UPSC CSE Prelims · Previous Year Questions

UPSC Prelims PYQs 2025

All 80 questions from the UPSC Prelims 2025 paper, tagged by subject and topic.

1. Q1

   Passage: In our country, regrettably, teaching and learning for the examination have been our forte but the new demands of society and the future of work require critical and independent thinking, learning through doing, asking questions from multiple discipli…
2. Q2

   Passage: In our country, regrettably, teaching and learning for the examination have been our forte but the new demands of society and the future of work require critical and independent thinking, learning through doing, asking questions from multiple discipli…
3. Q3

   Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage?
4. Q4

   With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: I. The food manufacturing and processing industries in every country should align their objectives and processes in accordance with the changing needs of the societies. II. Wealthie…
5. Q5

   What is the maximum value of n such that 7 × 343 × 385 × 1000 × 2401 × 77777 is divisible by 35^n?
6. Q6

   What is X in the sequence 24, X, 12, 18, 36, 90?
7. Q7

   P and Q walk along a circular track. They start at 5:00 a.m. from the same point in opposite directions. P walks at an average speed of 5 rounds per hour and Q walks at an average speed of 3 rounds per hour. How many times will they cross each other between 5:…
8. Q8

   If P = +, Q = –, R = ×, S = ÷, then insert the proper notations between the successive numbers in the equation 60_15_3_20_4 = 20:
9. Q9

   A tram overtakes 2 persons X and Y walking at an average speed of 3 km/hr and 4 km/hr in the same direction and completely passes them in 8 seconds and 9 seconds respectively. What is the length of the tram?
10. Q10

    If N^2 = 12345678987654321, then how many digits does the number N have?
11. Q11

    Which one of the following statements best reflects the corollary to the above passage?
12. Q12

    With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made: The growing divergence between the fortunes of the agricultural and non-agricultural economy in India could have been reduced/contained by: I. adapting large-scale cultivation of commerci…
13. Q13

    Passage: In our country, handlooms are equated with a culture that ensures a continuity of tradition. This idea has become part of the public policy-framing and provides a legitimate basis for the State to support the sector. But the notion of tradition as a s…
14. Q14

    Passage: In our country, handlooms are equated with a culture that ensures a continuity of tradition. This idea has become part of the public policy-framing and provides a legitimate basis for the State to support the sector. But the notion of tradition as a s…
15. Q15

    Consider the first 100 natural numbers. How many of them are not divisible by any one of 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9?
16. Q16

    If 4 ≤ x ≤ 8 and 2 ≤ y ≤ 7, then what is the ratio of maximum value of (x + y) to minimum value of (x − y)?
17. Q17

    Let both p and k be prime numbers such that (p² + k) is also a prime number less than 30. What is the number of possible values of k?
18. Q18

    There are n sets of numbers each having only three positive integers with LCM equal to 1001 and HCF equal to 1. What is the value of n?
19. Q19

    Let PQR be a 3-digit number, PPT be a 3-digit number and PS be a 2-digit number, where P, Q, R, S, T are distinct non-zero digits. Further, PQR − PS = PPT. If Q = 3 and T < 6, then what is the number of possible values of (R, S)?
20. Q20

    Consider the sequence AB_CC_A_BCCC_BBC_C that follows a certain pattern. Which one of the following completes the sequence?
21. Q21

    Passage: Each State in India faces a distinctive set of challenges regarding the impact of warming, but also offers its own set of opportunities for reducing emissions depending on its natural resources. For example, coastal States need to take action to prote…
22. Q22

    Passage: Each State in India faces a distinctive set of challenges regarding the impact of warming, but also offers its own set of opportunities for reducing emissions depending on its natural resources. For example, coastal States need to take action to prote…
23. Q23

    Passage: If the social inequality is the most acutely felt social problem in India, insecurity, more than poverty, is the most acutely felt economic problem. Besides those below the official poverty line, even those just over the poverty line are subject to mu…
24. Q24

    Passage: If the social inequality is the most acutely felt social problem in India, insecurity, more than poverty, is the most acutely felt economic problem. Besides those below the official poverty line, even those just over the poverty line are subject to mu…
25. Q25

    A solid cube is painted yellow on all its faces. The cube is then cut into 60 smaller but equal pieces by making the minimum number of cuts. Which of the following statements is/are correct? I. The minimum number of cuts is 9. II. The number of smaller pieces…
26. Q26

    If 7 * 24 = 25 and 12 * 16 = 20, then what is 16 * 63 equal to?
27. Q27

    The petrol price shot up by 10% as a result of the hike in crude oil prices. The price of petrol before the hike was ₹90 per litre. A person travels 2200 km every month and his car gives a mileage of 16 km per litre. By how many km should he reduce his travel…
28. Q28

    A 4-digit number N is such that when divided by 3, 5, 6, 9 it leaves a remainder of 1, 3, 4, 7 respectively. What is the smallest value of N?
29. Q29

