UPSC Prelims 2021 — solved PYQs

Question 1

With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous: (A) Jain monks (B) Playwrights (C) Temple architects (D) Philosophers

Accepted Answer

(B) Playwrights — Correct. Bhavabhuti (8th century) was a major Sanskrit dramatist who wrote Malatimadhava, Mahaviracharita and Uttararamacharita. Hastimalla was a Jain poet-playwright, and Kshemeshvara authored plays including Chandakausika. All three are recognised as playwrights.

Question 2

Consider the following statements:
1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
2. The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
3. The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 and 3 only — Correct. Oil palm originated in West Africa, though Southeast Asia now dominates production. Palm oil is widely used in cosmetics (lipstick, perfumes) and can be processed into biodiesel.

Question 3

With reference to the post-Gupta period, which of the following dynasties had established their dominance over large parts of North India before the rise of Harsha?
1. The Guptas of Magadha
2. The Paramaras of Malwa
3. The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
4. The Maukharis of Kanauj
5. The Yadavas of Devagiri
6. The Maitrakas of Valabhi
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (A) 1, 2 and 5 (B) 1, 3, 4 and 6 (C) 2, 3 and 4 (D) 5 and 6

Accepted Answer

(B) 1, 3, 4 and 6 — Correct. In the post-Gupta transition (6th-7th century), the Later Guptas of Magadha, Pushyabhutis of Thanesar, Maukharis of Kanauj, and Maitrakas of Valabhi were the major powers in North India. Harsha himself came from the Pushyabhuti dynasty.

Question 4

With reference to urban cooperative banks, consider the following statements:
1. Their banking functions are regulated by the RBI.
2. They are free to issue equity shares to the public like listed commercial banks without restrictions.
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

(A) 1 only — Correct. RBI regulates the banking aspects of urban cooperative banks, but they are not freely listed entities issuing public equity like commercial banks.

Question 5

Which of the following is the most inflationary method of financing a government's budget deficit? (A) Creation of new money to finance the deficit (B) Borrowing from the public through government bonds (C) Raising income tax rates (D) Repaying existing public debt

Accepted Answer

(A) Creation of new money to finance the deficit — Correct. Monetization of the deficit directly increases money supply without a corresponding rise in output, making it the most inflationary financing method.

Question 6

Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English? [2021] (A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (B) Jawaharlal Nehru (C) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (D) Sarojini Naidu

Accepted Answer

(C) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi — Correct. Gandhi translated devotional and religious verses in prison, and Songs from Prison is associated with that body of reflective translation work.

Question 7

Which one of the following best defines the term 'State'? (A) A community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory, independent of external control and possessing an organized government (B) A politically organized people of a definite territory and possessing an authority to govern them, maintain law and order, protect natural rights and safeguard sustenance (C) A number of persons living in a definite territory for a very long time with their own culture, tradition and government (D) A society permanently living in a definite territory with a central authority, an executive responsible to the central authority and an independent judiciary

Accepted Answer

(A) A community of persons permanently occupying a definite territory, independent of external control and possessing an organized government — Correct. In political theory, a State is classically defined by four core elements: population, territory, government, and sovereignty (independence from external control). Option (a) captures all four essential features most accurately.

Question 8

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State
2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire
3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 only (C) 2 and 3 (D) 3 only

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 only — Correct. Only statement 2 is accurate. The Mysore Kingdom emerged within the framework of the declining Vijayanagara Empire, with the Wodeyar dynasty establishing themselves as the rulers of Mysore from the breakup of the Vijayanagara polity.

Question 9

Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship:
1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both 1 and 2 (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Accepted Answer

(D) Neither 1 nor 2 — Correct. The inaugural World Test Championship standings used percentage of available points, not simple match-win counts, making both statements incorrect.

Question 10

'Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare. Apart from trees, the vegetation is largely composed of plant forms that reach up into the canopy vicariously, by climbing the trees or growing as epiphytes, rooted on the upper branches of trees'. This is the most likely description of: (A) Coniferous forest (B) Dry deciduous forest (C) Mangrove forest (D) Tropical rainforest

Accepted Answer

(D) Tropical rainforest — Correct. Tropical rainforests have the fastest decomposition rates due to high temperature and humidity, leaving bare soil. Climbing plants (lianas) and epiphytes competing for canopy light are hallmark features.

Question 11

Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because: (A) It is dipolar in nature (B) It is a good conductor of heat (C) It has high value of specific heat (D) It is an oxide of hydrogen

Accepted Answer

(A) It is dipolar in nature — Correct. Water molecules are dipolar (have partial positive and negative charges), enabling them to surround and dissolve a wide range of ionic and polar substances, making water the 'universal solvent'.

Question 12

With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of: (A) Glaciers (B) Mangrove areas (C) Ramsar sites (D) Saline lakes

Accepted Answer

(D) Saline lakes — Correct. Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are all saline or salt lakes located in the arid region of Rajasthan. They are remnants of the Tethys Sea or formed by endorheic drainage in the Thar Desert.

