UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper 1 Answer Key (Series C)
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 was held recently. This post provides the complete answer key for General Studies Paper I, Series C (Booklet Code: TDMN-A-ASO). All 100 questions are listed below with the correct answers.
⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This is an unofficial answer key based on the marked responses from the scanned question paper (Series C). Some answers may vary due to image quality. Always verify with the official UPSC answer key published on upsc.gov.in. Negative marking of 1/3 mark applies for every wrong answer.
EXAM DETAILS:
- Paper: General Studies Paper — I (Prelims)
- Series: C (TDMN-A-ASO)
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Duration: 2 Hours
- Negative Marking: -0.66 marks per wrong answer
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR SCORE:
- Each correct answer = +2 marks
- Each wrong answer = -0.66 marks (1/3 of 2)
- Unattempted = 0 marks
- Formula: (Correct × 2) − (Wrong × 0.66)
COMPLETE ANSWER KEY — QUESTION AND ANSWER FORMAT
— GEOGRAPHY —
Q1) Which among the following were the RAD (Restoration, Adaptation and Diversification) initiatives under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?
Ans → (c) 1 only
Q2) Which of the following is correct — Rajasthan shares the longest border among all Indian States?
Ans → (a) 1 only
Q3) Sikkim is the only State that shares its boundary with just one other Indian State. Select the answer using the code given below.
Ans → (c) 2 and 3
Q4) Which of the following shares the longest border among all Indian States with other Indian States?
Ans → (b) 1 and 2
Q21) With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 2 only
Q22) Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India?
Ans → (d) 3 only
Q23) Tupungato Volcano, which was declared a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023, is situated in which of the following countries?
Ans → (d) Colombia
Q64) In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a shift in India’s maritime trade and logistics policy?
Ans → (b) 1 and 2
Q96) Which of the following statements with regard to the Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 1 and 2 only
— ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY —
Q5) Which among the following is the most important feature for Eri Silk in the context of Oeko-Tex certification in hybrid-oriented markets?
Ans → (c) 3 only
Q6) Which of the following statements with regard to Amur Falcons is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 3 only
Q7) Ships from which of the following countries must pass through the Strait of Hormuz to reach the Indian Ocean?
Ans → (b) 2 only
Q8) Consider the following statements about Rhynchophasia retusa (Petrel orchid). Which are correct?
Ans → (b) 1 and 2
Q16) Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons from Mongolia into Nagaland each year is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 2 and 3
Q18) Which one of the following is the first Plan Type certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India?
Ans → (c) Sikkim Manley Kamrang Community REDD+ project
Q19) Which of the following best explains the climate-resilience function of mangroves in the context of reducing tidal surge and saline intrusion?
Ans → (c) 3 only
Q20) Consider the following statements about the Sahyavahini initiative.
Ans → (b) 1 and 2
Q24) With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 1 and 2
Q63) Consider the following statements with regard to India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) with reference to India’s response to climate change.
Ans → (c) 2 and 3
Q65) With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbon, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 2 and 3
Q92) Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience) is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 1 and 3 only
— HISTORY & CULTURE —
Q9) In the Pleistocene period either the Yamuna joined the Ganga or the Sindh flowed into the Yamuna. Which of the following traces the basis of this assertion?
Ans → (a) 1 only
Q10) What does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography?
Ans → (b) The Buddha’s First Sermon
Q11) Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers in India are correctly matched?
Ans → (c) 3 only
Q12) Which of the following statements on the Amaravati School of sculpture and its road sculpture is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 1 only
Q13) Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bhaiavi in Hindustani music?
Ans → (c) Kanavardhan
Q14) Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are NOT correctly matched?
Ans → (b) 2 only
Q15) Consider the following — Pali texts contain the first definite reference to the use of Veena, mridanga, nakkha, havana, and kakinda.
Ans → (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q17) Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bundeli Satyagraha is correct?
Ans → (c) 2 and 3
Q32) The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British India for which one of the following reasons?
Ans → (c) 1 and 2
Q33) Which of the following factors contributed to the failure of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose?
Ans → (b) 2 and 4 only
Q34) Which of the following factors led Bose to fail to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi?
Ans → (c) 1, 3 and 4
Q35) Consider the following assertion about the genesis of political alliance based on community in the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919.
Ans → (d) 1, 2 and 3
Q36) Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after the Rebellion in 1857.
Ans → (b) 1 and 5 only
Q37) Which of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara?
Ans → (a) 1 only
Q38) Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bhaiavi?
Ans → (d) Dhvera Shankarabharanam
Q39) The Hallebidu painting in the Bagh Caves represents which of the following?
Ans → (b) A joyous folk dance
Q40) The Samudramanthan (Churning of the Ocean) painting represents which of the following?
