UPSC CSE 2026 Essay Paper Discussion

YEAR ASKED IN

2026

Practice UPSC 2026 previous year questions on Anantam IAS: 100 Prelims MCQs and 186 Mains Q&A with answer keys, explanations and topic-wise links.

Prelims MCQs 100

  1. Which of the following statements about DHRUV64 is/are correct?

    Which of the following statements about DHRUV64 is/are correct?

    1. It is the third chip fabricated under the DIR-V Programme with an overall aim to enable the creation of microprocessors for India.

    2. It is India's first homegrown 1·0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor.

    Select the 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: C

    DHRUV64, unveiled by MeitY in 2025, is indeed India's first homegrown 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core RISC-V microprocessor and is the third silicon-validated chip rolled out under the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Programme after VEGA and SHAKTI variants. The DIR-V Programme, launched in 2022, aims to make India a hub for RISC-V design and to enable indigenous microprocessors for strategic, automotive and IoT applications. Both statements are factually correct, so the answer is (c). Read more: Gaganyaan Mission: India’s First Human Spaceflight Programme (UPSC Science & Tech).
  2. Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:

    Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:

    1. It has an antecedent drainage system.

    2. It flows through three countries.

    3. It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and is an important river for irrigation.

    4. It does not form distributaries. Select the answer from the following:

    1. ABrahmaputra
    2. BIndus
    3. CSutlej
    4. DTeesta
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The Indus is one of the classic antecedent rivers of the Himalaya — it predates the orogeny and cut down through rising ranges (forming gorges near Nanga Parbat). It originates near Lake Mansarovar in the Tibetan Plateau, flows through China (Tibet), India (Ladakh) and Pakistan — three countries — and is the lifeline of Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh irrigation, while in India it underpins the Indus Waters Treaty allocations. It empties into the Arabian Sea forming a delta but does not bifurcate into significant distributaries upstream. Brahmaputra has multiple distributaries; Sutlej originates in Tibet but flows through only two countries; Teesta does not originate in Tibet proper.
  3. Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are not correct?

    Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are not correct?

    1. Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with the highest number of other Indian States.

    2. Rajasthan shares the longest international border among all Indian States.

    3. Sikkim is the only State that shares its boundary with just one other Indian State.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Uttar Pradesh shares boundaries with 8 Indian States (Uttarakhand, HP, Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar) plus Delhi UT — the highest among Indian States; Assam comes second at 7. So statement 1 IS correct. Rajasthan does NOT share the longest international border — West Bengal shares the longest international boundary at 2,217 km with Bangladesh (Rajasthan-Pakistan is only ~1,070 km); statement 2 is incorrect. Sikkim borders only West Bengal among Indian states, but it is NOT the ONLY such state — Meghalaya also borders only one Indian state (Assam); hence statement 3 as worded is incorrect. NOT correct = 2 and 3, giving (c).
  4. Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct?

    Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct?

    1. It showcases how sustained local conservation efforts can contribute to the arrival and protection of international migratory birds.

    2. It reflects the global success of advanced tracking technologies that guide migratory birds back to their stopover sites.

    3. It confirms that Amur Falcons have adapted to permanent residency in India due to favourable habitat changes.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    Amur Falcons undertake one of the world's longest migrations, breeding in south-east Siberia, Mongolia and northern China and roosting in lakhs at Doyang Lake, Nagaland every October-November en route to southern Africa. The community of Pangti and surrounding villages transformed from hunters to protectors after 2012, making Nagaland the 'Falcon Capital of the World' — a textbook case of local conservation enabling international migratory bird protection (statement 1 correct). Their arrival is driven by innate migration cues and habitat suitability, not by tracking technologies guiding them (2 wrong), and the falcons remain transit migrants, never permanent residents (3 wrong).
  5. Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?

    Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?

    1. Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas

    2. Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions

    3. Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    The Rainfed Area Development (RAD) component of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), launched in 2014-15, promotes Integrated Farming Systems combining crops with horticulture, livestock, fisheries, agroforestry and apiculture to enhance productivity, diversify incomes and minimise climatic risk for rainfed farmers. It explicitly discourages monoculture (rejecting 1) and is targeted at rainfed, not irrigated rice, areas (rejecting 2). Only statement 3 captures the stated objective.
  6. Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?

    Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?

    1. It allows Indian exporters to compete in high-end markets that prioritise chemical-free products.

    2. It confirms that Eri Silk meets international safety, environmental, and quality standards, enabling its entry into premium eco-conscious markets.

    Select the 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: C

    OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification confirms that a textile is tested free of harmful substances against a globally harmonised criteria catalogue. For Eri Silk — the eco-friendly 'peace silk' of Assam reared without killing the silkworm — the certification (secured by Central Silk Board for Eri in 2023-24) validates compliance with international safety, environmental and quality benchmarks, opening doors to premium eco-conscious EU/US markets where chemical residues are a barrier. Both statements describe complementary trade and standards benefits and are correct.
  7. Consider the following statements with reference to India’s response to climate change: I. India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. II. India’s 4ᵗʰ Biennial Update Re…

    Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change: I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. II. India's 4ᵗʰ Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019. III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets. Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?

    1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II.

    2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I.

    3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer
    Climate-resilient development is a long-term, adaptive, equity-centred pathway — it does NOT necessarily depend on short-term emission reduction targets, so as stated in Statement III, the proposition is incorrect on its own terms; however, the question asks about logical relations. Statement I (LT-LEDS as a tool for 2070 net-zero) reflects a long-horizon approach that is directly contradicted by Statement III's insistence on quick short-term cuts. Statement II's 7.93% emissions decline in 2020 (largely COVID-driven) does not empirically validate I, and I and III cannot together establish long-term sustainability since they are contradictory. Hence only relation 2 holds. Read more: India’s LT-LEDS and Climate Strategy: Why Net-Zero by 2070 Needs a Long Horizon.
  8. With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. A Sanctuary in North-east India is home to this ape species listed as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

    2. They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees.

    3. They possess a strong and heavy build like gorillas, yet are remarkably agile tree climbers.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is found in the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam and other NE forests, and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, validating statement 1. Gibbons are the supreme brachiators of the primate world — their elongated forelimbs and ball-and-socket wrists let them swing through canopies at high speed, confirming statement 2. They are small, lightweight lesser apes (6–9 kg), nothing like the heavy-built gorillas of statement 3, which is therefore wrong. Answer: 1 and 2 only.
  9. Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?

    Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?

    1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.

    2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.

    3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    Mangroves are halophytes adapted to saline tidal mudflats; their pneumatophores and stilt roots dissipate wave and tidal energy and trap sediment, but they neither store fresh water nor make sites suitable for paddy, so statement 1 is wrong. Their roots tolerate, not 'filter out', salt to create freshwater aquaculture zones — statement 2 is a misconception. Statement 3 correctly captures the dual climate-resilience rationale: mangroves serve as natural bio-shields against cyclones and tidal surges (as proven during the 1999 Odisha super-cyclone and 2004 tsunami) and provide fuelwood, honey, fisheries and ecotourism livelihoods. Hence only 3 is correct.
  10. In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India’s maritime trade and logistics policy?

    In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India's maritime trade and logistics policy?

    1. By functioning exclusively as a domestic cargo hub to reduce reliance on coastal shipping and eliminate the need for foreign collaborations.

    2. By focusing primarily on passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping to increase Kerala's profile as a maritime heritage destination.

    3. By leveraging its natural deep draft and strategic location to reduce dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhance revenue retention, and reposition India in regional maritime trade.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, commissioned in 2024 and operated by Adani Ports, is India's first dedicated container trans-shipment port. Its 20-metre natural draft and location just 10 nautical miles from the international east-west shipping lane allow it to handle ULCVs and reclaim Indian trans-shipment cargo currently routed via Colombo, Singapore and Salalah, retaining freight revenue domestically. It is neither a purely domestic hub (rejecting 1) nor a cruise/heritage destination (rejecting 2). Only statement 3 captures its strategic structural shift, so the answer is (d).
  11. Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India?

    Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India?

    1. AUttarakhand REDD+ project
    2. BICFRE-ICIMOD Transboundary REDD+ project in North-Eastern Himalayas
    3. CKhasi Hills Community REDD+ project
    4. DSikkim Mamley Kamrang Community REDD+ project
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    The Khasi Hills Community REDD+ Project in Meghalaya, implemented by the Ka Synjuk Ki Hima Arliang Wah Umiam Mawphlang Welfare Society in partnership with Community Forestry International, became India's first Plan Vivo-certified REDD+ initiative (validated 2013). It covers community-managed sacred groves and forests across ten Khasi himas, generating verified carbon credits while strengthening customary forest governance. The Sikkim Mamley-Kamrang project came later as a second community REDD+ effort, and the ICFRE-ICIMOD transboundary work is a research initiative, not Plan Vivo certified.
  12. Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India: I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure. II. The suc…

    Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India: I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure. II. The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings. III. Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions. Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?

    1. Statement II validates the effectiveness of the strategies envisioned in statement I.

    2. Statement III extends the objectives of statement I by embedding them into a future-oriented innovation framework.

    3. Statement I contradicts statement III by focusing only on traditional infrastructure instead of modern innovation.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The Sagarmala Programme (launched 2015 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways) explicitly aims at port-led economic growth through port modernisation, connectivity, port-linked industrialisation and coastal community development — so Statement I is accurately framed, and the documented growth in coastal/inland-waterway traffic plus India's improved global port performance (Logistics Performance Index, container port rankings) validates this — making Statement II a correct extension of I. Sagarmala 2.0 indeed embeds the original mission into an innovation/Atmanirbhar-Viksit-Bharat-2047 framework — extending, not contradicting, Statement I. So relationships 1 and 2 are correct; 3 is wrong. Hence (b).
  13. Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid):

    Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid):

    1. It is an epiphytic orchid.

    2. The species is endemic to North-east India.

    3. It is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 3
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Rhynchostylis retusa, the Foxtail orchid (Kopou phul in Assamese), is an epiphytic orchid that grows on tree trunks, so statement 1 is correct. It is NOT endemic to North-east India — it is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and southern China — making statement 2 wrong. Multiple authoritative sources (Wikipedia, Indian Tree Pix, regional government notifications) confirm Rhynchostylis retusa is the State flower of BOTH Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, validating statement 3. Hence statements 1 and 3 are correct.
  14. Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?

    Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?

    1. They acted as army fortresses.

    2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.

    3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.

    4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 3
    3. C3 only
    4. D2 and 4
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Moidams are the mound-burial system of the Tai-Ahom dynasty of Assam, located at Charaideo, and were inscribed as India's 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2024 (46th session, New Delhi). They served as burial grounds (tumuli) of Ahom royalty and nobility — hollow vaults housing the body of the king along with belongings and sometimes attendants — and reflect ancestor worship and the Tai cosmology. They were never army fortresses, recreation centres, or battle drill grounds, ruling out statements 1, 2 and 4. Only statement 3 is correct, giving option (c).
  15. At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquac…

    At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and "Blue Transformation". Which of the following combinations about the "Four Betters" proposed by FAO for "Blue Transformation" is correct?

    1. ABetter production, better nutrition, better environment and better ocean
    2. BBetter production, better nutrition, better environment and better life
    3. CBetter coral reefs, better nutrition, better environment and better life
    4. DBetter estuaries, better nutrition, better environment and better mangrove vegetation
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    FAO's flagship 'Blue Transformation' roadmap (2022-2030), reiterated at UNOC-3 in Nice, June 2025, advances the Four Betters — Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life — which are FAO's overarching Strategic Framework pillars applied to aquatic food systems. The framework promotes sustainable aquaculture expansion, effective fisheries management and upgraded value chains to ensure resilient blue food livelihoods. 'Better ocean', 'better coral reefs', 'better estuaries' and 'better mangroves' are not part of FAO's official four-pronged framing, eliminating (a), (c) and (d).
  16. Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?

    Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?

    1. It is the largest desert lake in the world.

    2. The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara desert.

    3. The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the 'Jade Sea'.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 3 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Lake Turkana is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the largest alkaline lake, located in northern Kenya (not South Sudan) with its northern tip extending into Ethiopia — so statement 2 is incorrect. It is famously called the 'Jade Sea' due to the blue-green algae that colour its waters, and its national parks (Sibiloi, Central Island, South Island) form a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1997 (and on the List in Danger since 2018). Statements 1 and 3 are correct; only the geographical location in statement 2 is the trap.
  17. Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct?

    Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct?

    1. AThe Eka Movement was throughout supported and organized by the Congress while Bardoli Satyagraha was initially independent of Congress influence and was only in the last stages supported by the Congress.
    2. BThe Eka Movement was provided leadership by the taluqdars of Awadh, whereas the Bardoli Satyagraha was a movement of the landless labourers.
    3. CThe Bardoli Satyagraha was a campaign against the enhancement of land revenue, while the Eka Movement was a protest against excessive extraction of rents.
    4. DThe Eka Movement was located in the Varanasi and Mirzapur districts of the present-day U.P., while the Bardoli Satyagraha took place in Saurashtra.
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    The Eka (Unity) Movement of 1921–22 in Hardoi, Bahraich, Sitapur and Barabanki districts of Awadh (not Varanasi/Mirzapur) was a peasant agitation, led initially by Madari Pasi, against excessive rent extraction (rents 50% above recorded rates), forced labour and share-rents. The Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) in Surat district under Vallabhbhai Patel was a no-tax campaign against a 22% (later 30%) enhancement of land revenue. Option (c) captures this contrast accurately. Source: Bipan Chandra, India's Struggle for Independence.
  18. Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period: I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reaso…

    Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period: I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface. II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells. Which of the following information support/supports the above statements?

    1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.

    2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle).

    3. There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B1, 2 and 3
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Statement I (well-irrigation enabling agrarian expansion into Punjab-Haryana doab) and Statement II (use of draught animals to lift water) are best supported by the Rigvedic references to the ashma-chakra (stone pulley) and ahava (leather/wooden water-bucket) for drawing water from wells, AND by the well-attested pre-Rigvedic use of oxen for ploughing and pulling carts, which would have supplied the draught-animal power for water-lifting. Statement 2 in the list refers only to axes and sickles — harvesting implements that do not bear on irrigation. Hence 1 and 3 only. (early consensus; verify with official UPSC key when released)
  19. Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?

    Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?

    1. AEcuador
    2. BPeru
    3. CBolivia
    4. DColombia
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    Tungurahua ('Throat of Fire' in Quechua) is an active stratovolcano in the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes, located in Ecuador, about 140 km south of Quito. The Tungurahua Volcano and its surrounding landscape were inscribed as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2025, joining Ecuador's earlier Imbabura Geopark. The trap is confusing Andean volcanoes — Cotopaxi and Chimborazo are also Ecuadorian; Misti is in Peru; Sajama in Bolivia; Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia. Tungurahua's last major eruptive cycle ran 1999–2016.
  20. With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in India in 2025.

    2. Sakhya Sagar, which is designated as a Ramsar Site, is situated within this National Park.

    3. Its area is shared between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Madhav National Park lies in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh (entirely within MP — not shared with Rajasthan), so statement 3 is wrong. It was notified as India's 58th Tiger Reserve in 2025, making statement 1 correct. The park encloses two lakes — Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar — of which Sakhya Sagar was designated a Ramsar Site in 2022, making statement 2 correct. Hence 1 and 2 only. The trap is the shared-state confusion with Ranthambore/Kuno; Madhav is wholly in Madhya Pradesh.
  21. With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. The climate can be defined as a humid, tropical coastal climate.

