UPSC Prelims 2026

Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare. Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X’s actions ?

1. (a)Esprit de corps
2. (b)Equity
3. (c)Accountability
4. (d)Delegation

In a multi-ethnic district where both economic competition and historical grievances frequently led to community tensions, a flashpoint has arisen with a Government decision to allocate land for a waste management facility near a tribal hamlet, sparking protests by the tribal community, which claimed that the land was sacred and critical to their cultural identity. At the same time, urban residents and local industries supported the project, citing severe solid waste challenges and health concerns due to lack of a proper disposal site. The conflict has escalated with road blockades, social media campaigns, and allegations of police excesses. As a responsible Government official, you are tasked with resolving the situation through mediation, ensuring a sustainable outcome that balances environmental needs, tribal rights, and urban public health. Consider the following statements with reference to the above : 1. A successful conflict resolution process must begin with acknowledging the cultural concerns of the protesting tribal community before discussing technical alternatives. 2. The Government should move ahead with the project without delay to address urban health concerns, which outweigh the sentiments of a small group. 3. Creating a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform — including tribal leaders, environmental experts, and municipal representatives — to build mutual understanding and help de-escalate tensions. 4. Conducting an independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and sharing findings transparently with both sides to facilitate evidence-based decision-making. Which of the statements given above would contribute to the resolution process ?

1. (a)1, 3 and 4 only
2. (b)2, 3 and 4 only
3. (c)1 and 2 only
4. (d)1, 2, 3 and 4

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 Select the answer using the code given below :

1. (a)1 and 2 only
2. (b)3 only
3. (c)2 and 3 only
4. (d)1, 2 and 3

‘X’ was addressing a seminar on the meaning of the term ‘law’ as provided under Article 13, Part III of the Constitution of India. ‘X’ explained that the meaning of the term ‘law’ in the Constitution of India was very comprehensive. It included ordinances, orders and even rules and regulations. ‘Y’ pointed out that the term ‘law’ in Article 13 also included custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law, to which ‘X’ was not convinced. Based on the above, select the correct conclusion from the options given below :

1. (a)‘X’ is correct in the interpretation of law, including the view on non-inclusion of custom.
2. (b)The view of ‘Y’ that ‘law’ included custom is not correct.
3. (c)The views of both ‘X’ and ‘Y’ are correct.
4. (d)The view of only ‘Y’ is correct.

Consider the following statements with reference to the Constitution of India : 1. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that specifies that the Constitution of India will be officially called the ‘Constitution of India’. 2. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that specifies that the Indian Independence Act, 1947 and the Government of India Act, 1935 stand repealed. 3. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that mentions 26th January, 1950 as the date of the commencement of the Constitution of India. Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

1. (a)All three statements are correct.
2. (b)There is no correct statement.
3. (c)There are two correct statements that include statement 3.
4. (d)There is only one correct statement.

Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct ? 1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination. 2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains — built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology. 3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Select the answer using the code given below :

1. (a)1 and 2
2. (b)2 only
3. (c)1 and 3
4. (d)1 only

Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in India : 1. Provisions regarding the administration of the Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are given in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India. 2. Some tribes of India are entitled to exemption from paying Income Tax on certain incomes. 3. The Constitution of India provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

1. (a)There are two correct statements, that include statement 2.
2. (b)There are two correct statements, that are statements 1 and 3.
3. (c)There is only one correct statement.
4. (d)All three statements are correct.

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

1. (a)All the three statements are correct.
2. (b)There are two correct statements, that include statement 2.
3. (c)There is only one correct statement.
4. (d)There is no correct statement.

Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Parliament of India : 1. Although members of this Committee are elected from both Houses of Parliament, the Chairperson of this Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. 2. Twenty members are elected by the Rajya Sabha and ten members by the Lok Sabha. 3. No Minister, except for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, is eligible to be a member of this Committee. 4. Members are elected for a fixed term of two years from the date they enter their office. Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

1. (a)There are four correct statements.
2. (b)There is only one correct statement, that is statement 2.
3. (c)There are two correct statements, that include statement 1.
4. (d)There is no correct statement.