Question 13

In the context of Indian government securities, which one of the following correctly describes the 'Retail Direct' facility? (A) It enables retail investors to open gilt accounts directly with the RBI (B) It allows only banks to buy newly issued government securities (C) It is a platform meant only for foreign portfolio investors (D) It replaces the need for primary dealers in G-Sec auctions

Accepted Answer

(A) It enables retail investors to open gilt accounts directly with the RBI — Correct. Retail Direct allows individual investors to maintain gilt accounts with the RBI and invest in government securities directly.

Question 14

Which of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with other organisms?
1. Cnidarians
2. Fungi
3. Protozoa
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 1, 2 and 3 — Correct. Cnidarians (e.g., corals with zooxanthellae), fungi (e.g., mycorrhiza, lichens), and protozoa (e.g., gut flagellates in termites) all have well-known symbiotic species.

Question 15

Consider the following statements:
1. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (A) 1 and 2 only (B) 2 and 3 only (C) 1 and 3 only (D) 1, 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(C) 1 and 3 only — Correct. Francis Xavier was one of the seven original founders of the Jesuit Order in 1534 (statement 1). He did not die in Goa — he died on Shangchuan Island near China in 1552 (statement 2 is wrong). The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated annually in Goa on December 3rd (statement 3).

Question 16

With reference to India, consider the following statements:
1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile.
2. Only a citizen by birth can become the Head of State.
3. A foreigner once granted citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) 1 and 3 (D) 2 and 3

Accepted Answer

(A) 1 only — Correct. India follows the principle of single citizenship and single domicile. Unlike federal countries such as the USA, there is no separate State citizenship in India.

Question 17

Consider the following animals:
1. Hedgehog
2. Marmot
3. Pangolin
To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up and protects its vulnerable parts? (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 only (C) 3 only (D) 1 and 3

Accepted Answer

(D) 1 and 3 — Correct. Both hedgehogs and pangolins roll into a ball when threatened. Hedgehogs expose their sharp spines, and pangolins present their tough keratin scales. Marmots escape by running into burrows.

Question 18

With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct? (A) The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC (B) The Viceroy's Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians (C) The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces (D) Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over

Accepted Answer

(A) The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC — Correct. On 8 August 1942, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) met at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay and adopted the historic Quit India Resolution, demanding an immediate end to British rule in India.

Question 19

Consider the following statements:
1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
Select the correct answer using the code given below. (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 only (C) 1 and 3 (D) 3 only

Accepted Answer

(B) 2 only — Correct. The central distinction between the two systems is that under Mitakshara, sons acquire a right in ancestral property by birth (coparcenary right during the father's lifetime), while under Dayabhaga, sons can claim property only after the father's death. Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect.

Question 20

Which one of the following is most likely to increase the money multiplier in an economy? (A) An increase in the Cash Reserve Ratio (B) An increase in the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (C) An increase in banking habits of the people (D) A sharp rise in import duties

Accepted Answer

(C) An increase in banking habits of the people — Correct. Greater banking habits raise the deposit base relative to cash holdings and support a larger money multiplier.

Question 21

Constitutional government means: (A) A representative government of a nation with federal structure (B) A government whose Head enjoys nominal powers (C) A government whose Head enjoys real powers (D) A government limited by the terms of the Constitution

Accepted Answer

(D) A government limited by the terms of the Constitution — Correct. A constitutional government is one in which power is limited and regulated by a constitution. The defining element is legal restraint on government authority, regardless of whether the system is parliamentary, presidential, federal, or unitary.

Question 22

The 'Common Carbon Metric', supported by UNEP, has been developed for: (A) Assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world (B) Enabling commercial farming entities around the world to enter carbon emission trading (C) Enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries (D) Assessing the overall carbon footprint caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in a unit time

Accepted Answer

(A) Assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world — Correct. The Common Carbon Metric, developed with UNEP support, provides a standardized methodology to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions from building operations globally.

Question 23

Which of the following can be included in the category of Foreign Direct Investment?
1. Foreign currency convertible bonds
2. Foreign institutional investor investment with certain conditions
3. Global depository receipts
4. Non-resident external deposits (A) 1, 2 and 3 (B) 3 only (C) 2 and 4 (D) 1 and 4

Accepted Answer

(A) 1, 2 and 3 — Correct. FCCBs, qualified FII investment above a threshold, and GDRs can all be counted as part of FDI under RBI guidelines, depending on the nature and extent of the investment.

Question 24

With reference to India, consider the following statements:
1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such accused is locked up in a police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without approval of the court.
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. During judicial custody, the accused is lodged in jail, and the investigating officer must obtain the court's permission to interrogate the suspect. This safeguard protects the accused from coercive police action.

Question 25

Government bond yields generally tend to rise when: (A) Expected inflation hardens and central banks tighten liquidity (B) Bond prices rise sharply because of excess demand (C) Investors flee toward safety in large numbers (D) There is no borrowing requirement from the government

Accepted Answer

(A) Expected inflation hardens and central banks tighten liquidity — Correct. Higher inflation expectations and tighter monetary conditions usually push yields upward.

UPSC Prelims 2021 — solved PYQs

2021 PYQs by subject

Solved questions

Other years

Practise the full 2021 paper

UPSC Prelims 2021 — solved PYQs

2021 PYQs by subject

Solved questions

Other years

Practise the full 2021 paper