    Consider the following statements: I. If A ≤ B > C < D > E > F ≥ G = H; then B is always greater than E. II. If P > Q = R ≥ S = T ≤ U = V > W; then S is always less than V. Which of the statements above is/are correct?
30. Q30

    What is the unit digit in the multiplication of 1 × 3 × 5 × 7 × 9 × … × 999?
31. Q31

    Passage: Maintaining an ecosystem just to conserve biodiversity will affect its commercial potential as well as the livelihoods dependent on the ecosystem. There is also a conflict between using an ecosystem only for livelihoods, for commercial exploitation, o…
32. Q32

    Passage: Maintaining an ecosystem just to conserve biodiversity will affect its commercial potential as well as the livelihoods dependent on the ecosystem. There is also a conflict between using an ecosystem only for livelihoods, for commercial exploitation, o…
33. Q33

    Passage: The history of renewable energy suggests there is a steep learning curve, meaning that, as more is produced, costs fall rapidly because of economies of scale and learning by doing. The firms’ green innovation is path-dependent: the more a firm does, t…
34. Q34

    Passage: The history of renewable energy suggests there is a steep learning curve, meaning that, as more is produced, costs fall rapidly because of economies of scale and learning by doing. The firms’ green innovation is path-dependent: the more a firm does, t…
35. Q35

    A natural number N is such that it can be expressed as N = p + q + r, where p, q, and r are distinct factors of N. How many numbers below 50 have this property?
36. Q36

    Three prime numbers p, q, and r, each less than 20, are such that p – q = q – r. How many distinct possible values can we get for (p + q + r)?
37. Q37

    How many possible values of (p + q + r) are there satisfying 1/p + 1/q + 1/r = 1, where p, q, and r are natural numbers (not necessarily distinct)?
38. Q38

    What comes at X and Y respectively in the following sequence? January, January, December, October, X, March, October, Y, September
39. Q39

    Team X scored a total of N runs in 20 overs. Team Y tied the score in 10% less overs. Had Team Y’s average run rate (runs per over) been 50% higher, the scores would have been tied in 12 overs. How many runs were scored by Team X?
40. Q40

    The price (p) of a commodity is first increased by k%, then decreased by k%; again increased by k%, and again decreased by k%. If the new price is q, then what is the relation between p and q?
41. Q41

    Passage: A single number for inflation is an aggregate across different commodities and services – the price rise differs for different items of consumption. So, the single number is arrived at by assigning weights to different commodities and services. For WP…
42. Q42

    Passage: Trust stands commonly defined as being vulnerable to others. Entrepreneurship implies trust in others and willingness to expose oneself to betrayal. Trust in expert systems is the essence of globalizing behaviors; trust itself emerges as a super-commo…
43. Q43

    A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option. Question: In a football match, team P playing against Q was behind by 3 goals with 10 minutes remaining. Does team P win the match? S…
44. Q44

    A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option. Question: Is (p + q)² − 4pq, where p, q are natural numbers, positive? Statement I: p < q. Statement II: p > q. Which one of the foll…
45. Q45

    In a T20 cricket match, three players X, Y and Z scored a total of 37 runs. The ratio of number of runs scored by X to the number of runs scored by Y is equal to the ratio of number of runs scored by Y to number of runs scored by Z. Value-I = Runs scored by X;…
46. Q46

    Let p + q = 10, where p, q are integers. Value-I = Maximum value of p × q when p, q are positive integers. Value-II = Maximum value of p × q when p ≥ −6, q ≥ −4. Which one of the following is correct?
47. Q47

    Consider a set of 11 numbers: Value-I = Minimum value of the average of the numbers of the set when they are consecutive integers ≥ –5. Value-II = Minimum value of the product of the numbers of the set when they are consecutive non-negative integers. Which one…
48. Q48

    The average of three numbers p, q and r is k. p is as much more than the average as q is less than the average. What is the value of r?
49. Q49

    Let x be a real number between 0 and 1. Which of the following statements is/are correct? I. x² > x³ II. x > √x Select the correct answer using the code given below:
50. Q50

    The difference between any two natural numbers is 10. What can be said about the natural numbers which are divisible by 5 and lie between these two numbers?
51. Q51

    Passage: There has been no democracy that has grown economically without corporate capitalism. It helps in modernizing the economy and enabling the transition from rural to urban, and agriculture to industry and services, which are inevitable with growth. It g…
52. Q52

    Passage: There has been no democracy that has grown economically without corporate capitalism. It helps in modernizing the economy and enabling the transition from rural to urban, and agriculture to industry and services, which are inevitable with growth. It g…
53. Q53

    Passage: A network of voluntary associations stands as a buffer between the relatively powerless individual and the potentially powerful State. Question: Which one of the following statements reflects the best explanation of the above passage?
54. Q54

