UPSC Prelim 2017 Analysis

Courtsey: geniusquotes.net

“The civil services preliminary examination held on Sunday is being touted as the toughest in the last five years with the candidates’ conceptual understanding of the issues tested making those with superficial memory of facts losing out.”

This is how our very favourite The Hindu described UPSC 2017 Prelims paper. Indeed it was a bouncer for many aspirants. The cut off is expected to come down. Prelims is now over and most of the aspirants have already moved on to next step of preparation. But it is important to analyse this Prelims paper for three reasons:

1. To understand the exact nature of questions and the source.
2. To get a guessing about how UPSC is changing the pattern of questions in view of coming Mains and next Prelims.
3. To demystify Prelims to the extent possible and to understand that except a few, all questions come for a reason.

I know it is a bit late for this analysis. But now is the right time to analyze what went wrong for candidates getting low scores, and to understand where UPSC is moving with its questions for candidates getting the opportunity to write Mains. So here is my attempt to dissect the pattern of Prelims 2017 Question paper. I have followed D set. The pattern of analysis will be

             No. Keyword/ Subject/ Topic/ Type

           Comment.

      1. Seaport- Kakatiya/ His/ Medieval/ Factual

    This is like a first ball bouncer. Small snippets from ancient or medieval history is a tricky affair. However the trade and transport in ancient/ medieval history has been an important topic especially trade with South-east Asia. This information is in core History books like Romila Thapar.

    2. Global climate change alliance/ Env/ Climate change/ Current

  Remember- Anything in current affairs related to climate change and global discussion on it is important.

     3. Sautrantiks, Sammitya, Sarvastivadins/ Culture/ Religion/ Factual

Again- A question testing depth of knowledge. Jainism, Buddhism, Sufi, Bhakti movement are vital topics.

4. Mediterranian sea borders/ Geog/ World Geog- Map/ Current

 Basic Atlas based question but the trigger is in refugee crisis in this region.

5. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund/ Pol/ Schemes-Policy/ Current based

NIIF has been in news for quite some time. Institutions- domestic/ regional/ global – set up by Government/s are crucial in current affairs.

6. Global Infrastructure Facility/ IR/ Regional cooperation/ Current based

Once again Institution based question. It is good to make a note of all institutions which feature in news.

7. Lok Sabha election-qualifications/ Pol/ Parliament/ Factual

Very very basic textbook question. You can always expect 2-3 such questions.

8. Himalayas- W. Ghats- Pulicat/ Geog/ Maps/ Factual

Another Atlas based question. UPSC is apparently reverting to earlier days where 3-4 questions definitely came from Atlas.

9. BOD/ Env/ Ecosystem/ Conceptual

Basic question but tests clarity of concept.

10. UN Habitat/ IR/ Institutions/ Current based

India has been recently elected to preside UN Habitat.

11. National Skills Qualification Framework/ Pol/ Schemes-Policy/ Current

Skill development has been an important topic on government agenda in past few years.

12. Dyarchy/ His/ Gandhi era- Administrative set up/ Conceptual

Another question straight out of textbook testing conceptual clarity.

13. National Career Services/ Pol/ Policy/ Current

NCS has been in news frequently. Another government initiative featuring as a question.

14. Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets/ Econ/ Monetary policy/ Current

NPAs, Stressed assets are topics frequently appearing in news.

15. Climate and Clean Air Coalition/ Env/ Climate change/ Current

Once again a question on a global institution on climate change.

16. Indian Ocean Dipole/ Geog/ Monsoon/ Conceptual

Textbook question.

17. Gharials habitat/ Env/ Wildlife/ Factual

Questions on wildlife, national parks, sanctuaries are regular features in CSE.

18. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)/ IR/ Geopolitics/ Current

IONS is relevant as a strategic move to tackle China in Indian Ocean region.

19. Padmapani/ Culture/ Art- Heritage/ Factual

Basic factual question.

