UPSC PRELIMS · 2021

UPSC Prelims 2021: sample questions with answers

The 2021 GS-I paper leaned on environment, polity fundamentals and applied economy. Here are five representative questions with answers and the reasoning an examiner expects.

Q1PYQ 2021Environment

Which of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?

Choose an answer to see the explanation.

Q2PYQ 2021Polity

What is the position of the Right to Property in India?

Choose an answer to see the explanation.

Answer: Legal right available to any person. After the 44th Amendment removed it from Part III, the right to property survives as a constitutional/legal right under Article 300A — and it protects 'persons', not just citizens.

Q3PYQ 2021Art & Culture

With reference to India, the terms 'Halbi, Ho and Kui' pertain to:

Choose an answer to see the explanation.

Answer: Tribal languages. Halbi (Chhattisgarh), Ho (Jharkhand/Odisha) and Kui (Odisha) are tribal languages — UPSC frequently tests obscure-sounding term triplets where one shared category is the key.

Q4PYQ 2021Economy

Indian Government Bond Yields are influenced by which of the following?

1Actions of the United States Federal Reserve
2Actions of the Reserve Bank of India
3Inflation and short-term interest rates

Choose an answer to see the explanation.

Answer: 1, 2 and 3. Bond yields respond to global rate moves (Fed), domestic monetary policy (RBI) and inflation expectations — all three. When every statement is individually sound, resist the urge to find a trap.

Q5PYQ 2021Economy

Which one of the following effects of creation of black money in India has been the main cause of worry to the Government of India?

Choose an answer to see the explanation.

Answer: Loss of revenue to the State Exchequer due to tax evasion. The government's stated core concern with black money is tax evasion eroding state revenue — the basis of demonetisation-era policy documents.

Want the complete 2021 paper as a PDF, not just these five questions? Download GS Paper I (2021) direct from upsc.gov.in →

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100 questions, 120 minutes, negative marking — exactly like exam day, with explanations after.

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