Previous year questions 2023
Guiding State PSC aspirants since 2016 50,000+ students · 1,000+ final selections Exam Calendar Results Call 9116926003
pscnotes
EN हिं
Pick your state

UKPSC Mains · 658 questions

UKPSC Mains 2023: previous year questions

Every question as the commission asked it, paper by paper. Where a question matches a syllabus topic, it links there, with notes for the topic.

Eco

  1. What is sustainable development?Write your answer →
  2. What do you understand by Inclusive Growth?Write your answer →
  3. How much is the contribution by different sectors in India’s National Income?Write your answer →
  4. Name the three states that emerged poorest in India according to NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index report.Write your answer →
  5. Define population growth rate in India between 1980–2011.Write your answer →
  6. By how much has RBI increased the repo rate during the last year?Write your answer →
  7. Which are the two major forms of foreign capital?Write your answer →
  8. How do we measure income inequality?Write your answer →
  9. What is monetised deficit?Write your answer →
  10. What is micro-finance?Write your answer →
  11. Name three major taxes in Uttarakhand with respect to revenue.Write your answer →
  12. Write the names of three major hydro-electricity projects in Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  13. Write the names of two districts of Uttarakhand which have the highest literacy rate according to Census 2011. Also mention the rate of literacy.Write your answer →
  14. What name would you give to the recent problem (Jan 2023) that emerged in Joshimath in Uttarakhand?Write your answer →
  15. Name three major minerals of Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  16. What are the components of the Human Development Index? Explain.Syllabus: Meaning of Economic and Social DevelopmentWrite your answer →
  17. What is globalization?Write your answer →
  18. What is the prime objective of “NITI Aayog”?Write your answer →
  19. Explain in brief the PPP model of economic development.Syllabus: PPP Model of Economic DevelopmentWrite your answer →
  20. What is the current account deficit? How does it affect the economy?Write your answer →
  21. Define fiscal policy.Write your answer →
  22. What is the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act? Has the Government of India followed it?Write your answer →
  23. What is the present status of unemployment in Uttarakhand? Suggest a few methods to reduce it.Write your answer →
  24. What are the efforts taken by the State of Uttarakhand for skill enhancement and capacity building?Write your answer →
  25. How does the sex ratio affect the development of a country?Write your answer →
  26. What do you mean by women empowerment? Outline the provisions given in the Budget 2023-24 for women empowerment in India.Write your answer →
  27. What is Goods and Services Tax (GST)? What are its slabs? Is there any shortcoming?Write your answer →
  28. What is Credit Control? What are the qualitative methods of credit control?Write your answer →
  29. Write down the main features of the Tourism Policy in the State of Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  30. Outline the steps taken by the Government of Uttarakhand in the health sector during the last five years.Syllabus: Regional imbalances and income inequalities in IndiaWrite your answer →
  31. Write down the main features of the present Agriculture Policy of the Government of Uttarakhand. Has it improved the conditions of farmers?Write your answer →
  32. How do forests contribute to the economic development of a country? Critically discuss the present forest policy of the State of Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  33. Write a brief note on increasing regional imbalances and income inequalities in India during the last two decades. What steps have been taken by the Government of India to reduce them?Syllabus: Regional imbalances and income inequalities in IndiaWrite your answer →
  34. What is Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Indian agriculture? Explain different methods for computing it.Write your answer →
  35. Discuss India’s foreign trade position in light of the recent global scenario. How can India’s trade be improved?Syllabus: India's Foreign Trade - Volume, Composition and DirectionWrite your answer →
  36. Discuss the salient features of the Government of India’s Budget 2023–24.Syllabus: Nuclear policy of India- salient features, Recent trends in nuclear…Write your answer →
  37. What steps have been taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to control inflation during the last five years? How far has it been successful?Syllabus: Regional imbalances and income inequalities in IndiaWrite your answer →
  38. What is the distinction between micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)? Discuss the current status and problems of MSMEs in Uttarakhand.Syllabus: Importance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)Write your answer →
  39. What is MNREGA? How is it different from earlier policies? Has it achieved its objectives in Uttarakhand? If not, then why? Discuss.Write your answer →

