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100+ Free UPPSC PCS Practice Questions

Pass your UPPSC Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Question 1
Score: 0/0

Inflation as measured in India is most commonly tracked through which two indices?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: UPPSC PCS Exam

150 + 100

Prelims Questions (GS-I + CSAT)

UPPSC

200 each

Marks per Prelims Paper

UPPSC

33%

CSAT Qualifying Mark

UPPSC

1/3

Negative Marking per Wrong Answer

UPPSC

21-40 yrs

Typical Age Eligibility

UPPSC notification

3 stages

Prelims, Mains, Interview

UPPSC

UPPSC PCS is Uttar Pradesh's annual civil services recruitment with three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The objective Prelims has two two-hour papers on the same day: GS Paper I with 150 questions (200 marks, counted for merit) and GS Paper II / CSAT with 100 questions (200 marks, qualifying at 33%). One-third negative marking applies. Eligible candidates are Indian nationals aged about 21 to 40 with a bachelor's degree.

Sample UPPSC PCS Practice Questions

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

1The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. Who was the British civil servant credited with its formation?
A.Allan Octavian Hume
B.Lord Dufferin
C.William Wedderburn
D.Henry Cotton
Explanation: Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, is regarded as the founder of the Indian National Congress, which held its first session at Bombay in December 1885 under the presidency of W.C. Bonnerjee. Hume served as its first General Secretary.
2The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which intensified the freedom struggle, occurred in 1919 in which city?
A.Lahore
B.Amritsar
C.Delhi
D.Peshawar
Explanation: On 13 April 1919, General Reginald Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, killing hundreds. The massacre led to widespread outrage and was a turning point that pushed many moderates toward mass agitation.
3The Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi was withdrawn in 1922 following which incident?
A.Kakori conspiracy
B.Chauri Chaura incident
C.Champaran agitation
D.Bardoli Satyagraha
Explanation: After a mob set fire to a police station at Chauri Chaura (in present-day Uttar Pradesh) in February 1922, killing several policemen, Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement, citing the breakdown of non-violence. This decision was controversial within the Congress.
4Which Mauryan emperor embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War and propagated 'Dhamma' through rock and pillar edicts?
A.Chandragupta Maurya
B.Bindusara
C.Ashoka
D.Dasharatha
Explanation: Ashoka the Great waged the bloody Kalinga War around 261 BCE, after which remorse led him to adopt Buddhism and promote a moral code called Dhamma through edicts inscribed across the empire. His edicts are key sources for Mauryan history.
5The Harappan (Indus Valley) site of Lothal is notable for which feature?
A.A great bath
B.A dockyard
C.Fire altars only
D.A pillared assembly hall
Explanation: Lothal, in present-day Gujarat, contained a tidal dockyard, indicating it was an important port and bead-making centre of the Harappan civilization. This points to the maritime trade conducted by the Indus people.
6Who among the following founded the Mughal Empire in India after the First Battle of Panipat in 1526?
A.Humayun
B.Babur
C.Akbar
D.Sher Shah Suri
Explanation: Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 and established the Mughal Empire. He used field artillery and the tulughma tactic to overcome a larger Lodi army.
7The Revolt of 1857 began with the mutiny of sepoys at which cantonment near Delhi?
A.Meerut
B.Kanpur
C.Lucknow
D.Jhansi
Explanation: The Revolt of 1857 erupted at Meerut on 10 May 1857 when sepoys rebelled over the greased cartridge issue and then marched to Delhi. Meerut and Delhi lie in present-day western Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region.
8The 'Quit India' resolution was passed by the Indian National Congress in 1942 at which session?
A.Lahore session
B.Bombay (Gowalia Tank) session
C.Tripuri session
D.Karachi session
Explanation: The All India Congress Committee passed the Quit India resolution on 8 August 1942 at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, where Gandhi gave the 'Do or Die' call. The British responded with mass arrests of the Congress leadership.
9The Permanent Settlement of land revenue introduced in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis was applied mainly to which region?
A.Bombay and Madras
B.Bengal, Bihar and Odisha
C.Punjab
D.Central Provinces
Explanation: The Permanent Settlement fixed land revenue permanently with zamindars as proprietors in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. It gave revenue certainty to the Company but often led to peasant exploitation by zamindars.
10Which Gupta-era ruler is praised in the Allahabad (Prayag) Prashasti composed by his court poet Harisena?
A.Chandragupta I
B.Samudragupta
C.Chandragupta II
D.Skandagupta
Explanation: The Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prashasti), composed by Harisena, glorifies the military conquests of Samudragupta. It is inscribed on an Ashokan pillar now located in Uttar Pradesh and is a vital source for Gupta history.

