54 previous year questions from the 1997 UPSC Prelims paper, organised by subject — each solved with option-by-option explanations.
A selection of 25 solved questions — sign up free to practise all 54.
Who among the following was associated with the suppression of Thugs?
Explanation
Correct. Captain William Henry Sleeman led the anti-Thug campaign in central India during the 1830s. He served as General Superintendent for the Suppression of Thuggee and systematically dismantled the Thug network.
"A graduate at 18, professor and associated editor of the Sudharak at 20, Secretary of the Sarvajanik Sabha and of the Provincial Conference at 25, Secretary of the National Congress at 29, leading witness before an important Royal Commission at 31, Provincial legislator at 34, Imperial legislator at 36, President of the Indian National Congress at 39…… a patriot whom Mahatma Gandhi himself regarded as his master." This is how a biographer describes:
Explanation
Correct. The description matches Gopal Krishna Gokhale's career perfectly — his early academic brilliance, work with the Sarvajanik Sabha, role in Congress, testimony before the Welby Commission, and especially that Gandhi regarded Gokhale as his political guru.
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? [1997]
Explanation
Correct. The Sundari tree (Heritiera fomes) is the characteristic species of the Sundarbans mangrove forest in West Bengal, and the region is named after this tree.
The Human Development Index includes, alongside literacy and life expectancy at birth:
Explanation
Correct. The income dimension of the HDI uses Gross National Income (GNI) per capita measured in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. The PPP adjustment ensures that the measure reflects actual purchasing power rather than nominal exchange rate values. This allows for more meaningful comparison of living standards across countries with different price levels.
The following are the major oilseeds produced in India: I. Sesamum II. Mustard III. Groundnut IV. Soyabean Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the descending order of the quantity of their production?
Explanation
Correct. In terms of production volume, the descending order is Soyabean (largest), Groundnut, Mustard (rapeseed), and Sesamum (smallest).
Assertion (A): The reservation of thirty-three per cent of seats for women in Parliament and State Legislatures does not require Constitutional amendment. Reason (R): Political parties contesting elections can allocate thirty-three per cent of seats they contest to women candidates without any Constitutional amendment. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Correct. A is false because reserving seats in the legislature changes the constitutional-electoral framework and requires a constitutional amendment. R is true because political parties can voluntarily field more women candidates without any amendment.
The Sixth and the Eighth Five Year Plans covered the periods 1980-85 and 1992-97 respectively. The Seventh Five Year Plan covered the period:
Explanation
Correct. The Seventh Five Year Plan covered 1985-90.
The medieval Indian writer who refers to the discovery of America is
Explanation
Correct. Abul Fazl, the author of Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama, was a learned scholar of Akbar's court who mentioned the discovery of the New World (America) in his writings, reflecting the cosmopolitan knowledge of the Mughal court.
Daily weather map showing isobars is an example of:
Explanation
Correct. An isopleth map uses lines connecting points of equal value. Isobars are lines of equal atmospheric pressure, making a weather map with isobars a classic example of an isopleth map.
The head of the military department under the reorganised central machinery of administration during Akbar's reign was:
Explanation
Correct. The Mir Bakshi was the head of the military department (pay and organisation) under Akbar's reorganised central administration. He maintained the official rolls of mansabdars and supervised intelligence networks.
Minimum Alternative Tax was introduced in the Budget of:
Explanation
Correct. Minimum Alternative Tax (MAT) was introduced in the Budget of 1996-97 to bring zero-tax companies into the tax net by requiring them to pay a minimum amount of tax.
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer: List I (Committee/Commission) — List II (Purpose) I. Butler Committee — II. Hurtog Committee — III. Hunter Inquiry Committee — IV. Muddiman Committee A) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Report — B) Relationship between Indian States and Paramount Power — C) Working of Dyarchy — D) Growth of education in British India
Explanation
Correct. Butler Committee examined Indian States-Paramount Power relations (B), Hurtog Committee reported on education (D), Hunter Committee investigated the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (A), and Muddiman Committee reviewed the working of Dyarchy (C).
The Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended:
Explanation
Correct. The Dinesh Goswami Committee on electoral reforms (1990) examined the role of money power in elections and recommended limited state funding of elections.
Antigen is a substance which:
Explanation
Correct. An antigen is a foreign molecule that triggers the immune system to mount a response, including the production of antibodies.
In the Presidential election in India, every elected member of the Legislative Assembly of a State shall have as many votes as there are multiples of one thousand in the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the State by the total number of the elected members of the Assembly. The expression 'population' here means the population as ascertained by the:
Explanation
Correct. Due to the population-freeze regime, presidential vote values continued to use the 1971 Census figures. The 42nd Amendment froze the population basis at 1971 for this purpose, later extended by the 84th Amendment until 2026.
Which one of the following techniques can be used to establish the paternity of a child?
Explanation
Correct. DNA fingerprinting analyses variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) or short tandem repeats (STRs) that are unique to individuals, enabling paternity determination.
The Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in Vikrama Samvat, the year would be:
Explanation
Correct. The Saka era begins in 78 A.D. and the Vikrama Samvat in 57 B.C. So Saka 465 = 78 + 465 = 543 A.D. Converting to Vikrama Samvat: 543 + 57 = 600 (approximately 601, accounting for calendar reckoning differences).
'...They are people of yellow complexion, oblique eyes, high cheek bones, sparse hair and medium height.' The reference here is to:
Explanation
Correct. The description of yellow complexion, oblique eyes, high cheek bones, sparse hair and medium height precisely matches the physical characteristics of the Mongoloid racial group.
After consolidating his power, Balban assumed the grand title of:
Explanation
Correct. Balban assumed the title Zil-i-Ilahi ('Shadow of God') to project the idea of divine right of kingship and to elevate the prestige of the sultanate above the nobility.
Assertion (A): The sponsor and the most prominent figure of the Chishti order of Sufis in India is Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Reason (R): The Chishti order takes its name from a village Chishti in Ajmer.
Explanation
Correct. A is true — Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was indeed the founder and most prominent figure of the Chishti order in India, settling in Ajmer. R is false — the Chishti order derives its name from the town of Chisht in Afghanistan, not from Ajmer.
Which one of the following involves solo performance? [1997]
Explanation
Correct. Mohiniyattam is traditionally and distinctively a solo dance form performed exclusively by women, characterised by its graceful, swaying movements.
Which one of the following statements regarding Ashokan stone pillars is INCORRECT?
Explanation
Correct — this is the incorrect statement. Unlike Greek columns, Ashokan pillars are free-standing monolithic structures, not part of a larger architectural complex such as a building or temple. They stand independently in the open.
What is the correct chronological sequence of the following? I. Wood's Education Despatch II. Macaulay's Minute on Education III. The Sargeant Education Report IV. Indian Education (Hunter Commission)
Explanation
Correct. Macaulay's Minute was in 1835, Wood's Despatch in 1854, the Hunter Commission in 1882, and the Sargeant Report in 1944. The sequence II, I, IV, III is chronologically accurate.
Assertion (A): Willful disobedience or non-compliance of Court Orders and use of derogatory language about judicial behaviour amounts to Contempt of Court. Reason (R): Judicial activism cannot be practised without arming the judiciary with punitive powers to punish contemptuous behaviour.
Explanation
Correct. The assertion correctly states what contempt can include, but the reason is not the legal explanation for why contempt exists in constitutional law. The power protects the administration of justice and the dignity of courts, not judicial activism as such.
Which one of the following conditions is most relevant for the presence of life on Mars?
Explanation
Correct. The presence of water is the most fundamental prerequisite for life as we know it. Mars's polar ice caps and subsurface frozen water provide the strongest evidence for potential past or present habitability.
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