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Complete 2003 UPSC CSE Prelims GS1 paper with 148 questions, answers, and detailed explanations. Attempt all questions with show/hide answers, or take the timed quiz.
148
Questions
72
Easy
74
Moderate
2
Difficult
The 2003 UPSC Civil Services Preliminary examination was characterised by a broad-based yet strategically skewed distribution of questions, mirroring the commission’s effort to nudge aspirants toward multidisciplinary readiness. Of the 148 objective questions, Science & Technology (29) and Geography (24) together made up over one-third of the paper, reaffirming a trend that had gradually intensified since the late-1990s when a technology-driven global order began influencing the Indian policy agenda. The Indian Economy (21) and Polity (20) retained their traditional heft, while Current Affairs (19) continued to test candidates on both domestic and international developments of the immediate preceding year, from WTO negotiations to emerging security doctrines.
Surprisingly, Modern History (14) slightly out-numbered Medieval History (7) and Ancient History (3) combined, signalling the examiner’s clear preference for the freedom-struggle era over earlier dynastic narratives. Environment & Ecology (6) and Art & Culture (5) remained low-key, offering relatively direct questions, perhaps reflecting the nascent status of environmental jurisprudence and cultural mapping in 2003 compared to later years.
With 72 questions tagged as Easy and 74 as Moderate, the paper leaned accessible; only 2 were genuinely Difficult—both numerical geography items demanding precise spatial reasoning. This gentle gradient rewarded breadth over depth, encouraging test-takers to maximise attempt rate rather than gamble on esoteric minutiae. The overall design suggests UPSC’s intent to evaluate holistic awareness, ensuring that no single specialisation could guarantee success while still foregrounding contemporary scientific and economic literacy as indispensable competencies for future administrators.
| Subject | Questions | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Science & Technology | 29 | 19.6% |
| Geography | 24 | 16.2% |
| Indian Economy | 21 | 14.2% |
| Indian Polity | 20 | 13.5% |
| Current Affairs | 19 | 12.8% |
| Modern History | 14 | 9.5% |
| Medieval History | 7 | 4.7% |
| Environment & Ecology | 6 | 4.1% |
| Art & Culture | 5 | 3.4% |
| Ancient History | 3 | 2.0% |
| Total | 148 | 100% |
Q: Alam Khan, one of those who invited Babar to invade India was
Q: The battle of Dharmat was fought between
Q: Which one among the following has the largest shipyard in India?
Q: Three flags, each of different colour, are available for a military exercise. Using these flags, different codes can be generated by waving i) a single flag of different colours, or ii) any two flags in a different sequence of colours, or iii) three flags in a different sequence of colours. The maximum number of codes that can be generated is
Q: Match List I (Organisation) with List II (Location) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the list: List I (Organisation) A. National Sugar Institute B. Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited C. Institute of Military Law D. Institute of National Integration List II (Location) 1. Dehradun 2. Kamptee 3. Pune 4. Hyderabad Codes: A B C D
Q: Tim Montgomery set a new world record at the IAAF Grand Prix final in the year 2002 in
Q: With reference to the work of human kidney, consider the following statements: 1. After the waste is removed in the kidney, the cleaner blood is sent back through renal artery. 2. From Bowman’s capsule, the filtered liquid passes through tiny tubes where much of the glucose is reabsorbed and sent back to the blood in the renal vein. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: A hydrogen-inflated polythene balloon is released from the surface of the earth. As the balloon rises to an altitude up in the atmosphere, it will
Q: The power to enlarge the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India with respect to any matter included in the Union List of Legislative Powers rests with
Q: Which one of the following High Courts has the territorial jurisdiction over Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Q: Under which Article of the Indian Constitution did the President make a reference to the Supreme Court to seek the Court’s opinion on the constitutional validity of the Election Commission’s decision on deferring the Gujarat Assembly elections (in the year 2002)?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. India launched its first full-fledged meteorological satellite (METSAT) in September 2002. 2. For the first time, the space vehicle PSLV-C4 carried a payload of more than 1000 kg into a geosynchronous orbit. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Nanda Devi peak forms a part of
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. India is the original home of the cotton plant. 2. India is the first country in the world to develop hybrid cotton variety leading to increased production. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Who is the author of the book ‘New Dimensions of India’s Foreign Policy’?
