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Previous Year Questions/UPSC Prelims 2005

UPSC Prelims 2005 — solved PYQs

47 previous year questions from the 2005 UPSC Prelims paper, organised by subject — each solved with option-by-option explanations.

2005 PYQs by subject

  • Current Affairs2 PYQs
  • Indian Economy2 PYQs
  • Environment2 PYQs
  • Geography14 PYQs
  • History & Culture20 PYQs
  • Polity & Governance2 PYQs
  • Science5 PYQs

Solved questions

A selection of 25 solved questions — sign up free to practise all 47.

Q1History & Culture·Gandhian Era (1919-1939)PYQ 2005

Which party was founded by Subhas Chandra Bose in the year 1939 after he broke away from the Congress?

  • AIndian Freedom Party
  • BAzad Hind Fauj
  • CRevolutionary Front
  • DForward BlocCorrect

Explanation

Correct. After his differences with Gandhi and the Congress leadership, Bose founded the Forward Bloc in 1939 as a faction within the Congress that eventually became an independent party.

Q2History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 2005

Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the battles fought in India in the 18th Century?

  • ABattle of Wandiwash, Battle of Buxar, Battle of Ambur, Battle of Plassey
  • BBattle of Ambur, Battle of Plassey, Battle of Wandiwash, Battle of BuxarCorrect
  • CBattle of Wandiwash, Battle of Plassey, Battle of Ambur, Battle of Buxar
  • DBattle of Ambur, Battle of Buxar, Battle of Wandiwash, Battle of Plassey

Explanation

Correct. The Battle of Ambur was fought in 1749, the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the Battle of Wandiwash in 1760, and the Battle of Buxar in 1764.

Q3History & Culture·Late Freedom Struggle (1939-1947)PYQ 2005

Consider the following statements: On the eve of the launch of the Quit India Movement, Mahatma Gandhi: 1. Asked the government servants to resign. 2. Asked the soldiers to leave their posts. 3. Asked the Princes of the Princely States to accept the sovereignty of their own people. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  • A1 and 2
  • B2 and 3
  • C3 onlyCorrect
  • D1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Correct. On the eve of the Quit India Movement, Gandhi specifically appealed to the Princes of the Princely States to accept the sovereignty of their people. He did not ask government servants to resign or soldiers to desert.

Q4Geography·World Physical GeographyPYQ 2005

Where are the Balearic Islands located?

  • AMediterranean SeaCorrect
  • BBlack Sea
  • CBaltic Sea
  • DNorth Sea

Explanation

Correct. The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera) are a Spanish archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea.

Q5Indian Economy·Financial MarketsPYQ 2005

Which one of the following statements about Sensex was correct in the older UPSC framing?

  • ASensex was not based on 50 stocks, and the other listed statements were also not all correctCorrect
  • BSensex was a 50-stock index and NYSE was not old
  • CSensex assigned equal weights to all constituent shares
  • DSensex measured agricultural prices in urban centers

Explanation

Correct. The historical UPSC statement set treated the given combination as incorrect; Sensex was not a 50-stock index then and the accompanying claims were not fully valid.

Q6History & Culture·Gandhian Era (1919-1939)PYQ 2005

In October 1920, who of the following headed a group of Indians gathered at Tashkent to set up a Communist Party of India?

  • AH. K. Sarkar
  • BP. C. Joshi
  • CM. C. Chagla
  • DM. N. RoyCorrect

Explanation

Correct. M. N. Roy, along with other revolutionaries, founded the Communist Party of India at Tashkent in October 1920.

Q7Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2005

Assertion (A): Wind patterns are clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the southern hemisphere. Reason (R): The directions of wind patterns in the northern and the southern hemisphere are governed by the Coriolis effect.

  • ABoth (A) and (R) are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
  • BBoth (A) and (R) are individually true and R is not the correct explanation of A
  • CA is true but R is false
  • DA is false but R is trueCorrect

Explanation

Correct. The assertion is false because it oversimplifies — in the Northern Hemisphere, winds spiral anticlockwise around cyclones but clockwise around anticyclones. The reverse applies in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis effect (Reason) is indeed the governing factor.

Q8Environment·International Environmental ConventionsPYQ 2005

Which of the following statements is correct? (a) The first meeting of the Parties (MOP 1) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was held in Philippines in 2004. (b) India is not a signatory to the Biosafety Protocol/Convention on Biological Diversity. (c) The Biosafety Protocol deals with genetically modified organisms. (d) The United States of America is a member of the Biosafety Protocol/Convention on Biological Diversity.

