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Introduction
Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 requires consistent practice with high-quality multiple-choice questions. This article features 50 important UPSC Prelims 2026 MCQs with answers covering Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs. These practice questions are designed to help aspirants assess their knowledge, improve accuracy, and strengthen conceptual understanding for the UPSC Prelims examination.
Practice 50 original UPSC Prelims 2026 MCQs with detailed explanations. Improve your preparation for Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs. It contain in 2 parts.
The questions will cover a balanced mix of UPSC Prelims subjects, such as:
- Indian Polity
- History
- Geography
- Economy
- Environment & Ecology
- Science & Technology
- Current Affairs
- Art & Culture
- International Relations
- Government Schemes
Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology & Current Affairs
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Exam Pattern: UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (GS Paper I)
Note: These are original practice questions created for UPSC aspirants. They are concept-based and inspired by the UPSC Prelims style.
Indian Polity
Q1. Which of the following is described as the "Guardian of the Constitution" in India?
A) President of India
B) Parliament
C) Supreme Court
D) Election Commission
✅ Correct Answer: C) Supreme Court
Explanation:
The Supreme Court protects the Constitution through Judicial Review, ensuring that laws and executive actions comply with constitutional provisions.
Difficulty: Easy
Q2. Which Article of the Constitution guarantees the Right to Equality?
A) Articles 14–18
B) Articles 19–22
C) Articles 23–24
D) Articles 25–28
✅ Correct Answer: A) Articles 14–18
Explanation:
The Right to Equality includes equality before law, prohibition of discrimination, equality of opportunity, abolition of untouchability, and abolition of titles.
Difficulty: Easy
Q3. Who appoints the Governor of an Indian State?
A) Prime Minister
B) Chief Minister
C) President of India
D) Chief Justice of India
✅ Correct Answer: C) President of India
Explanation:
The Governor is appointed by the President under Article 155.
Difficulty: Easy
Q4. Money Bills can be introduced only in:
A) Rajya Sabha
B) Lok Sabha
C) Joint Sitting
D) State Legislature
✅ Correct Answer: B) Lok Sabha
Explanation:
A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha with the President's recommendation.
Difficulty: Moderate
Indian History
Q5. Who founded the Maurya Empire?
A) Ashoka
B) Chandragupta Maurya
C) Bindusara
D) Harsha
✅ Correct Answer: B) Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation:
Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire around 322 BCE with the guidance of Chanakya.
Q6. The Battle of Plassey was fought in:
A) 1757
B) 1764
C) 1857
D) 1947
✅ Correct Answer: A) 1757
Explanation:
The Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British political control in India.
Q7. Who gave the slogan "Do or Die"?
A) Subhas Chandra Bose
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Sardar Patel
✅ Correct Answer: B) Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation:
The slogan was given during the Quit India Movement (1942).
Q8. The Indus Valley Civilization is mainly known for:
A) Iron Technology
B) Planned Urban Cities
C) Paper Making
D) Gunpowder
✅ Correct Answer: B) Planned Urban Cities
Indian Geography
Q9. Which river is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar"?
A) Ganga
B) Kosi
C) Yamuna
D) Narmada
✅ Correct Answer: B) Kosi
Explanation:
Frequent flooding by the Kosi River has earned it this nickname.
Q10. Which is the highest mountain peak in India?
A) Nanda Devi
B) Kanchenjunga
C) Annapurna
D) Dhaulagiri
✅ Correct Answer: B) Kanchenjunga
Explanation:
Kanchenjunga is the highest peak in India and the third-highest in the world.
Q11. The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9
✅ Correct Answer: C) 8
Explanation:
It passes through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Q12. Which desert is located in India?
A) Sahara
B) Gobi
C) Thar
D) Kalahari
✅ Correct Answer: C) Thar
Indian Economy
Q13. RBI primarily regulates:
A) Agriculture
B) Banking System
C) Education
D) Railways
✅ Correct Answer: B) Banking System
Q14. GST stands for:
A) General Sales Tax
B) Goods and Services Tax
C) Government Sales Tax
D) Global Service Tax
✅ Correct Answer: B) Goods and Services Tax
Q15. Inflation means:
A) Rise in prices
B) Fall in prices
C) Increase in exports
D) Increase in unemployment
✅ Correct Answer: A) Rise in prices
Explanation:
Inflation is the sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services over time.
