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Latest UPSC PYQ with Answers

61–80 of 320
  2. Q62 2025 Prelims GS

    Which of the following are the sources of income for the Reserve Bank of India? I. Buying and selling of Government bonds II. Buying and selling of foreign currency III. Pension fund management IV. Lending to private companies V. Printing and distributing currency notes. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. I and II only
    2. II, III and IV
    3. I, III, IV and V
    4. I, II and V✓
    Answer explanation

    I, II and V RBI earns income mainly from open market operations (buying/selling government bonds), foreign exchange operations, and seigniorage from printing/distributing currency notes.…

    EconomyIncome sourcesRbi
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  3. Q63 2025 Prelims GS

    With reference to the Government of India, consider the following information (Organization / Some of its functions / It works under): I. Directorate of Enforcement – Enforcement of Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 – Internal Security Division-I, Ministry of Home Affairs. II. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence – Enforces provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 – Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. III. Directorate General of Systems and Data Management – Carrying out big data analytics to assist tax officers for better policy and nabbing tax evaders – Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two✓
    3. All the three
    4. None
    Answer explanation

    Only two The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) works under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance (not the Ministry of Home Affairs), so row I is incorrectly matched.…

    Government organizationsPolity
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  4. Q64 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: I. The Reserve Bank of India mandates all the listed companies in India to submit a Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR). II. In India, a company submitting a BRSR makes disclosures in the report that are largely non-financial in nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. I only
    2. II only✓
    3. Both I and II
    4. Neither I nor II
    Answer explanation

    II only It is SEBI, not RBI, that mandates the top listed companies to submit a Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR), so statement I is incorrect.…

    BrsrCorporate governanceEconomy
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  5. Q65 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, income from allied agricultural activities like poultry-farming and wool rearing in rural areas is exempted from any tax. Statement II: In India, under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961, rural agricultural land is not considered a capital asset. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
    2. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
    3. Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
    4. Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct✓
    Answer explanation

    Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct Income from allied activities such as poultry-farming and wool rearing is not treated as agricultural income and is therefore taxable, making Statement I incorrect.…

    AgricultureEconomyIncome tax
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  6. Q66 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member. II. India has itself identified all 30 critical minerals as resource-rich. III. Parliament in 2023 amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite (prospecting-cum-mining) licence for certain critical minerals. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. I and II only
    2. II and III only
    3. I and III only✓
    4. I, II and III
    Answer explanation

    I and III only India joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2023, and Parliament amended the MMDR Act, 1957 in 2023 to empower the Centre to exclusively auction mining leases and composite licences for certain critical/atomic…

    Critical mineralsEconomyMmdr act
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  7. Q67 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: Statement I: As regards returns from an investment in a company, generally, bondholders are considered to be relatively at lower risk than stockholders. Statement II: Bondholders are lenders to a company whereas stockholders are its owners. Statement III: For repayment purpose, bond-holders are prioritized over stockholders by a company. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I✓
    2. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement I explains Statement II
    3. Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
    4. Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
    Answer explanation

    Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I Bondholders are creditors/lenders with a fixed claim that is repaid before equity, whereas stockholders are owners who bear residual risk (Statement II…

    BondsEconomyStock market
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  8. Q68 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: I. India accounts for a very large portion of all equity option contracts traded globally thus exhibiting a great boom. II. India's stock market has grown rapidly in the recent past even overtaking Hong Kong's at some point of time. III. There is no regulatory body either to warn the small investors about the risks of options trading or to act on unregistered financial advisors in this regard. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. I and II only✓
    2. II and III only
    3. I and III only
    4. I, II and III
    Answer explanation

    I and II only India has, in recent years, accounted for a very large share of global equity options trading volume, and Indian markets briefly overtook Hong Kong in market capitalization.…

    EconomySebiStock market
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  9. Q69 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: Statement I: Circular economy reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases. Statement II: Circular economy reduces the use of raw materials as inputs. Statement III: Circular economy reduces wastage in the production process. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I✓
    2. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
    3. Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
    4. Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
    Answer explanation

    Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I A circular economy, by design, minimizes raw material use through reuse/recycling (Statement II) and minimizes wastage in production (Statement III).…

    Circular economyEnvironmentSustainability
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  10. Q70 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: I. Capital receipts create a liability or cause a reduction in the assets of the Government. II. Borrowings and disinvestment are capital receipts. III. Interest received on loans creates a liability of the Government. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. I and II only✓
    2. II and III only
    3. I and III only
    4. I, II and III
    Answer explanation

