UPSC (Prelims) 2023 Previous Year Questions

Which of the following makes a tool by inserting a twig or a grass stem into a hole in a tree or a log of wood?
(a) Fishing cat
(b) Orangutan
(c) Otter
(d) Sloth bear

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production.
Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Which one of the following is the best example of repeated hills in sea-coastal marshlands?
(a) Marakkaanam Mangroves
(b) Raupada Swamp
(c) Coringa
(d) Bhitarkanika

Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrel:

1. They build nests by making holes in the ground.
2. They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground.
3. They are omnivorous.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

Invasive Species Specialist Group (that develops Global Invasive Species Database) belongs to which one of the following organizations?
(a) The International Union for Conservation of Nature
(b) The United Nations Environment Programme
(c) The United Nations World Commission for Environment and Development
(d) The World Wide Fund for Nature

Consider the following statements:

1. Amarkanth Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.
2. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range.
3. Seshachalam Hills constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following:

1. Aerosols
2. Foam agents
3. Fire retardants
4. Lubricants
   In the making of how many of the above are hydrofluorocarbons used?

Consider the following pairs:
Port — Well known as

1. Kamarajar Port — First major port in India registered as a company
2. Mundra Port — Largest privately owned port in India
3. Visakhapatnam Port — Largest container port in India
   How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Marsupials are not naturally found in India.
Statement-II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Siderite, abundantly available in coastal areas of India, is the rich source of which one of the following?
(a) Aluminium
(b) Copper
(c) Iron
(d) Silicon

Consider the following statements:

1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.
2. Some mushrooms have psycho-active properties.
3. Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.
4. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

Consider the fauna:

1. Lion-tailed Macaque
2. Malabar Civet
3. Sambar Deer
   How many of the above are generally nocturnal or more active after sunset?

Which of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?
(a) Cameroon
(b) Nigeria
(c) South Sudan
(d) Uganda

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the boiling point of water.
Statement-II: Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature below the freezing point of water.
Statement-III: Some microorganisms can grow in highly acidic environment with a pH below 3.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. India has more arable area than China.
2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that of China.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:

1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
2. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.
3. Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following trees:

1. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
2. Mahua (Madhuca indica)
3. Teak (Tectona grandis)
   How many of the above are deciduous trees?

About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by:
(a) Argentina
(b) Botswana
(c) the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(d) Kazakhstan

Which of the following organisms performs waggle dance for the direction of its kin towards a source of their food?
(a) Butterflies
(b) Dragonflies
(c) Honeybees
(d) Wasps