UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 — GS Paper I

Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched?

1. Vitasta : Chenab
2. Asikni : Jhelum
3. Parushni : Ravi
4. Yavyavati : Beas

Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct?

1. It was located in the lower Krishna valley
2. In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size
3. The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products

were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia

Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are NOT correctly matched?

1. Senguttuvan : Chera
2. Udiyanjeral : Chola
3. Nedunjeliyan : Pandya

Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939?

1. Bose failed to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi
2. The Congress Left was disunited and failed to support Bose
3. The Communists did not support Bose in his endeavours
4. The supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan preferred Congress unity to

supporting Bose

Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts
2. A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856 assuming that the taluqdars were outsiders
3. The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars

Consider the following assertion: The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

1. Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates
2. Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger
3. Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates

Consider the following statements: I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver The above statements have been associated with which of the following?

1. Emergence of urban life
2. Transition to money economy

Which of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara?

1. Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami
2. Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole
3. Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
4. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal

Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns: I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements?

1. Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home
2. Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed
3. Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system

With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in India in 2025
2. Sakhya Sagar, which is designated as a Ramsar Site, is situated within this National Park
3. Its area is shared between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan

With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The climate can be defined as a humid, tropical coastal climate
2. It receives rainfall from both South-west monsoon and North-east monsoon
3. Maximum precipitation is between December and May

Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India?

1. Submergence of parts of the western coast due to tectonic activity
2. Presence of residual mountain ranges such as the Veliconda hills and Mahendragiri hills
3. Deep, V-shaped river valleys formed by fast-flowing rivers

Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India: I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure II. The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings III. Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?

1. Statement II validates the effectiveness of the strategies envisioned in statement I
2. Statement III extends the objectives of statement I by embedding them into a future-oriented innovation

framework 3. Statement I contradicts statement III by focusing only on traditional infrastructure instead of modern innovation

Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid): Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It is an epiphytic orchid
2. The species is endemic to North-east India
3. It is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam

Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?

1. They acted as army fortresses
2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles
3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles
4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles

Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?

1. It is the largest desert lake in the world
2. The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara desert
3. The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the 'Jade Sea'

Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change: I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 II. India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019 III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?

1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II
2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I
3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability

Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:

1. It has an antecedent drainage system
2. It flows through three countries
3. It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and is an important river for irrigation
4. It does not form distributaries

Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are NOT correct?

1. Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with the highest number of other Indian States
2. Rajasthan shares the longest international border among all Indian States
3. Sikkim is the only State that shares its boundary with just one other Indian State

Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?

1. Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas
2. Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions
3. Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)

Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?

1. It allows Indian exporters to compete in high-end markets that prioritise chemical-free products
2. It confirms that Eri Silk meets international safety, environmental, and quality standards, enabling its entry into

premium eco-conscious markets

Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean?

1. Bahrain
2. Syria
3. Qatar
4. Egypt

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: LIST I (INTERPOL Notice) LIST II (Description) A. Silver Notice

1. To seek information on unidentified bodies B. Blue Notice
2. To collect additional information about a person's C. Black Notice identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal D. Green Notice investigation 3. To provide warning about a person's criminal activities, where the person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety 4. To identify and trace criminal assets

The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) recently introduced a national standard to test and assess bomb disposal system. Which of the following statements with regard to this system is/are correct?

1. The new standard is known as IS 19445:2025
2. It will improve interoperability of equipment across agencies
3. It was developed by TBRL, DRDO in collaboration with the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute, Russia

Which of the following statements with regard to India's indigenous new high resolution weather model, the 'Bharat Forecast System,' is/are correct?

1. Its objective is to generate forecasts at the Panchayats cluster level
2. It was developed by IIT Delhi

Which of the following statements regarding the features of blockchain technology are correct?

1. Records stored in the database may be made visible to relevant stakeholders without risk of alteration
2. Copies of the entire database are stored on multiple computers on a network, syncing within seconds
3. Consortium blockchain is a blend of public and private blockchains allowing selective data access
4. Mathematical algorithms make it impossible to change or delete any data once recorded and accepted

Which of the following statements about Real-World Assets (RWA) Tokenization are correct?

1. Tokenization is the process of turning real world assets into digital tokens using blockchain technology
2. Tokenization of real world assets offers 24x7 access, promoting financial inclusion
3. Tokenization of real world assets will allow the access to high growth investment opportunities for individuals

in India

Which of the following statements about M1xchange's role in Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) financing is/are correct?

1. M1xchange provides collateral based loans to MSMEs
2. M1xchange facilitates discounting of invoices and Bills of Exchange for MSMEs
3. M1xchange functions as a credit rating agency for MSMEs

Which of the following statements about insurance in aviation sector is/are correct?

1. 'Aviation Hull Insurance' covers the physical aircraft, including the body, engine, and on-board equipment
2. Under the Montreal Convention, adopted in 1999 by over 130 countries, including India, airlines are strictly

liable to pay compensation to the family/nominee of every deceased passenger without requiring the family to prove fault

Consider the following statements about the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits
2. All the NBFCs operating in India have to be registered with the RBI
3. NBFCs form part of the payment and settlement system and can issue cheque drawn on itself
4. Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) is not available to

the depositors of deposit taking NBFCs

Consider the following statements about Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. MPI is calculated using Alkire-Foster methodology
2. MPI calculated by NITI Aayog has a total of twelve indicators
3. Maternal Health and Bank Account are common indicators in the MPI of NITI Aayog and MPI of United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP)

Which of the following statements with regard to genetic medicine is/are correct?