Q: How did the Mughal Emperor Jahandar Shah’s reign come to an early end?
Q: In India, among the following locations, the Dutch established their earliest factory at
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. While members of the Rajya Sabha are associated with Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings, Members of Committee on Estimates are drawn entirely from Lok Sabha. 2. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs works under the overall direction of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. 3. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs nominates members of Parliament on Committees, Councils, Boards and Commissions set up by the Government of India in the various ministries. Which of these statements are correct?
Q: The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, whose permission is required for cultivation of any genetically modified crop such as Bt-Cotton in India, is under the Union Minister of
Q: As per Indian Protocol, who among the following ranks highest in the order of precedence?
Q: Among the following cities, which one is at the highest altitude above mean sea level?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Steam at 100 °C and boiling water at 100 °C contain the same amount of heat. 2. Latent heat of fusion of ice is equal to the latent heat of vaporization of water. 3. In an air-conditioner, heat is extracted from the room air at the evaporator coils and is rejected out at the condenser coils. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Molasses is a by-product of sugar production process. 2. Bagasse obtained in the sugar mills is used as a fuel in the boilers to generate steam for the sugar factories. 3. Sugar can only be produced from sugarcane as the raw material. Which of these statements are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Longitude of Jabalpur’s location is between those of Indore and Bhopal. 2. Latitude of Aurangabad’s location is between those of Vadodara and Pune. 3. Bangalore is situated more southward than Chennai. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Which one among the following States is smallest in area?
Q: Consider the following statements: A four-wheel vehicle moving on a sharp circular path at high speed will 1. Overturn about its outer wheels. 2. Overturn about its inner wheels. 3. Skid outwards. 4. Skid inwards. Which of these statements are correct?
Q: The Basque people who are frequently in the news for their separatist activity live in
Q: Match List I (High Officials) with List II (Organisation) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (High Officials) A. C P Jain B. S Ramadorai C. Sunil Arora D. Vivek Paul List II (Organisation) 1. Indian Airlines 2. NTPC 3. TCS 4. Wipro Technologies Codes: A B C D
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in early medieval times. 2. The Cholas sent an expedition against the Sailendra empire of South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Diffusion of light in the atmosphere takes place due to
Q: In India, the first bank of limited liability managed by Indians and founded in 1881 was
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: The government holding in BPCL is
Q: Consider the following statements regarding the relations between India and Pakistan: 1. During Shimla Agreement, Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Bhutto agreed to maintain the sanctity of LoC 2. Lahore Summit took place in the year 1997 3. Islamabad Summit was held between Rajiv Gandhi and Nawaz Sharif Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: During the year 2000-01, which one of the following industries recorded highest growth rate in India?
Q: An oil tanker is partially filled with oil and moves forward on a level road with uniform acceleration. The free surface of oil then
Q: In which one of the following countries is rupee its currency?
Q: Which one of the following countries is land locked?
Q: In December 2002, the Prime Minister of India signed ‘Delhi Declaration’ with the
Q: Among the following cities, which one is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer?
Q: ‘Mrichchhakatika’ an ancient Indian book written by Shudraka deals with
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Vardhamana Mahavira’s mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka. 2. Gautama Buddha’s mother was a princess from the Kosha-lan dynasty. 3. Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, belonged to Banaras. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: A car travels the first one-third of a certain distance with a speed of 10 km/hr, the next one-third distance with a speed of 20 km/hr and the last one-third distance with a speed of 60 km/hr. The average speed of the car for the whole journey is
Q: Consider the following statements The purpose of adding sodium sulphate and sodium silicate to the detergent in a washing powder is 1. To keep the washing powder dry 2. To maintain the alkalinity of the powder Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Debenture holders of a company are its
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: Which one of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution provides that ‘It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance’?
