UPSC Prelims PYQ Hub
Select a subject below to practice topic-wise past year questions. Every question includes the official answer and a detailed explanation.
Ancient History
Indus Valley, Buddhism, Jainism, Mauryan & Gupta Empires.
Art & Culture
Architecture, Classical Dances, Paintings, and Indian Philosophy.
Medieval History
Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Vijayanagara, and Bhakti Movement.
Modern History
Freedom Struggle, Governors-General, Reform Movements, and Land Settlements.
Indian Polity
Parliament, Constitution, Judiciary, Executive & Fundamental Rights.
Indian Geography
Physical features, River systems, Climate, Agriculture, and Resources.
World Geography
Climatology, Oceanography, Geomorphology, and Mapping.
Indian Economy
Banking, Inflation, Fiscal Policy, External Sector, and Schemes.
International Relations
Global Groupings, Treaties, Bilateral relations, and Organizations.
Environment & Ecology
Protected Areas, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Pollution, and Treaties.
Science & Technology
Physics, Biology, Space Tech, Biotechnology, Health & Diseases, and more.
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Getting the most out of these PYQs
A few honest answers on how to actually use a previous-year-question bank, rather than just scrolling through it.
Should I solve PYQs topic-wise or year-wise?
Topic-wise, for revision — year-wise, for simulation. While you're building or revising a subject, working through PYQs one topic at a time (as this hub is organised) shows you exactly how UPSC repeatedly frames questions on that concept, which is far more useful for learning than solving them in the random order they were actually asked. Save full, timed year-wise papers for closer to your exam, when you want realistic practice at switching between subjects under time pressure.
When should I start solving PYQs — early or after finishing the syllabus?
Start early, not at the end. Solving a topic's PYQs right after you first study it tells you immediately which parts UPSC actually tests and which parts you can read more lightly — that's far more useful before your revision than after it. Treat PYQs as a study tool that shapes what you focus on, not just a mock test you take once you're "ready."
How many times should I revisit the same set of questions?
At least twice. The first pass is about learning — attempt honestly, then read the explanation whether you got it right or wrong, since UPSC often reuses the same underlying concept in a different wrapper. Come back to the same topic 3–4 weeks later without looking at your previous answers; if you get a question wrong a second time, that's a genuine gap worth noting down separately rather than something to skim past.
Do the explanations replace reading standard books or notes?
No — think of them as a check, not a substitute. Each explanation here is written to justify why a specific answer is correct for that specific question, which is narrower than the fuller conceptual grounding a standard textbook or coaching note gives you. Use your regular study material to build the concept first, then use these PYQs to test whether that understanding actually holds up against how UPSC asks it.
Is it a problem if I can't get most questions right on my first attempt?
No — that's expected, especially in a topic you're still learning or in one like Science & Technology that leans heavily on current affairs. A low first-attempt score just tells you where to focus your next revision round. What matters more is whether your accuracy on a topic improves the second and third time you revisit it, not how you do the very first time through.