Q16. Which institution publishes India's Monetary Policy?
A) NITI Aayog
B) RBI
C) SEBI
D) Finance Commission
✅ Correct Answer: B) RBI
Environment & Ecology
Q17. Which gas contributes the most to the greenhouse effect due to human activities?
A) Oxygen
B) Carbon dioxide
C) Helium
D) Neon
✅ Correct Answer: B) Carbon dioxide
Q18. Project Tiger was launched in:
A) 1973
B) 1980
C) 1992
D) 2001
✅ Correct Answer: A) 1973
Q19. Ramsar Convention is related to:
A) Forest Conservation
B) Wetlands
C) Climate Change
D) Wildlife Trade
✅ Correct Answer: B) Wetlands
Q20. Which layer protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation?
A) Troposphere
B) Ozone Layer
C) Mesosphere
D) Ionosphere
✅ Correct Answer: B) Ozone Layer
Science & Technology
Q21. ISRO stands for:
A) Indian Space Research Organisation
B) International Space Research Office
C) Indian Satellite Research Organisation
D) International Satellite Research Office
✅ Correct Answer: A) Indian Space Research Organisation
Q22. Which vitamin is mainly produced in the human body through sunlight exposure?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin C
C) Vitamin D
D) Vitamin K
✅ Correct Answer: C) Vitamin D
Q23. Artificial Intelligence (AI) mainly refers to:
A) Human Intelligence
B) Machine capability to perform intelligent tasks
C) Robotics only
D) Internet Technology
✅ Correct Answer: B) Machine capability to perform intelligent tasks
Current Affairs & General Awareness
Q24. Which institution conducts the Civil Services Examination?
A) SSC
B) UPSC
C) NTA
D) CBSE
✅ Correct Answer: B) UPSC
Q25. Which Fundamental Duty encourages citizens to protect the environment?
A) Article 48A
B) Article 51A(g)
C) Article 32
D) Article 21
✅ Correct Answer: B) Article 51A(g)
Explanation:
Article 51A(g) makes it a Fundamental Duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.
Indian Polity
Q26. Which Constitutional Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 years to 18 years?
A) 42nd Amendment
B) 44th Amendment
C) 61st Amendment
D) 73rd Amendment
✅ Correct Answer: C) 61st Amendment
Explanation:
The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988 reduced the voting age from 21 to 18 years, increasing youth participation in democracy.
Difficulty: Moderate
Q27. Which Schedule of the Constitution deals with Panchayats?
A) Ninth Schedule
B) Tenth Schedule
C) Eleventh Schedule
D) Twelfth Schedule
✅ Correct Answer: C) Eleventh Schedule
Explanation:
The Eleventh Schedule, added by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, contains 29 subjects that may be entrusted to Panchayats.
Q28. Which writ is issued by a court to produce a person who is alleged to be illegally detained?
A) Mandamus
B) Habeas Corpus
C) Certiorari
D) Quo Warranto
✅ Correct Answer: B) Habeas Corpus
Explanation:
"Habeas Corpus" literally means "You may have the body." It safeguards individual liberty against unlawful detention.
Q29. Which institution audits the accounts of the Union and State Governments?
A) Finance Commission
B) Election Commission
C) Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
D) NITI Aayog
✅ Correct Answer: C) Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
Indian History & Culture
Q30. The famous Sun Temple at Konark was built by:
A) Cholas
B) Eastern Ganga Dynasty
C) Guptas
D) Pallavas
✅ Correct Answer: B) Eastern Ganga Dynasty
Explanation:
The Konark Sun Temple in Odisha was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty in the 13th century.
Q31. The Rig Veda mainly contains:
A) Medical knowledge
B) Hymns dedicated to various deities
C) Mathematical formulas
D) Buddhist teachings
✅ Correct Answer: B) Hymns dedicated to various deities
Q32. The famous traveller Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of:
A) Akbar
B) Alauddin Khalji
C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D) Sher Shah Suri
✅ Correct Answer: C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Q33. The Ajanta Caves are primarily associated with:
A) Jainism
B) Buddhism
C) Sikhism
D) Zoroastrianism
✅ Correct Answer: B) Buddhism
Geography
Q34. Which Indian state has the longest coastline?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Gujarat
C) Maharashtra
D) Andhra Pradesh
✅ Correct Answer: B) Gujarat
Explanation:
Gujarat has the longest coastline in India, extending over approximately 1,600 km.