Geo

  1. What do you mean by the concept of sustainable development?Write your answer →
  2. In which region of India are the Pigmy tribes found?Write your answer →
  3. Write the names of different tribes of Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  4. Give an account of major disasters in Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  5. What is the relevance of the Chipko Movement?Write your answer →
  6. List out the names of major hydel projects in Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  7. Describe step cultivation.Write your answer →
  8. Define habitat.Write your answer →
  9. Briefly highlight the heat budget.Write your answer →
  10. What are the major iron-ore regions in India?Write your answer →
  11. Which region of India records high sugar production?Write your answer →
  12. Name the different layers of the atmosphere.Write your answer →
  13. Give the importance of the agricultural revolution in India.Write your answer →
  14. What do you mean by the term ‘resource scarcity’?Write your answer →
  15. Divide India into major physiographic units.Write your answer →
  16. Highlight the importance of the hydrological cycle.Write your answer →
  17. Differentiate between natural and man-made disasters.Write your answer →
  18. What is the difference between ecology and ecosystem?Write your answer →
  19. Highlight the major types of vegetation in the North-Eastern region of India.Write your answer →
  20. Discuss briefly different tribes and tribal regions found in India.Write your answer →
  21. Briefly highlight the facts related to wind and pressure in different regions of the globe.Write your answer →
  22. Examine the major challenges to developing smooth transportation in Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  23. Briefly discuss the major occupations of Bhils, Gonds, and Nagas in India.Write your answer →
  24. What is the basic assumption of the continental drift theory?Write your answer →
  25. Explain the different factors responsible for developing the Iron-Steel Industries in India.Write your answer →
  26. Discuss the effect of Earth’s rotation on climate.Write your answer →
  27. Highlight the facts of the origin of the continents and oceans.Write your answer →
  28. Explain the different factors responsible for the development of the Iron-Steel Industries in India.Write your answer →
  29. Briefly highlight the status of highways in India during the last two decades.Write your answer →
  30. Describe the major problems and challenges of tourism in Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  31. Explain the different methods of harnessing river water.Write your answer →
  32. Highlight the trend of urbanization in India and its impact on the environment.Write your answer →
  33. Describe the different types of vegetation in Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  34. How do the physiographic units of India help to assess the proverb of “Unity in Diversity”?Write your answer →
  35. Discuss the different earthquake zones of India with reference to Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  36. Indian Monsoon is a blessing or curse for Indian agriculture—Examine.Write your answer →
  37. Briefly elaborate on the future of hydel power, petroleum, and atomic energy.Write your answer →
  38. Examine the Von Thunen model of agricultural location and its relevance in India.Write your answer →
  39. Point out the role of India as a global economic power in BRICS and the World Trade Organization (WTO).Syllabus: Structure of Government and economic policies of British Empire in…Write your answer →

History

  1. Did the Indian humans of the Stone Age know the use of fire? Discuss.Write your answer →
  2. What were the reasons for the downfall of the Nanda Dynasty?Write your answer →
  3. Can the Rajtarangini of Kalhana be called a historical literature of Ancient India?Write your answer →
  4. What was the Sufi Movement?Write your answer →
  5. Who was the real founder of the Slave dynasty?Write your answer →
  6. What was Balban’s Policy of Sijda and Paibos?Write your answer →
  7. Why did the Chisti Silsila become so popular in India? Discuss.Write your answer →
  8. Evaluate the character and personality of Mohammad Ghori and discuss his place in history.Write your answer →
  9. Describe the Indian invasion of Taimur. What was the effect of his invasion?Write your answer →
  10. Discuss the social and economic conditions of India from 1200 to 1526 during the Sultanate period.Syllabus: Post Mauryan periodWrite your answer →
  11. Write a short note on the Memoir of Babar.Write your answer →
  12. Discuss the contribution of Shivaji towards national progress.Write your answer →
  13. What was the main cause of the downfall of Siraj-ud-Daulah?Write your answer →
  14. Throw light upon the Khilafat Movement and its political significance.Write your answer →
  15. Write a short note on the Dola Palki Movement.Write your answer →
  16. Can the geography of Ancient India be studied by taking the Puranas as their base?Write your answer →
  17. How did Chandragupta Maurya establish his dynasty?Write your answer →
  18. Why did Indo-Bactrian kings issue their currency in large numbers?Write your answer →
  19. Describe the social, political, economic, and religious conditions of India at the time of the Arab invasion.Syllabus: Bronze Age CivilizationWrite your answer →
  20. Critically evaluate the military and administrative reforms of Feroz Tughlaq.Write your answer →
  21. What were the main causes of conflict between the Vijayanagar and Bahmani Empires?Write your answer →
  22. Describe the circumstances that weakened Humayun’s position after Chausa. Was it possible to bring them under control?Write your answer →
  23. Throw light upon Gaura Devi, the mother of the Chipko Movement.Write your answer →
  24. What were the immediate and far-reaching consequences of the movement for a separate state of Uttarakhand?Syllabus: Movement for separate State of Uttarakhand : Its immediate and far reaching consequencesWrite your answer →
  25. Compare the Rigvedic and Later Vedic Period in short.Syllabus: Later Vedic Period- Political, Social, Economic Religious and Cultural lifeWrite your answer →
  26. What were the causes of the downfall of Buddhism? Discuss.Write your answer →
  27. ‘Arthashastra of Kautilya is definitely related to the Maurya period, but what was its content?’Write your answer →
  28. What were the reasons for Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat in the Battle of Panipat?Write your answer →
  29. According to Dr. K.R. Qanungo, Sher Shah was a constructive genius and a better nation-builder than Akbar the Great. Discuss.Write your answer →
  30. Examine the contribution of the Mughal rulers in the field of art and architecture.Write your answer →
  31. What was the effect of implementing the Permanent Settlement System upon Bengal?Write your answer →
  32. According to S.N. Sen, “The Mutiny was not inevitable in 1857 but it was inherent in the constitution of the empire.” Discuss.Write your answer →
  33. What was the reason for accelerating the labor movements in India after the First World War? Discuss.Write your answer →
  34. Critically examine the Cripps Mission Plan of 1942 and give reasons for its failure.Write your answer →
  35. Write a note on Subhash Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army.Write your answer →
  36. What was the role of Garhwal and Kumaon in the Quit India Movement? Discuss.Write your answer →
  37. Discuss the contribution of Kalu Mahra in the Revolt of 1857.Write your answer →
  38. After the death of Katyuri King Brahmdev, among whom was this state divided? Describe.Write your answer →

