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Competitive Exam Practice

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Original practice questions for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)), mixed across 6 topics with instant answers and explanations. Practise by topic below or take the timed mock test.

UPSC Prelims mixed practice

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  1. Q1.Indian Polity, History & GeographyWho gave the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”?

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: D — Bal Gangadhar Tilak

    Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularised the slogan.

  2. Q2.Economy & Banking AwarenessWhat does GDP stand for?

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: C — Gross Domestic Product

    GDP measures the market value of final goods and services produced within a country.

  3. Q3.World General KnowledgeWhich organisation publishes the World Economic Outlook?

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: B — IMF

    The International Monetary Fund publishes the World Economic Outlook.

  4. Q4.BiologyWhich part of the brain controls balance and coordination?

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: C — Cerebellum

    The cerebellum coordinates movement and balance.

  5. Q5.Logical ReasoningWhat is the angle between the hour and minute hands of a clock at 9:20?

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: C — 160°

    Angle = |30H − 5.5M| = |30×9 − 5.5×20| = 160°.

  6. Q6.PercentagesTwo successive discounts of 30% and 12% are equivalent to a single discount of:

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: D — 38.4%

    Net discount = a + b − ab/100 = 30 + 12 − 30×12/100 = 38.4%.

  7. Q7.Indian Polity, History & GeographyThe Chipko Movement was primarily concerned with:

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: C — Protection of trees

    Villagers hugged trees to stop logging in the Garhwal Himalayas (1970s).

  8. Q8.Economy & Banking AwarenessA cheque that is presented more than three months after its date is:

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: A — Stale

    In India a cheque is valid for three months; after that it is stale.

  9. Q9.World General KnowledgeThe World Trade Organization was established in:

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: B — 1995

    The WTO replaced GATT on 1 January 1995.

  10. Q10.BiologyDNA is mainly found in the cell’s:

    Show answer & explanation

    Answer: C — Nucleus

    Most DNA is in the nucleus (some in mitochondria and chloroplasts).

Free UPSC Prelims Practice Questions by pGento

About UPSC Prelims

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination — conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The first stage of India’s civil services recruitment, with a General Studies paper and the qualifying CSAT aptitude paper.

Original practice questions written for this site in the style and difficulty of each exam’s syllabus. They are not past papers and the site is not affiliated with any exam body. Exam patterns, marking schemes and syllabi change — always check the latest official notification.

Practise by topic

  • Indian Polity, History & Geography questions — Anchor facts to the Constitution’s Parts and key Articles (III Fundamental Rights, IV DPSP, 32, 352, 356, 360) and build timelines for the freedom struggle.
  • Economy & Banking Awareness questions — Know what each regulator does (RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA), the policy tools (repo, CRR, SLR) and the definitions behind GDP, inflation and fiscal deficit.
  • World General Knowledge questions — Group facts by theme — organisations and headquarters, rivers and deserts, treaties and dates — and revise them as tables.
  • Biology questions — Learn structure → function links (mitochondria → ATP, nephron → filtration), the major hormones and their glands, and deficiency diseases.
  • Logical Reasoning questions — For coding questions write the letter positions (A = 1 … Z = 26).
  • Percentages questions — Convert percentages to fractions you know by heart (12.5% = 1/8, 37.5% = 3/8, 16.67% = 1/6) and always divide a change by the ORIGINAL value.
  • UPSC Prelims mock test — 25 timed questions with negative marking.

UPSC Prelims practice topics

TopicSectionQuestion source
Indian Polity, History & GeographyGeneral awarenessQuestion bank
Economy & Banking AwarenessGeneral awarenessQuestion bank
World General KnowledgeGeneral awarenessQuestion bank
BiologyScienceQuestion bank
Logical ReasoningReasoningCalculated (new numbers every set)
PercentagesQuantitative aptitudeCalculated (new numbers every set)

Frequently asked questions

Who gave the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”?
Answer: D — Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularised the slogan.
What does GDP stand for?
Answer: C — Gross Domestic Product. GDP measures the market value of final goods and services produced within a country.
Which organisation publishes the World Economic Outlook?
Answer: B — IMF. The International Monetary Fund publishes the World Economic Outlook.
Are these real past exam papers?
No. Every question is an original practice question written in the style, syllabus and difficulty of the exam, with a worked explanation. The site is not affiliated with any exam body.
Can I get new questions?
Yes. Click “New questions” for a fresh set. Calculation questions are generated with new numbers every time, so you never run out of practice.
UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

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