Q35. Which river originates from the Amarkantak Plateau?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Narmada
D) Yamuna
✅ Correct Answer: C) Narmada
Q36. Black soil is most suitable for growing:
A) Rice
B) Cotton
C) Tea
D) Wheat
✅ Correct Answer: B) Cotton
Explanation:
Black soil (Regur soil) retains moisture well and is ideal for cotton cultivation.
Q37. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
A) Troposphere
B) Stratosphere
C) Mesosphere
D) Thermosphere
✅ Correct Answer: B) Stratosphere
Economy
Q38. Which organisation regulates India's securities market?
A) RBI
B) NABARD
C) SEBI
D) SIDBI
✅ Correct Answer: C) SEBI
Q39. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures:
A) Total exports only
B) Total agricultural production
C) Total value of final goods and services produced within a country
D) Government expenditure only
✅ Correct Answer: C) Total value of final goods and services produced within a country
Q40. Repo Rate refers to:
A) Interest paid on savings accounts
B) Rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks
C) Corporate tax rate
D) Income tax rate
✅ Correct Answer: B) Rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks
Q41. Which of the following is an indirect tax in India?
A) Income Tax
B) Corporate Tax
C) GST
D) Wealth Tax
✅ Correct Answer: C) GST
Environment & Ecology
Q42. Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?
A) Coal
B) Petroleum
C) Solar Energy
D) Natural Gas
✅ Correct Answer: C) Solar Energy
Q43. Biodiversity Hotspots are regions with:
A) High industrial growth
B) High species richness and high threat levels
C) High rainfall only
D) Large deserts
✅ Correct Answer: B) High species richness and high threat levels
Q44. Which international agreement aims to limit global warming?
A) Kyoto Protocol only
B) Paris Agreement
C) Montreal Protocol
D) Ramsar Convention
✅ Correct Answer: B) Paris Agreement
Explanation:
The Paris Agreement seeks to keep the increase in global average temperature well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
Science & Technology
Q45. CRISPR technology is mainly used for:
A) Weather forecasting
B) Gene editing
C) Space exploration
D) Nuclear energy production
✅ Correct Answer: B) Gene editing
Q46. Quantum Computing primarily uses:
A) Binary switches only
B) Qubits
C) Vacuum tubes
D) Mechanical gears
✅ Correct Answer: B) Qubits
Q47. Which Indian organisation developed the NavIC navigation system?
A) DRDO
B) ISRO
C) BARC
D) HAL
✅ Correct Answer: B) ISRO
Current Affairs & General Awareness
Q48. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by:
A) World Bank
B) United Nations
C) IMF
D) WTO
✅ Correct Answer: B) United Nations
Q49. Which of the following is not a Fundamental Right under the Indian Constitution?
A) Right to Equality
B) Right to Freedom
C) Right to Property
D) Right against Exploitation
✅ Correct Answer: C) Right to Property
Explanation:
The Right to Property was removed as a Fundamental Right by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act (1978). It is now a legal right under Article 300A.
Q50. Which among the following best describes the term "Blue Economy"?
A) Expansion of naval forces
B) Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth while protecting marine ecosystems
C) International shipping trade only
D) Freshwater conservation programms
✅ Correct Answer: B) Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth while protecting marine ecosystems
Explanation:
The Blue Economy promotes sustainable development by balancing economic activities such as fisheries, tourism, shipping, and renewable ocean energy with marine conservation.
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Conclusion- Regular MCQ practice is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the UPSC Prelims 2026. These 50 UPSC Prelims MCQs with answers help strengthen your understanding of important topics while improving accuracy and time management. Combine this practice set with the official UPSC syllabus, previous years' question papers, and daily current affairs to maximize your preparation. Visit A to Z Facts regularly for more UPSC quizzes, study notes, and exam-focused practice sets.
Key - UPSC Prelims 2026 MCQs, UPSC GS Paper 1 Questions, UPSC Practice Set, UPSC Mock Test 2026, Indian Polity MCQs, Indian History Questions, Geography MCQs UPSC, Economy MCQs, Environment MCQs, UPSC Current Affairs Quiz
