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YEAR ASKED IN

GPSC-2026

Practice UPSC GPSC-2026 previous year questions on Anantam IAS: 200 Prelims MCQs with answer keys, explanations and topic-wise links.

Prelims MCQs 200

  1. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Joint Sitting’ of Parliament and its procedure:

    Consider the following statements regarding the 'Joint Sitting' of Parliament and its procedure:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 1, 3 and 4
    3. COnly 2 and 4
    4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The President can summon a joint sitting under Article 108 to break a deadlock on an ordinary Bill, there is no joint sitting for Constitutional Amendment or Money Bills, and only three joint sittings have been held so far, so statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong because in the Speaker's absence the Deputy Speaker presides, and the Rajya Sabha Chairman never presides over a joint sitting.
  2. Six people – K, M, N, P, Q and R are sitting around a…

    Six people - K, M, N, P, Q and R are sitting around a circular table facing the centre. Who sits to the immediate right of K?

    1. AData in Statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question while data in Statement II is not.
    2. BEither data in Statement I or Statement II is sufficient to answer the question.
    3. CData in statements I and II together are sufficient to answer the question.
    4. DData in Statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question while data in Statement I is not.
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Statement I fixes K with N two seats away and R to N's immediate left, which forces R into the seat to K's immediate right, so it is sufficient alone. Statement II independently fixes the arrangement as Q, P, K, R, N, M, again placing R to K's immediate right, so it too is sufficient alone. Since either statement alone answers the question, the answer is B.
  3. Consider the following prominent works of Gujarati literature. What is the common characteristic shared…

    Consider the following prominent works of Gujarati literature. What is the common characteristic shared by all the literary works listed below?

    1. AAll of these books have been adapted into famous Gujarati feature films.
    2. BAll of these books were published prior to India's independence in 1947.
    3. CAll of these books are written by authors who have been honoured with the prestigious 'Jnanpith Award'.
    4. DAll of these books are poetry collections that have received the 'Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak'.
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Saapna Bhara is by Umashankar Joshi, Dhwani by Rajendra Shah, Malela Jeev by Pannalal Patel and Amrita by Raghuveer Chaudhari, and all four authors are Jnanpith Award laureates. The works span different genres and publication years, so the only shared trait is their authors' Jnanpith honour.
  4. With reference to the four new ‘Labour Codes’ enacted by the Parliament of India,…

    With reference to the four new 'Labour Codes' enacted by the Parliament of India, consider the following statements:

    1. AOnly 1
    2. BOnly 2
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    Labour is in the Concurrent List, but the Codes are not implemented uniformly by central executive order; states must frame their own rules and roll-out has been staggered, so statement 1 is wrong. The Code on Wages, 2019, actually universalised the minimum wage to all workers in both organized and unorganized sectors, removing the old scheduled-employment limit, so statement 2 is also wrong.
  5. Consider the following statements regarding the winter atmospheric circulation over India:

    Consider the following statements regarding the winter atmospheric circulation over India:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 1 and 3
    3. COnly 2 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Western Disturbances are shallow cyclonic systems that form over the Mediterranean and move eastward, and their winter rain and snow are vital for Rabi crops in the northwestern plains, so statements 1 and 3 are correct. They are steered into the subcontinent by the subtropical westerly jet stream, not the Tropical Easterly Jet, so statement 2 is wrong.
  6. Consider the following statements about domestic capital formation:

    Consider the following statements about domestic capital formation:

    1. AOnly 1
    2. BOnly 2
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Gross domestic capital formation is funded by domestic saving plus net capital inflow from abroad, so statement 1 is correct. India measures its rate of capital formation as a ratio of investment to GDP, so statement 2 is also correct.
  7. Consider the following statements regarding electrochemical corrosion:

    Consider the following statements regarding electrochemical corrosion:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Moisture or an electrolyte speeds up corrosion by completing the electrochemical circuit, so statement 1 is correct, and galvanic corrosion does occur when two dissimilar metals touch, so statement 3 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong because a purer metal resists corrosion better, while impurities set up local cells that worsen it.
  8. Consider the following statements with respect to urbanization in India:

    Consider the following statements with respect to urbanization in India:

