UPSC Prelims 2024 Question Paper with Answers & Explanations

How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023?

The Constitution (71st Amendment) Act, 1992 amends the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution to include which of the following languages?

1. Konkani
2. Manipuri
3. Nepali
4. Maithili

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following pairs:

Party — Its Leader
1. Bhartiya Jana Sangh — Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
2. Socialist Party — C. Rajagopalachari
3. Congress for Democracy — Jagjivan Ram
4. Swatantra Party — Acharya Narendra Dev

How many of the above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Which of the following statements are correct about the Constitution of India?

1. Powers of the Municipalities are given in Part IX A of the Constitution.
2. Emergency provisions are given in Part XVIII of the Constitution.
3. Provisions related to the amendment of the Constitution are given in Part XX of the Constitution.

Select the answer using the code given below:

Which one of the following statements is correct as per the Constitution of India?

Under which of the following Articles of the Constitution of India, has the Supreme Court of India places the Right to Privacy?

What are the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Head of the Department of Military Affairs?

1. Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee.
2. Exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs.
3. Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister on all tri-service matters.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called:

The longest border between any two countries in the world is between:

Which of the following statements about the Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha are correct?

1. Initially it was an ad-hoc Committee.
2. Only a Member of the Lok Sabha can make a complaint relating to unethical conduct of a member of the Lok Sabha.
3. This Committee cannot take up any matter which is sub-judice.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Who was the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over?

With reference to the Government of India Act, 1935, consider the following statements:

1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces and Princely States.

2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa?

Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on:

Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:

1. Shantiniketan
2. Rani-ki-Vav
3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya

How many of the above properties were included in 2023?

Consider the following countries:

1. Italy
2. Japan
3. Nigeria
4. South Korea
5. South Africa

Which of the above countries are frequently mentioned in the media for their low birth rates, or ageing population of declining population?

Which of the following statements are correct in respect of a Money Bill in the Parliament?

1. Article 109 mentions special procedure in respect of Money Bills.
2. A Money Bill shall not be introduced in the Council of States.
3. The Rajya Sabha can either approve the Bill or suggest changes but cannot reject it.
4. Amendment to a Money Bill suggested by the Rajya Sabha have to be accepted by the Lok Sabha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The North Eastern Council (NEC) was established by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971. Subsequent to the amendment of NEC Act in 2002, the Council comprises which of the following members?

1. Governor of the Constituent State
2. Chief Minister of the Constituent State
3. Three Members to be nominated by the President of India
4. The Home Minister of India

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements regarding 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam':

1. Provisions will come into effect from the 18th Lok Sabha.
2. This will be in force for 15 years after becoming an Act.
3. There are provisions for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes Women within the quota reserved for the Scheduled Castes.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Which of the following statements about 'Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023' are correct?

1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.
4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A Writ of Prohibition is an order issued by the Supreme Court or High Courts to:

Consider the following statements:

1. It is the Governor of the State who recognizes and declares any community of that State as a Scheduled Tribe.

2. A community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Union Budget, consider the following statements:

1. The Union Finance Minister on behalf of the Prime Minister lays the Annual Financial Statement before both the Houses of Parliament.

2. At the Union level, no demand for a grant can be made except on the recommendation of the President of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following pairs:

Country — Reason for being in the news
1. Argentina — Worst economic crisis
2. Sudan — War between the country's regular and paramilitary forces
3. Turkey — Rescinded its membership of NATO

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.

Statement-II:
Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements:

1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.

2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
If the United States of America (USA) were to default on its debt, holders of US Treasury Bonds will not be able to exercise their claims to receive payment.

Statement-II:
The USA Government debt is not backed by any hard assets, but only by the faith of the Government.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
Syndicated lending spreads the risk of borrower default across multiple lenders.

Statement-II:
The syndicated loan can be a fixed amount/lump sum of funds, but cannot be a credit line.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements in respect of the digital rupee:

1. It is a sovereign currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in alignment with its monetary policy.
2. It appears as a liability on the RBI's balance sheet.
3. It is insured against inflation by its very design.
4. It is freely convertible against commercial bank money and cash.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets?