Ans → (c) The depiction of Shiva and Parvati on Kailash
Q95) Consider the following statements about the film ‘Bong’.
Ans → (b) 2 and 3 only
Q98) Consider the following statements with regard to the film ‘Bong’ that recently won the BAFTA Award in the Children’s and Family Film category.
Ans → (c) 1, 2 and 3
Q100) Which one of the following pairs of semiconductor plants in India and their locations is NOT correctly matched?
Ans → (c) 3 only
— INDIAN ECONOMY —
Q25) Which of the following statements regarding the features of Blockchain technology are correct?
Ans → (c) 2 only
Q26) Which one of the following best describes the framework for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative?
Ans → (d) To allow government control over all digital commerce players
Q27) Which one of the following statements about Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Central Bank Digital Currency (Digital Rupee) is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 1 only
Q28) An e-commerce revenue model where the seller has control over pricing but doesn’t keep products in stock is called?
Ans → (b) Dropshipping Model
Q29) Which of the following statements about Crowdfunding for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) financing is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 2 only
Q30) Which one of the following correctly represents the three key sub-indices of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
Ans → (d) Access, Affordability, and Transparency
Q31) What are the benefits of turning real world assets into digital tokens (Real World Asset Tokenisation)?
Ans → (c) 1 and 2
Q49) Which one of the following best describes the ‘Crowding Out Effect’ in the context of fiscal policy?
Ans → (b) A situation where Government borrowing leads to higher interest rates, which reduces private investment
Q50) A bond whose proceeds are used only to finance or refinance a combination of environmental and social projects is called?
Ans → (a) Green Bond
Q51) Which of the following statements about MExchange’s role in MSME financing is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 1 and 3
Q52) Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 1 and 3 only
Q53) Which of the following statements about physical third-party insurance in the aviation sector is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 2 only
Q54) Consider the following statements with regard to the Sagarmala Programme of India.
Ans → (a) 1 only
Q55) Consider the following different Committees in India and their details.
Ans → (a) 1 and 2
Q56) Consider the following statements about the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India.
Ans → (b) 1, 2 and 3
Q57) Which of the following statements about Crowdfunding (raising small amounts through a web-based platform) is/are correct?
Ans → (c) Neither 1 nor 2
Q58) Consider the following statements about the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) calculated by NITI Aayog.
Ans → (d) 2 only
Q67) A bond whose proceeds are used only to finance or refinance environmental and social projects is called?
Ans → (a) Green Bond
Q68) Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 1 and 3 only
Q69) Which one of the following best describes the ‘Crowding Out Effect’ in the context of fiscal policy?
Ans → (b) Government borrowing leads to higher interest rates, reducing private investment
Q70) Which of the following statements about physical third-party insurance covering the aviation sector is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 1 and 3 only
— INDIAN POLITY & GOVERNANCE —
Q59) Which of the following statements with regard to persons with disabilities in India is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 1 and 3
Q60) X was addressing a seminar on the meaning of ‘law’ as provided under Article 13 of the Constitution of India.
Ans → (a) The view of both X and Y are correct
Q71) Consider the following on the meaning of ‘law’ as provided under Article 13 of the Constitution.
Ans → (c) The view of only Y is correct
Q72) Consider the following statements about the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Committee in India.
Ans → (a) Statements 1 and 3 are correct
Q73) Consider the following statements about the Scheduled Tribes in India.
Ans → (a) Statements 1 and 3 are correct
Q74) Which of the following statements about Zero FIR under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Q75) With reference to the organisations under the Government of India, consider the following details.
Ans → (a) 1 only
Q76) Consider the following statements in respect of Questions in the Parliament of India.
Ans → (c) Two correct statements including statement 2
Q89) Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (Revamped RGSA) is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 2 only
— SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY —
Q41) Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 2 only
Q42) Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen Mission of India is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 2 and 3 only
Q43) Which of the following statements with regard to drone swarms is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 1 and 2 only
Q44) Which of the following statements with regard to Genomics India (Human Genome Project) is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 1 and 2 only
Q45) Which of the following statements with regard to genetic medicines (correcting faulty genes for disease) is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 1 only
Q46) Which of the following statements with regard to Stealth technology is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 2 and 3 only
Q47) Which of the following statements with regard to the Black Box used in modern aircraft is/are correct?
Ans → (d) 1, 2 and 3
Q48) Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct?
Ans → (d) 1, 2 and 3
Q61) Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India’s space programme.
Ans → (a) 1 and 2 only
Q62) Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 2 only
Q66) Which of the following statements with regard to India’s new high resolution weather models (the ‘Bharat Forecast System’) is/are correct?
Ans → (c) Both 1 and 2
Q85) The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) recently introduced a national standard to test and assess bomb disposal systems. Which statements are correct?