Q: ‘A’ walks around a circular field at the rate of one round per hour while ‘B’ runs around it at the rate of six rounds per hour. They start in the same direction from the same point at 7.30 a.m. They shall first cross each other at
Q: Consider the following statements: In India, stamp duties on financial transactions are 1. levied and collected by the State Government 2. appropriated by the Union Government. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: Match List I (Item in the Indian Constitution) with List II (Country from which it was derived) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the list. List I (Item in the Indian Constitution) A. Directive Principles of State Policy B. Fundamental Rights C. Concurrent List in Union-State Relations D. India as a Union of States with greater powers to the Union List II (Country from which it was derived) 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. Ireland 4. United Kingdom 5. USA Codes: A B C D
Q: With reference to Indian defence, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, 2002 was awarded to
Q: Match List I (Name of the Person) with List II (Associated with) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Name of the person) A. Brijmohan Lall Mungal B. Kiran Karnik C. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw D. Sunil Mittal List II (Associated with) 1. Biotechnology 2. Automobile industry 3. Software 4. Telecom industry 5. Film industry Codes: A B C D
Q: Whom did Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi beat in the US Open men’s doubles tennis championship in the year 2002 to win the title?
Q: Four different candles, which can last for 5 hours, 4 hours, 3 hours and 2 hours of burning, respectively, are lit in a room at the same instant and allowed to burn till such time that the three candles in the room get extinguished. The cost of burning each one of these candles is 75 paise per hour. The cost involved is:
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to FEMA in India?
Q: Consider the following statements 1. India’s import of crude and petroleum product during the year 2001-02 accounted for about 27% of India’s total imports. 2. During the year 2001-02, India’s exports had increased by 10% as compared to the previous year Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Who among the following was selected for the 2001 Dada Saheb Phalke Award?
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: As per the Human Development Index given by UNDP, which one of the following sequences of South Asian countries is correct, in the order of higher to lower development?
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. India ranks first in the world in fruit production. 2. India ranks second in the world in the export of tobacco. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: Which one of the following Bills must be passed by each House of the Indian Parliament separately, by special majority?
Q: Consider the following animals of India: 1. Crocodile 2. Elephant Which of these is/are endangered species?
Q: Which one among the following covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world?
Q: A two-member committee comprising of one male and one female member is to be constituted out of five males and three females. Amongst the females, Ms. A refuses to be a member of the committee in which Mr. B is taken as the member. In how many different ways can the committee be constituted?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga. 2. The last Sunga king, Devabhuti was assassinated by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the throne. 3. The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was deposed by the Andhra’s. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: The aim of education as stated by the Wood’s Despatch of 1854 was
Q: Who won the title in the finals of French Open men’s singles tennis championship in the year 2002?
Q: Consider the following statements: The function(s) of the Finance Commission is/are 1. to allow the withdrawal of money out of the Consolidated Fund of India. 2. to allocate between the States the shares of proceeds of taxes. 3. to consider applications for grants-in-aid from States. 4. to supervise and report on whether the Union and State governments are levying taxes in accordance with the budgetary provisions. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Which one among the following States has the highest female literacy rate as per the Census 2001?
Q: Which one among the following countries has the lowest GDP per capita?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. In Macedonia, ethnic Albanians are a minority. 2. In Kosovo, Serbians are a majority. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Israel has common borders with
Q: What is the correct sequence of the rivers—Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapti in the descending order of their lengths?
Q: If the radius of the earth were shrunk by one per cent, its mass remaining the same, the value of ‘g’ on the earth’s surface would
Q: With reference to the entry of European powers into India, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: With reference to Indian freedom struggle, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. In the last five years, Indian software exports have increased at a compound annual growth rate of about 60%. 2. The software and service industry in India registered an overall growth of about 28% in rupee terms during the year 2001-2002. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: With reference to Government of India’s decisions regarding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the year 2001-02, consider the following statements: 1. Out of the 100% FDI allowed by India in tea sector, the foreign firm would have to disinvest 33% of the equity in favour of an Indian partner within four years. 2. Regarding the FDI in print media in India, the single largest Indian shareholder should have a holding higher than 26%. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: The leader of the Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) was
Q: The Kelkar proposals which were in the news recently were the
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The joint sitting of the two Houses of the Parliament in India is sanctioned under Article 108 of the Constitution. 2. The first joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was held in the year 1961. 3. The second joint sitting of the two Houses of Indian Parliament was held to pass the Banking Service Commission (Repeal) Bill. Which of these statements are correct?
