UPSC Prelims 2013 Question Paper
Explore the complete solved question paper for UPSC Prelims 2013 featuring 100 solved questions with bilingual (English & Hindi) explanations, official answer key, and subject weightage breakdown.
The Reserve Bank of India regulates the commercial banks in matters of -
- Liquidity of assets
- Branch expansion
- Merger of banks
- Winding-up of banks
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulates commercial banks comprehensively under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. It controls liquidity of assets through CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) and SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio), regulates branch expansion by granting licenses for new branches, oversees merger of banks to ensure financial stability and depositor protection, and initiates winding-up of banks in cases of severe financial distress. All four regulatory functions are core powers of the RBI.
In India, deficit financing is used for raising resources for
Detailed Explanation:
Deficit financing in India refers to the government meeting its budgetary gap by borrowing from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or through money creation.
It is primarily used for economic development purposes—financing infrastructure projects, five-year plans, and other capital expenditure—not for debt redemption or balance of payments adjustment, which are managed through other fiscal and monetary instruments.
The National income of a country for a given period is equal to the:
Detailed Explanation:
National Income represents the money value of all final goods and services produced within an economy during a given period (usually one year).
✅ Option 4 – Correct: Money value of final goods and services produced accurately defines National Income, avoiding double counting by excluding intermediate goods.
❌ Option 1 – Incorrect: Production by nationals refers to Gross National Product (GNP), not National Income which measures production within geographical boundaries.
❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: Consumption + Investment alone excludes Government expenditure (G) and Net Exports (X-M) from the full expenditure approach: Y = C + I + G + (X-M).
❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: Sum of personal incomes excludes corporate profits, undistributed earnings, and other factor incomes generated in production.
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In the context of Indian economy, Open Market Operations’ refers to:
Detailed Explanation:
Open Market Operations (OMO) is a monetary policy tool where the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) buys or sells government securities in the open market to regulate money supply and liquidity.
When the RBI purchases securities, it injects liquidity into the banking system, lowering interest rates; when it sells securities, it absorbs excess liquidity, raising interest rates to control inflation.
Which of the following grants/ grant direct credit assistance to rural households?
- Regional Rural Banks
- National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
- Land Development Banks
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) provide direct credit assistance to rural households, including small and marginal farmers, agricultural laborers, and rural artisans.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: NABARD is an apex development bank that provides refinance facilities to banks and financial institutions; it does not grant direct credit to rural households except through limited pilot schemes.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Land Development Banks (State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks) provide long-term direct credit to farmers for land development, irrigation, and agricultural improvements.
Consider the following liquid assets:
- Demand deposits with the banks
- Time deposits with the banks
- Savings deposits with the banks
- Currency
The correct sequence of these decreasing order of Liquidity is
Detailed Explanation:
Liquidity refers to the ease and speed of converting an asset into cash without loss of value.
Currency is the most liquid asset as it is already in cash form.
Demand deposits can be withdrawn on demand anytime without notice or penalty, making them highly liquid.
Savings deposits can be withdrawn but may require prior notice or have withdrawal limits, making them moderately liquid.
Time deposits (Fixed Deposits) have a fixed maturity period and early withdrawal attracts penalty, making them the least liquid.
Decreasing order of liquidity: Currency (4) > Demand deposits (1) > Savings deposits (3) > Time deposits (2) = 4-1-3-2
Which of the following constitute Capital Account?
- Foreign Loans
- Foreign Direct Investment
- Private Remittances
- Portfolio Investment
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
1. Foreign Loans – Capital Account: Borrowings from abroad by government or private sector represent capital inflows and are recorded in the Capital Account.
2. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) – Capital Account: Long-term investments by foreign entities in domestic companies creating lasting interest are part of the Capital Account.
3. Private Remittances – Current Account: Funds sent by individuals (e.g., migrant workers) to their home country are transfer payments recorded in the Current Account, not Capital Account.
4. Portfolio Investment – Capital Account: Investments in stocks, bonds, and financial securities by foreigners are short-term capital flows part of the Capital Account.
Correct Answer: Option 2 (1, 2 and 4 only) – Private Remittances fall under Current Account.
An increase in the Bank Rate generally indicates that the:
Detailed Explanation:
Bank Rate is the rate at which the central bank (RBI) lends funds to commercial banks.
An increase in Bank Rate makes borrowing costlier, reduces liquidity in the economy, and signals a tight/contractionary monetary policy to control inflation.
Which one of the following groups of items are included in India’s foreign-exchange reserves?
Detailed Explanation:
India's foreign-exchange reserves consist of four components: Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs), Gold holdings by the RBI, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the IMF, and Reserve Tranche Position (RTP) in the IMF.
Loans from foreign countries, World Bank, or other institutions are external debts/liabilities, not part of foreign-exchange reserves which represent assets held by RBI that can be readily deployed.
With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:
- The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
- The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
- At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Barabar Caves in Bihar (3rd century BCE, Mauryan period) are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, not the Badami Caves (6th–7th centuries CE, Chalukyas).
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Barabar Caves were made for the Ajivika sect by Emperor Ashoka and his grandson Dasaratha, not by Chandragupta Maurya.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Ellora Caves (6th–9th centuries CE) were excavated for three faiths — Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism — reflecting religious harmony.
