The Indian Civil Services Examination is Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year.

The Examination Schedule is Announced During January - February after Which the Selection is Done in 3 Stages.

Civil Services - Preliminary Examination - Objective Type (Qualifier)

Civil Services - Main Examination - Written Test

Interview / Personality Test

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination

The Examination shall comprise two compulsory papers of 200 marks each.

Paper I - (200 marks)

Duration: Two hours

Current events of national and international importance

History of India and Indian National Movement

Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World

Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc

Economic and Social Development Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion,
Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc

General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.

General Science.

Paper II- (200 marks)

Duration: Two hours

Comprehension
Interpersonal skills including communication skills
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision-making and problem-solving
General mental ability

Basic Numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level),
Data Interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. - Class X level)

English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level)

Here I am providing previous year IAS Exam Paper

1) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has been launched for

a) providing housing loan to poor people at cheaper interest rates
b) Promoting women’s Self Help Groups in backward areas
c) promoting financial inclusion in the country
d) providing financial help to marginalised communities
2. With Reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It has increased the share of States in the central divisible pool from 32 percent to 42 percent
2. It has made recommendations concerning sector-specific grants

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
3. The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of:

a) ASEAN
b) BRICS
c) OECD
d) WTO
4) A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following?

1. Slowing economic growth rates
2. Less equitable distribution of national income

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
5) In the South Atlantic and South Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?

a) Sea Surface temperature are low*
b) Inter Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs
c) Coriolis force is too weak
d) Absence of land in those regions
6. Which of the following pairs of States of India indicates the eastern most and Western most State?

a) Assam and Rajasthan
b) Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan
c) Assam and Gujarat
d) Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat
7) Consider the following Statements regarding the DPSP/Directive Principles of State Policy:

1. The Principles spell out the socio-economic democracy in the country
2. The provisions contained in these Principles are not enforceable by any court.

Which of the statements given below are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 & 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
8) In the Index of Eight Core Industries, which one of the following is given the highest weight?

1. Coal Production
2. Electricity generation
3. Fertilizer Production
4. Steel Production
9) Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?

1. Bhitarkanika National Park
2. Keibul Lamjao National Park
3. Keoladeo Ghana National park
4. Sultanpur National park
10) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)?

1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government
2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
11) What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenousfertilizers in agriculture?

1. Proliferation of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in soil can occur.
2. Increase in the acidity of soil can take place
3. Leaching of nitrate to the ground-water can occur.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3
12) With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments
2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.

Select the correct using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
13) The Fair and Remunerative Price of Sugarcane is approved by the

a) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
b) Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
c) Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture
d) Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee
14) What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial countercurrent?

a) The Earth’s rotation on its axis
b) Convergence of the two equatorial currents
c) Difference in salinity of water
d) Occurrence of the belt of calm near equator*
15) Place of Pilgrimage: Location

1. Srisailam : Nallamala Hills
2. Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills
3. Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3
16. With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the ‘Sedition Committee’
2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha Gandhiji tried to use the Home Rule League
3. Demonstrations against the Simon Commission coincided with the Rowlatt Satyagraha

a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
17) Among the following which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently?

1. Syria and Jordan
2. Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia
3. Philippines and Papua New Guinea
4. Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam
18) With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using the coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction
2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete
3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3
4. 3 only
19) With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
2. It is found along the entire coast of India
3. It is given legal protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3
d) 3 only
20) Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?

1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. G. Subramania Iyer
3. R. C. Dutt

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3
21) Which one of the following issues the “Global Economic Prospects” report periodically?

1. The Asian Development Bank
2. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
3. The US Federal Reserve Bank
4. The World Bank
22) When the Reserve Bank of India reduces the Statutory Liquidity by 50 basis points, which of the following is likely to happen?

