UPSC Prelims 2015 Question Paper
Explore the complete solved question paper for UPSC Prelims 2015 featuring 100 solved questions with bilingual (English & Hindi) explanations, official answer key, and subject weightage breakdown.
Which one of the following issues the “Global Economic Prospects” report periodically?
Detailed Explanation:
The World Bank publishes the Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report twice a year (January and June).
The report examines global economic developments and provides growth forecasts for emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs).
Convertibility of rupee implies:
Detailed Explanation:
Convertibility of rupee refers to the freedom to convert Indian rupees into other currencies and vice versa without restrictions, enabling cross-border transactions.
Option 1 refers to the outdated gold standard, Option 2 describes a floating exchange rate system, and Option 4 refers to currency trading infrastructure—none of which defines convertibility itself.
A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following?
- Slowing economic growth rates
- Less equitable distribution of national income
Choose the correct code:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: A decrease in tax-to-GDP ratio often indicates slowing economic growth, as lower incomes and profits reduce tax collections, or reflects economic contraction where tax revenues fall faster than GDP.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The tax-to-GDP ratio measures government revenue collection efficiency, not income distribution equity. A decreasing ratio could occur with progressive tax cuts benefiting all income groups, or with regressive taxes declining – it provides no direct information about income inequality or distribution patterns.
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With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements:
- The rate of growth of real Gross Domestic Product has steadily increased in the last decade.
- The Gross Domestic Product at market prices (in rupees) has steadily increased in the last decade.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The rate of growth of real GDP has fluctuated significantly during the last decade, not steadily increased. India experienced high growth in mid-2000s, slowdown during 2008 global financial crisis, brief recovery, and again deceleration around 2012-13. A steady increase would require the growth rate to rise every year, which did not occur.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: GDP at market prices (in rupees) has steadily increased in absolute terms over the last decade. As long as the growth rate remained positive (which it did), the total size of economy in nominal rupee terms continued to expand year after year, despite fluctuations in the percentage growth rate.
The substitution of steel for wooden ploughs in agricultural production is an example of
Detailed Explanation:
Capital-augmenting technological progress increases the productivity of existing capital without necessarily increasing the quantity of capital.
Replacing wooden ploughs with steel ploughs enhances the effectiveness and durability of the same capital good (plough), allowing more efficient agricultural production with the same or less capital investment — this is capital-augmenting progress, not labour-augmenting (which increases labour productivity) or capital-reducing.
The Fair and Remunerative Price of Sugarcane is approved by the -
Detailed Explanation:
Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane is approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister.
The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends the FRP based on cost of production, input costs, and various economic factors, but the final approval rests with CCEA.
Consider the following statements:
- The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.
- The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) was launched in 1996-97 to provide central loan assistance to states for accelerating completion of ongoing irrigation projects, not to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Command Area Development Programme (CADP) was launched in 1974-75 to improve water-use efficiency and agricultural productivity in command areas of major and medium irrigation projects.
‘Basel III Accord’ or simply ‘Basel III’, often seen in the news, seeks to -
Detailed Explanation:
Basel III is a set of international banking regulations developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) in response to the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
It strengthens the banking sector's resilience through higher capital adequacy requirements, enhanced liquidity standards (Liquidity Coverage Ratio and Net Stable Funding Ratio), and improved risk management frameworks to absorb financial shocks.
The problem of international liquidity is related to the non-availability of -
Detailed Explanation:
International liquidity refers to the availability of foreign exchange reserves (primarily hard currencies like the US Dollar, Euro, Yen, and Pound Sterling) that a country holds to meet its short-term international payment obligations.
The problem of international liquidity arises when there is a shortage of reserve currencies needed for import payments, debt servicing, and foreign exchange market interventions, not a lack of physical goods, precious metals, or exportable surplus.
Which of the following has/have been accorded “Geographical Indication” status?
- Banaras Brocades and Sarees
- Rajasthani Dal-Bati-Churma
- Tirupati Laddu
Select the answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Banaras Brocades and Sarees were granted GI status in 2009, recognizing the unique handloom weaving traditions of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Rajasthani Dal-Bati-Churma has not been accorded GI status, though it is a famous traditional food of Rajasthan.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Tirupati Laddu, the sacred prasad of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh, received GI status in 2009 to protect its unique recipe and reputation.
In India, markets in agricultural products are regulated under the -
Detailed Explanation:
Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts enacted by State Governments regulate agricultural markets in India by establishing and managing market yards and market committees.
Each state divides its geographical area into market areas under the jurisdiction of Market Committees, where wholesale marketing activities require authorization from the committee.
With reference to Indian economy, consider the following :
- Bank rate
- Open market operations
- Public debt
- Public revenue
Which of the above is/are component/components of Monetary Policy?
Detailed Explanation:
Monetary Policy instruments are tools used by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to control money supply and credit in the economy.
✅ Bank Rate (Statement 1): Rate at which RBI lends to commercial banks; a key quantitative tool of monetary policy.
✅ Open Market Operations (Statement 2): Buying/selling of government securities by RBI to control liquidity in the banking system.