    Consider the following statements: I. There exists a natural number which when increased by 50% can have its number of factors unchanged. II. There exists a natural number which when increased by 150% can have its number of factors unchanged. Which of the stat…
55. Q55

    There are 7 places A, B, C, D, E, F and G in a city connected by various roads AB, AC, CD, DE, BF, EG and FG. A is 6 km south of B. A is 10 km west of C. D is 5 km east of E. C is 6 km north of D. F is 9 km west of B. F is 12 km north of G. A person travels fr…
56. Q56

    In a certain code if 64 is written as 343 and 216 is written as 729, then how is 512 written in that code?
57. Q57

    What is the remainder when 9³ + 9⁴ + 9⁵ + 9⁶ + ... + 9¹⁰⁰ is divided by 6?
58. Q58

    A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option. Question: What is the smallest 1-digit number having exactly 4 distinct factors? Statement I: 2 is one of the factors. Statement II:…
59. Q59

    A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option. Question: Let P, Q, R, S be distinct non-zero digits. If PP × PQ = RRSS, where P ≤ 3 and Q ≤ 4, then what is Q equal to? Statement I:…
60. Q60

    A question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements and mark the correct option. Question: How is Q related to P? Statement I: P has two sisters, R and S. Statement II: R’s father is the brother of Q. Which one of…
61. Q61

    Passage: It is hard to predict how changes in the climate and the atmosphere’s chemistry will affect the prevalence and virulence of agricultural diseases. But there is a risk that such changes will make some plant infections more common in all climatic zones,…
62. Q62

    Passage: It is hard to predict how changes in the climate and the atmosphere’s chemistry will affect the prevalence and virulence of agricultural diseases. But there is a risk that such changes will make some plant infections more common in all climatic zones,…
63. Q63

    Passage: A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pr…
64. Q64

    Passage: A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pr…
65. Q65

    P is the brother of Q and R. S is R’s mother. T is P’s father. How many of the following statements are definitely true? I. S and T are a couple. II. Q is T’s son. III. T is Q’s father. IV. S is P’s mother. V. R is T’s daughter. VI. P is S’s son. Select the co…
66. Q66

    If NO is coded as 210, NOT is coded as 4200 and NOTE is coded as 21000, then how is NOTES coded?
67. Q67

    If FRANCE is coded as 654321 and GERMANY is coded as 9158437, then how is YEMEN coded?
68. Q68

    The 5-digit number PQRST (all distinct digits) is such that T is not equal to 0. P is thrice T. S is greater than Q by 4, while Q is greater than R by 3. How many such 5-digit numbers are possible?
69. Q69

    X can complete one-third of a certain work in 6 days, Y can complete one-third of the same work in 8 days and Z can complete three-fourth of the same work in 12 days. All of them work together for n days and then X and Z quit and Y alone finishes the remaining…
70. Q70

    What is X in the sequence 1, 3, 6, 11, 18, X, 42?
71. Q71

    Passage: Over the next 30 years, many countries are promising to move to net-zero carbon, implying that household emissions will have to be cut to close to nothing. A leading climate scientist reckons that, at best, half the reduction might be achieved through…
72. Q72

    Passage: Over the next 30 years, many countries are promising to move to net-zero carbon, implying that household emissions will have to be cut to close to nothing. A leading climate scientist reckons that, at best, half the reduction might be achieved through…
73. Q73

    Passage: In only 50 years, the world’s consumption of raw materials has nearly quadrupled, to more than 100 billion tons. Less than 9% of this is reused. Batteries of old vehicles contain materials such as lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel that are pricey…
74. Q74

    Passage: In only 50 years, the world’s consumption of raw materials has nearly quadrupled, to more than 100 billion tons. Less than 9% of this is reused. Batteries of old vehicles contain materials such as lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel that are pricey…
75. Q75

    A set (X) of 20 pipes can fill 70% of a tank in 14 minutes. Another set (Y) of 10 pipes fills 3/8th of the tank in 6 minutes. A third set (Z) of 16 pipes can empty half of the tank in 20 minutes. If half of the pipes of set X are closed and only half of the pi…
76. Q76

    If n is a natural number, then what is the number of distinct remainders of (1^n + 2^n) when divided by 4?
77. Q77

    Let P = QQQ be a 3-digit number. What is the HCF of P and 481?
78. Q78

    What is the 489th digit in the number 123456789101112...?
79. Q79

    A mobile phone has been stolen. There are 3 suspects P, Q and R. They were questioned knowing that only one of them is guilty. Their responses are as follows: P: I did not steal. Q stole it. Q: R did not steal. I did not steal. R: I did not steal. I do not kno…
80. Q80

    Three teams P, Q, R participated in a tournament in which the teams play with one another exactly once. A win fetches a team 2 points and a draw 1 point. A team gets no point for a loss. Each team scored exactly one goal in the tournament. The team P got 3 poi…