1. India’s GDP growth rate increases drastically
2. Foreign Institutional Investors may bring more capital into our country
3. Scheduled Commercial Banks may cut their lending rates
4. It may drastically reduce the liquidity to the banking system.
23) With reference to the use of nanotechnology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology
2. Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
24) In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the

1. Essential Commodities Act, 1955
2. Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act enacted by States
3. Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937
4. Food Products Order, 1956 and Meat and Food Products Order, 1973
25) Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

1. Saltwater crocodile
2. Olive ridley turtle
3. Gangetic dolphin
4. Gharial
26) With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements:

1. It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes.
2. It wanted to establish the dictatorship of proletariat.
3. It advocated separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. None
27) Consider the following statements :

1. The Rajya Sabha has no power either to reject or to amend a Money Bill
2. The Rajya Sabha cannot vote on the Demands for Grants.
3. The Rajya Sabha cannot discuss the Annual Financial Statement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3
28 ) The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined

1. the separation of power between the judiciary and the legislature
2. the jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments
3. the powers of the Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy
4. None of the above
29) Which of the following brings out the ‘Consumer Price Index Number for the Industrial Workers’?

a) The Reserve Bank of India
b) The Department of Economic Affairs
c) The Labour Bureau
d) The department of Personnel and Training
30. In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news :

1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.
2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter
3. It is buried deep in the ice.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3 only
31. The terms ‘Agreement on Agriculture’, ‘Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures’ and Peace Clause’ appear in the news frequently in the context of the affairs of the:

a) Food and Agriculture Organization
b) United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change
c) World Trade Organization
d) United Nations Environment Programme
32. With reference to ‘Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a contactless communication technology that uses electromagnetic radio fields
2. NFC is designed for use by devices which can be at a distance of even a metre from each other
3. NFC can use encryption when sending sensitive information.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3
33. The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to:

a) Central Asia
b) Middle East
c) South-East Asia
d) Central Africa
34. Convertibility of rupee implies:

a) being able to convert rupee notes into gold
b) allowing the value of rupee to be fixed by market forces
c) freely permitting the conversion of rupee to other currencies and vice versa
d) developing an international market for currencies in India
35) Consider the following pairs : Medieval Indian State : Present Region

1. Champaka : Central India
2. Durgara : Jammu
3. Kuluta : Malabar

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

a. 1 and 2
b. 2 only
c. 1 and 3
d. 3 only
36) Consider the following rivers :

1. Vamsadhara
2. Indravati
3. Pranahita
4. Pennar

Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari

a. 1,2 and 3
b. 2,3 and 4
c. 1,2 and 4
d. 2 and 3 only
37) When a bill is referred to a joint sitting both the Houses of the Parliament, has to be passed by

a. a simple majority of member present and voting
b. three-fourths majority of member present and voting
c. two-thirds majority of the House
d absolute majority of the House
38) Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?

a. North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
b. South-West Bengal
c. Southern Saurashtra
d. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
39) Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of Buddha?

1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha

Select the correct answer using the code given below

a. 1,2 and 3
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1,3 and 4
d. 3 and 4 only
40) Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?

a. Bretton Woods Conference
b. Montreal Protocol
c. Kyoto Protocol
d. Nagoya Protocol
41. Consider the following : The arrival of Babur into India led to the

1. introduction of gunpowder
2. introduction of the arch and dome in the regions’s architecture
3. establishment of Timurid dynasty

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1,2 and 3
42. The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the

a. Human Rights Commission
b. Finance Commission
c. Law Commission
d. Planning Commission
43. What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?

a. It is the United nations Conference on Sustainable Development
b. It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization
c. It is a Conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change
d. It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity
44. Consider the following statements :

1. The Executive Power of the union of India is vested in the Prime Minister.
2. The Prime Minister is the ex officio Chairmain of the Civil Services Board.

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
45) The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of

a. the limits of habitable zone above the surface of the Earth
b. regions inside the Earth-like planets in outer space
c. search for the Earth-like planets in outer space
d. search for meteorites containing precious metals
46) Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?

a. V.O Chidambaram Pillai
b. C. Rajagopalachari
c. K. Kamaraj
d. Annie Besant
47) Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong?

a. Amoghavarsha I
b. Ballala II
c. Harihara I
d. Prataparudra II
48) Consider the following statements :

1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji

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
49) Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?

1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
50) Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was given to which of the following?

a. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
b. Indian Institute of Science
c. Indian Space Research Organization
d. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research