  • AThe first meeting of the Parties (MOP 1) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was held in Philippines in 2004
  • BIndia is not a signatory to the Biosafety Protocol/Convention on Biological Diversity
  • CThe Biosafety Protocol deals with genetically modified organismsCorrect
  • DThe United States of America is a member of the Biosafety Protocol/Convention on Biological Diversity

Explanation

Correct. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a supplementary agreement to the CBD, specifically addresses the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (GMOs).

Q9History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2005

What was Komagata Maru?

  • AA political party based in Taiwan
  • BA peasant communist leader of China
  • CA naval ship on voyage to CanadaCorrect
  • DA Chinese village where Mao Tse Tung began his Long March

Explanation

Correct. The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship chartered by Gurdit Singh in 1914 carrying Indian passengers (mostly Sikhs) to Canada. It was turned away due to racist immigration laws, and the incident became a landmark in the Indian freedom movement.

Q10Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2005

For which one of the following is Satara well-known?

  • AThermal power plantCorrect
  • BWind energy plant
  • CHydroelectric plant
  • DNuclear power plant

Explanation

Correct. Satara in Maharashtra was known for its thermal power generation facility as per the original UPSC answer key from 2005.

Q11Geography·Places in News and Map-Based GeographyPYQ 2005

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given towns of Pakistan while moving from the north towards the south?

  • AIslamabad - Gujranwala - Peshawar - Multan
  • BPeshawar - Gujranwala - Multan - Islamabad
  • CPeshawar - Islamabad - Gujranwala - MultanCorrect
  • DIslamabad - Multan - Peshawar - Gujranwala

Explanation

Correct. Moving north to south: Peshawar (about 34°N), Islamabad (about 33.7°N), Gujranwala (about 32.2°N), Multan (about 30.2°N).

Q12Polity & Governance·Philosophy of the ConstitutionPYQ 2005

Consider the following statements: 1. Articles 371A to 371I were inserted in the Constitution of India to meet regional demands of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa. 2. Constitutions of India and the United States of America envisage a dual polity but a single citizenship. 3. A naturalised citizen of India can never be deprived of his citizenship. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  • A1, 2 and 3
  • B1 and 3
  • C3 only
  • D1 onlyCorrect

Explanation

Correct. Articles 371A to 371I were indeed inserted to address region-specific demands of the listed States. Statement 2 is wrong because the US has dual citizenship (federal and State), and Statement 3 is wrong because a naturalised citizen can be deprived of citizenship under the Citizenship Act.

Q13History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 2005

Who among the following repealed the Vernacular Press Act?

  • ALord Dufferin
  • BLord RiponCorrect
  • CLord Curzon
  • DLord Hardinge

Explanation

Correct. Lord Ripon repealed the Vernacular Press Act in 1882. The Act had been passed in 1878 under Lord Lytton to muzzle the Indian-language press. Ripon's repeal earned him great popularity among Indians.

Q14Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2005

Which pair is not correctly matched? Project — Company

  • AIntegrated Steel Plant at Jaipur (Orissa) — Steel Authority of IndiaCorrect
  • BPower Plant at Jamnagar (Gujarat) — Essar Power
  • CNabinagar Power Plant (Bihar) — Indian Railways
  • DKayamkulam Power Plant (Kerala) — National Thermal Power Corporation

Explanation

Correct — this pair is NOT correctly matched. The SAIL-operated integrated steel plant in Odisha is not at 'Jaipur' but at Rourkela. The question tests knowledge of major project locations and their operating entities.

Q15History & Culture·Gandhian Era (1919-1939)PYQ 2005

Consider the following statements: The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for: 1. The provincial autonomy. 2. The establishment of Federal Court. 3. All India Federation at the centre. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A1 and 2
  • B2 and 3
  • C1 and 3
  • D1, 2 and 3Correct

Explanation

Correct. The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for all three: provincial autonomy replacing dyarchy, a Federal Court, and an All India Federation at the centre (though the federation never materialised as princely states did not join).

Q16Geography·Earth Structure and GeomorphologyPYQ 2005

Assertion (A): The same face of the Moon is always presented to the Earth. Reason (R): The Moon rotates about its own axis in 23 days which is about the same time that it takes to orbit the Earth.

  • ABoth A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
  • BBoth A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • CA is true, but R is falseCorrect
  • DA is false, but R is true

Explanation

Correct. The same face of the Moon is always visible from Earth (tidally locked). However, the reason is false because the Moon's rotation period is about 27.3 days (not 23 days), which equals its orbital period around Earth.

Q17Geography·Indian Climate and MonsoonPYQ 2005

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given Indian cities in the decreasing order of their normal annual rainfall?