Consider the following Bhakti Saints:
- Dadu Dayal
- Guru Nanak
- Tyagaraja
Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Guru Nanak (1469-1539) was actively preaching when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat (1526), marking the fall of the Lodi dynasty.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Dadu Dayal (1544-1603) was born 18 years after the fall of the Lodi dynasty.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Tyagaraja (1767-1847), a Carnatic music composer, lived more than two centuries later.
Consider the following pairs :
- Limboo (Limbu): Sikkim
- Karbi: Himachal Pradesh
- Dongaria: Odisha
- Bonda: Tamil Nadu
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Limboo (Limbu) are indigenous Kiranti people residing primarily in Sikkim, West Bengal, and Assam in India, and eastern Nepal.
❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Karbi tribe primarily inhabits the Karbi Anglong district of Assam and parts of Meghalaya, not Himachal Pradesh.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Dongaria Kondh is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) residing in the Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha, known for their opposition to mining activities.
❌ Pair 4 – Incorrect: Bonda (Bondo) tribe is found in the Malkangiri district of Odisha, not Tamil Nadu; they are also a PVTG.
Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?
Detailed Explanation:
Nirvana in Buddhism literally means "blowing out" or "extinguishing", referring to the extinction of the flame of desire (trishna), hatred, and ignorance.
It represents the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and the end of the cycle of rebirth (samsara), achieved when all cravings and attachments are eliminated, not the annihilation of self or a mere blissful state.
With reference to the history of philosophical thought in India, consider the following statements regarding Sankhya school:
- Sankhya does not accept the theory of rebirth or transmigration of the soul.
- Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge that leads to liberation and not any exterior influence or agent.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Sankhya school accepts the theory of rebirth and transmigration of the soul (Purusha). The cycle of samsara continues due to ignorance of the distinction between Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter).
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Sankhya holds that liberation (kaivalya) is achieved through self-knowledge (viveka-jnana) – the discriminative knowledge distinguishing Purusha from Prakriti. Being an atheistic school, it denies the role of any external agent or God in liberation.
Which of the following statements is/are applicable to Jain doctrine?
- The surest way of annihilating Karma is to practice penance.
- Every object, even the smallest particle has a soul.
- Karma is the bane of the soul and must be ended.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Nirjara (annihilation of karma) in Jain doctrine is achieved through penance (tapas) and austerities, which help shed accumulated karmic particles from the soul.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Jainism believes in universal vitalism – every object including stones, water, fire, and air possesses a soul (jiva), making even the smallest particle a living entity.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Karma is viewed as subtle matter that binds the soul and obstructs its natural qualities of infinite knowledge and bliss; liberation (moksha) requires complete elimination of karmic bondage.
All three statements are correct.
Consider the following historical places:
- Ajanta Caves
- Lepakshi Temple
- Sanchi Stupa
Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?
Detailed Explanation:
Mural paintings are artworks painted directly on walls or ceilings, integral to the surface.
✅ Ajanta Caves: Famous for Buddhist mural paintings depicting Jataka tales and religious themes from 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE.
✅ Lepakshi Temple: Contains Vijayanagara-era mural paintings from 16th century, depicting scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Vaishnava themes.
❌ Sanchi Stupa: Known for stone carvings and sculptures on gateways (toranas), but does not have mural paintings.
In the context of the cultural history of India, a pose in dance and dramatics called ‘Tribhanga’ has been a favourite of Indian artists from ancient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose?
Detailed Explanation:
Tribhanga (meaning 'three bends') is a classical standing pose in Indian art and dance where the body forms a gentle S-shaped curve with bends at three points: neck, waist, and knee.
This tri-bent posture creates opposite curves at the waist and neck, making it the most graceful and sensuous pose in traditions like Odissi dance and temple sculpture, frequently depicted in images of Lord Krishna.
Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?
Detailed Explanation:
Chaitya is a Buddhist prayer hall or shrine that contains a stupa at one end, serving as a place of worship and congregation.
Vihara is a residential monastery consisting of a central hall with small cells (living quarters) connected to it, where monks resided, meditated, and studied.
The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- The roads and river-routes were completely immune from the robbery.
- As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
- The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) himself was robbed during his travels in India, proving that roads and river-routes were not completely immune from robbery.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Yuan Chwang recorded that four ordeals – by water, fire, weighing, and poison – were used to determine the innocence or guilt of accused persons.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: He noted that tradesmen paid light duties at ferries and barrier stations while bartering their merchandise.
Which of the following characterizes/ characterize the people of Indus Civilization?
- They possessed great palaces and temples.
- They worshipped both male and female deities.
- They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.
Select the correct statement/ statements using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Indus Civilization had Great Baths and granaries, but no palaces or temples have been discovered.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Female figurines suggest worship of Mother Goddess; a seal showing a male figure in yogic posture with animals (possibly proto-Shiva) indicates worship of male deities.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Horse remains are absent or disputed in Harappan sites; horse-drawn chariots were not used in warfare by the Indus people.
UPSC Prelims 2013 Questions Paper - Subject-wise Question Distribution
UPSC Prelims 2013 Question Paper - FAQs & Analysis
Q1 How many total questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2013?
Q2 What is the subject-wise question breakdown for UPSC Prelims 2013?
- Environment & Ecology: 21 questions (21%)
- Indian Economy: 20 questions (20%)
- Indian Polity: 17 questions (17%)
- Science & Technology: 11 questions (11%)
- World Geography: 9 questions (9%)
- Indian Art & Culture: 8 questions (8%)
- Indian Geography: 6 questions (6%)
- Modern History: 6 questions (6%)
- Ancient History: 2 questions (2%)