    1. AOnly 1
    2. BOnly 2
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    The percentage increase in urban population has consistently outpaced that of rural population across the decades, reflecting steady urban growth. The process has also become top-heavy, concentrating in large cities and more developed regions, especially over the last two decades. Both statements describe the recognised pattern of Indian urbanization.
  9. Consider the following statements regarding the technical aspects of ethanol blending:

    Consider the following statements regarding the technical aspects of ethanol blending:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    E20 means a blend of 20% ethanol by volume, not by weight, so statement 1 is wrong. Higher ethanol blends do call for engine and material modifications because ethanol can corrode some components, and ethanol's calorific value is lower than petrol's, so statements 2 and 3 are correct.
  10. Out of the following four alternatives, only one is correct according to the above…

    Out of the following four alternatives, only one is correct according to the above letter symbols. Identify the correct answer.

    1. A2 Z 2 A 4 O 1 A 4 M 8
    2. B8 Y 2 A 3 A 4 Q 2 A 4
    3. C10 X 2 O 2 4 4 O 1 M 2
    4. D12 X 4 O 2 Q 1 A 4 A 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    Substituting the symbols (Z=<, A=×, O=+, M=-) option A reads 2 < 2×4 + 1×4 - 8, which is 2 48 (false), option C is malformed, and option D gives 12 = 20 (false). Only A is valid.
  11. Out of the following four alternatives, only one is correct according to the above letter symbols.…

    Out of the following four alternatives, only one is correct according to the above letter symbols. Identify the correct answer.

    1. A10 1 Q 1 M 1 Y 3 Q 1
    2. B2 Q 1 O 10 A 1 Z 6 A 4
    3. C3 O 2 O 10 Q 2 X 10 A 2
    4. D5 Q 5 A 5 O 5 Y 5 A 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Substituting the symbols (Q=÷, O=+, A=×, Z=<) option B reads 2÷1 + 10×1 < 6×4, which is 2 + 10 = 12 10 (false). Only B is valid.
  12. Consider the following statements regarding the eminent Gandhian leader and social reformer, Acharya Vinoba…

    Consider the following statements regarding the eminent Gandhian leader and social reformer, Acharya Vinoba Bhave:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Vinoba Bhave launched the Bhoodan Movement in 1951 to secure voluntary land donations for the landless, and Gandhi chose him as the first individual Satyagrahi in 1940 against India's forced entry into the Second World War. He was never the President of the Indian National Congress, so statement 2 is wrong and only 1 and 3 are correct.
  13. With reference to the 16th Finance Commission (FC) and its recommendations, consider the following…

    With reference to the 16th Finance Commission (FC) and its recommendations, consider the following statements regarding which are incorrect:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    The Finance Commission is a quasi-judicial body, but its recommendations are advisory and not legally binding on the Union, so statement 1 is incorrect. The 16th FC did discontinue revenue deficit, sector-specific and state-specific grants rather than continuing them, so statement 3 is incorrect. Statement 2 about adding 'contribution to GDP' for horizontal devolution is true, so the incorrect statements are 1 and 3.
  14. Consider the following statements regarding the posts of ‘Attorney General’ and ‘Solicitor General’ of…

    Consider the following statements regarding the posts of 'Attorney General' and 'Solicitor General' of India:

    1. AOnly 1, 2 and 4
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1 and 4
    4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    The Attorney General is the government's chief legal advisor appointed by the President, can speak in both Houses without a vote, and holds office during the President's pleasure, so statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct. The Solicitor General's post is statutory, not a constitutional post like the Attorney General's, so statement 3 is wrong.
  15. Consider the following statements in relation to Article 14, “equality before law” and “equal…

    Consider the following statements in relation to Article 14, "equality before law" and "equal protection of the laws":

    1. AOnly 1
    2. BOnly 2
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    Both statements swap the two concepts. "Equality before law" is the negative concept of British origin, implying absence of any special privilege. "Equal protection of the laws" is the positive concept of American origin, implying equal treatment in equal circumstances. Since the question attaches the wrong description to each, neither statement is correct.
  16. Consider the following pairs of mineral resources and their prominent mining districts/regions in Gujarat:

    Consider the following pairs of mineral resources and their prominent mining districts/regions in Gujarat:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1, 2 and 3
    4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Bauxite is mined in Devbhumi Dwarka and Kutch, lignite at Panandhro in Kutch, and limestone in the Porbandar region, so pairs 1, 2 and 3 match. Chalk, also called Porbandar Stone, comes from Porbandar district and not Junagadh, so pair 4 is wrong.
  17. What is the primary objective of the BharatNet project?

