100+ Free ESE GS&EA Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ESE GS&EA Exam

100 MCQs

Total number of questions in Paper I

UPSC ESE Exam Pattern

2 Hours

Exam duration for Paper I

UPSC ESE Exam Pattern

-1/3 penalty

Marks deducted for each incorrect answer

UPSC ESE Rules

INR 200

Application fee for General/OBC/EWS candidates

UPSC ESE 2026 Notification

10 Domains

Syllabus sections covered in the paper

UPSC ESE Syllabus Guidelines

UPSC ESE Prelims Paper I (GS&EA) consists of 100 MCQs / 200 marks, 2 hours duration, with −1/3 (0.67 marks) penalty per incorrect answer. Fee is INR 200 (exemptions for Female/SC/ST/PwBD).

Sample ESE GS&EA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ESE GS&EA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, what is India's target for green hydrogen production capacity per annum by the year 2030?

A.At least 1 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes)

B.At least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes)

C.At least 10 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes)

D.At least 20 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes)

Explanation: The National Green Hydrogen Mission of India, launched to make India a global hub for the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen, has set a target of producing at least 5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen per annum by 2030, supported by an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW.

2Which city hosted the COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference in late 2023?

A.Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

B.Glasgow, United Kingdom

C.Dubai, United Arab Emirates

D.Baku, Azerbaijan

Explanation: The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 13, 2023. It resulted in the historic 'UAE Consensus' calling for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

3Which international organization was jointly launched by India and France in 2015 to promote solar energy deployment globally?

A.International Solar Alliance (ISA)

B.Global Green Energy Council (GGEC)

C.International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

D.Association of Solar Producers (ASP)

Explanation: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of action-oriented solar-rich countries launched jointly by India and France on November 30, 2015, during COP21 in Paris. Its headquarters is located in Gurugram, India.

4Which international treaty-based secretariat administers the global response to climate change, including the Paris Agreement?

A.United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

B.United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

C.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

D.World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Explanation: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, based in Bonn, Germany, is the UN entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change, including the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

5In its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC, what is India's target year to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions?

A.2050

B.2060

C.2070

D.2080

Explanation: At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, India announced its target of achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2070. This commitment was formally incorporated into India's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2022.

6In the context of India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), what does the acronym 'UPI' stand for?

A.Universal Payment Integration

B.Unified Payments Interface

C.Union Payment Portal of India

D.United Payments Network

Explanation: UPI stands for Unified Payments Interface. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), it is an instant real-time payment system that facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions through mobile devices.

7During the G20 New Delhi Summit in September 2023, which regional bloc was admitted as a permanent member of the G20?

A.Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

B.African Union (AU)

C.European Union (EU)

D.Mercosur

Explanation: Under India's G20 Presidency, the G20 member countries officially admitted the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the group during the New Delhi Summit in September 2023, matching the status of the European Union.

8What is the primary objective of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan launched by the Indian Government?

A.Providing financial subsidies to small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)

B.Digitalizing land records across rural districts

C.Coordinated, multimodal planning and execution of infrastructure projects

D.Accelerating the vaccination campaign across remote areas

Explanation: PM Gati Shakti is a digital platform launched in 2021 to bring 16 ministries together, including railways and roadways, for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects, aiming to reduce logistics costs.

9The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), designed to prevent carbon leakage, initially targets import tariffs on which of the following sectors?

A.Agriculture and Forestry products

B.Textiles and Apparels

C.Cement, Iron and Steel, Aluminum, and Fertilizers

D.Electronics and Semiconductor devices

Explanation: The transitional phase of EU CBAM started in October 2023, focusing initially on carbon-intensive goods at significant risk of carbon leakage: cement, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, electricity, and hydrogen.

10What is the primary function of the 'Loss and Damage Fund' that was formally operationalized on the opening day of the COP28 climate summit?

