UPSC PRE 2026
यूपीएससी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा 2026
Paper — Series D | व्यापक प्रश्नपत्र विश्लेषण
Comprehensive Bilingual Analysis Report | द्विभाषी विश्लेषण प्रतिवेदन
| Paper Details / प्रश्नपत्र विवरण | Statistics / आंकड़े |
| Series / श्रृंखला: D | Total Questions / कुल प्रश्न: 100 |
| Subject / विषय: General Studies Paper I | Subjects Covered / विषय क्षेत्र: 9 |
| Format / प्रारूप: MCQ (4 options) | Statement-based / कथन-आधारित: ~72% |
| Negative Marking / नकारात्मक अंकन: 1/3 | Current Affairs / समसामयिक: ~28% |
Date of Analysis / विश्लेषण तिथि: 24 May 2026
Section 1: Subject-wise Distribution
This mock paper tests 9 broad subject areas. The chart below shows approximate question distribution. Economy and Ancient History dominate, followed by Geography and Science-Tech.
यह मॉक पेपर 9 विषय क्षेत्रों की जांच करता है। अर्थव्यवस्था और प्राचीन इतिहास में सर्वाधिक प्रश्न हैं, उसके बाद भूगोल और विज्ञान-प्रौद्योगिकी का स्थान है।
| Subject / विषय | Questions / प्रश्न | % of Paper | Difficulty / कठिनाई | Priority / प्राथमिकता |
| Ancient History / प्राचीन इतिहास | 14 | 14% | High | High |
| Modern History / आधुनिक इतिहास | 7 | 7% | High | Medium |
| Art & Culture / कला और संस्कृति | 7 | 7% | Moderate | Medium |
| Geography / भूगोल | 13 | 13% | Moderate | High |
| Economy / अर्थव्यवस्था | 16 | 16% | High | Very High |
| Environment / पर्यावरण | 11 | 11% | Moderate | High |
| Science & Tech / विज्ञान-प्रौद्योगिकी | 13 | 13% | High | Very High |
| Polity & Law / राजनीति और कानून | 11 | 11% | High | Very High |
| IR & Current Affairs / अंतरराष्ट्रीय संबंध | 8 | 8% | Moderate | Medium |
Key Observations
- Economy has the highest weight (~16%) and includes many current-affairs-linked topics. / अर्थव्यवस्था सबसे अधिक वजन (~16%) रखती है और इसमें कई समसामयिक विषय शामिल हैं।
- Ancient History (14%) focuses heavily on art, rivers, coinage, and urbanisation. / प्राचीन इतिहास (14%) कला, नदियों, सिक्कों और नगरीकरण पर केंद्रित है।
- Science-Tech (13%) is now a permanent heavyweight — especially AI, space, and defence tech. / विज्ञान-प्रौद्योगिकी (13%) अब एक स्थायी महत्वपूर्ण खंड है।
- No single subject can be ignored — the spread demands balanced preparation. / कोई भी विषय उपेक्षित नहीं किया जा सकता — संतुलित तैयारी आवश्यक है।
Section 2: Question Types & Difficulty
Question Format Distribution | प्रश्न प्रारूप वितरण
| Question Type / प्रश्न प्रकार | Count / संख्या | % Share | Strategy / रणनीति |
| Statement-based 2-3 stmts / 2-3 कथन आधारित | 55 | 55% | Elimination method |
| Statement-based 2 stmts / 2 कथन आधारित | 17 | 17% | Identify one certain stmt |
| Match the following / सुमेलित कीजिए | 8 | 8% | Anchor on known pairs |
| Direct factual / प्रत्यक्ष तथ्यात्मक | 10 | 10% | Fast recall |
| Identify person/place / पहचानिए | 6 | 6% | Elimination |
| Scenario/case-based / परिदृश्य आधारित | 4 | 4% | Ethics principles |
Difficulty Distribution | कठिनाई वितरण
| Level / स्तर | Count / संख्या | % Share | Description / विवरण |
| Easy / सरल | 22 | 22% | Direct recall; one clear answer / सीधा स्मरण |
| Moderate / मध्यम | 50 | 50% | Needs analysis & elimination / विश्लेषण और निष्कासन |
| Hard / कठिन | 28 | 28% | Multi-layered; partially true statements / बहु-स्तरीय; आंशिक सत्य |
How to Tackle Statement-Based Questions | कथन-आधारित प्रश्नों को हल करने की विधि
- Read ALL statements before looking at options. / विकल्प देखने से पहले सभी कथन पढ़ें।
- Identify the statement you are MOST SURE about — eliminate options that contradict it. / जिस कथन के बारे में आप सबसे निश्चित हैं उसे पहले पहचानें।
- With 3 statements: if you can call 1 true AND 1 false, you can often deduce the answer without knowing the third. / 3 कथनों में से 1 सही और 1 गलत जानने से उत्तर निकाला जा सकता है।
- Watch for ABSOLUTE words: always, never, only, first, largest — these are common traps. / पूर्ण शब्दों से सावधान रहें: सदैव, कभी नहीं, केवल, पहला, सबसे बड़ा।
- In match-the-following, confirm 2 solid pairs first, then use elimination for the rest. / सुमेलन में पहले 2 निश्चित युग्म बनाएं, फिर शेष के लिए निष्कासन विधि अपनाएं।
Section 3: Question-by-Question Analysis