    What is the primary objective of the BharatNet project?

    1. ATo provide last-mile mobile connectivity through installation of telecom towers in rural areas.
    2. BTo connect all Gram Panchayats with high-speed broadband infrastructure using optical fibre network.
    3. CTo establish satellite communication exclusively for defence services.
    4. DTo establish a satellite-based communication network for remote and border regions.
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    BharatNet is the world's largest rural broadband project. Its core aim is to link every Gram Panchayat across India with high-speed broadband by laying an optical fibre cable network, bringing affordable connectivity and e-governance to villages. It isn't a mobile-tower or satellite scheme.
  18. After arranging the given words according to dictionary order, which word will come at…

    After arranging the given words according to dictionary order, which word will come at the 'Fifth' position?

    1. APopulation
    2. BPoppy
    3. CPopular
    4. DPopulace
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    Sorting all five words alphabetically gives: Pope, Poppy, Populace, Popular, Population. After "pop", the fourth letter orders them as e < p < u, then within "popul" the next letter c < r < t fixes Populace, Popular, Population. So the fifth word is Population.
  19. Consider the following statements regarding the famous Brihadeshwara Temple of Thanjavur:

    Consider the following statements regarding the famous Brihadeshwara Temple of Thanjavur:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 3
    3. COnly 2 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    The Brihadeshwara Temple was built by Rajaraja I of the Chola dynasty around 1010 CE, not the Chalukyas, so statement 1 is wrong. Sangam literature predates the 11th-century temple by centuries and contains no description of it, making statement 2 wrong. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Great Living Chola Temples, so only statement 3 holds.
  20. Raghu Rai was known for his excellent photographs of which of the following subjects?

    Raghu Rai was known for his excellent photographs of which of the following subjects?

    1. AOnly 1 and 4
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1 and 3
    4. DOnly 2 and 4
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    Raghu Rai, a pioneer of Indian photojournalism and a Magnum photographer, is celebrated for documenting the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy and for his photo-book on the Taj Mahal, along with iconic portraits of Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi. He wasn't known for the India-China War or Kashmir terrorism, so only 1 and 3 are correct.
  21. Seven friends, Manashvi, Prince, Pratham, Trushil, Mahima, Prishiv and Naitik are sitting around a…

    Seven friends, Manashvi, Prince, Pratham, Trushil, Mahima, Prishiv and Naitik are sitting around a circular table with their backs towards the centre. Manashvi is sitting to the immediate right of Prince. Naitik and Prishiv are not sitting to the immediate left or right of Trushil. Trushil is sitting third to the left of Prince. Mahima is sitting to the immediate right of Trushil. Who is sitting third to the right of Prince?

    1. ANaitik
    2. BPratham
    3. CMahima
    4. DPrishiv
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    With backs to the centre, right means clockwise and left anticlockwise. Fixing Prince and placing Manashvi to his right, Trushil third to his left, and Mahima to Trushil's right leaves the immediate left of Trushil open; since Naitik and Prishiv are barred from sitting beside Trushil, that seat must be Pratham. That seat is exactly third to the right of Prince.
  22. Consider the following statements regarding the Simon Commission:

    Consider the following statements regarding the Simon Commission:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Tilak died in 1920, well before the Simon Commission of 1927-28, so he could not have written against it in Kesari, making statement 1 wrong. The commission was boycotted because it was a seven-member all-British body with no Indian representation, and Lala Lajpat Rai was fatally injured in a lathi-charge during an anti-Simon protest, so statements 2 and 3 are correct.
  23. Consider the following statements regarding the Russia-Ukraine war:

    Consider the following statements regarding the Russia-Ukraine war:

