UPSC Prelims 2015 — solved PYQs

Question 1

The ideal of 'Welfare State' in the Indian Constitution is enshrined in its: (A) Preamble (B) Directive Principles of State Policy (C) Fundamental Rights (D) Seventh Schedule

Accepted Answer

(B) Directive Principles of State Policy — Correct. The Directive Principles of State Policy lay down the social and economic obligations of the State and are the principal constitutional basis of the welfare-state ideal, guiding governance toward social justice and material well-being.

Question 2

With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It recommended a federal government.
2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (A) 1 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) None

Accepted Answer

(A) 1 only — Correct. The Cabinet Mission Plan recommended a three-tier federal structure for India: provinces at the bottom, groups of provinces in the middle, and a union at the top dealing with defence, foreign affairs, and communications.

Question 3

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (A) 1 only (B) 2, 3 and 4 (C) 1 and 3 (D) 1, 2 and 5

Accepted Answer

(C) 1 and 3 — Correct. Mekong-Ganga Cooperation includes India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Bangladesh and China are not participants.

Question 4

Consider the following pairs:
Medieval Indian State - Present Region
1. Champaka - Central India
2. Durgara - Jammu
3. Kuluta - Malabar
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched? (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 only (C) 1 and 3 (D) 3 only

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 only — Correct. Durgara is the ancient name for the Jammu region in the western Himalayas. Champaka refers to Chamba (not Central India), and Kuluta corresponds to the Kullu valley (not Malabar).

Question 5

Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently? (A) Syria and Jordan (B) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia (C) Philippines and Papua New Guinea (D) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam

Accepted Answer

(B) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia — Correct. The 2014 West African Ebola outbreak was centred in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, killing over 11,000 people.

Question 6

There is a Parliamentary System of Government in India because the: (A) Lok Sabha is elected directly by the people. (B) Parliament can amend the Constitution. (C) Rajya Sabha cannot be dissolved. (D) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha.

Accepted Answer

(D) Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha. — Correct. The defining institutional marker of a parliamentary system is that the executive (Council of Ministers) is collectively responsible to the popularly elected lower house (Lok Sabha) and must retain its confidence to remain in office.

Question 7

Consider the following rivers:
1. Vamsadhara
2. Indravati
3. Pranahita
4. Pennar
Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari? (A) 1, 2 and 3 (B) 2, 3 and 4 (C) 1, 2 and 4 (D) 2 and 3 only

Accepted Answer

(D) 2 and 3 only — Correct. The Indravati and Pranahita are major tributaries of the Godavari. The Indravati joins the Godavari in Chhattisgarh, and the Pranahita (formed by the confluence of the Wainganga and Wardha) joins it in Maharashtra-Telangana. Vamsadhara and Pennar are independent river systems.

Question 8

Among the Eight Core Industries, which one has the highest weight in the index? (A) Coal (B) Electricity (C) Steel (D) Crude oil

Accepted Answer

(B) Electricity — Correct. Electricity generation carries the highest weight (about 19.85%) in the Eight Core Industries index.

Question 9

Which of the following pairs is correctly matched with Geographical Indication (GI) status? (A) Banaras Brocades and Sarees - GI registered (B) Tirupati Laddu - not a GI (C) Pochampally Ikat - not a GI (D) Darjeeling Tea - not a GI

Accepted Answer

(A) Banaras Brocades and Sarees - GI registered — Correct. Banaras Brocades and Sarees have GI recognition.

Question 10

Tides occur in oceans and seas due to which of the following?
1. Gravitational Force of the Sun
2. Gravitational Force of the Moon
3. Gravitational Force of the Earth
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (A) 1 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 1, 2 and 3 — Correct. Tides result from the combined gravitational effects of the Moon (primary), the Sun, and Earth's own gravitational field. The interaction of all three produces the tidal bulges.

Question 11

'Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action', often seen in the news, is: (A) A strategy to tackle the regional terrorism, an outcome of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (B) A plan of action for sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific Region, an outcome of deliberations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (C) An agenda for women's empowerment, an outcome of a World Conference convened by the United Nations (D) A strategy to combat wildlife trafficking, a declaration of the East Asia Summit

Accepted Answer

(C) An agenda for women's empowerment, an outcome of a World Conference convened by the United Nations — Correct. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action emerged from the 1995 UN Fourth World Conference on Women and remains a key framework for women's empowerment and gender equality.

Question 12

Rupee convertibility means the ability to: (A) Convert rupees freely into foreign currencies subject to the applicable convertibility regime (B) Use only gold to settle international transactions (C) Exchange rupees only within India (D) Fix the rupee permanently to the U.S. dollar

Accepted Answer

(A) Convert rupees freely into foreign currencies subject to the applicable convertibility regime — Correct. Convertibility refers to the freedom to convert domestic currency into foreign currency under the prevailing rules.

