For many UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) aspirants, Sunday’s Preliminary test’s Paper 1 (General Studies) felt more like an ambush than a fair assessment. Across coaching institutes, Telegram groups and social media platforms, UPSC mentors and candidates complained about an unusually lengthy, unpredictable and unprecedented General Studies Paper I.
With 100 questions to answer in 120 minutes (two hours), aspirants had barely 72 seconds per question, all while navigating negative marking for incorrect answers.
Several candidates said the real challenge was not merely the difficulty of the questions asked, but the sheer amount of reading required before even attempting an answer. The debate over the “lengthiness and absurdity” of the GS Paper 1 intensified after UPSC mentors and even some candidates selected earlier highlighted that they even found it to be “the toughest Prelims in years”.
UPSC mentors on social media alleged that a series of questions ranged from questions with hypothetical Mr X, and Ms X, to ethical case studies and little-known historical references with tough factual details.
If you think the criticism is exaggerated, here is a challenge. Set a timer for six minutes. The amount of time an aspirant can theoretically spend on five questions, and see how many of these you can answer.
1. AN ETHICS QUESTION IN PRELIMS? ETHICS IS A MAINS PAPER
Ms X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project — a new community park. During the approval process, she received a piece of confidential information indicating that one of the shortlisted contractors had a history of poor workmanship and allegations of corruption in other cities, though nothing had been legally proven. The Head of the Department, Mr. Y, advised her not to disclose this information to the project committee or the public because it could delay the project and damage the city’s reputation. However, Ms. X believed that withholding such information compromised transparency and public trust. What amongst the following should Ms. X do now?
1. Immediately disclose the information to the project committee and the public
2. Recommend removing the contractor from the shortlist to protect the project’s integrity
3. Propose a limited disclosure to an oversight committee, while keeping the information confidential from the public for the time being
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. THE TRIBAL LAND CONFLICT QUESTION IN UPSC
In a multi-ethnic district where both economic competition and historical grievances frequently led to community tensions, a flashpoint has arisen with a Government decision to allocate land for a waste management facility near a tribal hamlet, sparking protests by the tribal community, which claimed that the land was sacred and critical to their cultural identity. At the same time, urban residents and local industries supported the project, citing severe solid waste challenges and health concerns due to lack of a proper disposal site.
As a responsible Government official tasked with mediation, consider the following:
1. A successful conflict resolution process must begin with acknowledging the cultural concerns of the protesting tribal community before discussing technical alternatives.
2. The Government should move ahead with the project without delay to address urban health concerns, which outweigh the sentiments of a small group.
3. Creating a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform including tribal leaders, environmental experts and municipal representatives.
4. Conducting an independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and sharing findings transparently.
Which of the above would contribute to the resolution process?
(a) 1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
3. THE UN PEACEKEEPING PUZZLE
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
List I (Period of Operation)List II (UN Peacekeeping Operation)
1. 2007–2010 A. UNMIL
2. 2002–2005 B. MINURCAT
3. 2003-2018 C. MINUSTAH
4. 2004–2017 D. UNMISET
Code:
ABCD
(a) 3412
(b) 3142
(c) 2143
(d) 2413
Indian Forest Service officer Rahul Kumar Gupta, reacting to the question, said, “No need to attempt or prepare for such questions. They are there to create panic among aspirants”.
4. THE ARTICLE 13 CONUNDRUM
‘X’ was addressing a seminar on the meaning of the term ‘law’ as provided under Article 13, Part III of the Constitution of India. X explained that the meaning of the term ‘law’ in the Constitution of India was very comprehensive. It included ordinances, orders and even rules and regulations. ‘Y’ pointed out that the term ‘law’ in Article 13 also included custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law, to which X was not convinced.
Based on the above, select the correct conclusion:
(a) X is correct in the interpretation of law, including the view on non-inclusion of custom.
(b) The view of Y that ‘law’ included custom is not correct.
(c) The views of both X and Y are correct.
(d) The view of only Y is correct.
5. THE KSHETRA-PATNI QUESTION
In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni (“mistress of the field”) originate?
(a) Rigveda
(b) Atharvaveda
(c) Ashtadhyayi
(d) Arthashastra
UPSC mentor Amit Kilhor, who said he fed the question to three AI models, said, “This is absolutely absurd. If three premium pro models of AI can’t answer a question, then how can a student. This is just a low quality validity and reliability of a question which can extract three different answers from three different sources”.
HOW TOUGH WAS UPSC PRELIMS 2026 GS PAPER 1?
So, how many of the five questions could you answer and that too, in six minutes? Obviously, those who take the civil services examination prepare for years, but they too were taken aback by the length and the “absurdity” of the questions. If one spends a lot of time reading, not much time is left for comprehending and solving the problems. That is what the aspirants and the mentors are complaining about.
Whether one sees these questions as a legitimate test of analytical ability or an exercise in unpredictability, they have become central to the debate over this year’s UPSC Preliminary Examination.
The controversy is not just that the questions were tough. It’s partly because many aspirants did not expect such layered analytical and decision-making exercises in General Studies Paper I, where such reasoning has traditionally been associated with CSAT. With barely 72 seconds available per question and negative marking for mistakes, many are now asking what exactly India’s most prestigious examination is trying to measure.
– Ends
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