All 100 questions mapped with subject, difficulty, type, and the specific knowledge needed to answer correctly. | सभी 100 प्रश्न विषय, कठिनाई, प्रकार और सही उत्तर के लिए आवश्यक ज्ञान के साथ मैप किए गए हैं।
| Q# | Topic (Bilingual) / विषय (द्विभाषी) | Subject / विषय | Difficulty / कठिनाई | Type / प्रकार | Knowledge Required / आवश्यक ज्ञान |
| 1 | Vedic rivers — Pleistocene geography & river systems / वैदिक नदियाँ — प्लीस्टोसीन भूगोल और नदी तंत्र | Ancient History | Hard | 3-statement | Rigveda nadi-sukta + Robert Bruce Foote + dolphin distribution / ऋग्वेद नदी-सूक्त + रॉबर्ट ब्रूस फुट + डॉल्फिन वितरण |
| 2 | Early Buddhist art — empty seat symbolism / प्रारंभिक बौद्ध कला — रिक्त स्थान प्रतीकवाद | Art & Culture | Easy | Direct | Buddha represented without form in early Buddhist iconography / प्रारंभिक बौद्ध कला में बुद्ध को बिना रूप के दर्शाया गया |
| 3 | Ancient vs modern river names (Vitasta, Asikni…) / प्राचीन बनाम आधुनिक नदी नाम | Ancient History | Moderate | 4-pair match | Greek/Sanskrit names: Hydaspes=Jhelum, Acesines=Chenab, Parushni=Ravi, Vipasha=Beas / यूनानी-संस्कृत नाम |
| 4 | Amaravati stupa — location, size, influence on SE Asia / अमरावती स्तूप — स्थान, आकार, दक्षिण-पूर्व एशिया पर प्रभाव | Art & Culture | Moderate | 3-statement | Lower Krishna Valley; second largest after Sanchi; style exported to Sri Lanka & SE Asia |
| 5 | Early Tamil sangam — rulers & dynasties NOT matched / प्रारंभिक तमिल संगम — शासक और राजवंश जो सही सुमेलित नहीं | Ancient History | Hard | Negative match | Udiyanjeral = Chera (NOT Chola); Nedunjelian = Pandya / उदियनजेरल = चेर (चोल नहीं) |
| 6 | Formation of Forward Bloc 1939 / फॉरवर्ड ब्लॉक का गठन 1939 | Modern History | Moderate | 4-statement | Congress politics, Left disunity, MN Roy stance / कांग्रेस राजनीति, वामपंथी विभाजन, एम.एन. रॉय का रुख |
| 7 | British policy in Awadh post-1856 annexation / 1856 के बाद अवध में ब्रिटिश नीति | Modern History | Hard | 3-statement | Taluqdari settlement, property confiscation, 1856 land revenue / तालुकदारी बंदोबस्त, संपत्ति जब्ती |
| 8 | Montague-Chelmsford reforms — communal electorates / मोंटेग्यू-चेम्सफोर्ड सुधार — पृथक निर्वाचन मंडल | Modern History | Hard | 3-statement | 1919 reforms, communal politics linkage / 1919 सुधार, सांप्रदायिक राजनीति |
| 9 | Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur — Khayal gharana / पंडित मल्लिकार्जुन मंसूर — घराना | Art & Culture | Easy | Direct | Jaipur-Atrauli gharana / जयपुर-अतरौली घराना |
| 10 | ‘Kshetra-patni’ — which ancient text? / ‘क्षेत्र-पत्नी’ — किस ग्रंथ में? | Art & Culture | Easy | Direct | Rigveda — field mistress reference / ऋग्वेद |
| 11 | Carnatic raga equivalent to Bilaval / कर्नाटक संगीत का बिलावल समकक्ष राग | Art & Culture | Moderate | Direct | Dhira Shankarabharanam = Bilaval / धीर शंकराभरणम |
| 12 | Hilton-Young Commission 1926 — rupee-sterling exchange / हिल्टन-यंग कमीशन 1926 | Modern History | Hard | Direct | To help remittance flow, protect creditworthiness / धन प्रवाह, ऋणपात्रता संरक्षण |
| 13 | Pali texts — early coins + punch-marked coins / पाली ग्रंथ — प्रारंभिक सिक्के | Ancient History | Moderate | 2-statement | Pali texts mention coins; archaeological evidence confirms punch-marked silver coins |
| 14 | Nagara style shikharas — which temples? / नागर शैली के शिखर — कौन से मंदिर? | Art & Culture | Moderate | 4-option | Dashavatara Deogarh + Virupaksha Pattadakal have Nagara shikharas / दशावतार देवगढ़ + विरुपाक्ष |
| 15 | Jain cosmology — four forms NOT included / जैन धर्म — चार रूपों में सम्मिलित नहीं | Ancient History | Easy | Negative direct | All four (Dev, Yaksha, Manushya, Tiryach) are included — none excluded / सभी चार सम्मिलित हैं |
| 16 | Bagh cave ‘Hallisalasya’ painting / बाघ गुफाओं में हल्लिसालस्य चित्र | Art & Culture | Hard | Direct | Group folk dance depiction / समूह लोकनृत्य |
| 17 | Place-value system first evidence in India / स्थानीय-मान पद्धति का प्रथम साक्ष्य | Ancient History | Moderate | 3-statement | Gujarat Mankani inscriptions 595-596 AD; 9th century all-India; SE Asia 7th century |