❌ Public Debt (Statement 3): Total government borrowing; part of fiscal policy, not monetary policy.
❌ Public Revenue (Statement 4): Government income from taxes and non-tax sources; component of fiscal policy, not monetary policy.
In the Index of Eight Core Industries, which one of the following is given the highest weight?
Detailed Explanation:
The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) measures the combined and individual performance of production in eight core industries with a total weight of 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
The weightage in decreasing order is: Refinery Products (28.04%) > Electricity (19.85%) > Steel (17.92%) > Coal (10.33%) > Crude Oil (8.98%) > Natural Gas (6.88%) > Cement (5.37%) > Fertilizers (2.63%).
Among the given options, Electricity generation has the highest weight (19.85%), making Option 2 the correct answer.
Which of the following brings out the ‘Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers’?
Detailed Explanation:
The Labour Bureau, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, compiles and publishes the Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW).
The Labour Bureau also maintains CPI for Rural Labourers and CPI for Agricultural Labourers, while the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) publishes the general CPI and CPI for rural/urban areas.
With reference to inflation in India, which of the following statements is correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Decreased money circulation (contractionary monetary policy) reduces aggregate demand and liquidity in the economy, which helps control demand-pull inflation.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Controlling inflation is a joint responsibility of both the Government of India (fiscal policy, supply-side measures) and the Reserve Bank of India (monetary policy).
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The RBI plays a central role through the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which adjusts policy rates (Repo rate) to maintain the inflation target of 4% ± 2% under the RBI Act, 1934.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Increased money circulation raises aggregate demand, which if not matched by supply, leads to demand-pull inflation.
Kalamkari painting refers to -
Detailed Explanation:
Kalamkari is a traditional hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile art from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in South India.
The name derives from 'kalam' (pen) and 'kari' (craftsmanship), featuring natural dyes and depicting mythological scenes, Hindu epics, and temple motifs in the two major styles: Srikalahasti (freehand drawing) and Machilipatnam (block-printing).
Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?
Detailed Explanation:
Odia was granted Classical Language status in February 2014, making it the 6th classical language of India and the most recent addition at the time this question was asked.
Classical Languages of India (up to 2014): Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). Konkani, Bhojpuri, and Assamese did not have classical status in 2014-15.
Note: In October 2024, five more languages—Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, and Assamese—were added to the list.
With reference to art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
Detailed Explanation:
Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli was created during the Mauryan Empire under Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE (c. 260 BCE), making it the earliest monument among the options.
Varaha Image at Udayagiri dates to the Gupta period (c. 401-402 CE), Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram were built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th-8th centuries CE, and Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar was constructed in the 11th century CE.
Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of Buddha?
- Avanti
- Gandhara
- Kosala
- Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 (Avanti) – Incorrect: Avanti kingdom (capital Ujjain) had no direct association with Buddha's life; Buddhism spread here later during Mauryan period.
❌ Statement 2 (Gandhara) – Incorrect: Gandhara became a Buddhist art centre under Kushanas (1st-2nd century CE), centuries after Buddha's time; no connection to his life events.
✅ Statement 3 (Kosala) – Correct: Kosala kingdom included Kapilavastu (Buddha's birthplace, though Lumbini technically in Shakya territory) and Sravasti where Buddha spent many rainy seasons (vassas) teaching.
✅ Statement 4 (Magadha) – Correct: Magadha was central to Buddha's ministry; he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, gave first sermon at Sarnath (near Magadha), spent years in Rajgriha under King Bimbisara's patronage, and attained Parinirvana at Kushinagar.
With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential elementary elements of the feudal system?
- A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority
- The emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of the land
- Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Feudalism is characterized by a weak central authority with power dispersed among regional lords, not strong centralization.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Land control forms the economic foundation of feudalism, where administrative power derives from possession and control of land rather than formal bureaucratic structures.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The lord-vassal relationship is a defining feature, involving land grants (fiefs) in exchange for military service, loyalty, and revenue, creating a hierarchical pyramid of obligations.
UPSC Prelims 2015 Questions Paper - Subject-wise Question Distribution
Environment & Ecology
18 Qs (18%)Indian Economy
18 Qs (18%)Indian Polity
14 Qs (14%)Science & Technology
10 Qs (10%)Modern History
8 Qs (8%)World Geography
7 Qs (7%)International Relations
7 Qs (7%)Indian Geography
6 Qs (6%)Current Affairs
4 Qs (4%)Medieval History
4 Qs (4%)Indian Art & Culture
4 Qs (4%)UPSC Prelims 2015 Question Paper - FAQs & Analysis
Q1 How many total questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2015?
Q2 What is the subject-wise question breakdown for UPSC Prelims 2015?
- Environment & Ecology: 18 questions (18%)
- Indian Economy: 18 questions (18%)
- Indian Polity: 14 questions (14%)
- Science & Technology: 10 questions (10%)
- Modern History: 8 questions (8%)
- World Geography: 7 questions (7%)
- International Relations: 7 questions (7%)
- Indian Geography: 6 questions (6%)
- Current Affairs: 4 questions (4%)
- Medieval History: 4 questions (4%)
- Indian Art & Culture: 4 questions (4%)