UPSC Civil Services Prelims
2,313+ solved PYQs spanning 1995-2025 — tagged by subject and year, each with option-by-option explanations.
Which among the following ports was called Babul Makka (Gate of Mecca) during the Mughal Period?
Explanation
Correct. Surat was called Babul Makka (Gate of Mecca) because it was the principal port from which Indian Muslims embarked on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It was also the chief commercial port of the Mughal Empire.
Consider the following international agreements: 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 3. The World Heritage Convention Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity?
Explanation
Correct. All three agreements bear on biodiversity: the plant genetic resources treaty conserves crop diversity, UNCCD tackles land degradation affecting ecosystems, and the World Heritage Convention protects natural heritage sites.
Which one of the following institutions publishes the Global Financial Stability Report?
Explanation
Correct. The IMF publishes the Global Financial Stability Report to assess vulnerabilities in the world financial system.
Consider the following events during India's freedom struggle: 1. Chauri Chaura Outrage 2. Minto-Morley Reforms 3. Dandi March 4. Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the events given above?
Explanation
Correct. Minto-Morley Reforms (1909), Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919), Chauri Chaura Outrage (1922), Dandi March (1930) is the correct chronological order.
The Parliament can make any law for the whole or any part of India for implementing international treaties:
Explanation
Correct. Article 253 empowers Parliament to legislate for implementing treaties, agreements, or international decisions even on matters otherwise in the State List, without needing any State consent. This was repeated as a PYQ in both 2000 and 2013.
The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What is/are the importance of discovering this particle? 1. It will enable us to understand as to why elementary particles have mass. 2. It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them. 3. It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear fission. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Explanation
Correct. The Higgs boson is associated with the Higgs field, which gives elementary particles their mass. Statements 2 and 3 are science fiction with no basis in the Standard Model.
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