| 18 | Harappan cities — spindle whorls, weights, large houses / हड़प्पा नगर | Ancient History | Hard | Inference | Spindle whorls=home spinning; weights=scientific knowledge; large courtyards=shared property? |
| 19 | Eka movement vs Bardoli Satyagraha differences / एका आंदोलन बनाम बारदोली सत्याग्रह | Modern History | Hard | 4-option | Eka=UP/Varanasi/Mirzapur, tenants, lagan; Bardoli=Saurashtra, land revenue hike, 1928 |
| 20 | Rigvedic irrigation — wells, rahat, plough, sickle / ऋग्वेदिक काल में सिंचाई | Ancient History | Moderate | 3-statement | Rigveda mentions asman chakra (stone pulley), cattle for ploughing; no canals mentioned |
| 21 | Tungurahua volcano UNESCO Geopark — which country? / तुंगुराहुआ ज्वालामुखी — किस देश में? | Geography | Easy | Direct | Ecuador (designated 2025) / इक्वाडोर (2025 में घोषित) |
| 22 | Madhav National Park — Tiger Reserve, Ramsar, states / माधव राष्ट्रीय उद्यान | Environment | Moderate | 3-statement | Tiger Reserve 2025; Sakhya Sagar is Ramsar site; MP + Rajasthan shared area |
| 23 | Andaman & Nicobar climate / अंडमान और निकोबार की जलवायु | Geography | Moderate | 3-statement | Tropical wet; both SW and NE monsoons; peak rain Oct-Dec (not Dec-May) |
| 24 | Indian Peninsular Block geological features / भारतीय प्रायद्वीपीय खंड की भौगोलिक विशेषताएं | Geography | Hard | 3-statement | Western coast submerged by faulting; residual ranges; fast V-shaped valley rivers |
| 25 | Sagarmala Programme — objectives, Sagarmala 2.0 / सागरमाला कार्यक्रम | Economy | Moderate | 3-statement relationship | Port-led development; coastal shipping growth reflects strategy; 2.0 targets global maritime hub |
| 26 | Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail Orchid) — NE India state flower / रिन्कोस्टाइलिस रेटूसा | Environment | Moderate | 3-statement | Epiphytic orchid; NE India native; state flower of BOTH Arunachal Pradesh AND Assam |
| 27 | Tai-Ahom Moidams — UNESCO World Heritage 2024 / ताई-अहोम मोइदाम | Art & Culture | Moderate | 4-statement | Burial grounds of Tai-Ahom royalty; UNESCO WH 2024; NOT military forts |
| 28 | FAO ‘Blue Transformation’ — Four Betters / एफएओ ‘ब्लू ट्रांसफॉर्मेशन’ — चार बेहतर | Environment | Hard | 4-option | Better production, better nutrition, better environment, better life — NOT ‘better ocean’ |
| 29 | Lake Turkana — largest desert lake, location, UNESCO / तुर्काना झील | Geography | Moderate | 3-statement | World’s largest permanent desert lake; Kenya+Ethiopia; UNESCO WH; called ‘Jade Sea’ |
| 30 | REDD+ first plan vivo project in India / भारत में REDD+ परियोजना | Environment | Hard | Direct | Khasi Hills Community REDD+ Project / खासी पहाड़ी समुदाय REDD+ परियोजना |
| 31 | India’s climate response — LT-LEDS, BUR-4, resilient development / जलवायु परिवर्तन पर भारत की अनुक्रिया | Environment | Hard | 3-statement relationship | LT-LEDS=2070 net-zero; BUR-4 Dec 2024 shows 8% GHG cut (2019-2020); climate-resilient dev needs time |
| 32 | Western Hoolock Gibbons — NE India, brachiating, endangered / वेस्टर्न हूलॉक गिबन | Environment | Easy | 3-statement | IUCN Endangered; NE India; excellent brachiators; NOT gorilla-like (they are slender) |
| 33 | Mangroves — best justification for climate resilience / गरान — जलवायु लचीलेपन का तर्काधार | Environment | Moderate | 3-statement | Filter saltwater; provide tidal surge buffer AND livelihood; biooshield for coastal communities |
| 34 | Vizhinjam port — maritime trade structural change / विझिनजाम बंदरगाह | Economy | Moderate | 3-statement | Natural deep draft; reduce coastal shipping dependency; trans-shipment hub; reduce foreign cooperation need |
| 35 | Identify river: eastward drainage, 3 countries, Tibet, no tributaries / नदी पहचानिए | Geography | Moderate | Identify | Brahmaputra — antecedent drainage (eastward), China/India/Bangladesh, originates Tibet, no major tributaries in gorge |
| 36 | Indian states — border facts (UP, Rajasthan, Sikkim) / भारतीय राज्यों की सीमाएं | Geography | Easy | 3-statement | Sikkim borders only West Bengal among Indian states; Rajasthan has longest international border |
| 37 | Amur Falcons — Nagaland, Doyang Lake, tracking / अमूर बाज़ — नागालैंड | Environment | Moderate | 3-statement | Annual migration; GPS tracking success; they do NOT permanently settle in India |
