Prelims PYQ practice

UPSC previous year question papers, 2011 to 2026, with answers

Use PYQs twice: first as a subject-wise learning tool, then as year-wise exam simulation. UPSC Genie’s live bank currently contains 1,596 GS Paper I questions spanning 2011–2026 across seven subjects.

Reviewed: 29 July 2026Reading time: 8 minutesBased on UPSC papers and rules

Start here

While learning, select one subject and solve small sets after revision. Closer to Prelims, switch to full year-wise papers under time. Review the reasoning behind every wrong option; an answer key alone does not create an exam skill.

What is available in the live bank?

1,596GS Paper I questions

2011–2026Year coverage

7 subjectsSubject filters

The bank covers History, Geography, Polity and Governance, Economy, Environment and Ecology, Science and Technology, and current-affairs-linked questions. Questions are mapped reliably at subject level; exact subtopic tagging is still being improved, so this page does not promise perfect chapter-level classification.

Primary sources used

Paper structure and penalty rules are checked against UPSC material. Practice explanations and strategy recommendations are UPSC Genie editorial guidance, not instructions issued by UPSC.

UPSC previous question papers · UPSC question-paper archive · UPSC examination FAQ

Subject-wise first, year-wise later

Preparation phase	Best mode	What to record
Learning a subject	5–15 questions from that subject	Concept gap, option trap and the lesson to revisit
First revision	Mixed subject sets	Accuracy by confidence level and recurring weak areas
Pre-exam phase	Complete recent year papers under time	Net score, attempts, wrong guesses and time lost

Year-wise practice too early can produce a score without a diagnosis. Subject-wise practice forever can hide switching and time-pressure problems. A good PYQ plan uses both modes in sequence.

A four-step practice loop

Attempt without seeing the answer

Mark your confidence as high, medium or low before checking. This separates a knowledge error from a risky guess.

Audit all four options

Explain why the chosen option is right and what makes the others wrong. If you cannot, the question is not fully revised.

Return to one narrow source

Revisit the relevant lesson or official source. Do not reopen an entire book for one missed distinction.

Reattempt after a gap

Repeat the error after seven days without reading the saved answer. Recognition is not the same as recall.

Start a free Prelims PYQ set

Choose a year, a subject or a mixed session. Your attempt is scored instantly and saved with your study progress after sign-in.

Practise UPSC PYQs

Choose the guide you need next

Year-wise PYQsUse recent papers as timed simulations and older papers as a pattern library.How to analyse PYQsTurn every right and wrong option into a revision decision.How many years?Choose a realistic first pass, second pass and exam-mode set.Negative markingUse the official penalty rule with evidence-based attempt decisions.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official UPSC Prelims questions?

The question text is drawn from UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination papers. UPSC Genie’s explanations, subject labels and working answers are editorial learning aids; consult UPSC answer keys where available.

Can I practise by year and subject?

Yes. The app lets you choose a year, choose a subject or mix the bank. Use subject mode while learning and year mode for timed revision.

Does the bank cover every question from every year?

The current bank contains 1,596 validated questions spanning 2011–2026. Coverage can differ slightly by year while extraction and answer checks continue.

Can I practise in Hindi?

Yes. The app supports Hindi presentation while retaining standard English exam terms where that improves clarity.

Continue the Prelims PYQ cluster

Explore Prelims PYQs by subject

Subject-wise PYQ analysisTurn the 1,596-question bank into a revision plan.Geography PYQsPractise maps, physical processes and Indian geography.Science & Technology PYQsWork from applications back to core concepts.Economy PYQsDecode mechanisms in banking, trade and public finance.History PYQsSeparate chronology, culture, sources and movements.

More subject-wise PYQ guides

CSAT PYQs1,120 questions across comprehension, reasoning and numeracy.Polity PYQs226 official questions mapped to constitutional distinctions.Environment PYQs282 official questions across ecology, biodiversity and governance.

Questions are drawn from UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination papers. Explanations, categorisation and strategy are editorial learning aids. Report a doubtful answer through the corrections process.