‘Glass ceiling’, on women’s participation in Indian… 50 marks

2025 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Why did behaviourists avoid the topics of thought and knowledge ? Discuss. (10 marks) (b) Highlight the major… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) 'Personality is all in our genes.' Evaluate the statement in the context of different personality theories. (20… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Discuss the role of biological, cognitive and learning influences on gender identity and gender typing by focusing… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Describe social cognitive theory and its applications to solve large scale societal problems. (20 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Do correlational studies contribute in understanding 'cause and effect' relationship in human behaviour ? Discuss… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) How would you justify the use of factor analysis in psychological research ? Answer with appropriate concepts and… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) 'Motivation is a complex process and cannot be explained by a single approach.' Evaluate the statement with the… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Why do human beings form attitudes and prejudices ? Discuss the role of psychosocial factors in bringing the change… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) What are the different methods of estimating internal consistency reliability? Explain their strengths and… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) What are the factors that determine the efficacy of psychological tests? Discuss the ethical issues in the use of… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) What are the personality qualities to be focused on, for preparing community members as leaders for social change?… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Provide a community-based model for organizing services for rehabilitation of mentally challenged people. (15… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) What are the cultural consequences of being disadvantaged and how can these be addressed? (10 marks) (b) Write a… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Discuss the psychological consequences of prolonged deprivation. What strategies can be adopted to overcome these… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Explain the concepts of social facilitation and social inhibition in the context of group processes. (15 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) What motivates entrepreneurs to start and grow their business, and how do they maintain motivation in the face of… 50 marks

2024 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) What makes psychology a science? Discuss. (10 marks) (b) Citing relevant examples, explain independent, dependent… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Describe the diversity in the disciplinary thoughts with special reference to structuralism, functionalism and… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Discuss the signal detection theory (SDT) with reference to perceptual vigilance task performance. (20 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Differentiate between classical and operant conditioning. Discuss their applications with suitable examples. (20… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Citing research evidence, explain the components of working memory. (10 marks) (b) What are the main differences… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) How do heuristic and algorithm differ as problem-solving strategies? Illustrate the role of mental set in reasoning… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Distinguish between psychoanalytic and humanistic approaches to personality. Discuss in detail the recent… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) How do Skinner and Chomsky differ in their approach to language development? Also, discuss the processes and… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Distinguish hallucinations and delusions with suitable examples. 10 (b) Evaluate the current status of career… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Evaluate effectiveness of ABCD Model in the treatment of psychological disorders. 15 (b) Why are norms needed for… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Discuss rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents in Indian context. 15 (b) What is learned helplessness ? How will… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) What are the components of Vroom's theory of motivation ? How can it be used to increase the performance of workers… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Explain multilevel marketing with the help of suitable examples. 10 (b) Describe the psychological approaches that… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) What are the prevalent forms of gender discrimination in Indian society ? Discuss the measures that can be taken to… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) What is social integration ? Explain the psychological measures that can be taken to achieve the goal of social… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Discuss the role of media in the present scenario of antisocial behaviour ? Considering Indian context in view… 50 marks

2023 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) How is descriptive type of research different from diagnostic research? Answer the question giving suitable example… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Explain in detail the use of computer technology in psychological studies. Give your answer citing appropriate… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Describe the factors influencing perceptual organization with reference to past experiences and perceptual… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Compare and contrast between programmed and probability learning and also highlight their advantages and… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Should the researcher always formulate a hypothesis before collecting data? Justify your answer with appropriate… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) In view of Piaget, "Intellectual development takes place through stages which occur in a fixed order and which are… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) How do intelligence and aptitude differ? Explain the two in the light of 'g' and 's' factors of intelligence giving… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Do childhood experiences affect us in our entire lives? — Elaborate your answer in the light of personality… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Compare directional and non-directional therapies with reference to their effectiveness. (10 marks) (b) Give a… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Discuss the biopsychosocial model of health. Suggest relevant actions to prevent illness. (15 marks) (b) Explain… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Explain Maslow's need hierarchy theory. Critically evaluate the same. (15 marks) (b) Explain the strategies for… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Discuss the importance and applications of ecological theory for programme implementation of saving the girl child… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Explain with suitable examples the psychosocial consequences of prolonged deprivation. (10 marks) (b) What are the… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Discuss the steps to be taken to reduce the incidence of school dropouts among deprived groups. (15 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Discuss the psychological and social effects of pornography addiction. (15 marks) (b) Discuss the strategies for… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) To what extent individual's life experiences are relevant for understanding terrorism? (15 marks) (b) Discuss the… 50 marks