Question 13

With reference to an organization known as 'BirdLife International', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2. The concept of 'biodiversity hotspots' originated from this organization.
3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as 'Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas'.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (A) 1 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(C) 1 and 3 only — Correct. BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation NGOs (Statement 1) and it identifies Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas worldwide (Statement 3). The hotspots concept came from Norman Myers.

Question 14

The 'Fortaleza Declaration' is associated with which of the following groupings? (A) ASEAN (B) BRICS (C) OECD (D) WTO

Accepted Answer

(B) BRICS — Correct. The Fortaleza Declaration was issued at the 6th BRICS Summit in 2014, which also announced the establishment of the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

Question 15

Which one of the following best captures the purpose of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) in the sugar sector? (A) To set a support price for sugarcane that sugar mills are expected to pay farmers (B) To regulate the retail price of tea (C) To fix import tariff on crude oil (D) To determine the exchange rate of the rupee

Accepted Answer

(A) To set a support price for sugarcane that sugar mills are expected to pay farmers — Correct. FRP is the benchmark price fixed for sugarcane payable by sugar mills to farmers.

Question 16

With reference to 'fuel cells' in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements:
1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products.
2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers.
3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(A) 1 only — Correct. When pure hydrogen reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell, the only by-products are heat and water. Fuel cells can power devices of all sizes (not just buildings), and they produce DC, not AC.

Question 17

The Index of Eight Core Industries covers which of the following?
1. Coal
2. Crude oil
3. Natural gas
4. Refinery products
5. Fertilizers
6. Steel
7. Cement
8. Electricity
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (A) 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 only (B) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 (C) 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 only (D) 2, 4, 6 and 8 only

Accepted Answer

(B) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 — Correct. All eight listed industries form the Index of Eight Core Industries, with electricity having the highest weight.

Question 18

Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea? (A) Syria (B) Jordan (C) Lebanon (D) Israel

Accepted Answer

(B) Jordan — Correct. Jordan is the only country among the options that does not have a Mediterranean coastline. Its only sea access is through the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea.

Question 19

The provisions in the Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to: (A) Protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes (B) Determine the boundaries between States (C) Determine the powers, authorities, and responsibilities of Panchayats (D) Protect the interests of all the border States

Accepted Answer

(A) Protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes — Correct. The Fifth and Sixth Schedules create special administrative arrangements for tribal areas and tribal populations, especially Scheduled Tribes. The Fifth Schedule covers Scheduled Areas in most States, while the Sixth Schedule covers autonomous tribal regions in the northeastern States.

Question 20

With reference to the use of nanotechnology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology.
2. Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Accepted Answer

(C) Both 1 and 2 — Correct. Nanoparticles enable targeted drug delivery to specific cells/tissues, and they also serve as non-viral vectors for gene therapy by carrying therapeutic DNA into cells.

Question 21

Which one of the following is the best explanation of the Seed Village concept? (A) A programme to train farmers in producing and maintaining quality seeds locally (B) A policy for shifting all villages to plantation crops only (C) An urban warehousing initiative for imported food items (D) A social forestry programme unrelated to agriculture

Accepted Answer

(A) A programme to train farmers in producing and maintaining quality seeds locally — Correct. The Seed Village concept aims to encourage local production and timely availability of quality seeds through trained farmers.

Question 22

Which one of the following is the best description of the term 'ecosystem'? (A) A community of organisms interacting with one another (B) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organisms (C) A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live (D) The flora and fauna of a geographical area

Accepted Answer

(C) A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live — Correct. An ecosystem comprises both the community of living organisms (biotic) and the physical environment (abiotic factors) they interact with.

Question 23

With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements:
1. The rate of growth of Real Gross Domestic Product has steadily increased in the last decade.
2. The Gross Domestic Product at market prices (in rupees) has steadily increased in the last decade.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 only — Correct. Nominal GDP at market prices (in rupees) generally shows a steady upward trend because it reflects both real economic growth and inflation. Even when real growth fluctuates, the combined effect of positive real growth and general price increases leads to a steady rise in nominal GDP.

Question 24

What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture?
1. Proliferation of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in soil can occur.
2. Increase in the acidity of soil can take place.
3. Leaching of nitrate to the ground-water can occur.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (A) 1 and 3 only (B) 2 only (C) 2 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(C) 2 and 3 only — Correct. Ammonium-based fertilizers release hydrogen ions during nitrification, acidifying soil, and excess nitrate leaches into groundwater causing pollution.

Question 25

Which one of the following movements contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'? (A) Swadeshi Movement (B) Quit India Movement (C) Non-Cooperation Movement (D) Civil Disobedience Movement

Accepted Answer

(A) Swadeshi Movement — Correct. The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) sharpened differences over strategy and pace of agitation, culminating in the Surat split between moderates and extremists in 1907.

UPSC Prelims 2015 — solved PYQs

2015 PYQs by subject

Solved questions

Other years

Keep preparing

Practise 2015 questions