  • AKochi, Kolkata, Delhi, Patna
  • BKolkata, Kochi, Patna, Delhi
  • CKochi, Kolkata, Patna, DelhiCorrect
  • DKolkata, Kochi, Delhi, Patna

Explanation

Correct. Kochi on the windward side of the Western Ghats receives roughly 3,000 mm, Kolkata about 1,600 mm, Patna about 1,100 mm, and Delhi about 790 mm annually.

Q18History & Culture·Late Freedom Struggle (1939-1947)PYQ 2005

Consider the following statements: 1. Lord Mountbatten was the Viceroy when the Simla Conference took place. 2. Indian Navy Revolt, 1946 took place when the Indian sailors in the Royal Indian Navy at Bombay and Karachi rose against the Government. Which of the statements is/are correct?

  • A1 only
  • B2 onlyCorrect
  • CBoth 1 and 2
  • DNeither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Correct. Statement 1 is wrong because the Simla Conference (1945) took place under Viceroy Lord Wavell, not Mountbatten. Statement 2 is correct as the Royal Indian Navy Revolt of February 1946 began in Bombay and spread to Karachi and other naval establishments.

Q19Geography·Earth Structure and GeomorphologyPYQ 2005

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given continents in the decreasing order of their percentage of Earth's land?

  • ANorth America, Africa, South America, Europe
  • BAfrica, North America, South America, EuropeCorrect
  • CNorth America, Africa, Europe, South America
  • DAfrica, North America, Europe, South America

Explanation

Correct. Africa (30.37 million km², ~20.4%) > North America (24.71 million km², ~16.5%) > South America (17.84 million km², ~12%) > Europe (10.18 million km², ~6.8%).

Q20History & Culture·Advent of Europeans and Company RulePYQ 2005

Which one of the following is the correct statement?

  • AThe modern Kochi was a Dutch colony till India's independence.
  • BThe Dutch defeated the Portuguese and built Fort Williams in the modern Kochi.
  • CThe modern Kochi was first a Dutch colony before the Portuguese took over from them.
  • DModern Kochi never became a part of the British colony.Correct

Explanation

Correct. Modern Kochi was under the princely state of Cochin, which was never directly part of British colonial territory. It maintained its status as a princely state under British paramountcy until Indian independence.

Q21History & Culture·Revolutionary, Tribal and Peasant MovementsPYQ 2005

Where were the Ghadar revolutionaries, who became active during the outbreak of World War I, based?

  • ACentral America
  • BNorth AmericaCorrect
  • CWest America
  • DSouth America

Explanation

Correct. The Ghadar Party was founded in 1913 and based in North America, primarily on the Pacific coast of the United States and Canada, with San Francisco as a key centre.

Q22Current Affairs·Defence, Space and Security in NewsPYQ 2005

Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

  • ASouthern Air Command — Thiruvananthapuram
  • BEastern Naval Command — Visakhapatnam
  • CArmoured Corps Centre and School — JabalpurCorrect
  • DArmy Medical Corps Centre and School — Lucknow

Explanation

Correct. The Armoured Corps Centre and School is located in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, not Jabalpur.

Q23Science·General Science Mixed ConceptsPYQ 2005

Assertion (A): All the proteins in our food are digested and absorbed as amino acids. Reason (R): The__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(pancreatic__(__(__(__(__(__(juice contains__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(the__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(proteolytic__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(enzyme__(__(__(__(__(__(__(trypsinogen which is released into the small intestine. Select the correct answer.

  • ABoth A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
  • BBoth A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of ACorrect
  • CA is true but R is false
  • DA is false but R is true

Explanation

Correct. Proteins are indeed broken down into amino acids for absorption (A is true). Pancreatic juice does contain trypsinogen (R is true). However, R does not fully explain A because protein digestion involves multiple enzymes including pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin and peptidases.

Q24History & Culture·Gandhian Era (1919-1939)PYQ 2005

Who among the following drafted the resolution of fundamental rights for the Karachi Session of Congress in 1931?

  • ADr. B. R. Ambedkar
  • BPandit Jawaharlal NehruCorrect
  • CDr. Rajendra Prasad
  • DSardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Explanation

Correct. Jawaharlal Nehru drafted the resolution on fundamental rights adopted at the Karachi session of 1931, presided over by Sardar Patel.

Q25History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2005

Who among the following was a proponent of Fabianism as a movement?

  • AAnnie BesantCorrect
  • BA.O. Hume
  • CMichael Madhusudan Dutt
  • DR. Palme Dutt

Explanation

Correct. Annie Besant was associated with the Fabian Society in England before coming to India. She was involved in progressive socialist politics and labour reform in Britain.

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