Ans → (a) 1, 2 and 3
Q86) Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements and the National Critical Mineral Authority is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 1 and 2 only
Q87) Which of the following statements about microprocessors (DRDO/DLRL) is/are correct?
Ans → (b) 2 only
Q94) Which of the following statements about the DRDO programme for creation of microprocessors for India is/are correct?
Ans → (c) Neither 1 nor 2
Q97) Which of the following statements with regard to India’s new high resolution weather models developed by IIT Delhi is/are correct?
Ans → (c) Both 1 and 2
— INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & CURRENT AFFAIRS —
Q77) Consider the following statements about bridges connecting India with neighbouring countries.
Ans → (b) 1 only
Q78) The Chancellor of Germany visited India in January 2025. Which outcomes of this visit are correct?
Ans → (b) 2 and 4
Q79) Which of the following International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions have NOT been ratified by India?
Ans → (b) 3 and 4 only
Q80) Consider the following statements with regard to the AI Impact Summit, 2025 held in New Delhi.
Ans → (c) 2 and 3
Q81) Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries?
Ans → (d) 2 only
Q82) Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2025 Preamble.
Ans → (b) 1 and 2
Q83) Which of the following statements about BIMSTEC is/are correct?
Ans → (c) 3 only
Q84) Which one of the following statements with regard to the Ta Chin Alom Heritage Kingdom described as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is/are correct?
Ans → (d) 2 and 4
Q88) Which of the following outcomes of the German Chancellor’s India visit in January 2025 is/are correct?
Ans → (a) 2 and 4
Q90) Which of the following countries are members of the European Union?
Ans → (b) 1 and 4 only
Q91) Match List I with List II — INTERPOL Notices and their descriptions.
Ans → (c) 2 only
Q93) Match List I with List II — UN Peacekeeping missions and their periods.
Ans → (a) Code: A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Q99) Which of the statements given above is/are correct with regard to the Global Forum for Migration and Development?
Ans → (a) 1, 2 and 3
QUICK REFERENCE — ANSWER KEY AT A GLANCE
Q1-C Q2-A Q3-C Q4-B Q5-C Q6-A Q7-B Q8-B Q9-A Q10-B
Q11-C Q12-A Q13-C Q14-B Q15-D Q16-C Q17-C Q18-C Q19-C Q20-B
Q21-C Q22-D Q23-D Q24-B Q25-C Q26-D Q27-A Q28-B Q29-B Q30-D
Q31-C Q32-C Q33-B Q34-C Q35-D Q36-B Q37-A Q38-D Q39-B Q40-C
Q41-B Q42-C Q43-C Q44-B Q45-A Q46-B Q47-D Q48-D Q49-B Q50-A
Q51-A Q52-A Q53-B Q54-A Q55-A Q56-B Q57-C Q58-D Q59-C Q60-A
Q61-A Q62-C Q63-C Q64-B Q65-C Q66-C Q67-A Q68-A Q69-B Q70-C
Q71-C Q72-A Q73-A Q74-A Q75-A Q76-C Q77-B Q78-B Q79-B Q80-C
Q81-D Q82-B Q83-C Q84-D Q85-A Q86-C Q87-B Q88-A Q89-B Q90-B
Q91-C Q92-B Q93-A Q94-C Q95-B Q96-A Q97-C Q98-C Q99-A Q100-C
ANSWER DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS
Option A: 22 Questions
Option B: 27 Questions
Option C: 33 Questions
Option D: 18 Questions
Subject-wise Distribution:
- History & Culture : 20 Questions
- Economy : 19 Questions
- Environment & Ecology : 14 Questions
- Science & Technology : 15 Questions
- Geography : 10 Questions
- International Relations: 12 Questions
- Polity & Governance : 9 Questions
- Others : 1 Question
EXPECTED CUT-OFF (General Category — Based on Past Trends)
- Expected Cut-off Range : 98 – 110 marks
- Safe Score : 115+ marks
- Note: Cut-offs vary by category (OBC, SC, ST, EWS etc.)
HOW TO CHECK YOUR SCORE
- Count your correct answers and multiply by 2
- Count your wrong answers and multiply by 0.66
- Subtract wrong answer marks from correct answer marks
- Formula: Score = (Correct × 2) − (Wrong × 0.66)
Example: 70 correct, 15 wrong
Score = (70 × 2) − (15 × 0.66) = 140 − 9.9 = 130.1 marks
DISCLAIMER
This is an UNOFFICIAL answer key prepared from the scanned question paper (Series C).
Answers are based on visible markings in the paper and are subject to correction.
Always refer to the official UPSC answer key at upsc.gov.in once it is published.
This content is for educational and reference purposes only.