20. Celebrations-Communities/ Culture/ Festivals/ Factual

Questions about festivals, traditional celebrations are regularly appearing in CSE.

21. Water conservation in agriculture/ Geog/ Agriculture/ Conceptual

Basic question about concept in current affairs.

22. Soil health card scheme/ Geog/ Agriculture/ Current-Scheme

Central government initiative much discussed in news

23. Unwanted chemicals/ Env/ Pollution/ Current

MSG has been in news after Maggie issue.

24. OLEDs/ Sci-Tech/ Energy/ Current

Energy efficiency has been a frequent topic in current affairs.

25. Sun temple/ Culture/ Architecture/ Factual

Perfect googly by UPSC as Sun temple and Konark are almost synonymous for us. Another question testing knowledge in nuance.

26. Election, Speaker/ Pol/ Parliament/ Factual

Very very basic one. As good as a free hit.

27. Liberalization/ Econ/ LPG reforms/ Conceptual

Basic concepts being checked.

28. Somatic cell nuclear transfer/ Sci-Tech/ Biotech/ Conceptual

Concept from applied biotechnology. Genetic Engineering and advanced life sciences are favourite areas of UPSC.

29. National Payment Corporation of India/ Econ/ Monetary policy/ Current.

Related to the the most discussed, debated happening of 2016- Demonetization.

30. M-STriPES/ Env/ Wildlife/ Current

This app has been launched recently.

31. GST/ Econ/ Taxation/ Current

And now the most discussed, debated event of 2017- GST. Question paper would have seemed incomplete without Demonetization, GST.

32. Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement/ IR/ Regional cooperation/ Current

This is one issue always in news- especially in context of visits of Heads of States to other countries.

33. Trade Facilitation Agreement/ IR/ Regional cooperation/ Current

Another international issue in news constantly.

34. Chabahar/ IR/ Geopolitics/ Current

In news in context of India-Pakistan geopolitical strategies.

35. Cyber security/ Sci-Tech/ IT/ Current

ICERT and cyber-crimes are hot topics in IT.

36. Right to vote/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Factual

Simple looking but tests clarity.

37. Project eLISA/ Sci-Tech/ Advanced Physics/ Current

Trigger is in the concept of gravitational waves which are being studied with great interest.

38. Vidyanjali/ Pol/ Schemes-Education/ Current

Year book type question based on Government initiatives.

39. Unnat Bharat Abhiyan/ Pol/ Schemes-Education/ Current

Another year book type question.

40. Election process/ Pol/ Elections/ Factual

Textbook question from basic Polity.

41. Protected species- Tortoise/ Env/ Wildlife/ Conceptual

Concepts regarding conservation of species, IUCN being checked.

42. Judicial review/ Pol/ Judiciary/ Conceptual

Basic concept check intended here.

43. Chronology/ His/ Post 1935 freedom struggle/ Factual

Fundamental facts- as simple as year of occurrence checked here.

44. Tax- Fiscal deficit/ Econ/ Survey-Budget/ Current

Directly from Economic survey.

45. Lion translocation/ Env/ Wildlife/ Current

Question based on wildlife- has been in news.

46. President’s rule/ Pol/ Executive/ Conceptual

Yet another fundamental polity question.

47. Right against exploitation/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Conceptual

Basic knowledge being tested.

48. Closer to great Nicobar/ Geog/ Maps/ Factual

Atlas is back in vogue it seems. Basic map based question.

49. Cabinet/ Pol/ Executive/ Conceptual

Basic polity again.

50. Federalism/ Pol/ Governance system/ Conceptual

It’s fundamental polity yet another time.

51. Butler committee/ His/ Administrative reforms/ Factual

Factual question from British rule era of modern History.

52. Domestic Content Requirement/ Sci-Tech/ Energy/ Current

Based on recent WTO ruling regarding Solar cells.

53. Nuclear Security/ Sci-Tech/ Energy/ Current

In context of the Nuclear Security Summit held recently.