Polity

  1. What does it mean that India is a Republic State?Write your answer →
  2. What is the difference between a Money Bill and a Finance Bill?Write your answer →
  3. State the difference between GDP and GNP.Write your answer →
  4. Write about the composition of the National Human Rights Commission.Write your answer →
  5. Clarify the meaning of ‘Social Engineering’.Write your answer →
  6. Name five important folk dances of Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  7. Related to the environment, what is the significance of the Basel Convention, 1989?Write your answer →
  8. Write the essential features of a ‘Smart City’.Write your answer →
  9. Define ‘Green Politics’.Write your answer →
  10. Who are the ‘Van Gujjars’ in Uttarakhand?Write your answer →
  11. What are the reasonable restrictions imposed on the freedom of speech and expression under the Indian Constitution?Write your answer →
  12. Point out the key recommendations of the ‘Second Administrative Reforms Commission Report’.Write your answer →
  13. Who are called the ‘Blue Helmets’ in the United Nations?Write your answer →
  14. Name the main functions performed by the Gram Panchayats.Write your answer →
  15. What was the ‘Pani Rakho’ movement in Uttarakhand?Write your answer →
  16. What is meant by ‘Judicial Review’? How is it different from ‘Judicial Activism’?Syllabus: Judiciary : Composition, Role, Judicial Review and Judicial ActivismWrite your answer →
  17. Discuss the obligations of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights in India. Is it effective?Write your answer →
  18. What is the ‘Nine-dash Line’? Why is it a bone of contention?Write your answer →
  19. Throw light on the key issues of the Uttarakhand State Focus Paper 2023-24. Name the priority sectors it seeks to strengthen.Write your answer →
  20. State the objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. What are the benefits of this scheme?Write your answer →
  21. What is meant by ‘Carbon Footprint’? Why does it matter in the debate on climate change?Write your answer →
  22. Why are ‘Harela’ and ‘Bhitauli’ festivals celebrated in Uttarakhand? Underline their significance.Write your answer →
  23. Under the Representation of People Act, 1951, what are the norms governing the declaration of a Political Party as a State Party?Write your answer →
  24. Discuss the provisions available under the Indian Constitution to ensure the independence of the members of the Public Service Commissions from any external influence or pressure.Write your answer →
  25. Elucidate the meaning of ‘Social Auditing’. In this respect, mention the duties of the ‘Uttarakhand Social Audit Accountability and Transparency Agency’.Write your answer →
  26. Describe the objectives of the ‘Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas’. What incentives have been offered by the Government of India to attract the ‘Pravasis’ to India?Write your answer →
  27. Examine the role of the government in promoting women empowerment. Support your answer with recent initiatives of the government.Write your answer →
  28. What are ‘Sovereign Gold Bonds’? Discuss the main features and utility of the Union Government’s Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2022-23.Write your answer →
  29. ‘The election of Srimati Draupadi Murmu as the President of India is a manifestation of women’s journey from women empowerment to women-led development.’ In light of this statement, assess the implications of her Presidential victory for the deprived sections.Syllabus: Issues related to Role of women in Economic and Social Development in IndiaWrite your answer →
  30. Examine Uttarakhand’s Start-up Policy. In what ways does the ‘Uttarakhand Conclave and Grand Challenge 2022’ aim to ensure a viable start-up ecosystem for entrepreneurs in Uttarakhand?Write your answer →
  31. It is said that ‘India’s Soft Power Prowess can make India a Vishwa Guru’. Critically analyze this statement in the backdrop of India’s Soft Power.Write your answer →
  32. India’s presidency of the G-20 will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented. Examine India’s opportunities and challenges as the President of G-20 in line with this resolve.Write your answer →
  33. Explain the objectives of COP-27. Present an account of India’s role and contribution in the COP-27 meet held recently in Egypt.Write your answer →
  34. Examine India’s outreach to the Central Asian Republics in the context of the recently concluded meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at Samarkand. What strategic objectives does India seek to achieve through this organization?Write your answer →
  35. Discuss how India’s strategic vision has led to the growing convergence of Indo-African relations. What challenges does India need to overcome to deepen its ties with Africa?Write your answer →
  36. Evaluate India’s role as the President of the United Nations Security Council during December 2022. To what extent was India successful in winning the confidence of the UN member states?Write your answer →
  37. “Devbhumi should also become Khelbhumi.” Citing recent initiatives of the Uttarakhand Government to promote sports in the state, examine this statement. Do you think that sports can transform the economy and health of the state?Write your answer →
  38. Examine the belief that ‘Sustainable development contributes to the sustainability of democracy’. In what ways has India demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development to promote the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in recent years?Write your answer →