1. Nayaputta
2. Shakyamuni
3. Tathagata

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following information:

Archaeological Site — State — Description
1. Chandraketugarh — Odisha — Trading Port town
2. Inamgaon — Maharashtra — Chalcolithic site
3. Mangadu — Kerala — Megalithic site
4. Salihundam — Andhra Pradesh — Rock-cut cave shrines

In which of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

Who of the following rulers of medieval India gave permission to the Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal?

With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements:

1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities.

2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. There are no parables in Upanishads.

2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. India is a member of the International Grains Council.

2. A country needs to be a member of the International Grains Council for exporting or importing rice and wheat.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following was the latest inclusion in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.

Statement-II:
There have been military takeovers/coups detat in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
India does not import apples from the United States of America.

Statement-II:
In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

With reference to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:

While any resolution for the removal of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is under consideration

1, He/She shall not preside.
2. He/She shall not have the right to speak.
3. He/She shall not be entitled to vote on the resolution in the first instance.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the Indian Parliament, consider the following statements:

1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its dissolution.

2. A bill passed by the Lok Sabha and pending in the Rajya Sabha lapses on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

3. A bill in regard to which the President of India notified his/her intention to summon the Houses to a joint sitting lapses on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the Parliament of India, consider the following statements:

1. Prorogation of a House by the President of India does not require the advice of the Council of Ministers.

2. Prorogation of a House is generally done after the House is adjourned sine die but there is no bar to the President of India prorogating the House which is in session.

3. Dissolution of the Lok Sabha is done by the President of India who, save in exceptional circumstances, does so on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
The European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently.

Statement-II:
The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.

Statement-II:
Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

With reference to the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme, consider the following statements:

1. To implement the scheme, the Central Government provides 100% funding.

2. Under the Scheme, Cadastral Maps are digitized.

3. An initiative has been undertaken to transliterate the Records of Rights from local language to any of the languages recognized by the Constitution of India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to the 'Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan', consider the following statements:

1. This scheme guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy and six months post-delivery health care service in any government health facility.

2. Under this scheme, private sector health care providers of certain specialities can volunteer to provide services at nearby government health facilities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana, consider the following statements:

1. The entry age group for enrolment in the scheme is 21 to 40 years.

2. Age specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary.

3. Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a minimum pension of Rs. 3000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years.

4. Family pension is applicable to the spouse and unmarried daughters.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.

Statement-II:
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as compared to poles.

Statement-II:
At the equator, heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional currents.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following:

1. Pyroclastic debris
2. Ash and dust
3. Nitrogen compounds
4. Sulphur compounds

How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?

Which of the following is/are correct inference/inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January?

1. The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.

2. The presence of cold ocean currents Gulf Stream and North Atlantic drift make the North Atlantic Ocean colder and the isotherms bend towards the north.

Select the answer using the code given below:

Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world?

With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
Rainfall is one of the reasons for weathering of rocks.

Statement-II:
Rain water contains carbon dioxide in solution.

Statement-III:
Rain water contains atmospheric oxygen.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following countries:

1. Finland
2. Germany
3. Norway
4. Russia

How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea?

Consider the following information:

Waterfall : Region : River

1. Dhuandhar : Malwa : Narmada
2. Hundru : Chota Nagpur : Subarnarekha
3. Gersoppa : Western Ghats : Netravati

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Consider the following information:

Region : Name of the mountain range : Type of Mountain

1. Central Asia : Vosges : Fold mountain
2. Europe : Alps : Block mountain
3. North America : Appalachians : Fold mountain
4. South America : Andes : Fold mountain

In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

The organisms 'Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater' are:

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution.

Statement-II:
Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following pairs:

Country : Animal found in its natural habitat
1. Brazil : Indri
2. Indonesia : Elk
3. Madagascar : Bonobo

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?