54. NPS/ Pol/ Schemes/ Current

In news due to recent modifications.

55. Teesta/ Geog/ Maps/ Current

A point of debate in Indo-Bangladesh relations, Teesta is also in news due to Gorkhaland agitations in its valley.

56. Zika/ Sci-Tech/ Medicine/ Current

In news frequently. Typical Sci-Tech current based question.

57. BIS-AGMARK/ Econ/ Quality Standards/ Current

BIS, AGMARK, ISO are in news.

58. National Agriculture Market/ Econ/ Agriculture economics/ Current

A major step of reform which has been in discussion recently.

59. National IPR Policy/ Econ/ IPR/ Current

IPR Regime is often in news in context of International trade.

60. Hunting/ Env/ Wildlife/ Factual

Another question on wildlife conservation. Right from the books.

61. Fundamental duties/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Factual

Textbook polity question.

62. Founders of associations/ His/ Associations/ Factual

Factual question from books.

63. Preamble/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Factual

Well!! Fundamental of polity again!

64. QCI/ Econ/ Quality Standards/ Current

In news for e-learning portal.

65. Small finance banks/ Econ/ Banking/ Current

Picked from the current affairs.

66. APMCHUD/ IR/ Global cooperation/ Current

In context of the conference held in 2016.

67. Democracy/ Pol/ Political theory/ Conceptual

A rare question from political theory. Seems to be easy but can be tricky in absence of conceptual clarity.

68. UPI/ Econ/ Monetary policy/ Current

Another question originating in the demonetization discourse.

69. Event Horizon, Singularity, String Theory, Standard Model/ Sci-Tech/ Advanced Physics/ Current

Typical current based question from The Hindu Thursday supplement.

70. Genome sequencing/ Sci-Tech/ Biotech/ Current

Conceptual The Hindu type question based on current happenings in Biotechnology.

71. Parliamentary form/ Pol/ Governance system/ Conceptual

Fundamental concept from Polity books.

72. Rights and duties/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Conceptual.

Textbook question based on conceptual understanding.

73. Mind of the makers of the Constitution of India/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Factual

Again, again, again- Polity fundamentals.

74. Kohima to Kottayam/ Geog/ Maps/ Current

Interesting map based question which appeared in context of the efforts being taken about connectivity in the North East e.g. North East Road Network Connectivity Project.

75. Parliament’s control/ Pol/ Governance system/ Conceptual

Another question testing conceptual clarity.

76. Private Member’s bill/ Pol/ Parliament/ Conceptual.

Yet again a question testing conceptual clarity.

77. Difference between Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people/ His/ Ancient- Civilization/ Factual

Basic question from Ancient history regarding people and their way of life.

78. Recognition of Prior Learning/ Pol/ Schemes-Policy/ Current

Based on the initiative by NSDC.

79. Eastern ghats- Western ghats link/ Geog/ Map/ Current

Sathyamangalam reserve is in news due to revival of tourism activity.

80. Equality/ Pol/ Political theory/ Conceptual

Another question from political thought.

81. TRAFFIC/ Env/ Wildlife/ Current

In news recently.

82. 42^nd amendment/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Factual

42^nd amendment has always been a pet area for questions.

83. Rights/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Conceptual

Basic concepts from Polity.

84. Global Gender Gap Index/ IR/ Institutions/ Current

Based on the Performance report of India about Gender gap released last year.

85. Smart India Hackathon/ Sci-Tech/ IT/ Current

Hackathon was a major event in IT field last year.

86. Monetary Policy Committee/ Econ/ Monetary Policy/ Current

This committee has been in news in recent times.

87. Manipuri Sankirtana/ Culture/ Performing arts/ Current

Manipuri Sankirtana has been recently inscribed on UNESCO’s ‘intangible heritage’ list.

88. Ryotwari/ His/ British administration/ Factual

Basic facts being checked about an important aspect of British land administration- settlement.

89. Bioremediation/ Env/ Pollution/ Conceptual

An important concept regarding pollution.