SCIENCE

  1. What are electromagnetic waves? Mention their properties.Syllabus: Electromagnetic waves, their types and characteristicsWrite your answer →
  2. Differentiate between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.Syllabus: Radio activity, Nuclear Fission & FusionWrite your answer →
  3. Explain the effect of temperature on the surface tension of liquids.Write your answer →
  4. Mention the applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS).Syllabus: Introduction to Global Positioning System (GPS)Write your answer →
  5. Define watershed and mention its importance.Write your answer →
  6. What is the concept of ‘Biosphere Reserve’?Write your answer →
  7. Explain the importance of immunology.Write your answer →
  8. Explain the difference between active and passive immunity.Write your answer →
  9. What are food preservatives? Name any four preservatives.Write your answer →
  10. Mention the features of digital computers.Write your answer →
  11. Which area of Uttarakhand has been declared an Eco-Sensitive zone?Write your answer →
  12. What are molecular markers? Mention their significance.Write your answer →
  13. Indicate the main difference between exocrine and endocrine glands.Write your answer →
  14. "E-mail is not a real-time communication system." Comment on this statement.Write your answer →
  15. What are the basic principles of the TRIPS Agreement?Write your answer →
  16. Classify the chromosomes based on the position of the centromere. Write a brief note on giant chromosomes.Write your answer →
  17. Describe any four diseases of honeybees and their main symptoms.Write your answer →
  18. Write the differences between volatile and non-volatile memory.Write your answer →
  19. When was the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) established by Uttarakhand, and who is responsible for it?Write your answer →
  20. What are the main reasons for landslides and avalanches in the Himalayan region? Mention them.Write your answer →
  21. Mention the causes of ozone layer depletion.Write your answer →
  22. Give an account of cultivable species of fishes in Uttarakhand.Write your answer →
  23. Why is blood group O-negative considered a universal donor? Explain the reason for it.Write your answer →
  24. Explain the working mechanism of a solar cell.Write your answer →
  25. Explain the steps of data processing in a computer system.Write your answer →
  26. Explain the structure of glucose and its method of testing.Write your answer →
  27. Describe the objectives of the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme.Write your answer →
  28. Give a brief account of the types and advantages of bio-fertilizers.Write your answer →
  29. What are the basic differences between rural and urban planning?Syllabus: Remote Sensing, Geographical Information System (GIS) and its…Write your answer →
  30. Explain disaster management cycles and their components.Write your answer →
  31. Discuss the applications of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry.Syllabus: Use of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry…Write your answer →
  32. What do you understand by ‘Genetic Engineering’? Mention its applications.Syllabus: Introduction and applications of genetic engineering andWrite your answer →
  33. What do you understand by Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)? Why is it important in biotechnology?Syllabus: World Trade Organization (WTO), Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual…Write your answer →
  34. Discuss the main features of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.Write your answer →
  35. Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology.Syllabus: Space TechnologyWrite your answer →
  36. Describe the various methods of water purification.Syllabus: Properties and modern methods of purification of drinking waterWrite your answer →
  37. What are n-type and p-type semiconductors? How are they prepared? Discuss their uses.Write your answer →
  38. What do you understand by biometric identification and authentication? Explain in brief the different types of biometric security. Also, list the applications of the biometric security system.Write your answer →
  39. (a) Explain the synthesis of Nylon-6 and Nylon-6,6 and mention their applications.Write your answer →
  40. (b) How is multimedia used to promote e-commerce? Discuss it.Write your answer →