    I and II only Capital receipts either create a liability (e.g., borrowings) or reduce assets (e.g., disinvestment/recovery of loans), making Statement I correct; borrowings and disinvestment are indeed capital receipts, making Statement II…

    BudgetEconomyFiscal deficit
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  11. Q71 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy: I. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East. II. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. I only
    2. II only
    3. Both I and II✓
    4. Neither I nor II
    Answer explanation

    Both I and II Raja Ram Mohan Roy had deep respect for traditional Eastern philosophical systems (especially Vedanta) while simultaneously advocating rationalism, scientific temper, and the principle of human dignity and social equality for…

    HistoryRaja ram mohan roySocial reform
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  12. Q72 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following subjects with regard to the Non-Cooperation Programme: I. Boycott of law-courts and foreign cloth II. Observance of strict non-violence III. Retention of titles and honours without using them in public IV. Establishment of Panchayats for settling disputes. How many of the above were parts of the Non-Cooperation Programme?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. Only three✓
    4. All the four
    Answer explanation

    Only three The Non-Cooperation Programme (1920) included boycott of law-courts and foreign cloth, strict observance of non-violence, and establishment of panchayats for settling disputes.…

    HistoryNon-cooperation movement
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  13. Q73 2025 Prelims GS

    The irrigation device called 'Araghatta' was

    1. a water bag made of leather pulled over a pulley
    2. a large wheel with earthen pots tied to the outer ends of its spokes✓
    3. a larger earthen pot driven by bullocks
    4. a large water bucket pulled up by rope directly by hand
    Answer explanation

    a large wheel with earthen pots tied to the outer ends of its spokes The Araghatta (a Persian-wheel-like device) was a large wheel with earthen pots or buckets tied to the outer ends of its spokes, used to lift water from wells or rivers…

    HistoryIrrigation devicesMedieval india
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  14. Q74 2025 Prelims GS

    In ancient India, which one of the following rulers had assumed the titles 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabhara'?

    1. Mahendravarman I✓
    2. Simhavishnu
    3. Narasimhavarman I
    4. Simhavarman
    Answer explanation

    Mahendravarman I Mahendravarman I, the Pallava ruler, was a patron of art and literature (author of the Sanskrit satire Mattavilasa Prahasana) and assumed titles such as 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabhara'.

    Ancient indiaHistoryPallavas
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  16. Q76 2025 Prelims GS

    Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya, the powerful maritime State, which ruled the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and the neighbouring islands?

    1. Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta)
    2. Pratapardra (Kakatiya)
    3. Rajendra I (Chola)✓
    4. Vishnuvardhana (Hoysala)
    Answer explanation

    Rajendra I (Chola) Chola emperor Rajendra I led a famous naval expedition against the Srivijaya kingdom (Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java) in the 11th century CE, establishing Chola naval and commercial dominance in South-East Asia.

    Ancient indiaChola dynastyHistory
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  17. Q77 2025 Prelims GS

    With reference to ancient India (600-322 BC), consider the following pairs (Territorial region : River flowing in the region): I. Asmaka : Godavari II. Kamboja : Vipas III. Avanti : Mahanadi IV. Kosala : Sarayu. How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two✓
    3. Only three
    4. All the four
    Answer explanation

    Only two Asmaka was situated along the Godavari river and Kosala along the Sarayu river, making pairs I and IV correct. Kamboja is associated with the region around present-day Afghanistan/Kashmir (not the Vipasa/Beas specifically as its…

    Geography of ancient indiaHistoryMahajanapadas
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  19. Q79 2025 Prelims GS

    As is known from the edicts of Ashoka, 'Pradeshika', 'Rajuka' and 'Yukta' were important officers at what level?

    1. village-level administration
    2. district-level administration✓
    3. provincial administration
    4. level of the central administration
    Answer explanation

    district-level administration According to Ashokan inscriptions, Pradeshikas, Rajukas and Yuktas were important officials associated with district-level administration in the Mauryan empire, responsible for local governance, justice and…

    AshokaHistoryMauryan administration
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  20. Q80 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements in respect of the Non-Cooperation Movement: I. The Congress declared that the attainment of 'Swaraj' by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective. II. It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes for the next stage only if 'Swaraj' did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. I only
    2. II only
    3. Both I and II✓
    4. Neither I nor II
    Answer explanation

    Both I and II The Nagpur session of Congress (1920) declared the attainment of Swaraj by legitimate and peaceful means as its objective, and the movement was designed to be implemented in escalating stages, with civil disobedience and…

    HistoryNon-cooperation movement
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