1. Genetic medicines correct/compensate for the faulty genes responsible for disease
2. Engineered viruses and lipid nanoparticles are used as carriers of the genetic medicine
3. Genetic medicines alter the entire DNA sequence

Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct?

1. LLMs assign probabilities to the next possible words and then pick the one with the highest probability
2. LLMs process data through mathematical optimization to minimise prediction errors
3. LLMs produce unbiased outputs

Which of the following statements with regard to stealth technology is/are correct?

1. Stealth objects have a very small radar cross-section and are coated with Radar Absorbing Material
2. Stealth objects can be detected using specific frequencies
3. Stealth objects are coated with metamaterials to increase the scattering of electromagnetic radiation

Which of the following statements with regard to Black Boxes used in modern aircrafts is/are correct?

1. They carry a beacon emitting red light pulses to facilitate underwater detection
2. They record both the cockpit voice and flight data
3. Their memory units are made using either stainless steel or titanium

Which of the following statements with regard to drone swarms is/are correct?

1. They use Terahertz band of frequency to communicate with the command centre
2. Individual drones in the swarm can communicate with other drones in the swarm
3. GPS Spoofing is a commonly used technique to counter drone swarm attack

Which of the following statements with regard to GenomeIndia Project is/are correct?

1. It is a part of the Human Genome Project
2. The project is funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India
3. Its primary aim is to build a catalogue of genetic diversity of the Indian population

Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?

1. It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits
2. Its implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D

institutes across India

Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct?

1. It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India
2. Matsya-6000 has been designed to carry 3 people for deep sea exploration
3. Samudrayaan is a project under this mission

Ms. X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project - a new community park. During the approval process, she received a piece of confidential information indicating that one of the shortlisted contractors had a history of poor workmanship and allegations of corruption in other cities, though nothing had been legally proven. The Head of the Department, Mr. Y, advised her not to disclose this information to the project committee or the public because it could delay the project and damage the city's reputation. However, Ms. X believed that withholding such information compromised transparency and public trust. What amongst the following should Ms. X do now?

1. Immediately disclose the information to the project committee and the public
2. Recommend removing the contractor from the shortlist to protect the project's integrity
3. Propose a 'limited disclosure' to an oversight committee, while keeping the information confidential from the

public for the time being

Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India: Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?

1. Unstarred questions are those to which a Member desires an oral answer in the House
2. Starred questions are those to which a Member desires a written answer
3. No supplementary question can be asked on an unstarred question

Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It aims to enhance India's air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial offensive capabilities
2. This Mission is being designed to enhance rapid, precise, and powerful defence responses, reinforcing India's

strategic autonomy 3. One of the aims of this Mission is to cover all public places of India by an expanded nationwide security shield by 2035

Consider the following statements about river bridges connecting India with neighbouring countries: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 'Maitri Setu', built over Feni river, connects Ramgarh in India with Sabroom in Bangladesh
2. Jhulaghat suspension bridge connects India with Myanmar
3. Mechi bridge and its approaches connect Panitanki Bypass in India with Kakarvitta in Nepal

Which of the following international conventions have NOT been ratified by India?

1. Employment Policy Convention
2. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
3. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
4. Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War
5. Convention on Reduction of Statelessness

Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2026 held in New Delhi: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Summit's intellectual framework was based on three foundational Sutras: People, Planning and Progress
2. The Preamble of the Summit stresses Democratising AI Resources, which acknowledges the Charter for

Democratic Diffusion of AI as a binding framework to support locally relevant innovation and strengthen resilient AI ecosystems while respecting national laws 3. The New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact was structured around seven Chakras (Pillars), which included Access for Social Empowerment, AI for Science, and Secure and Trusted AI

Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries?

1. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
2. IMT Trilateral Highway
3. Agartala-Akhaura Rail Line

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: LIST I (Project Supported by India) LIST II (Country) A. Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project

1. Maldives B. Restoration of Stor Palace
2. Afghanistan C. District Hospital at Dickoya
3. Bhutan D. Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies
4. Sri Lanka

Which of the following items of defence hardware is/are manufactured in India?

1. Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets
2. T-90 MK-III Tanks
3. Akula Class Submarine

Consider the following UN organisations/agencies: How many of the above has/have been awarded the Nobel Prize twice?

1. World Food Programme
2. United Nations Children's Fund
3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
4. International Labour Organisation

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: LIST I (UN Peacekeeping Operation) LIST II (Period of Operation) A. UNMIL

1. 2007-2010 B. MINURCAT
2. 2002-2005 C. MINUSTAH
3. 2003-2018 D. UNMISET
4. 2004-2017

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists: LIST I (BIMSTEC Centre/Establishment) LIST II (Location) A. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory

1. NOIDA B. BIMSTEC Energy Centre
2. Bengaluru C. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate
3. Colombo D. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility
4. Thimphu

Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct?

1. The period of its implementation is 1st April, 2021 to 31st March, 2026
2. The key objective of the Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayati Raj

Institutions to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals 3. The share of the Central funding for the Revamped RGSA is 100% for all States and Union Territories

Which of the following countries are members of the European Union?

1. Belarus
2. Poland
3. Germany
4. Switzerland