About the UPPSC PCS Exam

The UPPSC Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination is the annual recruitment conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission to fill Group A and Group B administrative posts such as SDM, DSP, BDO, and Treasury Officer. Selection is in three stages: a Preliminary Examination, a descriptive Main (written) Examination, and a Personality Test (interview). The objective Prelims consists of two papers held the same day: General Studies Paper I (150 questions, 200 marks) used for merit, and General Studies Paper II / CSAT (100 questions, 200 marks) which is qualifying at 33%. Both prelims papers run for two hours each and apply negative marking of one-third of the marks allotted to a question. This practice set focuses on the prelims, mirroring the GS-I subjects and the CSAT aptitude skills.

Questions

250 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours for each prelims paper (GS Paper I and GS Paper II)

Passing Score

GS Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying at 33%; merit for the prelims stage is based on GS Paper I marks

Exam Fee

Prelims: Rs. 125 (General/EWS/OBC), Rs. 65 (SC/ST and ex-servicemen), Rs. 25 (persons with disabilities), each including a Rs. 25 online processing fee (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), Prayagraj)

UPPSC PCS Exam Content Outline

~21%

Indian Polity & Governance

Constitution, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Parliament, executive, judiciary, constitutional bodies, Panchayati Raj, and public policy

~16%

History of India & National Movement

Ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history, art and culture, and the freedom struggle with Uttar Pradesh-linked events

~13%

Indian & World Geography

Physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world, including rivers, soils, monsoon, and UP geography

~13%

CSAT (General Studies Paper II)

Comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, basic numeracy (Class X), and data interpretation

~11%

General Science

Everyday physics, chemistry, biology, and science and technology developments of national relevance

~10%

Economic & Social Development

Indian economy, planning, fiscal and monetary policy, poverty, inclusion, demographics, and social-sector schemes

~8%

Environment, Ecology & Climate Change

Biodiversity, conservation, pollution, climate change, and major environmental conventions and protected areas

~8%

Current Events & Uttar Pradesh Special

National and international current affairs and Uttar Pradesh-specific governance, schemes, geography, and culture

How to Pass the UPPSC PCS Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: GS Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying at 33%; merit for the prelims stage is based on GS Paper I marks
  • Exam length: 250 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours for each prelims paper (GS Paper I and GS Paper II)
  • Exam fee: Prelims: Rs. 125 (General/EWS/OBC), Rs. 65 (SC/ST and ex-servicemen), Rs. 25 (persons with disabilities), each including a Rs. 25 online processing fee

Keys to Passing

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

UPPSC PCS Study Tips from Top Performers

1Build a strong NCERT base in history, geography, polity, economy, and science before moving to standard reference books and UP-specific material.
2Treat Uttar Pradesh special topics as a scoring area, since GS-I includes UP geography, schemes, culture, and current developments.
3Practise CSAT comprehension, reasoning, and Class X numeracy regularly so the qualifying 33% is never at risk.
4Solve at least ten years of UPPSC previous-year prelims papers to learn the commission's question style and recurring themes.
5Maintain a current-affairs notebook covering national, international, and UP events for the last 12 months before the exam.
6Use elimination and calculated guessing wisely because of the one-third negative marking; skip questions where you cannot eliminate at least two options.
7Take full timed mock tests in two-hour blocks to build stamina for back-to-back GS-I and CSAT papers on exam day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UPPSC PCS examination?

It is the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services Examination conducted annually by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission to recruit Group A and Group B officers such as SDM, DSP, and BDO. Selection has three stages: Prelims, Mains, and an Interview.

How is the UPPSC PCS Prelims structured?

The Prelims has two objective papers held on the same day. General Studies Paper I has 150 questions for 200 marks and counts toward merit, while General Studies Paper II (CSAT) has 100 questions for 200 marks and is qualifying. Each paper lasts two hours.

Is there negative marking in the Prelims?

Yes. One-third of the marks allotted to a question is deducted for each wrong answer in both prelims papers. There is no penalty for questions left unanswered, so careful selection of attempts is important.

What are the qualifying marks for CSAT?

General Studies Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature; candidates must score at least 33% to qualify. The CSAT marks are not added to the prelims merit, which is decided solely on General Studies Paper I.

Who is eligible to appear for UPPSC PCS?

Candidates must be Indian nationals with a bachelor's degree from a recognised university and are generally aged between 21 and 40 years on the prescribed date. Category-based age relaxations apply, and there is no limit on the number of attempts within the age limit.

What is the application fee for the Prelims?

The prelims fee is about Rs. 125 for General, EWS, and OBC candidates, Rs. 65 for SC/ST and ex-servicemen, and Rs. 25 for persons with disabilities. Each amount includes a Rs. 25 online processing fee, and the fee is paid online.

What subjects are covered in General Studies Paper I?

Paper I covers current events, History of India and the national movement, Indian and world geography, Indian polity and governance, economic and social development, environment and ecology, general science, and Uttar Pradesh-specific topics.

Is the exam conducted online or offline?

The UPPSC PCS Prelims is conducted offline in pen-and-paper, OMR-based mode at centres across Uttar Pradesh. The Mains is a descriptive written examination, and the final stage is an in-person interview.