| 38 | NMSA — Rainfed Area Development (RAD) objectives / वर्षा सिंचित क्षेत्र विकास | Agriculture | Moderate | 3-statement | Discourages monoculture; promotes IFS (Integrated Farming Systems); NOT only paddy focus |
| 39 | Oeko-Tex certification for silk / एरी रेशम हेतु ओको-टेक्स प्रमाणन | Economy | Moderate | 2-statement | Chemical-free production; premium market access in Europe/USA; NOT only a branding tool |
| 40 | Strait of Hormuz — which countries must cross it / होर्मुज जलडमरूमध्य | Geography | Easy | 4-list | Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq are landlocked in Persian Gulf; Syria/Egypt do NOT need Hormuz |
| 41 | Interpol notices — Silver, Blue, Black, Green / इंटरपोल नोटिस | Polity | Moderate | Match | Silver=deceased ID; Blue=info gather; Black=criminal warning; Green=criminal asset tracking |
| 42 | NIRANTAR platform — MoEFCC, lead institutes / NIRANTAR मंच | Environment | Hard | 3-statement | BSI=ecosystem survey; ZSI=ecosystem services; WII=capacity building (NOT CZA) |
| 43 | German Chancellor visit Jan 2026 — outcomes NOT correct / जर्मनी चांसलर भारत यात्रा — गलत परिणाम | Current Affairs | Moderate | 4-statement negative | Lucknow trade consulate NOT opened; Indo-German bilateral outcomes verification needed |
| 44 | DHRUV64 — India’s 64-bit microprocessor / DHRUV64 — भारतीय माइक्रोप्रोसेसर | Science-Tech | Moderate | 2-statement | DIR-V programme; third chip (not first); dual-core 1.0 GHz; NOT the first domestic chip |
| 45 | BIS IS 19445:2025 bomb detection standard / बम निरोधक प्रणाली का मानक | Science-Tech | Hard | 3-statement | BIS standard; interoperability improvement; TBRL developed it — NOT with Russia (DRDO alone) |
| 46 | UK-born 2025 Nobel Prize laureate at US university / 2025 नोबेल पुरस्कार विजेता — X को पहचानिए | Current Affairs | Easy | Identify | Richard Robson / रिचर्ड रॉबसन (Economics Nobel 2025, born UK, professor in USA) |
| 47 | Grand Slam Tennis — governance, wild cards, age / ग्रैंड स्लैम टेनिस | Sports | Easy | 3-statement | ITIA governs; open to all ages (no lower age limit in ATP/WTA); wild cards limited per tournament |
| 48 | Semiconductor plants India — location pairs NOT correct / भारत में सेमीकंडक्टर संयंत्र — गलत युग्म | Science-Tech | Moderate | Negative match | CG Power-Renesas=Gujarat; Tata OSAT=Assam; HCL-Foxconn=UP (NOT MP); Sicsem=Odisha |
| 49 | ‘Bharat Purvanuman Pranali’ high-res weather model / भारत पूर्वानुमान प्रणाली | Science-Tech | Moderate | 2-statement | Panchayat-level forecasts; developed by IIT Delhi / आईआईटी दिल्ली द्वारा विकसित |
| 50 | Film ‘Boong’ — BAFTA, director, first Indian / फिल्म ‘बूंग’ — BAFTA | Current Affairs | Easy | 3-statement | BAFTA 2025 children’s film; directed by Lakshmipriyadevi; first Indian BAFTA win in children’s category |
| 51 | Blockchain features — immutability, distributed, consortium / ब्लॉकचेन प्रौद्योगिकी की विशेषताएं | Science-Tech | Moderate | 4-statement | Immutable records; consensus=not single authority; consortium=hybrid public+private |
| 52 | Dropshipping e-commerce model / ड्रॉपशिपिंग मॉडल | Economy | Easy | Direct | Seller takes order; third-party ships; no inventory held by seller / विक्रेता स्टॉक नहीं रखता |
| 53 | RBI FI-Index — three main sub-indices / वित्तीय समावेशन सूचकांक के तीन उप-सूचकांक | Economy | Moderate | Direct | Access, Usage, and Quality — three pillars / पहुंच, उपयोग और गुणवत्ता |
| 54 | ONDC — core purpose / डिजिटल कॉमर्स के लिए ओपन नेटवर्क | Economy | Moderate | Direct | Interoperability across networks; counter dominance of large e-commerce platforms |
| 55 | UPI vs Digital Rupee (CBDC) — NOT correct statement / UPI और डिजिटल रुपया — असत्य कथन | Economy | Hard | Negative 4-option | Digital rupee is sovereign instrument (NOT like bank money); transaction records differ from UPI |
| 56 | Real World Asset (RWA) tokenisation / रियल-वर्ल्ड एसेट्स टोकनाइज़ेशन | Economy | Moderate | 3-statement | Blockchain converts physical assets to digital tokens; 24×7 liquidity; India access to high-value assets |
