UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 2021 – Topics, and PDF Download
The UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 for 2021 was conducted on October 10, 2021, across various centers in India. This paper is a crucial stage in the Civil Services Examination as it determines who qualifies for the next stage: the Mains Examination. In this blog, we will provide a detailed analysis of the Prelims GS Paper 1 2021, discuss key topics covered, question patterns, difficulty level, and also provide a free downloadable PDF of the question paper with the official answer key. UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 2021 – Topics, and PDF Download
Exam Overview: UPSC Prelims 2021
- Exam Name: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021
- Paper: General Studies Paper 1
- Date: October 10, 2021
- Duration: 2 hours
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd for every wrong answer
- Cut-off (General): Around 87.54 marks
Prelims GS Paper 1 2021: Key Highlights
- Current Affairs Domination:
The 2021 paper had an unusually high number of current affairs questions. Many of them were from the last 2 years, and required deep understanding rather than just memorizing facts. - Unconventional & Conceptual Questions:
Several questions tested candidates on analytical ability rather than rote learning. Topics like environment, polity, and economics were covered in a more applied format. - Moderate to Difficult Level:
Compared to previous years, this paper was tougher. Many aspirants found it difficult to choose between two very close options in multiple questions. - Environment and Ecology:
A major portion (almost 15-18%) came from Environment. Questions related to IUCN Red List, Environmental Treaties, and Climate Change were prominent. UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 2021 – Topics, and PDF Download
Subject-Wise Question Distribution
| Subject | Approximate No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs | 28 |
| History (Ancient + Modern) | 15 |
| Geography | 12 |
| Environment & Ecology | 18 |
| Economy | 10 |
| Polity | 12 |
| Science & Technology | 5 |
Detailed Topic Analysis
1. History and Culture
- Questions were based on ancient inscriptions, medieval rulers, and freedom movement.
- Example: “With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?”
2. Geography
- Physical and human geography were tested equally.
- Climatic patterns, map-based questions, and agriculture-related questions were present.
3. Environment
- UPSC asked questions on wildlife, species classification, and environmental conventions.
- Example: “The ‘Common Carbon Metric’ supported by UNEP is used for…”
4. Polity
- Focus was on applied knowledge of constitutional provisions.
- Questions related to Fundamental Rights, President’s powers, and federal structure were included.
5. Economy
- Topics like GDP deflator, inflation, and fiscal deficit featured in the paper.
- Aspirants needed conceptual clarity rather than formulas.
6. Science & Technology
- A few questions appeared, mostly from current scientific developments and space technology.
Prelims GS 2021 – Difficulty Level (Section-Wise)
| Section | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs | Moderate |
| Polity | Easy |
| History | Moderate |
| Geography | Moderate |
| Environment & Ecology | Difficult |
| Economy | Moderate |
| Science & Tech | Moderate |
What Made the 2021 Paper Challenging?
- Increased number of tricky and conceptual questions.
- Overlapping topics between current affairs and static portions.
- Options were designed to confuse, testing the depth of preparation.
- Less reliance on factual recall; more focus on understanding.
UPSC Prelims GS 1 2021 Answer Key
Several reputed institutes released their answer keys. However, only the official UPSC answer key is final and reliable. Candidates can now compare their answers using the official key to estimate their scores. UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 2021 – Topics, and PDF Download
Preparation Tips Based on 2021 Paper
- Read newspapers daily – especially editorials and environment news.
- Don’t neglect static subjects like History and Geography.
- Revise NCERTs thoroughly, especially Class 6–12.
- Practice previous year papers to get an idea of question patterns.
- Attempt mock tests regularly to improve accuracy and time management.
Who Cleared the Cut-Off in 2021?
The cut-off marks for the General category were 87.54, OBC was 84.85, and SC was 75.41. If your score (after negative marking) is close to or above this, you had a good chance of qualifying for the Mains.