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We tagged all 1100 questions in 11 official UPSC Prelims papers (2016–2026) by topic. In History and Culture, Modern India and the Freedom Struggle leads with 71 questions. In Geography, Indian Geography leads with 42 questions. In Polity and Governance, Constitution and Constitutional Bodies leads with 126 questions. In Economy, Money, Banking and Macroeconomy leads with 91 questions. In Environment, Ecology and Biodiversity leads with 77 questions. In Science and Technology, Space, IT and Defence Technology leads with 64 questions. In Current Affairs, International Relations and Organisations leads with 78 questions. Use the tables to see how often each topic appears each year, then open a topic for every question it has had with the official answer.
History and Culture
All History and Culture topics on one page: UPSC Prelims History and Culture PYQs. History and Culture topics by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 11 papers.
| Topic | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient India | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 45 |
| Medieval India | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 25 |
| Modern India and the Freedom Struggle | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 71 |
| Art and Culture | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 42 |
Most-asked History and Culture topics: Modern India and the Freedom Struggle (71), Ancient India (45), Art and Culture (42), Medieval India (25).
Geography
All Geography topics on one page: UPSC Prelims Geography PYQs. Geography topics by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 11 papers.
| Topic | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Geography | 0 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| Indian Geography | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 42 |
| World Geography | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 28 |
Most-asked Geography topics: Indian Geography (42), Physical Geography (31), World Geography (28).
Polity and Governance
Polity and Governance topics by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 11 papers.
| Topic | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitution and Constitutional Bodies | 5 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 126 |
| Governance, Rights and Welfare Schemes | 7 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 77 |
Most-asked Polity and Governance topics: Constitution and Constitutional Bodies (126), Governance, Rights and Welfare Schemes (77).
Economy
All Economy topics on one page: UPSC Prelims Economy PYQs. Economy topics by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 11 papers.
| Topic | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Money, Banking and Macroeconomy | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 91 |
| Growth, Sectors, Budget and Trade | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 67 |
| Agriculture | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 53 |
Most-asked Economy topics: Money, Banking and Macroeconomy (91), Growth, Sectors, Budget and Trade (67), Agriculture (53).
Environment
Environment topics by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 11 papers.
| Topic | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecology and Biodiversity | 6 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 77 |
| Climate Change, Pollution and Conventions | 3 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 75 |
Most-asked Environment topics: Ecology and Biodiversity (77), Climate Change, Pollution and Conventions (75).
Science and Technology
All Science and Technology topics on one page: UPSC Prelims Science and Technology PYQs. Science and Technology topics by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 11 papers.
| Topic | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Science | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 38 |
| Biotechnology and Health | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 35 |
| Space, IT and Defence Technology | 13 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 64 |
Most-asked Science and Technology topics: Space, IT and Defence Technology (64), General Science (38), Biotechnology and Health (35).
Current Affairs
Current Affairs topics by questions in each year. The last column is the total across all 11 papers.
| Topic | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | All questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Relations and Organisations | 13 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 78 |
| Reports, Indices and Current Events | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 35 |
Most-asked Current Affairs topics: International Relations and Organisations (78), Reports, Indices and Current Events (35).
How we tagged the papers
- Source: only official UPSC Prelims papers published by the conducting body and hosted on our year pages. 2026: GS Paper I · 2025: GS Paper I · 2024: GS Paper I · 2023: GS Paper I · 2022: GS Paper I · 2021: GS Paper I · 2020: GS Paper I · 2019: GS Paper I · 2018: GS Paper I · 2017: GS Paper I · 2016: GS Paper I.
- Topics: one topic per question within the GS Paper I subject areas (history, geography, polity, economy, environment, science and current affairs). CSAT is not included.
- Answers: Answers come from the official UPSC answer keys, read for the booklet series of the hosted paper (series A). Years without a hosted key show no answer; questions UPSC dropped are marked as dropped.
- Summaries are ours, so you can scan a topic quickly. Open the official PDF for the full question.
FAQ
Which UPSC Prelims topics have the most questions?
History and Culture: Modern India and the Freedom Struggle (71), Ancient India (45), Art and Culture (42). Geography: Indian Geography (42), Physical Geography (31), World Geography (28). Polity and Governance: Constitution and Constitutional Bodies (126), Governance, Rights and Welfare Schemes (77). Economy: Money, Banking and Macroeconomy (91), Growth, Sectors, Budget and Trade (67), Agriculture (53). Environment: Ecology and Biodiversity (77), Climate Change, Pollution and Conventions (75). Science and Technology: Space, IT and Defence Technology (64), General Science (38), Biotechnology and Health (35). Current Affairs: International Relations and Organisations (78), Reports, Indices and Current Events (35). Counts are totals across the 11 official UPSC Prelims papers tagged here.
Which UPSC Prelims papers are included?
Only official papers that the conducting body published and that we host: 2026: GS Paper I · 2025: GS Paper I · 2024: GS Paper I · 2023: GS Paper I · 2022: GS Paper I · 2021: GS Paper I · 2020: GS Paper I · 2019: GS Paper I · 2018: GS Paper I · 2017: GS Paper I · 2016: GS Paper I.
Are the answers official?
Answers come from the official UPSC answer keys, read for the booklet series of the hosted paper (series A). Years without a hosted key show no answer; questions UPSC dropped are marked as dropped.