| 57 | Bond for environmental + social projects / पर्यावरण और सामाजिक परियोजनाओं हेतु बॉन्ड | Economy | Easy | Direct | Sustainability Bond (both green AND social objectives combined) / संधारणीयता बॉन्ड |
| 58 | M1xchange — MSME platform functions / M1xchange की भूमिका | Economy | Moderate | 3-statement | TReDS platform for invoice/bill discounting; NOT a credit rating agency; NOT collateral-based |
| 59 | Crowding Out Effect — fiscal policy / निजी निवेश के बहिर्गमन का प्रभाव | Economy | Easy | Direct | Govt borrowing raises interest rates; private investment falls / सरकारी उधार से ब्याज दर बढ़ती है |
| 60 | Rare Earth Elements — China dominance, India NCMM, 13 metals? / दुर्लभ मृदा तत्व | Economy | Moderate | 4-statement | China=dominant REE miner; India NOT second; REEs are 17 elements (not 13); NCMM started 2025 |
| 61 | Aviation Hull Insurance + Montreal Convention / विमानन हल बीमा + मॉन्ट्रियल कन्वेंशन | Economy | Hard | 2-statement | Hull = aircraft body+engine+avionics; Montreal 1999: 130+ nations, strict liability to families |
| 62 | Crowdfunding — definition and SME access / विविध समूह निधियन | Economy | Easy | 2-statement | Web-based small investor solicitation; SMEs can raise capital without strict bank procedures |
| 63 | Financial committees — purpose & parent body / विभिन्न वित्तीय समितियां | Economy | Hard | Table match | RN Malhotra=Insurance reform (IRDAI); LC Gupta=Derivatives roadmap (SEBI); Urjit Patel=Monetary (RBI) |
| 64 | NBFCs in India — demand deposits, RBI registration, cheques / गैर-बैंकिंग वित्तीय कंपनियां | Economy | Moderate | 4-statement | NBFCs CANNOT accept demand deposits; ALL must register with RBI; DICGC cover NOT available for NBFC depositors |
| 65 | Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) / बहुआयामी गरीबी सूचकांक | Economy | Moderate | 3-statement | Alkire-Foster method; NITI uses 12 indicators; some indicators overlap with UNDP MPI |
| 66 | Gene therapy — faulty genes, viral vectors, DNA / आनुवंशिक चिकित्सा | Science-Tech | Moderate | 3-statement | Gene therapy corrects/replaces faulty genes; uses engineered viruses as vectors; does NOT change entire genome |
| 67 | LLMs in machine learning — next-token, biases / बड़े भाषा मॉडल (LLMs) | Science-Tech | Hard | 3-statement | LLMs predict next likely token (NOT unbiased); use mathematical optimisation; outputs ARE biased |
| 68 | Stealth technology — radar cross-section, detection, metamaterials / स्टेल्थ प्रौद्योगिकी | Science-Tech | Moderate | 3-statement | Small radar cross-section; specific frequencies CAN detect stealth; metamaterials increase EM scattering |
| 69 | Black boxes in aircraft — beacon, recorders, materials / आधुनिक विमानों के ब्लैक बॉक्स | Science-Tech | Easy | 3-statement | Pings red light beacon for underwater search; records CVR+FDR both; stainless steel or titanium housing |
| 70 | Green hydrogen — decarbonised, electrolysis, National Mission / हरित हाइड्रोजन | Science-Tech | Moderate | 3-statement | Electrolysis of water using renewable electricity; National Mission target ~50 MMT GHG reduction by 2030 |
| 71 | Private sector in India space — IN-SPACe, Agnikul, SkyRoot / भारत के अंतरिक्ष कार्यक्रम में निजी संस्थाएं | Science-Tech | Moderate | 3-statement | IN-SPACe enables private sector; Agnikul = 3D-printed rocket engine; SkyRoot ≠ GSLV liquid fuel developer |
| 72 | Drone swarms — THz communication, inter-drone, GPS spoofing / ड्रोन झुंड | Science-Tech | Moderate | 3-statement | THz band for command; any swarm drone can communicate; GPS spoofing counters swarms effectively |
| 73 | GenomeIndia project — human genome, DBT, diversity / जीनोमइंडिया परियोजना | Science-Tech | Moderate | 3-statement | NOT part of Human Genome Project; funded by DBT; goal = catalogue Indian genetic diversity cataloguing |
| 74 | National Quantum Mission — qubit capacity, T-Hubs / राष्ट्रीय क्वांटम मिशन | Science-Tech | Moderate | 2-statement | NQM targets 50-1000 physical qubits; T-Hubs in educational + R&D institutes across India |
