UPSC CSE 2026 Essay Paper Discussion
Watch now

YEAR ASKED IN

2016

Practice UPSC 2016 previous year questions on Anantam IAS: 100 Prelims MCQs and 82 Mains Q&A with answer keys, explanations and topic-wise links.

New 596 2026 286 GPSC-2026 200 2013 194 2014 187 2015 182 2016 182 2017 182 2020 182 2018 180 2019 180 2024 180 2023 180 2022 180 2025 180 2021 180

Prelims MCQs 100

  1. With reference to ‘Bitcoins’ sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements…

    With reference to 'Bitcoins' sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries. 2. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address. 3. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Statement 1 is incorrect: Bitcoins are not tracked by central banks in the same way as traditional fiat currencies. Instead of a centralized tracking system, Bitcoin transactions are recorded on a decentralized public ledger called the blockchain. However, this ledger does not inherently link transactions to individual users, as Bitcoin addresses function pseudonymously rather than being tied directly to identities.

    Statement 2 is correct: Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from another Bitcoin address. These addresses function similarly to account numbers but do not necessarily require identity verification, making transactions more accessible and less dependent on traditional banking systems.

    Statement 3 is correct: Bitcoin enables online payments with a degree of anonymity. While all transactions are permanently recorded on the blockchain, the identities of the sender and receiver are not explicitly revealed, only their Bitcoin addresses appear. However, absolute anonymity is not guaranteed, as advanced blockchain analysis can sometimes trace transactions back to individuals.

    Hence the correct answer is option B. 2 and 3 only.

    Open this question on its own page

    Science & Technology UPSC 2016 Hard

  2. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements : 1.…

    With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements : 1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. 2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment. 3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C2 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Statement 1 is incorrect. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, not the Hinayana (or Theravada) sect. The Hinayana sect emphasizes the ideal of the Arhat, who achieves personal liberation, whereas the Mahayana tradition focuses on the Bodhisattva ideal.

    Statement 2 is correct. The Bodhisattva is a central figure in Mahayana Buddhism, representing a being who has attained a high level of enlightenment but delays their full enlightenment (Nirvana) to compassionately help others achieve liberation.

    Statement 3 is correct. The Bodhisattva is characterized by a commitment to the enlightenment of all sentient beings, rather than seeking individual liberation. The Bodhisattva willingly delays their own attainment of Nirvana in order to guide and assist others on the path to enlightenment.

    Open this question on its own page

    Art & Culture UPSC 2016 Hard

  3. ‘European Stability Mechanism’, sometimes seen in the news, is an

    'European Stability Mechanism', sometimes seen in the news, is an

    1. Aagency created by the EU to deal with the impact of millions of refugees arriving from the Middle East
    2. Bagency of EU that provides financial assistance to eurozone countries
    3. Cagency of EU to deal with all the bilateral and multilateral agreements on trade
    4. Dagency of EU to deal with the conflict arising among the member countries
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is an intergovernmental organization located in Luxembourg City, which operates under public international law for all eurozone Member States having ratified a special ESM intergovernmental treaty.

    It was established on 27 September 2012 as a permanent firewall for the eurozone, to safeguard and provide instant access to financial assistance programmes for member states of the eurozone in financial difficulty, with a maximum lending capacity of 500 billion.

    Open this question on its own page

    International Relations UPSC 2016 Easy

  4. Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of constructing an artificial…

    Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of constructing an artificial inland port to be connected to the sea by a long navigational channel?

    1. AAndhra Pradesh
    2. BChhattisgarh
    3. CKarnataka
    4. DRajasthan
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    The Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Shipping had proposed to guide and support Rajasthan government for building an Inland Shipping Port at Jalore.

    The port and the terminal that are to be created will help develop inland navigation facilities in western Rajasthan and will also bring about socio-economic development of the region.

    Business development opportunities along the canal for limestone, gypsum, lignite, and cement factories are to be explored by the state government.

    Open this question on its own page

    Indian Geography UPSC 2016 Hard

  5. ‘Net metering’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the…

    'Net metering' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the -

    1. Aproduction and use of solar energy by the households/consumers
    2. Buse of piped natural gas in the kitchens of households
    3. Cinstallation of CNG kits in motor- cars
    4. Dinstallation of water meters in urban households
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    Net metering (also known as net energy metering) is a solar incentive that allows you to store energy in the electric grid. When your solar panels produce excess power, that energy is sent to the grid and in exchange, you can pull from the grid when your system is under-producing like during night-time.

    Open this question on its own page

    Environment UPSC 2016 Medium

  6. Consider the following statements: 1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by…

    Consider the following statements: 1. The Chief Secretary in a State is appointed by the Governor of that State. 2. The Chief Secretary in a State has a fixed tenure Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    Statement 1 is incorrect: The Chief Secretary is appointed by the Chief Minister of the state. While Article 166 of the Constitution stipulates that all executive actions of a state government are taken in the name of the Governor, the actual authority to select and appoint the Chief Secretary rests with the Chief Minister. In administrative practice and for the purposes of the UPSC examination, the Chief Minister is recognized as the appointing authority, not the Governor.

