UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2023

UPSC Prelims 2023 exam is scheduled for 28th May 2023. Candidates would be eager to know the UPSC Prelims exam analysis to get an idea about their overall performance and to gauge their chances of making it to the Main exam.

To prepare for the UPSC Prelims 2023 General Studies Paper, candidates must completely understand each of these disciplines – Geography, History, Economics, Environment and Ecology, Science and Technology, Polity and Governance, Current affairs, and International relations. They should also work towards improving their logical and problem-solving ability. Reading newspapers, yearbooks and standard reference books, attending online courses and webinars, and practising previous year’s question papers and mock tests might help aspirants to score well in the exam. 

In this article, let’s get to know about the UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis.

UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2023 – Paper-wise Details

Once the UPSC Prelims exam 2023 is over, candidates will get to know about the UPSC Prelims Paper Analysis on this page curated by experts. To get an idea about the difficulty level of the paper and what to expect in 2023, let’s understand the UPSC Prelims Paper Analysis of last year.

UPSC 2022 Prelims Paper Analysis (General Studies 1)

Here’s the subject-wise Prelims Paper Analysis for the 2022 exam (GS-1).

1. Indian Polity and Governance – There were 11 questions on this subject in the 2022 Prelims. The difficulty level of the Paper was moderate to difficult. 
2. Economics – There were 16 questions from this subject, and the difficulty level was moderate to difficult.
3. International Relations – There were 14 questions from this subject, and the difficulty level was moderate. 
4. Geography – There were 10 questions on this subject, and the questions were a bit factual in nature. Overall, the difficulty level was moderate. 
5. Ancient History – There was 1 question from this subject, and the questions were difficult in nature. 
6. Medieval History – There were 5 questions from this section, and the difficulty level was moderate to difficult in nature.
7. Modern History – There were 4 questions from this part, and the questions were easy to moderate in nature.
8. Arts & Culture – There were 5 questions from this subject, and the questions asked were difficult in nature. 
9. Environment & Ecology – There were 17 questions from this section in the exam, and the difficulty level of questions was moderate in nature.
10. Science & Technology – There were 14 questions from this section, and they were moderate in nature. 
11. Miscellaneous – There were 3 miscellaneous questions from this section and they were direct in nature. 

UPSC 2022 Prelims Paper Analysis (CSAT)

Here’s the subject-wise analysis of CSAT 2022. The UPSC Prelims 2022 Paper 2 (CSAT) comprised 80 Questions, each carrying 2.5 marks with a total of 200 marks.

What to expect and how to prepare for UPSC Prelims 2023 Paper?

Let’s understand the subject-wise expected questions and concepts and how to prepare for them.

General Studies Paper 1

Indian Polity and Governance

• Candidates are not required to memorise all of the provisions of the Indian Constitution. Only a few key articles are required. Most relevant articles would be registered automatically if one is familiar with the fundamentals and has reviewed the subject a sufficient number of times.
• It is critical to read a national daily, such as The Hindu or The Indian Express, and to give special attention to news items and editorials that are relevant to the Indian Constitution or the national and worldwide political systems in some manner. All new bills, actions, policies, and clauses should be documented.
• Polity questions in the Prelims exam can get tricky. Usually, candidates get confused due to the similarity of the options given. Therefore, candidates should be thorough with whatever they have prepared.

Economics

The important topics to study in economics are Economic growth and development – basic concept and definition of economy and economics, use and transfer of resources, distributive effects, macro and micro economic policy, Statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), inflation indexes, Growth, Inclusion, Development, etc.

Candidates must have conceptual clarity of topics while preparing for Economics to score well in the exam. Also, candidates should be able to consider the situation and apply the concepts in economics to get an understanding of the principles and policies.

International Relations

The International Relations topic covers both static and dynamic issues; questions are typically asked about current affairs. As a result, it is crucial to stay up to date on the latest international events and developments, as well as how they may influence India and its ties with other nations. Candidates should prepare well for this section as there can be 10 to 15 questions from this section.

Geography 

In this subject, candidates should prepare thoroughly about Physical Geography, World Geography, Indian Geography, etc. Candidates can expect moderate-level questions from this section. Taking mock tests, being thorough with maps, and practising previous year’s questions can help aspirants score well in this section. 

History 

Indian history and culture are intertwined and enormous topics.It is extremely advised that you study the NCERT below for Ancient India. In previous years, UPSC has directly asked questions from this area. There are many words listed in these texts, and UPSC has used them to compile question papers. You may also visit the Ancient History notes page, which is linked below this section. Aspirants for Indian history should take notice of these phrases and their meanings while studying.

Mediaeval India is made up of the Mughal, Vijayanagar Empire, and Sultanate rulers, and it is as fascinating and full of information as earlier times. During their reign, one must concentrate on the Political, Social, and Economic setup. Along with that, one must be well-versed in the rise and collapse of empires. Aspirants should concentrate on their most notable saints, their beliefs, and their effect on society in this area.

Aside from that, one must concentrate on art and culture. The mediaeval Indian saw the development of various structures and artworks. Aspirants should pay close attention to this area, particularly under the Mughal reign.

A lot of questions have been raised in this area recently. Aspirants should focus their efforts on the freedom struggle and independence. They should be aware of the various movements, their goals and results, the people behind the movements, and so on. Candidates should also consider the role of literature and the press. 

Environment & Ecology 

At least 15 – 20 questions in the UPSC Prelims can be directly or indirectly related to the environment segment. Because of the strong connection to current events, you should skim the daily newspapers and then create a linkage with any topic in the assigned books.

An excellent way to start studying the UPSC environment is to look over past years’ exam papers and assess the environment questions.

Candidates must research National and International Initiatives, Environmental Theory, National Parks, Species, Chemicals & Pollutants, and so on.

Science & Technology

General understanding of school-level science is sufficient for the UPSC prelims test, as questions are rarely overly complex. However, aspirants must keep up with current events while studying Science and Technology for both the prelims and the mains.

CSAT 

The CSAT Paper II will have 80 multiple-choice questions, each worth two points, with a 0.33 penalty for each erroneous response. The questions will be divided into two sections: one will assess the applicant’s analytical and mathematical ability, and the other will assess their interpersonal and understanding skills. There will be questions about numerical abilities, data interpretation, and logical thinking, as well as questions about reasoning and quantitative aptitude. The comprehension and interpersonal skills section will comprise questions on interpersonal skills, decision-making, communication abilities, and reading comprehension.

To succeed on the CSAT Paper II, candidates must have a strong foundation in logical thinking and numeric ability. They should read periodicals, newspapers, and books on a regular basis to develop their reading and comprehension skills. To comprehend the exam format and the kinds of questions asked, candidates should also practice solving the previous year’s question papers.

UPSC 2023 Prelims Answer Key

UPSC Prelims Exam Answer key 2023 will be released once the exam is over. The UPSC answer key is an essential resource for the candidates who have taken the exam and also for the candidates who are aspiring to appear in the upcoming exam. After practicing the previous year papers the aspirants must check the answer key to analyze their strengths and weaknesses.

UPSC 2023 Prelims exam cut off

The authentic UPSC Answer Key for Prelims 2022 will only be uploaded after the final result of the UPSC CSE 2022 Examination. The cut off varies with the difficulty level of exam. If the UPSC Prelims exam is easy then the cut off will be more and if the Prelims exam is difficult, then the cut off will be less.

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