| 75 | Deep Ocean Mission — ministry, Matsya-6000, Samudrayaan / भारत का डीप ओशन मिशन | Science-Tech | Moderate | 3-statement | Ministry of Earth Sciences (NOT Shipping); Matsya-6000 = 3 crew submersible; Samudrayaan is the sub-project |
| 76 | Whistleblowing case — which public admin principle? / लोक प्रशासन सिद्धांत — भ्रष्टाचार रिपोर्ट | Ethics | Easy | Scenario | Accountability — officer reports despite pressure and career risk / उत्तरदायित्व — दबाव के बावजूद रिपोर्ट |
| 77 | Multi-stakeholder conflict — tribal land, urban health, industry / बहु-हितधारक संघर्ष | Ethics | Hard | 4-statement | ESIA first; multi-party dialogue with tribal leaders; cultural sensitivity before technical solutions |
| 78 | Ms X officer — confidential contractor info dilemma / गोपनीय सूचना और पारदर्शिता का द्वंद्व | Ethics | Hard | 3-option | Limited disclosure via inspection committee — balanced approach; neither full secrecy nor immediate public exposure |
| 79 | Article 13 ‘law’ — custom and usage interpretation / अनुच्छेद 13 में ‘विधि’ शब्द का अर्थ | Polity | Hard | Inference | X correct: ‘law’ includes ordinances/rules; Y incorrect: custom NOT automatically included in Art.13 |
| 80 | Indian Constitution — no article explicitly calls it ‘Constitution’ / भारत का संविधान | Polity | Hard | 3-statement | No article explicitly names it; no article says Independence Act/Govt of India Act repealed; 26 Jan 1950 correct |
| 81 | Persons with Disabilities — RPwD 2018, Sugamya Bharat, NDFDC / दिव्यांगजन | Polity | Moderate | 3-statement | RPwD 2018 mandates reservation; Sugamya Bharat = 3 sectors; NDFDC under Ministry of SJ&E, not corporate affairs |
| 82 | SC/ST provisions — 5th Schedule, income tax, panchayat reservation / अनुसूचित जाति और जनजाति | Polity | Hard | 3-statement | 5th Schedule covers Assam/Meghalaya/Tripura/Mizoram tribal areas; some tribes get income tax relief |
| 83 | Parliament — starred, unstarred, supplementary questions / संसद में प्रश्न | Polity | Easy | 3-statement | Starred=oral; Unstarred=written answer; supplementary ONLY on starred (not unstarred) |
| 84 | SC/ST Welfare Committee — election, membership, term / SC/ST कल्याण समिति | Polity | Hard | 4-statement | Members elected by both houses; 30 RS + 20 LS; only SJ&E minister; 2-year term |
| 85 | Mission Sudarshan Chakra — air defence, missile shield / मिशन सुदर्शन चक्र | Defence | Moderate | 3-statement | Air defence + ballistic missile defence; NOT all public spaces by 2035; strategic autonomy focus |
| 86 | River bridges connecting neighbours — Feni, Jhoolaghat, Mechi / नदी सेतु | Geography | Moderate | 3-statement | Maitri Setu on Feni=Bangladesh; Jhoolaghat=Myanmar; Mechi Setu=Nepal (Panetenki-Kakarvitta) |
| 87 | BNSS 2023 — Zero FIR provisions / भारतीय नागरिक सुरक्षा संहिता — जीरो एफआईआर | Polity | Moderate | 3-statement | Zero FIR at any station regardless of jurisdiction; IO can begin inquiry; electronic form NOT mandatory |
| 88 | Central govt bodies — CEIB, SFIO, CBI — ministry & function / संस्थान, कार्य और नियंत्रक मंत्रालय | Polity | Hard | Table match | CEIB=Home Ministry; SFIO=Finance Ministry (MCA); CBI=Personnel Ministry (NOT Home Ministry) |
| 89 | International conventions India has NOT ratified / भारत ने जिन कन्वेंशनों का अनुसमर्थन नहीं किया | IR | Hard | 5-list | India NOT ratified: Employment Policy Convention, Statelessness Convention; HAS ratified slavery/migration/Geneva |
| 90 | AI Impact Summit 2026 New Delhi / एआई प्रभाव शिखर सम्मेलन 2026 नई दिल्ली | Current Affairs | Moderate | 3-statement | Three principles: people, planet, prosperity; democratic AI charter adopted; 7 pillars for social empowerment |
| 91 | India-ASEAN connectivity projects — Kaladan, IMT Highway, Agartala rail / भारत-आसियान संपर्क परियोजनाएं | IR | Moderate | 3-statement | Kaladan=India-Myanmar-sea; IMT Highway=India-Myanmar-Thailand; Agartala-Akhaura=Bangladesh |
| 92 | India-assisted projects — Mangdechhu, Salma Dam, Dikrong / भारत द्वारा सहायता प्राप्त परियोजनाएं | IR | Moderate | Match | Mangdechhu=Bhutan; Salma Dam=Afghanistan; Dikrong hospital=Bhutan; ISEIL=Sri Lanka |
| 93 | Defence hardware manufactured in India — Su-30, T-90, Akula / भारत में निर्मित रक्षा हार्डवेयर | Defence | Moderate | 3-statement | Su-30 MKI assembled by HAL; T-90 produced in India; Akula submarine LEASED not produced |
