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Every question UPSC has set, on one screen.
UPSC's own papers since 2011 — Prelims GS, CSAT and Mains — with UPSC's answer keys and explanations quoted from their sources. Each square below is a subject in a year: tap one to open those questions.
Prelims GS Paper I, by subject and year
| Subject | '11 | '12 | '13 | '14 | '15 | '16 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25 | '26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy & social development | 24 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
| Environment & ecology | 16 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
| Geography | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 11 |
| Polity & governance | 6 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 22 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
| Science & technology | 17 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 13 |
| International relations & current affairs | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 21 |
| Modern India & the freedom struggle | 7 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Art & culture | 2 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| Ancient India | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Medieval India | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Tap a square: a subject in a year opens its questions, each with UPSC's answer.
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Today's Mains question
Explain the difference between computing methodology of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015. GS Paper III · 2021 · 10 marks · 150 words Write it now · 7 minutes for 150 words, by hand, as in the exam 07:00 Done? Scan it into one PDF and send it for evaluation →
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प्रारंभिक GS I · CSAT · मुख्य परीक्षा, आदर्श उत्तर सहित · निबंध
UPSC के अपने हिंदी प्रश्नपत्रों से, 2016–2026
Today's PYQ
A new one every day · tap an optionWith reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements:
- 1.Sand is a 'minor mineral' according to the prevailing law in the country.
- 2.State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.
- 3.State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct; statement 2 is wrong. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 lists ordinary sand as a minor mineral, and it is the State Government, not the Centre, that makes the rules for granting minor mineral leases (section 15) and for preventing illegal mining (section 23C).
- ✓ 1. Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act defines minor minerals as building stones, gravel, ordinary clay and ordinary sand (other than sand used for prescribed purposes), plus any mineral the Centre notifies as minor.
- ✗ 2. Section 15 says the State Government may make rules for regulating the grant of quarry leases, mining leases and other concessions for minor minerals. The rule-making power lies with the State, not the Centre.
- ✓ 3. Section 23C lets the State Government make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals.
Remember · Minor minerals (including ordinary sand) are regulated by States: they frame the leasing rules (s.15) and the anti-illegal-mining rules (s.23C). The Centre only notifies which extra minerals count as minor.
Sources
- MMDR Act, 1957, section 3(e) (Ministry of Mines) ↗ “means building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand other than sand used for prescribed purposes, and any other mineral which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a minor mineral … The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for regulating the grant of … The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·
Every paper, year by year
Pick a year: its Prelims paper (to read, or as a 2-hour timed test), CSAT and Mains.
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT and Mains papers are in the Vault from 2016.
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT and Mains papers are in the Vault from 2016.
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT and Mains papers are in the Vault from 2016.
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT and Mains papers are in the Vault from 2016.
Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT and Mains papers are in the Vault from 2016.
UPSC PYQ PDFs — free download
All 48 PDFs →Mains 2026 (Essay + GS I–IV), every GS paper topic-wise by syllabus line, every essay topic, and each year's Prelims and CSAT paper — with answers and explanations. Free; sign up once.
Quick answers
How many questions are there in UPSC Prelims GS Paper I?
100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks in two hours — two marks each. Your Prelims merit is decided by this paper.
Is CSAT qualifying?
Yes. General Studies Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying: you need 33%, that is 66 of 200 marks. Its marks are not added to your Prelims score.
Is there negative marking in UPSC Prelims?
Yes. A wrong answer costs one-third of the marks for that question (0.66 in GS Paper I, 0.83 in CSAT). A blank costs nothing; marking two answers counts as wrong.
How many marks are the UPSC Mains and interview worth?
Seven written papers count for merit — Essay, GS I–IV and two optional papers, 250 marks each, 1,750 in all — plus a 275-mark Personality Test: 2,025 in total.
When is UPSC Prelims 2027?
UPSC's annual calendar (as on 20 May 2026) lists CSE 2027 Prelims on 23 May 2027, with the notification on 13 Jan 2027. UPSC may revise these dates.
From UPSC's Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSP (Appendix I), the instructions on the test booklet, and UPSC's annual calendar.