90. Trade Disputes Act/ His/ Working class movements/ Factual

Checks the basic facts regarding this act.

91. Local self-government/ Pol/ Governance system/ Conceptual

Basic and simple. Free hit.

92. DPSP/ Pol/ Constitution basics/ Factual

Textbook polity question.

93. Digital Single Market strategy/ Econ/ International trade/ Current

Was in news in context of the review by EU.

94. Receding seashore/ Geog/ Physiology/ Factual

Kitkat is just a coincidence and not the source of question. This is a peculiar phenomenon. Further Chandipur is also a famous location due to presence of Integrated test range.

95. Prohibition of Benami Property Transaction Act/ Pol/ Acts-Bills/ Current

In news due to the amendment.

96. Butterfly population/ Env/ Biodiversity/ Factual

Question from the topic population dynamics from biodiversity.

97. Algae based biofuels/ Sci-Tech/ Energy/ Current

Has been in discussion recently.

98. National Nutrition Mission/ Pol/ Schemes-Policy/ Current

NNM featured in the budget.

99. Factories act, labour movement/ His/ Working class movements/ Factual

Factual part from textbook.

100. Carbon sequestration/ Env/ Pollution/ Current

Carbon sequestration is a frequently discussed topic in current affairs.

Now let’s talk about the number of questions from different sections.

History: 9 questions. 1 question each came from Ancient and Medieval, which was a relief for many. 7 were from Modern history wherein 2 were from Working class movement and 3 were from British administrative set up. Overall History was comfortable.

Culture: 5 questions. Culture is always a tough nut to crack. All questions came from variety of topics. Overall Culture was on a tougher side.

Environment: 13 questions. Year after year this section is getting important. Again as expected 5 were related to wildlife. 3 came from pollution and 2 from climate change. If handled well from proper sources, Environment is a good scoring section. This year it was average.

Economics: 13 questions. Questions came from varied topics but Monetary policy was a focus point with 4 questions. Except 1, they were all from current. Traditionally a crucial area, this year Economics was slightly tougher due to less number of conceptual questions.

Geography: 10 questions. With 6 questions from Atlas, Geography was a surprise. 2 agriculture based questions also appeared. Overall it was easier if Map reading was covered well.

Science-Technology: 11 questions. The focus was on Energy with 4 questions. As always Biotechnology had sizeable weightage with 2 questions. But Advanced Physics looks like a new hot topic with 2 questions. This year this section was tougher than average.

International Relations: 8 questions. IR was very typical with 3 questions from Regional cooperation and others from Institutions, Geopolitics and Global cooperation. Overall average in toughness.

Polity: 31 questions. Well this year’s Prelims will be known for the textbook questions from Polity. A whopping 9 questions came from the basics of Constitution. 5 were from Governance system and 5 from Schemes/policy. The basic factual textbook questions tested depth of knowledge and conceptual clarity. Overall Polity was old school, average in toughness but it caught many candidates off guard and hence played a major role in lowering cut-off.

Looking at the type of questions, 21 were conceptual, 27 were factual whereas the highest 52 were current based. The conceptual questions tested depth of comprehension. Factual questions were generally on easier side. But the current based questions were lengthy and application based. They lifted the toughness level of the paper.

Overall this year’s Prelim was not as tough at it appeared. It was a surprise for most new candidates because UPSC went back to conventional questions from Constitution and Atlas. Anyways, the ultimate impact is that cut-off will lower. I guess it to be between 103 and 107 for General. Now candidates well above this range should pay heed to what UPSC has indicated in this paper.

So the lesson learned is clear: Stick to basics. Work on textbooks. And since it’s Mains, write as much as you can. Wildlife conservation, Reforms, New Government initiatives, Religious philosophy, Budget- Economic survey, Genetic engineering, Regional cooperation are going to be key areas for Mains. So let’s be ready to face any surprise that UPSC throws and perform like a champion. All the best!!