| 94 | Multilateral forums — Colombo Process, Abu Dhabi Dialogue, GFMD / बहुपक्षीय सहयोग मंच | IR | Hard | 3-statement | Colombo=consultative NOT binding; Abu Dhabi=voluntary; GFMD=voluntary non-binding global forum |
| 95 | UN agencies given Nobel Peace Prize twice / दो बार नोबेल शांति पुरस्कार पाने वाली संस्था | IR | Moderate | Count | UNHCR won twice (1954, 1981); ILO once; UNICEF once; WFP once — answer: 1 (UNHCR only) |
| 96 | UN peacekeeping missions — dates matched / संयुक्त राष्ट्र शांति-स्थापना अभियान | IR | Hard | Match dates | UNMIL 2003-2018; MINURCAT 2007-2010; MINUSTAH 2004-2017; UNMISET 2002-2005 |
| 97 | BIMSTEC centres — location match / बिम्सटेक केंद्रों का स्थान | IR | Hard | Match | Cultural Observatory=NOIDA; Energy Centre=Bengaluru; Weather/Climate=Colombo; Tech Transfer=Thimphu |
| 98 | Indian Army Corps — HQ NOT correct pair / भारतीय सेना कोर — गलत युग्म | Defence | Moderate | Negative match | 3 Corps=Dimapur; 4 Corps=Tezpur; 14 Corps=Leh; 33 Corps=Sukna (NOT Srinagar) |
| 99 | RGSA — duration, objectives, central funding for UTs / संशोधित राष्ट्रीय ग्राम स्वराज अभियान | Governance | Moderate | 3-statement | April 2021-March 2026; SDG-aligned panchayat capacity; UTs get 100% central share |
| 100 | EU member states — Belarus, Poland, Germany, Switzerland / यूरोपीय संघ के सदस्य देश | IR | Easy | List | Poland + Germany = EU members; Belarus + Switzerland = NOT EU members |
Section 4: Subject-wise Preparation Strategy | खंड 4: विषयवार तैयारी रणनीति
1. Ancient History | प्राचीन इतिहास (14 Questions)
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| Vedic rivers, Buddhist iconography, Sangam kingdoms, numismatics, Indus Valley, place-value system, Pali texts / वैदिक नदियां, बौद्ध प्रतिमा विज्ञान, संगम राजवंश, मुद्राशास्त्र, हड़प्पा, स्थानीय मान पद्धति | NCERT Class 6, 11, 12; R.S. Sharma Old NCERT; Ancient India by Upinder Singh / एनसीईआरटी कक्षा 6, 11, 12; पुरानी एनसीईआरटी |
2. Art & Culture | कला और संस्कृति (7 Questions)
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| Stupas (Amaravati, Sanchi), temple architecture (Nagara/Dravida), classical music gharanas, cave paintings, UNESCO sites / स्तूप, मंदिर वास्तुकला, शास्त्रीय संगीत घराने, गुफा चित्र | Nitin Singhania (Indian Art & Culture); CCRT notes; Fine Arts NCERTs / नितिन सिंघानिया की पुस्तक; CCRT नोट्स |
3. Modern History | आधुनिक इतिहास (7 Questions)
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| Forward Bloc formation, Awadh annexation 1856, Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, Eka vs Bardoli, Hilton-Young Commission / फॉरवर्ड ब्लॉक, अवध, मोंटेग्यू-चेम्सफोर्ड, बारदोली, हिल्टन-यंग | Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir); Bipan Chandra — India’s Struggle for Independence; NCERT Class 12 / स्पेक्ट्रम; बिपन चंद्र |
4. Geography | भूगोल (13 Questions)
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| Peninsular block geology, Andaman climate, Brahmaputra, Turkana Lake, Hormuz Strait, Indian states borders, Feni/Mechi bridges / प्रायद्वीपीय खंड, अंडमान, ब्रह्मपुत्र, तुर्काना झील | NCERT 11th (Fundamentals of Physical Geography), 12th (India People and Economy); GC Leong; Majid Husain; Atlas / एनसीईआरटी भूगोल 11-12; एटलस |
5. Economy | अर्थव्यवस्था (16 Questions) — Highest Weight
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| Blockchain, UPI vs CBDC, ONDC, RWA tokenisation, M1xchange (TReDS), NBFCs, MPI (Alkire-Foster), crowdfunding, sustainability bonds, MSMEs, FI-Index, REEs / ब्लॉकचेन, UPI, NBFC, बहुआयामी गरीबी सूचकांक | Ramesh Singh (Indian Economy); Economic Survey 2024-25; Union Budget documents; RBI Annual Report; PIB economy releases / रमेश सिंह; आर्थिक सर्वेक्षण; RBI रिपोर्ट |
6. Environment & Ecology | पर्यावरण और पारिस्थितिकी (11 Questions)
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| Mangroves, Hoolock Gibbons, Amur Falcons, Madhav NP, Foxtail Orchid, Turkana Lake, REDD+, LT-LEDS, BUR-4, FAO Blue Transformation / गरान, हूलॉक गिबन, अमूर बाज़ | Shankar IAS Environment book; Down To Earth magazine; MoEFCC circulars; UNEP reports; PIB / शंकर IAS पर्यावरण; Down To Earth; PIB |
