Browse the questions, answers and explanations for UPSC CSE PRELIMS in 2026.
100 questions · Page 4 of 7
'X', born in the UK, was conferred the Nobel Prize in 2025. He was a professor in an American university when this prize was announced. Identify 'X':
Michel H. Devoret
Richard Robson
John Clarke
Joel Mokyr
Correct Answer: C — John Clarke
Explanation:
John Clarke is the 2025 Nobel Physics laureate fitting the clue set. He is described as UK-born and serving at the University of California, Berkeley when the prize was announced.
Which of the following statements with regard to the Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments is/are correct?
Select the answer using the code given below:
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 only
1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: C — 1 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is accepted because the Grand Slam tournaments are having a shared governance structure. Statement 2 is rejected because entry is not described as a simple blanket rule for all ranked players above 14; actual entry is mediated through pro ranking systems and tournament entry rules. Statement 3 is rejected because no single universal global wildcard cap of the kind described is accepted.
Which one of the following pairs of semiconductor plants in India and their locations is not correctly matched?
CG Power and Industrial Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in partnership with Renesas Electronics and STARS Microelectronics : Gujarat
Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt. Ltd. : Assam
HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture India Chip Ltd. : Madhya Pradesh
SicSem Pvt. Ltd. : Odisha
Correct Answer: C — HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture India Chip Ltd. : Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
The reasoning note states that the HCL-Foxconn OSAT facility is to be set up in Uttar Pradesh, near Noida/Jewar. Therefore pairing it with Madhya Pradesh is the mismatch.
Which of the following statements with regard to India's indigenous new high resolution weather model, the 'Bharat Forecast System', is/are correct?
Select the answer using the code given below:
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: A — 1 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is accepted because the Bharat Forecast System is described as targeting highly localized forecasting down to panchayat-cluster level. Statement 2 is rejected because the system was developed by IITM Pune, not IIT Delhi.
Consider the following statements with regard to the film 'Boong':
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1, 2 and 3
2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
3 only
Correct Answer: A — 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
The reasoning file contains an earlier draft arguing for (b), but later corrects itself. The later settled note says statement 1 is actually correct because the question itself already specifies the Children's and Family Film category. Statement 2 is accepted because the film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi. Statement 3 is accepted because the film is the first Indian winner in that category.
Which of the following statements regarding the features of blockchain technology are correct?
Select the answer using the code given below:
1 and 3
2 and 4 only
1, 2 and 4
1 and 4 only
Correct Answer: A — 1 and 3
Explanation:
Statement 1 is accepted as a valid blockchain feature. Statement 2 is rejected because synchronization "within seconds" is too absolute for distributed blockchain systems. Statement 3 is accepted because consortium blockchains are allowing selective access across a grouped control structure. Statement 4 is rejected because "impossible" is considered too strong; data alteration is computationally difficult, not logically impossible.
An e-commerce revenue model where the seller has control over pricing but doesn't keep products in stock and instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to a third-party supplier, who then ships the goods directly to the customer, is called:
Dropshipping Model
Affiliate Revenue Model
Transaction Fee Revenue Model
Agency Revenue Model
Correct Answer: A — Dropshipping Model
Explanation:
In dropshipping, the seller controls the storefront and pricing but does not keep inventory. Customer order and shipment details are passed to a third-party supplier. The supplier ships the product directly to the buyer, which matches the description exactly.
Which one of the following correctly represents the three key sub-indices of the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
Credit access, Insurance depth, and Pension coverage
Banking access, GDP contribution, and Financial literacy
Access, Usage, and Quality
Access, Affordability, and Transparency
Correct Answer: C — Access, Usage, and Quality
Explanation:
The RBI Financial Inclusion Index is built around the three broad dimensions of access, usage, and quality. The other options add indicators such as GDP contribution, affordability, or pension coverage that are not the named three sub-indices.
Which one of the following best describes the key objective of India's 'Open Network for Digital Commerce' (ONDC) initiative?
To allow government control over all digital commerce transactions
To replace private e-commerce players
To break the dominance of large e-commerce platforms by enabling interoperability across networks
To mandate UPI-based payments for all online transactions
Correct Answer: C — To break the dominance of large e-commerce platforms by enabling interoperability across networks
Explanation:
ONDC is designed as an open interoperable network rather than a single government-run marketplace. Its core aim is to reduce platform concentration by letting buyers and sellers interact across different digital commerce networks. It is not meant to eliminate private firms or mandate one payment mode.
Which one of the following statements about Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Central Bank Digital Currency (Digital Rupee) is not correct?
UPI is a real-time payment system but Digital Rupee is akin to sovereign paper currency.
In case of UPI, settlement for end users happens instantly as the money gets immediately debited or credited but in case of Digital Rupee, there is no settlement as the wallet balance gets transferred to another wallet.
UPI transactions are recorded by banks and reflected in bank statements but in case of Digital Rupee, no data is captured in bank statements as transactions are from one wallet to another.
In both the cases (UPI and Digital Rupee), the liability lies with the users and their respective banks.
Correct Answer: D — In both the cases (UPI and Digital Rupee), the liability lies with the users and their respective banks.
Explanation:
The question asks for the statement that is not correct. Statements 1, 2, and 3 fit the usual distinction between account-based UPI transfers and wallet-based retail CBDC transfers. Statement 4 is rejected because Digital Rupee is a liability of the central bank, not simply of users and their respective banks in the same way as UPI-linked bank balances.
Which of the following statements about Real-World Assets (RWA) Tokenization are correct?
Select the answer using the code given below:
1, 2 and 3
2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
Correct Answer: A — 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Tokenization means converting ownership or value in a real-world asset into digital tokens on a blockchain. Such structures can support round-the-clock access and fractional participation, which is why statement 2 is accepted. Statement 3 is also correct because tokenization can widen access to investment opportunities that were earlier harder for small investors to enter.
A bond whose proceeds are used only to finance or refinance a combination of both environmental and social projects is called:
Green Bond
Social Bond
Sustainability Bond
Sovereign Bond
Correct Answer: C — Sustainability Bond
Explanation:
A green bond is for environmental projects only. A social bond is for social projects only. A sustainability bond combines both environmental and social use of proceeds, which matches the question.
Which of the following statements about M1xchange's role in MSME financing is/are correct?
Select the answer using the code given below:
1, 2 and 3
2 only
2 and 3 only
1 only
Correct Answer: B — 2 only
Explanation:
M1xchange is a trade receivables discounting platform for MSMEs. So statement 2 is accepted because it facilitates invoice and bill discounting. It is not a collateral-loan provider or a credit-rating agency, so statements 1 and 3 are rejected.
Which one of the following best describes the 'Crowding Out Effect' in the context of fiscal policy?
A situation where private investment increases due to increased Government spending
A situation where Government borrowing leads to higher interest rates, which reduces private investment
A situation where an increase in taxes leads to increased private sector investment
A situation where Government spending has no impact on aggregate demand
Correct Answer: B — A situation where Government borrowing leads to higher interest rates, which reduces private investment
Explanation:
The crowding out effect refers to public borrowing absorbing available funds in financial markets. That pressure can push interest rates upward. Higher borrowing costs then discourage private investment, which is exactly what option (b) says.
Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct?
Select the answer using the code given below:
1 and 3 only
3 only
1, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
Correct Answer: A — 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is accepted because REEs are widely used in advanced technologies. Statement 2 is rejected because India is not the country immediately following China in REE mining share. Statement 3 is accepted in the final answer set. Statement 4 is rejected because rare earth elements are not just a set of 13 metallic elements in the usual classification.