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

1. (a)1, 2 and 3
2. (b)1 and 2 only
3. (c)2 and 3 only
4. (d)1 only

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

1. (a)1 and 2
2. (b)2 and 3
3. (c)1 only
4. (d)3 only

Which of the following statements about a Zero First Information Report (Zero FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is/are correct ? 1. A Zero FIR can be lodged at a police station, even though the place of commission of a cognizable/non-cognizable offence is outside the territorial jurisdiction of that police station. 2. The Officer-in-Charge of the police station where a Zero FIR has been lodged may, with the permission of the competent authority, initiate a preliminary enquiry. 3. Under Zero FIR, it is obligatory for the informant to furnish information electronically. Select the answer using the code given below :

1. (a)1, 2 and 3
2. (b)2 and 3 only
3. (c)1 only
4. (d)2 only

With reference to the organisations under the Government of India, consider the following details : Sl. No. | Organisation | Function | Controlling Union Ministry 1. | Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) | To coordinate between various law enforcement agencies | Ministry of Home Affairs 2. | Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) | To investigate complex corporate frauds | Ministry of Finance 3. | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | To preserve values in public life and ensure the health of the national economy | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension In how many of the above rows are the given details correctly matched ?

1. (a)1
2. (b)2
3. (c)3
4. (d)None

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 Select the answer using the code given below :

1. (a)2 and 4
2. (b)1 and 2
3. (c)3 and 4 only
4. (d)3, 4 and 5

No answer is recorded for this question: cancelled by UPSC — marks awarded to all candidates

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

1. (a)1, 2 and 3
2. (b)1 and 2 only
3. (c)2 and 3 only
4. (d)3 only

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 Select the answer using the code given below :

1. (a)1 and 2
2. (b)2 and 3
3. (c)1 and 3
4. (d)2 only

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists : List I (Project Supported by India) A. Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project B. Restoration of Stor Palace C. District Hospital at Dickoya D. Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies List II (Country) 1. Maldives 2. Afghanistan 3. Bhutan 4. Sri Lanka Code : A B C D

1. (a)1 4 2 3
2. (b)3 2 4 1
3. (c)3 4 2 1
4. (d)1 2 4 3

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 Select the answer using the code given below :

1. (a)1 and 2
2. (b)1 and 3
3. (c)1 only
4. (d)2 only

Consider the following statements about platforms for multilateral co-operation : 1. The ‘Colombo Process’ is a regional consultative process in which member states take binding decisions by consensus. 2. The ‘Abu Dhabi Dialogue’ is a voluntary non-binding consultative process among Asian countries of labour origin and destination to facilitate regional cooperation on contractual labour mobility. 3. The ‘Global Forum for Migration and Development’, created upon the proposal of a former UN Secretary General, is a voluntary forum whose decisions are non-binding in nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. (a)1, 2 and 3
2. (b)1 and 3 only
3. (c)2 and 3 only
4. (d)2 only

Consider the following UN organisations/agencies : 1. World Food Programme 2. United Nations Children’s Fund 3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 4. International Labour Organisation How many of the above has/have been awarded the Nobel Prize twice ?

1. (a)1
2. (b)2
3. (c)3
4. (d)4

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists : List I (UN Peacekeeping Operation) A. UNMIL B. MINURCAT C. MINUSTAH D. UNMISET List II (Period of Operation) 1. 2007 – 2010 2. 2002 – 2005 3. 2003 – 2018 4. 2004 – 2017 Code : A B C D

1. (a)3 4 1 2
2. (b)3 1 4 2
3. (c)2 1 4 3
4. (d)2 4 1 3

Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists : List I (BIMSTEC Centre / Establishment) A. BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory B. BIMSTEC Energy Centre C. BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate D. BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility List II (Location) 1. NOIDA 2. Bengaluru 3. Colombo 4. Thimphu Code : A B C D

1. (a)3 2 1 4
2. (b)3 1 2 4
3. (c)4 2 1 3
4. (d)4 1 2 3

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ? (Indian Army Corps) | (Headquarters)

1. (a)3 Corps : Dimapur
2. (b)4 Corps : Tezpur
3. (c)14 Corps : Leh
4. (d)33 Corps : Srinagar

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. Select the answer using the code given below :

1. (a)1 and 2
2. (b)2 only
3. (c)1 and 3
4. (d)2 and 3

Which of the following countries are members of the European Union ? 1. Belarus 2. Poland 3. Germany 4. Switzerland Select the answer using the code given below :

1. (a)1, 2 and 4
2. (b)1 and 4 only
3. (c)2 and 3
4. (d)2 and 4 only