UPSC Prelims Mock Test 2: GS Paper 1 Practice Paper with Answers

This is the second UPSC Prelims mock test for General Studies Paper 1 in our practice series. It has 15 mixed questions from polity, history, geography, economy, environment, science, art and culture, and international relations, including statement-based questions in the UPSC style. Use it as a short sectional test, then read the analysis method after the key. A mock test works only when you analyse it, so follow the steps carefully.

How to Use This Mock Test

Take the test in a quiet place with a timer. Do not use your notes or the internet. Mark an answer only when you are able to give a reason for it. If you can remove two options and have a clear reason to prefer one of the rest, attempt the question. If you cannot, leave it. This builds the discipline that you will need in the real examination, where each wrong answer costs you marks.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 18 minutes (about 1.2 minutes per question, as in the real paper).
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks. The total is 30 marks.
• Attempt all the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. The Rajya Sabha is subject to dissolution by the President.
2. The Vice-President of India is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
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

Q2. President's Rule in a State can be imposed under
(a) Article 352
(b) Article 356
(c) Article 360
(d) Article 365

Q3. The Kalinga War, after which Ashoka turned towards Buddhism, was fought in about
(a) 261 BCE
(b) 321 BCE
(c) 185 BCE
(d) 42 BCE

Q4. The East India Company obtained the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha in 1765 through the Treaty of
(a) Allahabad
(b) Bassein
(c) Srirangapatna
(d) Surat

Q5. The highest peak of the Western Ghats and of South India is
(a) Doddabetta
(b) Anamudi
(c) Mahendragiri
(d) Mullayanagiri

Q6. Which of the following States is NOT crossed by the Tropic of Cancer?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Chhattisgarh
(c) Odisha
(d) Tripura

Q7. Which sector contributes the largest share to India's Gross Value Added?
(a) Agriculture
(b) Industry
(c) Services
(d) Mining

Q8. Which of the following is NOT a function of the Reserve Bank of India?
(a) Issuing currency notes
(b) Acting as the banker's bank
(c) Fixing the Minimum Support Price of crops
(d) Managing foreign exchange reserves

Q9. The Ramsar Convention, 1971 is related to the conservation of
(a) Wetlands
(b) Migratory birds
(c) Ozone layer
(d) Whales

Q10. The Montreal Protocol (1987) deals with
(a) Climate change
(b) Substances that deplete the ozone layer
(c) Trade in endangered species
(d) Desertification

Q11. Night blindness is caused by the deficiency of
(a) Vitamin A
(b) Vitamin B1
(c) Vitamin C
(d) Vitamin D

Q12. Consider the following statements:
1. The Governor of a State is appointed by the President.
2. The Governor can be removed only through an impeachment by the State Legislature.
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

Q13. Consider the following statements:
1. The repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends to commercial banks.
2. An increase in the CRR increases the funds available with banks for lending.
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

Q14. Kuchipudi, a classical dance form, originated in
(a) Kerala
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Odisha
(d) Manipur

Q15. The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 was signed with the mediation of the
(a) United Nations
(b) World Bank
(c) International Court of Justice
(d) Commonwealth

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and is not subject to dissolution; one-third of its members retire every two years. Statement 2 is correct under Article 89.
2. Q2: (b) Article 356 deals with the failure of the constitutional machinery in a State. Article 352 deals with National Emergency and Article 360 with Financial Emergency.
3. Q3: (a) The war took place around 261 BCE in the eighth year of Ashoka's reign and led to his policy of Dhamma.
4. Q4: (a) After the Battle of Buxar (1764), Robert Clive concluded the Treaty of Allahabad with Shah Alam II, giving the Company the right to collect revenue.
5. Q5: (b) Anamudi (about 2,695 metres) in the Anamalai Hills of Kerala is the highest peak of peninsular India.
6. Q6: (c) The Tropic of Cancer passes through eight States: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
7. Q7: (c) The services sector contributes more than half of India's GVA, followed by industry and agriculture.
8. Q8: (c) The MSP is approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on the recommendation of the CACP, not by the RBI.
9. Q9: (a) The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
10. Q10: (b) The Montreal Protocol phases out ozone-depleting substances. The Kigali Amendment (2016) targets the reduction of HFCs.
11. Q11: (a) Vitamin A is needed for the pigment in the retina. Its deficiency causes night blindness and, in severe cases, xerophthalmia.
12. Q12: (a) The Governor is appointed by the President under Article 155 and holds office during the pleasure of the President. There is no impeachment of the Governor.
13. Q13: (a) A higher CRR means banks must keep more cash with the RBI, so they have less to lend. Statement 2 is wrong.
14. Q14: (b) Kuchipudi takes its name from the village of Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh. It combines dance, drama and music.
15. Q15: (b) The treaty on the use of the Indus river system was signed in Karachi in 1960 by India and Pakistan, and the World Bank was a party to it as a mediator.