    1. AOnly 1
    2. BOnly 1 and 2
    3. COnly 2 and 3
    4. DOnly 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    The war's roots lie in NATO expansion, the 2014 Crimea annexation and the Donbas conflict, not a personal rift between the two presidents, so statement 1 is wrong. Ukraine lies to the southwest of Russia, not to its north, so statement 2 is also wrong. Ukraine has been receiving military and financial backing from NATO members, which makes statement 3 correct.
  24. Consider the following statements regarding the role of the ‘Central Vigilance Commission’ (CVC) and…

    Consider the following statements regarding the role of the 'Central Vigilance Commission' (CVC) and the anti-corruption framework in India:

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. COnly 1 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    The CVC was set up in 1964 on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee, so statement 1 is correct. It is an independent apex body and does not work under any 'Investigation Bureau', so statement 2 is wrong. Its Chairman and members are barred from holding any further office under the Central or State Government after retirement, making statement 3 correct.
  25. Consider the following statements with reference to temperature and moisture characteristics in the middle…

    Consider the following statements with reference to temperature and moisture characteristics in the middle and high latitudes:

    1. AOnly 1
    2. BOnly 2
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: B

    Early in the morning the temperature is at its lowest, and since cool air holds less moisture, the relative humidity is at its highest. Statement 2 captures this correctly, while statement 1 reverses the relationship.
  26. The education dimension of the Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite of two…

    The education dimension of the Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite of two indicators. Which are these two indicators?

    1. AMean years of schooling and expected years of schooling
    2. BMale literacy rate and female literacy rate
    3. CNumber of schools and number of universities
    4. DPrimary school enrollment and enrollment in universities
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    The HDI education dimension combines mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 and above with expected years of schooling for children entering school. The education index is the arithmetic mean of these two normalised indicators.
  27. Recently, the festival of Deepawali was inscribed on the UNESCO ‘Representative List of the…

    Recently, the festival of Deepawali was inscribed on the UNESCO 'Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'. In this context, consider the following statements:

    1. AOnly 1
    2. BOnly 2
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    'Garba of Gujarat' was inscribed on the UNESCO list in December 2023, before Deepawali, so statement 1 is correct. The nodal agency for India's ICH nominations and the national inventory is the Sangeet Natak Akademi, not the Archaeological Survey of India, so statement 2 is wrong.
  28. Examine the following statements regarding the ‘Right to Information’ (RTI Act, 2005) and its…

    Examine the following statements regarding the 'Right to Information' (RTI Act, 2005) and its limitations:

    1. AOnly 2, 3 and 4
    2. BOnly 1 and 3
    3. COnly 1, 2 and 4
    4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: A

    An applicant need not state any reason for seeking information under the RTI Act, so statement 1 is wrong. Information concerning a person's life or liberty must be supplied within 48 hours, matters affecting sovereignty, integrity and strategic interests can be refused, and the Chief Information Commissioner is appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Prime Minister, so statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct.
  29. Consider the following statements regarding India’s inland water transport infrastructure:

    Consider the following statements regarding India's inland water transport infrastructure:

    1. AOnly 3
    2. BOnly 1 and 2
    3. COnly 1 and 3
    4. D1, 2 and 3
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: C

    NW-1 along the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly system from Prayagraj to Haldia is indeed the longest national waterway, so statement 1 is correct. The Jal Marg Vikas Project, backed by the World Bank, develops NW-1 on the Ganga, not the Brahmaputra (NW-2), so statement 2 is wrong. The West Coast Canal (NW-3) runs through Kerala's estuarine backwaters or Kayals, so statement 3 holds.
  30. Economic Survey 2025-26 discusses ‘Demographic Divergence’ within India. What is the meaning of the…

    Economic Survey 2025-26 discusses 'Demographic Divergence' within India. What is the meaning of the term 'Demographic Divergence'?

    1. AThe gap between number of males and females in different regions of India
    2. BThe gap between birth rates and death rates in North and South India
    3. CThe gap in educational achievements in West and East India
    4. DSome states having a young and growing workforce, while other states are facing an aging population
    Answer and explanation

    Correct answer: D

    Demographic divergence captures the widening split where southern and western states are ageing while northern states still have a young, growing workforce. This regional mismatch drives internal migration and complicates fiscal federalism and political representation.

Mains Q&A 0

No Mains Q&A from GPSC-2026 yet.