PYQ 2023UPSC Prelims

UPSC Prelims 2023 - General Studies (Paper I)

Attempt the official UPSC Prelims previous year question paper 2023 as a free, timed mock test on AajExam. Get instant scoring, sectional analysis, and detailed solutions for every question.

100
Questions
200
Total Marks
120
Minutes
2023
Year

About This Paper

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSE) is the highly competitive first stage of the exam used to recruit officers for the IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services This page hosts the official UPSC Prelims 2023 - General Studies (Paper I) — the UPSC Prelims previous year question paper from 2023. AajExam has reconstructed this paper into a fully timed online mock test so candidates preparing for UPSC Prelims can experience the real exam pattern, attempt every question with answer keys verified by our expert panel, and analyse their performance section-wise. The paper contains 100 multiple-choice questions to be attempted in 120 minutes for a total of 200 marks. The exam uses 1 sections — General Studies (100 questions) with 0.33 negative marking per wrong answer. Use this paper to practise question selection, sectional time management, and accuracy under real exam conditions. Why solve UPSC Prelims 2023 previous year papers? Government competitive exams like UPSC Prelims repeat question patterns, formula-based concepts and theme-based questions year after year. Solving the actual UPSC Prelims 2023 paper helps you identify high-yield chapters, calibrate the difficulty level, and build the speed required to clear sectional cut-offs. Every question on this paper has a detailed solution available immediately after submission, including step-by-step working for quantitative problems, grammar rules for English, and direct reference statements for general awareness questions. How to use this PYQ paper effectively: first, attempt the full 120-minute test in a single sitting without referring to notes — treat it like the actual UPSC Prelims exam. After submission, review the auto-generated analytics to see your section-wise accuracy, attempt rate, and time spent per question. Then revisit every wrong and skipped question with the explanation, and add the underlying concept to your revision notes. Repeat the same paper after 7-10 days — your second attempt should be at least 15-20% faster with better accuracy. This UPSC Prelims 2023 - General Studies (Paper I) mock test is completely free on AajExam. You can also browse the full archive of UPSC Prelims previous year papers shift-wise and year-wise to build a strong PYQ-driven preparation strategy. All papers come with bilingual support (English and Hindi solutions where applicable), instant scoring, all-India ranking, and downloadable performance reports.

Exam Pattern & Sections

SectionQuestionsMarks/QNegative
General Studies10020.66

Sample Questions with Answers

Showing 5 of 100 questions. Start the mock test to attempt all questions in timed mode.

1
General Studies

This Test Booklet contains 100 items (Questions). Each item comprises four responses (answers). In case you feel that there is more than one correct response, mark the response which you consider the best. In any case, choose ONLY ONE response for each item. 2. You have to mark all your responses ONLY on the separate OMR Sheet provided. 3. All items carry equal marks. 4. Attempt all items. 5. Your total marks will depend only on the number of correct responses marked by you in the OMR sheet. 6. For every incorrect response 1/3rd of the allotted marks will be deducted. 7. If a question is left blank i.e., no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question. 1. In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghikas, located?

  1. A.Andhra
  2. B.Gandhara
  3. C.Kalinga
  4. D.Magadha
2
General Studies

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements: 1. The concept of Stupa is Buddhist in origin. 2. Stupa was generally a repository of relics. 3. Stupa was a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition. How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A.Only one
  2. B.Only two
  3. C.All three
  4. D.None
3
General Studies

With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as

  1. A.capital cities
  2. B.ports
  3. C.centres of iron-and-steel making
  4. D.shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
4
General Studies

Which one of the following explains the practice of Vattakirutal’ mentioned in Sangam poems?

  1. A.Kings employing women bodyguards
  2. B.Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters
  3. C.Young girls keeping watch over agricultural fields and driving away birds and animals
  4. D.A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide starving himself to death
5
General Studies

Consider the following dynasties: 1. Hoysala 2. Gahadavala 3. Kakatiya 4. Yadava How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?

  1. A.Only one
  2. B.Only two
  3. C.Only three
  4. D.None
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is UPSC Prelims 2023 - General Studies (Paper I) free to attempt on AajExam?

UPSC Prelims 2023 - General Studies (Paper I) is part of our PRO plan. The latest year's UPSC Prelims paper is always free; older papers are available with an AajExam PRO subscription that unlocks the full UPSC Prelims PYQ archive.

How many questions does the UPSC Prelims 2023 - General Studies (Paper I) contain?

The paper contains 100 multiple-choice questions to be attempted in 120 minutes for a total of 200 marks, with 0.33 negative marking per wrong answer.

What sections are covered in UPSC Prelims 2023?

The UPSC Prelims 2023 paper covers the following sections: General Studies. Each section is designed to test a specific skill set required for the UPSC Prelims exam.

Are answers and explanations available?

Yes. Every question on this PYQ paper has the correct answer and a detailed explanation. After submitting the test, you can review each question with step-by-step solutions, concept references, and tips on how to solve similar questions faster.

Can I attempt this paper multiple times?

Yes. You can attempt this PYQ paper as many times as you like. Each attempt is recorded separately so you can track improvement in score, accuracy, and time-management.

Will solving PYQs really help me crack UPSC Prelims?

Government exam toppers consistently say PYQ practice is the single highest-leverage strategy. UPSC Prelims repeats question patterns, frequently-tested concepts and difficulty distribution year after year. Solving 8-10 PYQ shifts before the exam dramatically improves time management and confidence.

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