2022 Mains

16 questions · 800 marks

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

Paper I

  1. Q1 (a) Describe the applications of psychological principles in managing drug abuse in adolescents. (10 marks) (b) What… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) State the assumptions and merits of two-way ANOVA. Explain the applications of the same in psychological research… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) Is problem solving a psychological process? Illustrate your answer with the steps and methods involved in problem… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Can human beings be fully functioning and self-actualized? Evaluate it from humanistic and psychoanalytic… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Discuss the significance of single blind-double blind procedures for establishing soundness of an experiment. (10… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Explain the nature of human attitudes. How is the knowledge of attitude change process helpful in bringing… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Is intelligence a univariate or multivariate concept? Discuss in the light of Spearman's and J. P. Das's theories… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) "Learning occurs not only through conditioning but also from our observations of others." Discuss this statement… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) In the light of research, discuss various ways to enhance cognitive skills of the gifted children. (10 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Discuss the various strategies necessary for rehabilitation of mentally ill Indian youth. (15 marks) (b) Discuss… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) With reference to the general scenario of our country, elaborate the significance of 'out of school' vocational… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Discuss important concepts of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy along with its applications. (15 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Explain the concept of social integration citing suitable examples. (10 marks) (b) Discuss the ill effects of… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Critically examine the numerous innovations and programmes of the Government in educating and motivating… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Elaborate the effects of mass media on emotional health and values of youth in our culture. (15 marks) (b) Discuss… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) How does advertising help people to buy intelligently and enable them to take a step in the direction of a higher… 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) What are the limits of intuition and common sense? Why do psychologists emphasize on scientific methods? Discuss… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) How do basic and applied research differ? Explain how knowledge from basic research helps solve practical problems… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) How much nature (genetic factors) and nurture (environmental factors) contribute to a person's physical, cognitive… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) Why is selective attention important? Discuss the theories of selective attention. (20 marks) (b) Which method is… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) "Some psychological measures can be reliable but not valid". Elaborate it with examples. (10 marks) (b) IQ scores… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) Are we born with personality? Critically evaluate with theoretical interpretation. (20 marks) (b) Describe the… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Which approaches to motivation are more commonly used in an organization? How these approaches might help to… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) Humans strive to assign causes to actions of self and others and fall into traps of biases and errors. Critically… 50 marks

Paper II

  1. Q1 (a) Discuss the psychological tests used for the selection of defence personnel. (10 marks) (b) What are the steps to… 50 marks
  2. Q2 (a) Explain the major steps to be taken for the training of children with learning disabilities. (15 marks) (b)… 50 marks
  3. Q3 (a) What are the different types of psychological tests for personality assessment? (15 marks) (b) Describe the main… 50 marks
  4. Q4 (a) How does power in organizations tend to concentrate in the hands of a few persons? Discuss the tactics used to gain… 50 marks
  5. Q5 (a) Explain the factors affecting the work motivation within work organization in India. (10 marks) (b) What are the… 50 marks
  6. Q6 (a) How does a self-fulfilling prophecy work? Describe how the gender bias is an example of self-fulfilling prophecy in… 50 marks
  7. Q7 (a) Highlight the psychological consequences of living in high population density area. (15 marks) (b) Illustrate the… 50 marks
  8. Q8 (a) What are the forms of social conflicts? Explain the methods of resolution of social conflicts. (15 marks) (b) In… 50 marks

How Psychology 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. Define
  2. Theory or model
  3. Evidence
  4. Application

What earns the marks

  • Tabulate competing theories, then evaluate
  • Name the study and state its finding
  • Paper II: apply to Indian education, work, health
  • Diagram models and processes

What earns the extra mark

  • Named experiment
  • Psychometric tool

Traps that cost marks

  • Everyday advice
  • Theory without evidence
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