Q: Life expectancy is highest in the world in
Q: Octopus is
Q: Consider the following conditions of sick human body 1. Swollen lymph nodes 2. Sweating at night 3. Loss of memory 4. Loss of weight Which of these are the symptoms of AIDS?
Q: Emperor Harsha’s southward march was stopped on the Narmada River by
Q: Under which Article of the Indian Constitution did the President give his assent to the ordinance on electoral reforms when it was sent back to him by the Union Cabinet without making any changes (in the year 2002)?
Q: Dilip Kaur Tiwana is well known as a
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The maximum limit of shareholding of Indian promoters in private sector banks in India is 49 per cent of the paid-up capital. 2. Foreign Direct Investment up to 49 per cent from all sources is permitted in private sector banks in India under the automatic route. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Match List I (Cricketer) with List II (Country) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Cricketer) A. Barry Richards B. Ted Dexter C. Alan Davidson D. Charlie Griffith List II (Country) 1. England 2. West Indies 3. South Africa 4. New Zealand 5. Australia Codes:
Q: Regarding the atom of a chemical element, the magnetic quantum number refers to
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The common blue green algae Spirogyra and Ulothrix are found in both fresh water ponds and oceans. 2. The chameleon can look ahead with one eye, and at the same time look behind with another. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Which among the following countries has the largest population?
Q: Assertion (A): Emperor Akbar marched towards Afghanistan in 1581 with a huge army. Reason (R): He was on his way to reclaim his ancestral country of Ferghana in Central Asia.
Q: Assertion (A): During the year 2001-02, the value of India’s total exports declined, registering a negative growth of 2.17%. Reason (R): During the year 2001-02, negative growth in exports was witnessed in respect of iron and steel, coffee, textiles and marine products.
Q: Assertion (A): The eastern coast of India produces more rice than the western coast. Reason (R): The eastern coast receives more rainfall than the western coast.
Q: Assertion (A): The new EXIM Policy is liberal, market-oriented and favours global trade. Reason (R): GATT has played a significant role in the liberalisation of economy.
Q: Assertion (A): In the periodic table of chemical elements, electron affinity is always found to increase from top to bottom in a group. Reason (R): In a group, the atomic radius generally increases from top to bottom.
Q: Assertion (A): Coal-based thermal power stations contribute to acid rain. Reason (R): Oxides of carbon are emitted when the coal burns.
Q: Assertion (A): The weight of a body decreases with the increase of latitude on earth. Reason (R): The earth is not a perfect sphere.
Q: Assertion (A): Unsaturated fats are more reactive compared with the saturated fats. Reason (R): Unsaturated fats have only single bonds in their structure.
Q: Assertion (A): The amount of moisture in the atmosphere is related to latitude. Reason (R): The capacity to hold moisture in the form of water vapour is related to temperature.
Q: Assertion (A): Unlike temperate forests, the tropical rain forests, if cleared, can yield productive farm-land that can support intensive agriculture for several years even without chemical fertilizers. Reason (R): The primary productivity of the tropical rain forest is very high when compared to that of the temperate forests.
Q: Assertion (A): In 1916, Maulana Mohammad Ali and Abul Kalam Azad resigned from the Legislative Council. Reason (R): The Rowlatt Act was passed by the government in spite of being opposed by all Indian members of the Legislative Council.
Q: Assertion (A): Shah Alam II spent the initial years as an Emperor far away from his capital. Reason (R): There was always a lurking danger of foreign invasion from the north-west frontier.
Q: Assertion (A): Areas lying within five to eight degrees latitude on either side of the equator receive rainfall throughout the year. Reason (R): High temperatures and high humidity cause convectional rain to fall mostly in the afternoons near the equator.