7. Science & Technology | विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी (13 Questions)
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| Gene therapy, LLMs/AI, stealth tech, black boxes, green hydrogen, drone swarms, GenomeIndia, NQM, Deep Ocean Mission, DHRUV64, BIS IS 19445 / जीन थेरेपी, AI, हरित हाइड्रोजन | Science Reporter; Yojana; PIB Science & Tech releases; ISRO/DRDO/DST press releases / विज्ञान रिपोर्टर; योजना; PIB विज्ञान-प्रौद्योगिकी |
8. Polity & Governance | राजनीति और शासन (11 Questions)
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| Article 13 (law), RPwD 2018, SC/ST 5th Schedule, Starred/Unstarred Q, SC/ST Committee, BNSS Zero FIR, CEIB/SFIO/CBI ministries / अनुच्छेद 13, RPwD 2018, जीरो FIR | M. Laxmikant (Indian Polity); D.D. Basu; bare Constitution acts; PRS India; BNSS 2023 gazette / लक्ष्मीकांत; संविधान; PRS India |
9. International Relations & Current Affairs | अंतरराष्ट्रीय संबंध और समसामयिकी (8 Questions)
| Key Topics / मुख्य विषय | Recommended Sources / अनुशंसित स्रोत |
| India-ASEAN connectivity, India-assisted projects (Mangdechhu/Salma Dam), UN peacekeeping missions, BIMSTEC, multilateral forums, EU membership / भारत-आसियान संपर्क, बिम्सटेक, संयुक्त राष्ट्र अभियान | MEA press releases; The Hindu editorials; Vision IAS Current Affairs; Vajiram monthly CA / MEA विज्ञप्तियां; The Hindu; विज़न IAS करेंट अफेयर्स |
Section 5: First Impression & Key Insights | खंड 5: पहली नज़र और मुख्य जानकारियां
What a first-time aspirant notice | पहली बार देखने पर क्या दिखता है
INSIGHT 1 / जानकारी 1: Statements dominate (~72%) — You cannot just ‘read broadly.’ You need precise, verifiable facts. True/false at statement level requires depth, not breadth. | कथन-आधारित प्रश्न (~72%) — केवल सामान्य पठन पर्याप्त नहीं है। प्रत्येक विषय में गहराई आवश्यक है।
INSIGHT 2 / जानकारी 2: Traps are everywhere — Examiners blend related-but-distinct facts. Q1 mixes Pleistocene geography with Vedic rivers; Q7 mixes two different British policies. | जाल हर जगह हैं — परीक्षाकर्ता संबंधित किंतु भिन्न तथ्यों को मिलाते हैं।
INSIGHT 3 / जानकारी 3: Current Affairs are manageable (~28 Qs) — Standard monthly current affairs prep (PIB + newspaper) covers most of these. | समसामयिकी प्रबंधनीय है (~28 प्रश्न) — PIB और समाचार पत्र से अधिकांश उत्तर मिल सकते हैं।
INSIGHT 4 / जानकारी 4: Economy + Science-Tech are growing fastest — together they carry ~29% of this paper. Weakness here = 25-30 marks lost. | अर्थव्यवस्था + विज्ञान-प्रौद्योगिकी सबसे तेज़ी से बढ़ रहे हैं — दोनों मिलकर ~29% प्रश्न लेते हैं।
Examiner Tricks Observed | परीक्षाकर्ता की चालें
| Question / प्रश्न | The Trap / जाल | How to Avoid / बचाव कैसे करें |
| Q5 | Udiyanjeral called Chola — actually Chera / उदियनजेरल को चोल कहना — वास्तव में चेर | Sangam literature: memorise each king’s dynasty / संगम साहित्य में प्रत्येक राजा का वंश याद करें |
| Q12 | Hilton-Young purpose — multiple plausible options / हिल्टन-यंग आयोग के कई प्रशंसनीय विकल्प | Focus on ‘creditworthiness’ as the key term / ‘ऋणपात्रता’ शब्द पर ध्यान दें |
| Q60 | REEs described as ’13 metallic elements’ — actually 17 / REEs को ’13 धात्विक तत्व’ बताना — वास्तव में 17 हैं | Remember: lanthanides (15) + Sc + Y = 17 REEs / लैंथेनाइड (15) + Sc + Y = 17 REE |
| Q67 | LLMs produce ‘unbiased outputs’ — completely false / LLMs निष्पक्ष आउटपुट देते हैं — पूर्णतः गलत | LLMs inherit training data biases / LLMs प्रशिक्षण डेटा के पूर्वाग्रह विरासत में पाते हैं |
| Q88 | CBI under Home Ministry — actually Personnel Ministry / CBI को गृह मंत्रालय के अधीन बताना — वास्तव में कार्मिक मंत्रालय | CBI = DoPT (Department of Personnel & Training) / CBI = DoPT के अधीन |
Scoring Estimate for Different Preparation Levels | विभिन्न तैयारी स्तरों के लिए अनुमानित अंक
| Preparation Level / तैयारी स्तर | Easy Qs (22) | Moderate Qs (50) | Expected Score / अनुमानित अंक |
| Beginner (6 months) / नौसिखिया | ~15/22 | ~18/50 | ~55–65 |
| Intermediate (1 year) / मध्यवर्ती | ~19/22 | ~28/50 | ~80–95 |
| Advanced (2+ years) / उन्नत | ~21/22 | ~38/50 | ~105–118 |