    2. It receives rainfall from both South-west monsoon and North-east monsoon.

    3. Maximum precipitation is between December and May.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The Andaman & Nicobar Islands have a humid tropical maritime/coastal climate with little annual temperature range (24–30 °C). Their position in the Bay of Bengal exposes them to both the South-West monsoon (May–September) and the retreating North-East monsoon (October–December), giving 3000+ mm of rain. Maximum precipitation occurs between May and December, not December–May — so statement 3 is wrong. Hence 1 and 2 only. Source: NCERT Class XI India: Physical Environment, chapter on climate. Trap: candidates flip the wet/dry months.
  22. Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India?

    Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India?

    1. Submergence of parts of the western coast due to tectonic activity

    2. Presence of residual mountain ranges such as the Veliconda hills and Mahendragiri hills

    3. Deep, V-shaped river valleys formed by fast-flowing rivers

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 only
    2. B1 and 2
    3. C2 and 3
    4. D3 only
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The Peninsular Block, one of India's three macro physiographic divisions, is characterised by: (1) submergence of parts of the western coast (the Konkan-Malabar submerged coast, evidenced by drowned river mouths and offshore islands due to faulting); (2) residual mountain ranges such as the Aravallis, Nallamala, Velikonda and Mahendragiri hills, which are remnants of older folded systems. However, deep V-shaped valleys with fast-flowing rivers are characteristic of the youthful Himalayan rivers, not the mature, graded peninsular rivers (which mostly flow in shallow valleys). Hence 1 and 2 only. NCERT XI India: Physical Environment, Ch. 2. Read more: Himalaya Mountain: Formation, Ranges, Rivers, Passes and UPSC Notes.
  23. Among the four main forms of existence of life recognized in Jainism, which one of the following is not included?

    Among the four main forms of existence of life recognized in Jainism, which one of the following is not included?

    1. ADeva (gods)
    2. BYaksha (demi-gods)
    3. CManushya (humans)
    4. DTiryancha (animals and plants)
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Jain cosmology recognises four gatis (forms of existence) in which the soul transmigrates: Deva (gods), Manushya (humans), Tiryancha (animals and plants), and Naraki (hell-beings). Yaksha (demi-gods) is not a separate gati; yakshas are sub-classes of devas. The trap is plausibility — yakshas figure prominently in Jain (and Buddhist) iconography as attendant deities of Tirthankaras, so unprepared candidates assume they form a separate category. Reference: A.L. Basham, The Wonder That Was India, chapter on Jainism.
  24. The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents:

    The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents:

    1. AA joyous folk dance
    2. BBuddha in a meditative pose
    3. CThe depiction of Shiva and Parvati on Kailasha
    4. DSamudramanthan (Churning of the Ocean)
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    The Bagh Caves in Madhya Pradesh (5th–6th century CE) are Buddhist rock-cut viharas famous for mural paintings stylistically akin to Ajanta. The celebrated mural in Cave 4 (Rang Mahal) depicting a circle of dancers and musicians is identified as a Hallisa-lasya — a joyous folk/group dance traditionally associated in Sanskrit dramaturgy with the gopis. NCERT XI Fine Arts (Chapter on Indian Paintings) notes it as a rare secular dance scene in Indian mural art. The trap is reading 'Hallisa' as a Krishna-Radha icon (Rasa-mandala); here it's the dance form itself. Read more: Bagh Caves and the Hallisalasya Painting: A Folk Dance in Buddhist Fresco.
  25. Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India:

    Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India:

    1. The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595 – 596).

    2. In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India.

    3. The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B1 and 3 only
    3. C2 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    All three statements are historically established. The Mankani copper plates of Taralasvamin (Gujarat, AD 595–596) contain the earliest unambiguous epigraphic use of the decimal place-value system in India. By the 9th century, place-value notation had become general across Indian inscriptions. Independently, Sanskrit inscriptions in South-East Asia (notably the Sambor inscription of Cambodia, 683 CE, and the Old Malay inscriptions of Sumatra) show place-value numerals in the 7th century — even slightly earlier than its generalisation in India. Source: Bibhutibhushan Datta and A.N. Singh, History of Hindu Mathematics. Read more: Place-Value System in India: From the Mankani Plates to the Decimal World.
  26. Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns: I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels. II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations, have …

    Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns: I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels. II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations, have been discovered. III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements?

