UPSC CSE Prelims · 2020
UPSC Prelims 2020 — Solved Previous Year Questions (PYQs) with Answers
All 89 solved UPSC (IAS) Prelims 2020 previous year questions, subject-wise, each with the correct answer and a detailed explanation. Click any question for its full solution.
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⚖️ Polity & Governance
- One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is
- In the context of India, which one of the following is the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy?
- The Preamble to the Constitution of India, is:
- Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporate protection against untouchability as a…
- Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/ reflects…
- Which part of the Constitution of India declares the ideal of a Welfare State?
- With reference to the provisions contained in Part IV of the Constitution of India, which of the following sta…
- In India, separation of judiciary from the executive is enjoined by
- In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following types of citizens? …
- A Parliamentary System of Government is one in which:
- A constitutional government by definition is a:
- Consider the following statements: 1. Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months. 2. The sta…
🏛️ History & Art-Culture
- With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: S.No. Famous Place Present State 1. Bhil…
- With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the …
- With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Sthaviravadins belong …
- With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Parivrajaka: Renunciant and …
- With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote
- With reference to the scholars/literatures of ancient India, consider the following statements: 1. Panini is a…
- Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of
- With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the follo…
- In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around: 1. women’s right to gain educati…
- With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Aurang - In-charge of treasury of the…
- Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because:
- With reference to the book “Desher Katha” writ- ten by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, co…
- The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was publ…
- Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the p…
- Consider the following events in the history of India: 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment…
- With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: (2020) 1. Aurang - In-charge of treasury…
- Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because: (2020)
- The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following? (2020) 1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the …
- Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi' generally referred to in the sources of the p…
- The towns of Ghantasala, Kadura, and Puhar of the Gupta dynasty were popularly known as: (UPSC 2020)
- Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? (UPSC 2020) “Whosoever praises h…
- Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the p…
- With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the …
- With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: (2020) 1. Sthaviravadins …
- With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: (UPSC-2020) 1. Parivrajaka: Ren…
- With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: (2020) 1. Parivrajak a: Renunci…
- Which of the following statements correctly explain the impact of the Industrial Revolution on India during th…
🌍 Geography
- With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. OMT is me…
- Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? 1. Nagarhole National park 2. Papikonda N…
- Siachen Glacier is situated to the :
📈 Economy
- With reference to the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalisation, consider the following statements…
- Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past? 1. Minim…
- With reference to chemical fertilisers in India, consider the following statements: 1. At present, the retail …
- In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? 1. Fixing Minimum Supp…
- Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following p…
- Consider the following statements: 1. In the case of all cereals, pulses and oil-seeds, the procurement at Min…
- The term ‘West Texas Intermediate’, sometimes found in news, refers to a grade of
- With reference to Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), which of the following statements is/are correct?…
- Consider the following statements: 1. The weightage of food in Consumer Price Index (CPI) is higher than that …
- Statement 1 is correct: Substitutes are goods that can be used in place of each other (e.g., tea and coffee). …
- With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements: 1. ‘Commercial Paper’ is a short-term…
- If another global financial crisis happens in the near future, which of the following actions/policies are mos…
- If you withdraw Rs. 1,00,000 in cash from your Demand Deposit Account at your bank, the immediate effect on ag…
- What is the importance of the term “Interest Coverage Ratio” of a firm in India? 1. It helps in understanding …
- If the RBI decides to adopt an expansionist monetary policy, which of the following would it not do? 1. Cut an…
- Consider the following statements: 1. In terms of short-term credit delivery to the agriculture sector, Distri…
- With reference to the international trade of India at present, which of the following statements is/are correc…
🌱 Environment & Ecology
- What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture? 1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is po…
- What is/are the advantage/ advantages of zero tillage in agriculture? 1. Sowing of wheat is possible without b…
- In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agricultur…
- What is the use of biochar in farming? 1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farm…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury. 2. Coal-fired power plants …
- If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the im…
- Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agri…
- In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustaina…
- Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical”…
- With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? 1. It is spread…
- Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?
- Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian s…
- Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? 1. Askot Wildl…
- With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 1. The leader of an elephant group is a…
- With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-t…
🔬 Science & Technology
- Consider the following statements: 1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sper…
- What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? 1. These vaccines are effective agai…
- With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? 1. B…
- With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct?…
- In India, under cyber insurance for individuals, which of the following benefits are generally covered, in add…
- With reference to “Blockchain Technology” consider the following statements: 1. It is a public ledger that eve…
- When reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements: 1. They can be used as carriers of drug…
- In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under “IAEA Safeguards” while others are not?
- Consider the following activities: 1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field 2. Inspecting the craters of active …
- Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells?…
- In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology. “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for
- With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements: 1. Solar power can be used for running…
- With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statemen…
🗞️ Current Affairs
- Consider the following pairs : International Agreement/Set-up Subject 1. Alma-Ata Declaration Healthcare of th…
- In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of:
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