A.Financing the research and development of fusion energy technology

B.Compensating carbon credits of industrial corporations under the Paris Agreement

C.Providing financial assistance to developing countries vulnerable to climate disasters

D.Funding search and rescue operations during maritime earthquakes

Explanation: The Loss and Damage Fund is a global financial package formally operationalized at COP28 in Dubai. It is designed to assist particularly vulnerable developing nations in coping with the economic and non-economic losses and damages associated with the adverse effects of climate change (e.g., rising sea levels, extreme weather events).

About the ESE GS&EA Exam

UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) Prelims Paper I is the common General Studies & Engineering Aptitude paper for all candidates. It consists of 100 MCQs carrying 2 marks each, totaling 200 marks. The exam covers current issues of national and international importance, logical engineering aptitude, engineering mathematics, general principles of design/drawing/safety, standards & quality practices, energy & environment conservation, basics of project management, material science, information & communication technologies (ICT), and engineering ethics. Wrong answers incur a penalty of one-third of the marks assigned to that question (0.67 marks deduction).

Assessment

Stage I Prelims Paper I is an offline objective OMR paper common to all engineering streams. It carries 200 marks with 100 MCQs. Qualified candidates in Prelims advance to Mains and Personality Test.

Time Limit

120 minutes (2 hours)

Passing Score

Category-wise cut-off on combined 500 prelims marks; no separate minimum pass mark for Paper I

Exam Fee

INR 200 (Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates exempt from fee payment) (Union Public Service Commission (UPSC))

ESE GS&EA Exam Content Outline

10%

Current Issues

National and international development issues

10%

Engineering Aptitude

Logical reasoning, analytical ability and mental ability

10%

Engineering Mathematics

Calculus, differential equations, and numerical analysis

10%

Design, Drawing & Safety

General design concepts, drawing standards, and industrial safety

10%

Standards & Quality

Quality practices in production, maintenance, and service sectors

10%

Energy & Environment

Environmental pollution, conservation, and climate change

10%

Project Management

Project cycles, CPM/PERT scheduling, and budgeting

10%

Material Science

Material classification, electrical/mechanical/thermal properties

10%

Information & Communication Technologies

e-Governance, networking, and digital educational tools

10%

Ethics & Professional Values

Engineering ethics codes, values, and professional responsibility

How to Pass the ESE GS&EA Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Category-wise cut-off on combined 500 prelims marks; no separate minimum pass mark for Paper I
Assessment: Stage I Prelims Paper I is an offline objective OMR paper common to all engineering streams. It carries 200 marks with 100 MCQs. Qualified candidates in Prelims advance to Mains and Personality Test.
Time limit: 120 minutes (2 hours)
Exam fee: INR 200 (Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates exempt from fee payment)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ESE GS&EA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Dedicate consistent daily study time to General Studies, as it is a major differentiator in qualifying for the Mains stage.

2Solve UPSC ESE Paper I previous year papers from the official UPSC website to familiarize yourself with the question style.

3Create summary sheets for key formulas in Engineering Mathematics and critical steps in Project Management.

4Pay special attention to standards and quality codes, energy protocols, and environmental impact guidelines.

5Be disciplined with negative marking during practice; eliminate clearly wrong options and avoid blind guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UPSC ESE Prelims Paper I exam pattern?

Paper I consists of 100 objective-type MCQs carrying a total of 200 marks. The paper must be completed in 2 hours (120 minutes).

Is Paper I common to all engineering disciplines?

Yes. Whether you are appearing for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, all candidates write the exact same Paper I exam.

What is the negative marking penalty for Paper I?

For each wrong answer, one-third (1/3) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted. Since each question carries 2 marks, an incorrect answer results in a penalty of 0.67 marks.

Are there separate cut-offs for Paper I and Paper II?

No. The UPSC determines the prelims qualifying cut-off based on the combined score of Paper I (200 marks) and Paper II (300 marks), totaling 500 marks.

Does this practice bank include mathematics and aptitude questions?

Yes. This free practice bank contains representative numerical and conceptual questions for all 10 syllabus areas, including Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Aptitude, and Project Management.

What is the application fee for ESE 2026?

The application fee is INR 200. Female candidates, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are fully exempt from fee payment.