    1. Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home.

    2. Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed.

    3. Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    Spindle-whorls without spinning wheels point to hand-spindle spinning done laboriously in households (inference 1 valid). The graduated weights and measurement scales from Lothal, Mohenjo-daro and Harappa show systematic standardisation reflecting scientific/technical knowledge (inference 2 valid). However, the existence of well-built houses with private wells and bathing platforms indicates private property and differentiated household wealth, NOT a common-property system — so inference 3 is wrong. Hence 1 and 2 only. Source: Upinder Singh, A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India, chapter on the Harappans. Read more: Harappan Archaeological Findings: Spindle-Whorls, Weights and Baked-Brick Houses.
  27. In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni (‘mistress of the field’) originate?

    In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni ('mistress of the field') originate?

    1. ARigveda
    2. BAtharvaveda
    3. CAshtadhyayi
    4. DArthashastra
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The term kshetra-patni ('mistress/lady of the field'), invoked in agrarian/fertility rituals, occurs in the Atharvaveda, which is the Vedic text most concerned with agriculture, healing, magic and household ritual. The Rigveda is overwhelmingly hymnic/cosmological; Panini's Ashtadhyayi is a grammar; Kautilya's Arthashastra is a political-economic treatise. R.S. Sharma's Material Culture and Social Formations in Ancient India cites this Atharvavedic reference while discussing women's relation to land. (early consensus; verify with official UPSC key when released). Read more: Kshetra-patni in the Atharvaveda: The ‘Mistress of the Field’ and Vedic Agricultural Ritual.
  28. Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?

    Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?

    1. ANat Bhairavi
    2. BKamavardhini
    3. CHanumatodi
    4. DDheera Shankarabharanam
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    Among the 72 Melakarta ragas of Carnatic music, Dheera Shankarabharanam (29th Melakarta) uses all the natural (shuddha) swaras — S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 — exactly corresponding to the Western major scale and to the Hindustani Raga Bilawal, which is the shuddha-swara thaat. Hanumatodi corresponds to Bhairavi, Kamavardhini to Puriya Dhanashri, and Nat Bhairavi to Asavari/Kafi. NCERT XI Fine Arts and standard music-appreciation references both make this Bilawal ↔ Shankarabharanam parallel canonical.
  29. The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons?

    The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons?

    1. AAiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India's creditworthiness
    2. BProviding support to Indian importers
    3. CEncouraging export of cotton produce from India
    4. DPreventing depreciation of the Rupee in terms of gold
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    The Hilton-Young Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance (1926) recommended a gold-bullion standard pegging the rupee at 1s 6d sterling — an artificially high rate which the British adopted primarily to facilitate the smooth remittance of 'Home Charges' (pensions, debt service, civil and military payments) to Britain and to safeguard India's creditworthiness in London. The over-valued rupee actually hurt Indian exporters (especially cotton) and helped Lancashire imports, so options (b) and (c) are wrong. Bipan Chandra's India's Struggle for Independence and India Since Independence both note this drain-of-wealth dimension.
  30. Consider the following statements: I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika. II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coin…

    Consider the following statements: I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika. II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver. The above statements have been associated with which of the following?

    1. Emergence of urban life

    2. Transition to money economy

    Select the 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: C

    The references in Pali canonical literature to coins like kahapana, nikkha, kamsa and kakanika, corroborated by the archaeological recovery of large hoards of silver punch-marked coins (e.g., Golakhpur, Paila, Taxila), are cited by historians like R.S. Sharma and Romila Thapar as twin evidence of two parallel processes in c. 6th century BCE northern India: the Second Urbanisation (rise of mahajanapada cities) and the transition from a barter/cattle-wealth economy to a money economy. Both 1 and 2 are therefore correct. NCERT XII Themes in Indian History Theme 2 ('Kings, Farmers and Towns') uses this evidence.

Mains Q&A 186