    Statement 2 is incorrect: There is no fixed tenure for the post of Chief Secretary. The duration of their service in this role is at the discretion of the state government (the Chief Minister). An officer can be removed or transferred from the post at any time before their retirement.

    Open this question on its own page

    Indian Polity UPSC 2016 Hard

  7. Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. A bill pending in the Lok…

    Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation. 2. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Statement 1 is Incorrect: A bill pending in the Lok Sabha does not lapse on prorogation. Prorogation refers to the formal end of a parliamentary session, but it does not affect the pending business of the House. When the Lok Sabha reconvenes in the next session, all pending bills remain active and can be resumed from where they were left.

    Statement 2 is Correct: A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, does not lapse upon the dissolution of the Lok Sabha. This is because the Rajya Sabha is a permanent body that is not subject to dissolution. The new Lok Sabha can take up such bills from where they were left.

    Key Difference: - Prorogation is a temporary suspension of parliamentary business; pending bills remain unaffected. - Dissolution permanently ends the term of the Lok Sabha, causing pending bills in the Lok Sabha to lapse. However, bills in the Rajya Sabha do not lapse due to its continuous nature.

    Open this question on its own page

    Indian Polity UPSC 2016 Medium

  8. Consider the following statements: 1. The minimum age prescribed for any person to be…

    Consider the following statements: 1. The minimum age prescribed for any person to be a member of Panchayat is 25 years. 2. A Panchayat reconstituted after premature dissolution continues only for the remainder period. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Statement 1 is incorrect: The minimum age to be a member of a Panchayat is 21 years, not 25 years, as per the Indian Constitution.

    Statement 2 is correct: If a Panchayat is reconstituted after premature dissolution, it does not get a fresh five-year term. Instead, it functions only for the remainder of the original term of the dissolved Panchayat, as specified under Article 243E of the Constitution.

    Hence, the correct answer is option B. 2 only.

    Open this question on its own page

    Indian Polity UPSC 2016 Medium

  9. The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the…

    The Parliament of India acquires the power to legislate on any item in the State List in the national interest if a resolution to that effect is passed by the -

    1. ALok Sabha by a simple majority of its total membership
    2. BLok Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its total membership
    3. CRajya Sabha by a simple majority of its total membership
    4. DRajya Sabha by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its members present and voting
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    As per Article 249 of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament of India can legislate on a subject in the State List if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution stating that it is necessary in the national interest. This resolution must be approved by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.

    Once passed, this resolution empowers Parliament to make laws on the specified subject for a period of one year, which can be extended further by passing another resolution.

    Open this question on its own page

    Indian Polity UPSC 2016 Easy

  10. With reference to the ‘Gram Nyayalaya Act’, which of the following statements is/are correct?…

    With reference to the 'Gram Nyayalaya Act', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. As per the Act, Gram Nyayalayas can hear only civil cases and not criminal cases 2. The Act allows local social activists as mediators/reconciliators. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Statement 1 is incorrect: Under Section 12 of the Gram Nyayalaya Act, 2008, Gram Nyayalayas have criminal jurisdiction, meaning they can hear and decide certain criminal cases. Additionally, under Section 13, they also have civil jurisdiction over specific types of disputes. Thus, Gram Nyayalayas exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction, making the given statement incorrect.

    Statement 2 is correct: According to Section 26, Gram Nyayalayas must make efforts for conciliation and settlement of civil disputes before proceeding with formal adjudication. To implement this, Section 27 mandates that the District Court, in consultation with the District Magistrate, prepare a panel of Conciliators. These Conciliators are village-level social workers with integrity, possessing the qualifications and experience prescribed by the High Court. Their role is to assist in dispute resolution, promoting amicable settlements.

    Hence, the correct answer is option B.

    Open this question on its own page

    Indian Polity UPSC 2016 Medium

Mains Q&A 82

  1. ABC Ltd. is a large transnational company having diversified business activities with a huge shareholder base. The company is continuously expanding and generating employment. The company, in its expansion and diversification programme, decides to establish a new plant at Vikaspuri, an area which is underdeveloped. The new plant is designed to use energy efficient technology that will help the company to save production cost by 20%. The company’s decision goes well with the Government policy of attracting investment to develop such underdeveloped regions. The Government has also announced tax holiday for five years for the companies that invest in underdeveloped areas. However, the new plant may bring chaos for the inhabitants of Vikaspuri region, which is otherwise tranquil. The new plant may result in increased cost of living, aliens migrating to the region, disturbing the social and economic order. The company sensing the possible protest tried to educate the people of Vikaspuri region and public in general that how its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy would help overcome the likely difficulties of the residents of Vikaspuri region. In spite of this the protests begin and some of the residents decided to approach the judiciary as their plea before the Government did not yield any result. (a) Identify the issues involved in the case. (b) What can be suggested to satisfy the company’s goal and to address the residents’ concerns?