Calculate Your Score

Net score = (Correct answers x 2) - (Wrong answers x 0.66). For example, with 10 correct, 3 wrong and 2 unattempted, the net score is 20 - 1.98 = 18.02 out of 30. Compare your score with the bands below.

These bands are only for self-assessment of this short paper. The real cut-off changes every year, so always compare your performance in full-length 100-question mocks with the official cut-offs of past years.

Subject-wise Analysis Sheet

Fill the last column and see where you lost marks. A subject in which you got less than half of the questions right needs a revision cycle before the next mock.

How to Solve Statement-Based Questions

Take Question 1 as an example. The first statement says that the Rajya Sabha is subject to dissolution. If you know that the Rajya Sabha is a permanent House, you can cancel this statement. Only option (b) or (d) remains; since the second statement about the Vice-President is well known, you arrive at (b). This is the standard method: check each statement separately, eliminate the options in which a false statement appears, and be careful with words like "only", "always" and "all", which often make a statement false.

Exam-Hall Strategy

1. First round: Solve the questions you know well in about 60 to 70 minutes.
2. Second round: Return to the doubtful ones and use elimination.
3. Last 10 minutes: Fill the OMR sheet carefully and check that you have not marked two answers.

Review Your Mistakes Properly

For each wrong or guessed answer, write in your mistake log: the topic, the correct fact and the reason of your error. The reason may be a gap in knowledge, a memory failure, a misread word or a wrong elimination. Revise the topic within 24 hours, and again after one week. Our guide on mock test analysis explains the full method in detail, and you can revise the concepts from the free notes library.

Common Mistakes in Mock Tests

• Checking the key during the test and losing the exam feel.
• Taking tests without a timer, which hides your time-management problems.
• Not reading the explanation of the questions that you answered correctly by luck.

Try the first GS Paper 1 mock test if you have not solved it yet, and then continue with subject-wise papers such as the polity MCQs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many questions are there in the real UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1?

The real GS Paper 1 has 100 questions for 200 marks, to be done in 2 hours.

What is the negative marking in UPSC Prelims?

One-third of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer, which is about 0.66 marks for a 2-mark question.

How should I attempt statement-based questions?

Check each statement separately, eliminate options that contain a false statement, and watch for extreme words like only, always and all.

How many mock tests should I take before the Prelims?

Plan about 20 to 30 full-length mock tests, along with topic-wise tests and previous year papers.

How do I calculate my net score in a mock test?

Net score equals correct answers multiplied by 2 minus wrong answers multiplied by 0.66.

Should I guess in the UPSC Prelims?

Guess only when you can eliminate options and have at least a reasonable level of confidence, because wrong answers reduce the score.

How much time should I spend on each question?

Spend about 1.2 minutes per question on average, and skip a question if it is taking too long.

How should I analyse a mock test?

Record your numbers, classify each question as sure, guessed or wrong, find the cause of each mistake and revise the topic within 24 hours.

Is a short sectional test useful?

Yes. Short tests are good for daily practice and for checking one topic, while full-length tests build stamina and time management.

What is a good mock test score?

A steady rise in accuracy and net score over several tests is a good sign, and you should aim to stay above the previous year's official cut-off with a margin.

Can I solve this mock test more than once?

Yes. Solve it again after a week without looking at the key, and see how many questions you answer correctly the second time.

Where can I find more practice papers?

You can find subject-wise and mock practice papers in the practice paper section of this website.