UPSC Prelims 2021: General Studies Paper 1 Questions

Complete set of UPSC Prelims 2021 GS Paper 1 questions with correct answers and detailed explanations. 100 questions from the 2021 paper are available for practice. The 2021 paper was considered one of the more challenging papers in recent years. Art and Culture, Environment, and Polity dominated. Several questions required deep reading of NCERT texts and current affairs integration.

100+ questionsUPSC Prelims 2021Free

UPSC Prelims 2021: Topic-wise Question Distribution

TopicQuestions in 2021Practice
Environment & Ecology23 questionsPractice
Indian Polity19 questionsPractice
Economy15 questionsPractice
Science & Technology12 questionsPractice
History6 questionsPractice
Art and Culture5 questionsPractice
History5 questionsPractice
Geography5 questionsPractice
Current Affairs4 questionsPractice
History4 questionsPractice
Geography2 questionsPractice

All UPSC Prelims 2021 Questions (100)

Click any question to view the answer with a detailed explanation.

01

Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship :

Current Affairs · UPSC 2021
02

Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effects?

Economy · UPSC 2021
03

The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following?

Economy · UPSC 2021
04

With reference to Indian economy, demand-pull inflation can be caused/increased by which of the following?

Economy · UPSC 2021
05

With reference to India, consider the following statements :

Economy · UPSC 2021
06

With reference to 'WaterCredit', consider the following statements :

Economy · UPSC 2021
07

In India, the central bank's function as the 'lender of last resort' usually refers to which of the following?

Economy · UPSC 2021
08

'R2 Code of Practices' constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
09

Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
10

With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements :

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
11

What is blue carbon?

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
12

Consider the following statements :

Economy · UPSC 2021
13

In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil?

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
14

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

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
15

Consider the following kinds of organisms :

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
16

Consider the following animals :

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
17

With reference to the 'New York Declaration on Forests', which of the following statements are correct?

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
18

Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodegenerative problems, are generated as environmental pollutants from which of the fo...

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
19

Which one of the following is a filter feeder?

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
20

In case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks is the main source of release of nutrient to ...

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
21

Which of the following are detritivores?

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
22

The 'Common Carbon Metric', supported by UNEP, has been developed for

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
23

With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements :

Economy · UPSC 2021
24

Which of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with other organisms?

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
25

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements :

Art and Culture · UPSC 2021
26

Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a s...

Ancient History · UPSC 2021
27

In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Co...

Modern History · UPSC 2021
28

From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were hol...

Ancient History · UPSC 2021
29

According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?

Medieval History · UPSC 2021
30

With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?

Modern History · UPSC 2021
31

Consider the following pairs :

Ancient History · UPSC 2021
32

Consider the following statements :

Medieval History · UPSC 2021
33

Consider the following statements :

Art and Culture · UPSC 2021
34

Which among the following steps is most likely to be taken at the time of an economic recession?

Economy · UPSC 2021
35

With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

Ancient History · UPSC 2021
36

With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous

Ancient History · UPSC 2021
37

Consider the following statements :

Modern History · UPSC 2021
38

With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

Modern History · UPSC 2021
39

Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?

Art and Culture · UPSC 2021
40

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

Medieval History · UPSC 2021
41

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School...

Modern History · UPSC 2021
42

In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as

Modern History · UPSC 2021
43

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?

Medieval History · UPSC 2021
44

Which one of the following statements is correct?

Art and Culture · UPSC 2021
45

Consider the following statements :

Economy · UPSC 2021
46

Consider the following statements :

Current Affairs · UPSC 2021
47

How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
48

With reference to 'palm oil', consider the following statements :

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
49

With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus ...

Indian Geography · UPSC 2021
50

With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of

Indian Geography · UPSC 2021
51

Consider the following rivers :

Indian Geography · UPSC 2021
52

Consider the following statements :

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
53

Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?

Indian Geography · UPSC 2021
54

Consider the following statements :

World Geography · UPSC 2021
55

In the context of India's preparation for Climate-Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements :

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
56

With reference to 'Urban Cooperative Banks' in India, consider the following statements :

Economy · UPSC 2021
57

“Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare. Apart from trees, th...

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
58

The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees, but extensive areas have no trees. The forest develop...

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
59

With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements :

World Geography · UPSC 2021
60

Consider the following statements :

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
61

The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of

Indian Geography · UPSC 2021
62

With reference to recent developments regarding 'Recombinant Vector Vaccines', consider the following statements :

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
63

In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements :

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
64

Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
65

In a pressure cooker, the temperature at which the food is cooked depends mainly upon which of the following?

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
66

Consider the following :

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
67

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

Economy · UPSC 2021
68

Consider the following statements :

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
69

Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
70

With reference to street-lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps?

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
71

The term 'ACE2' is talked about in the context of

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
72

Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key component in the manufacture of which of the following kinds of plastic...

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
73

'Triclosan', considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which of the following?

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
74

Which one of the following is a reason why astronomical distances are measured in light-years?

Science and Technology · UPSC 2021
75

We adopted parliamentary democracy based on the British model, but how does our model differ from that model?

Polity · UPSC 2021
76

With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements :

Polity · UPSC 2021
77

'Right to Privacy' is protected under which Article of the Constitution of India?

Polity · UPSC 2021
78

Consider the following :

Economy · UPSC 2021
79

Consider the following statements :

Polity · UPSC 2021
80

Consider the following statements :

Polity · UPSC 2021
81

With reference to India, consider the following statements :

Polity · UPSC 2021
82

With reference to India, consider the following statements :

Polity · UPSC 2021
83

At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Tra...

Polity · UPSC 2021
84

A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the m...

Polity · UPSC 2021
85

Which one of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?

Polity · UPSC 2021
86

Which one of the following best defines the term 'State'?

Polity · UPSC 2021
87

With reference to Indian judiciary, consider the following statements :

Polity · UPSC 2021
88

With reference to India, consider the following statements :

Polity · UPSC 2021
89

Consider the following statements :

Economy · UPSC 2021
90

Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy?

Polity · UPSC 2021
91

Under the Indian Constitution, concentration of wealth violates

Polity · UPSC 2021
92

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

Polity · UPSC 2021
93

What was the exact constitutional status of India on 26th January, 1950?

Polity · UPSC 2021
94

Constitutional government means

Polity · UPSC 2021
95

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

Art and Culture · UPSC 2021
96

Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:

Polity · UPSC 2021
97

Consider the following statements : Statement 1 : The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation...

Environment and Ecology · UPSC 2021
98

Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000 :

Current Affairs · UPSC 2021
99

Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics :

Current Affairs · UPSC 2021
100

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...

Economy · UPSC 2021

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