    MainsGS Paper 4

  2. Saraswati was a successful IT professional in USA. Moved by the patriotic sense of doing something for the country she returned to India. Together with some other like-minded friends, she formed an NGO to build a school for a poor rural community. The objective of the school was to provide the best quality modern education at a nominal cost. She soon discovered that she has to seek permission from a number of Government agencies. The rules and procedures were quite confusing and cumbersome. What frustrated her most was the delays, callous attitude of officials and constant demand for bribes. Her experience and the experience of many others like her has deterred people from taking up social service projects. A measure of Government control over voluntary social work is necessary. But it should not be exercised in a coercive or corrupt manner. What measures can you suggest to ensure that due control is exercised but well meaning, honest NGO efforts are not thwarted?

    MainsGS Paper 4

  3. You are a young, aspiring and sincere employee in a Government office working as an assistant to the director of your department. Since you have joined recently, you need to learn and progress. Luckily your superior is very kind and ready to train you for your job. He is a very intelligent and well-informed person having knowledge of various departments. In short, you respect your boss and are looking forward to learn a lot from him. Since you have a good tuning with the boss, he started depending on you. One day due to ill health he invited you at his place for finishing some urgent work. You reached his house and before you could ring the bell you heard shouting noises. You waited for a while. After entering the house the boss greeted you and explained the work. But you were constantly disturbed by the crying of a woman. At last, you inquired with the boss but his answer did not satisfy you. Next day, you were compelled to inquire further in the office and found out that his behaviour is very bad at home with his wife. He also beats up his wife. His wife is not well educated and is a simple woman in comparison to her husband. You see that though your boss is a nice person in the office, he is engaged in domestic violence at home. In such a situation, you are left with the following options. Analyse each option with its consequences. (a) Just ignore thinking about it because it is their personal matter. (b) Report the case to the appropriate authority. (c) Your own innovative approach towards the situation.

    MainsGS Paper 4

  4. Suppose you are an officer in-charge of implementing a social service scheme to provide support to old and destitute women. An old and illiterate woman comes to you to avail the benefits of the scheme. However, she has no documents to show that she fulfils the eligibility criteria. But after meeting her and listening to her you feel that she certainly needs support. Your enquiries also show that she is really destitute and living in a pitiable condition. You are in a dilemma as to what to do. Putting her under the scheme without necessary documents would clearly be violation of rules. But denying her the support would be cruel and inhuman. (a) Can you think of a rational way to resolve this dilemma? (b) Give your reasons for it.

    MainsGS Paper 4

  5. Land needed for mining, dams and other large-scale projects is acquired mostly from Adivasis, hill dwellers and rural communities. The displaced persons are paid monetary compensation as per the legal provisions. However, the payment is often tardy. In any case, it cannot sustain the displaced families for long. These people do not possess marketable skills to engage in some other occupation. They end up as low paid migrant labourers. Moreover, their traditional ways of community living are destroyed. Thus, the benefits of development go to industries, industrialists and urban communities whereas the costs are passed on to these poor helpless people. This unjust distribution of costs and benefits is unethical. Suppose you have been entrusted with the task of drafting a better compensation-cum-rehabilitation policy for such displaced persons, how would you approach the problem and what would be the main elements of your suggested policy?

    MainsGS Paper 4

  6. A fresh engineering graduate gets a job in a prestigious chemical industry. She likes the work. The salary is also good. However, after a few months she accidentally discovers that a highly toxic waste is being secretly discharged into a river nearby. This is causing health problems to the villagers downstream who depend on the river for their water needs. She is perturbed and mentions her concern to her colleagues who have been with the company for longer periods. They advise her to keep quite as anyone who mentions the topic is summarily dismissed. She cannot risk losing her job as she is the sole bread-winner for her family and has to support her ailing parents and siblings. At first, she thinks that if her seniors are keeping quiet, why should she stick out her neck. But her conscience pricks her to do something to save the river and the people who depend upon it. At heart she feels that the advice of silence given by her friends is not correct though she cannot give reasons for it. She thinks you are a wise person and seeks your advice. (a) What arguments can you advance to show her that keeping quiet is not morally right? (b) What course of action would you advise her to adopt and why?

    MainsGS Paper 4

  8. Our attitudes towards life, work, other people and society are generally shaped unconsciously by the family and the social surroundings in which we grow up. Some of these unconsciously acquired attitudes and values are often undesirable in the citizens of a modern democratic and egalitarian society. (a) Discuss such undesirable values prevalent in today’s educated Indians. (b) How can such undesirable attitudes be changed and socio-ethical values considered necessary in public services be cultivated in the aspiring and serving civil servants?

    MainsGS Paper 4