Sample Questions for UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026
Aspirants preparing for the UPSC Civil Services examination need rigorous practice to ace the challenging prelims stage. Here is a curated list of sample questions along with detailed answers to help you fine-tune your preparation:
Quantitative Aptitude
1. If x=3, y=4, and z=2, what is the value of 4x + 2y – z?
Answer: Substituting the values, we get 4(3) + 2(4) – 2 = 12 + 8 – 2 = 18.
Reasoning
2. Find the missing number in the series: 2, 5, 10, 17, ?
Answer: The series follows the pattern of adding consecutive odd numbers. The missing number is 26.
General Awareness
3. Who is the author of the book ‘An Era of Darkness’?
Answer: The book ‘An Era of Darkness’ is authored by Shashi Tharoor.
English
4. Identify the correctly punctuated sentence:
a) She visited Paris, France, Rome, and London last summer.
b) She visited Paris, France, Rome and London last summer.
Answer: Option a) is correct as it uses commas to separate the list of cities.
Subject-Specific GK
5. Who is known as the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’?
Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is known as the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’.
Practicing with these questions will not only enhance your knowledge but also familiarize you with the exam pattern. Are you ready to test your knowledge with the next set of questions?