Q: Assertion (A): Saluva Narasimha put an end to the old dynasty and assumed the royal title. Reason (R): He wanted to save the kingdom from further degeneration and disintegration.
Q: Assertion (A): Marathas emerged as the strongest native power in India after the decline of Mughal empire. Reason (R): Marathas were the first to have clear concept of a united Indian nation.
Q: Which one of the following countries does NOT border the Caspian Sea?
Q: The sportsperson Soma Biswas is associated with
Q: Which one of following is produced during the formation of photochemical smog?
Q: Consider the following statement: 1. Kitab-I-Nauras, a collection of songs in praise of Hindu deities and Muslim saints, was written by Ibrahim Adil Shah II 2. Amir Khusrau was the originator in India of the early form of the musical style known as Qawwali. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Match List I (Distinguished Lady) with List II (Organisation/Industry) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List I (Distinguished lady) A. Amrita B. Anu Aga C. Mallika Srinivasan D. Priya Paul List II (Organisation/Industry) 1. National Dairy Development Board 2. Park Hotels 3. Pfizer Limited 4. Thermax Limited 5. Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited Codes: A B C D
Q: Consider the following statements: In the electoral college for Presidential Election in India. 1. The value of the vote of an elected Member of Legislative Assembly equals 2. The value of the vote of an elected Member of Parliament equals 3. There were more than 5000 members in the latest election Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
Q: Which of the following Constitutional Amendments are related to raising the number of Members of Lok Sabha to be elected from the States?
Q: How did Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak die?
Q: Among the following which planet takes maximum time for one revolution around the Sun?
Q: Which one among the following languages has largest number of speakers in the world?
Q: Which one of the following provisions was NOT made in the Charter Act of 1833?
Q: With reference to normal human beings, consider the following statements: 1. In response to the presence of HCl, secretin is produced from the duodenum 2. Enterogastrone is produced in the small intestine in response to the presence of fatty acids Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Survey of India is under the Ministry of
Q: Which among the following countries was the earliest to give women the right to vote?
Q: Total time taken by a person in going to a place by walking and returning on cycle is 5 hours 45 minutes. He would have gained 2 hours by cycling both ways. The time taken by him to walk both ways is
Q: Sandeep Pandey, the winner of Raman Magsaysay Award, is mainly an activist in
Q: What was the main reason for a great civil strife in Argentina recently?
Q: With reference to colonial rule in India, what was sought by the Ilbert Bill in 1883?
Q: An important aspect of the Cripps Mission of 1942 was
Q: When Congress leaders condemned the Montagu-Chelmsford Report, many moderates left party to form the
Q: In the FIFA World Cup Football event in the year 2002, the number of goals scored by Ronaldo of Brazil was
Q: Which one of the following schedules of the Indian Constitution lists the names of states and specifies their territories?
Q: In the year 2002, the President of India presented the national award for excellence in public administration and management sciences to
Q: ‘A’ and ‘B’ are two fixed points in a field. A cyclist C moves such that ACB is always a right angle. In this context, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: The thermal power plant of Bokaro is located in
Q: Among the following commodities imported by India during the year 2001-02, which one was the highest in terms of Rupee value?
Q: With reference to ionic compounds, consider the following statements: 1. Ionic compounds are insoluble in alcohol. 2. Ionic compounds in the solid state are good conductors of electricity. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct?
Q: With reference to India, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
Q: Which amongst the following States has the highest population density as per Census 2001?
Q: The Ninth Schedule to the Indian Constitution was added by
Q: Who headed the Interim Cabinet formed in the 1946?
Q: The waterfall ‘Victoria’ is associated with the river
Science & Technology (29 questions) and Geography (24 questions) were the most represented, together accounting for more than one-third of the paper.
Not particularly. About 72 questions were categorised as Easy and 74 as Moderate. Only 2 questions were truly Difficult, making the overall paper fairly approachable for well-prepared candidates.
No. Modern History received the lion’s share with 14 questions, while Medieval and Ancient History had only 7 and 3 questions respectively, indicating a clear focus on the freedom-struggle era.
