61 previous year questions from the 1998 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 61.
Who was the leader of the Ghadar Party?
Explanation
Correct. Lala Hardayal was a key founder and ideological leader of the Ghadar Party, established in 1913 on the Pacific coast of North America.
Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding Anti-Defection Act?
Explanation
Correct. The anti-defection provisions were inserted in the Tenth Schedule by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985.
"The Congress is tottering to its fall and one of my great ambitions while in India, is to assist it to a peaceful demise." This statement is attributed to:
Explanation
Correct. Lord Curzon made this famous statement expressing his desire to see the Congress decline. His antagonism toward Indian nationalism was also evident in his decision to partition Bengal in 1905.
The Economic Survey of India is officially published by the:
Explanation
Correct. The Economic Survey is presented by the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance before the Union Budget.
The loss of Qandahar was a big blow to the Mughal Empire from the viewpoint of:
Explanation
Correct. Qandahar was a strategic stronghold that controlled the vital land routes connecting India with Persia and Central Asia. Its repeated loss to the Safavids undermined Mughal military prestige and frontier security.
Assertion (A): According to Ashoka's edicts, social harmony among the people was more important than religious devotion. Reason (R): He spread ideas of equity instead of promotion of religion.
Explanation
Correct. Ashoka's edicts consistently emphasise social harmony, tolerance and ethical conduct over sectarian religious practice. His dhamma focused on equity and moral living rather than promoting any single religion, so R correctly explains A.
Assertion (A): Phenyl is used as a household germicide. Reason (R): Phenyl is a phenol derivative and phenol is an effective germicide.
Explanation
Correct. Phenyl (white phenyl/black phenyl) is widely used as a household disinfectant. It is a phenol derivative, and phenol's germicidal properties (denaturing proteins of microorganisms) are the reason phenyl works as a germicide.
At the time of India's Independence, Mahatma Gandhi was:
Explanation
Correct. At the time of independence in August 1947, Gandhi was not formally a member of the Indian National Congress. He had given up primary membership of the party in 1934 to focus on his constructive programme.
Which one of the following statements regarding starch and cellulose is not correct?
Explanation
Correct. Starch gives a blue-black colour with iodine, but cellulose does not give a characteristic colour with iodine. Hence this statement is not correct.
Consumer equilibrium in economics refers to a situation where the consumer:
Explanation
Correct. Consumer equilibrium occurs when a consumer allocates their given income across goods and services in such a way that total utility or satisfaction is maximized, subject to the budget constraint. At this point, the marginal utility per rupee spent is equal across all goods consumed.
Assertion (A): Partition of Bengal in 1905 brought to an end the Moderates' role in the Indian freedom movement. Reason (R): The Surat session of Indian National Congress separated the Extremists from the Moderates. Select the correct answer:
Explanation
Correct. A is false because the moderates continued in the freedom movement even after 1905. R is true — the Surat session of 1907 did formally separate the extremists from the moderates.
Supply-side economics primarily emphasizes the role of:
Explanation
Correct. Supply-side economics focuses on policies that enhance the productive capacity of the economy by incentivizing producers. It advocates measures like tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government interference to boost production, investment, and employment.
Fawazil in the Sultanate period meant
Explanation
Correct. Fawazil referred to the surplus revenue that iqtadars were required to remit to the central treasury after meeting their own expenses and maintaining their troops. Alauddin Khalji was particularly strict about collecting fawazil.
Which one of the following events was characterised by Montagu as 'Preventive Murder'?
Explanation
Correct. Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, described the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 as 'preventive murder', condemning General Dyer's action of firing on unarmed civilians.
Assertion (A): The first ever Bill to make primary education compulsory in India was rejected in 1911. Reason (R): Discontent would have increased if every cultivator could read.
Explanation
Correct. Gopal Krishna Gokhale introduced a Bill for compulsory primary education in 1911, which was rejected by the Imperial Legislative Council. The colonial government feared that mass literacy among cultivators would increase political awareness and discontent against British rule, making R a correct explanation of A.
Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? I. Mrichchakatikam - Shudraka II. Buddhacharita - Vasuvandhu III. Mudrarakshasha - Vishakhadatta IV. Harshacharita - Banabhatta Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Correct. Mrichchakatikam is by Shudraka, Mudrarakshasha is by Vishakhadatta, and Harshacharita is by Banabhatta. Buddhacharita was composed by Ashvaghosha, not Vasuvandhu, making pair II incorrect.
Which one of the following languages belongs to the Austric group? [1998]
Explanation
Correct. Khasi, spoken in Meghalaya, belongs to the Austroasiatic (Austric) language family, specifically the Mon-Khmer branch.
Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? I. Theodore Beck: Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh II. Ilbert Bill: Ripon III. Pherozesha Mehta: Indian National Congress IV. Badruddin Tyabji: Muslim League
Explanation
Correct. Theodore Beck was principal of MAO College Aligarh, the Ilbert Bill was introduced under Lord Ripon's tenure, and Pherozesha Mehta was a prominent Indian National Congress leader. Pair IV is wrong as Tyabji was a Congress president.
What is the correct chronological order in which the following appeared in India? I. Gold coins II. Punch-marked silver coins III. Iron plough IV. Urban culture
Explanation
Correct. Urban culture appeared first with the Indus Valley Civilisation (c. 2600 BCE), followed by the iron plough in the later Vedic period, then punch-marked silver coins (c. 6th century BCE), and finally gold coins introduced by the Indo-Greeks and Kushans.
Consider the following statements about acetylene: 1. It is used in the welding industry. 2. It is a raw material for preparing plastics. 3. It is easily obtained by mixing silicon carbide and water. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation
Correct. Acetylene is used in oxy-acetylene welding due to its high flame temperature, and it serves as a raw material for PVC and other plastics. However, acetylene is obtained from calcium carbide (not silicon carbide) reacting with water.
What is the correct sequence of the following events? 1. The August Offer 2. The I.N.A. trial 3. The Quit India Movement 4. The Royal Indian Naval Ratings' Revolt Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Correct. The August Offer was made in 1940, the Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942, the INA trial took place at the Red Fort in 1945, and the Royal Indian Navy Revolt occurred in February 1946.
Assertion (A): Gandhi stopped the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922. Reason (R): Violence at Chauri Chaura led him to stop the movement. Select the correct answer:
Explanation
Correct. Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 after the violent incident at Chauri Chaura where a mob set fire to a police station killing 22 policemen. The violence violated his principle of non-violence.
The Indian Muslims, in general, were not attracted to the Extremist movement because of the:
Explanation
Correct. The extremists' reliance on Hindu religious symbols, festivals (like Ganapati and Shivaji festivals by Tilak), and references to a Hindu golden age alienated many Muslims from the movement.
The correct sequence of different layers of the atmosphere from the surface of the Earth upwards is:
Explanation
Correct. From the surface upward: Troposphere (0-12 km) → Stratosphere (12-50 km) → Mesosphere (50-80 km) → Ionosphere/Thermosphere (above 80 km).
Assertion (A): The Gandhara School of art bears the mark of Hellenistic influence. Reason (R): The Hinayana form of Buddhism was influenced by that art.
Explanation
Correct. The Gandhara School, flourishing under Indo-Greek and Kushan patronage, did incorporate Hellenistic artistic techniques (realistic drapery, wavy hair, naturalistic features). Hinayana Buddhism prevailed in the northwest at that time, and the early anthropomorphic Buddha images emerged in this milieu.
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