Legacy IAS · Bangalore
UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper I
Complete Source Mapping — All 100 Questions · Compiled May 24, 2026
NCERT / Standard Textbook
Standard Reference Book
Current Affairs (2024–26)
Niche / Beyond Standard
Mixed Static + Current
20
History Qs
12
Polity Qs
18
Economy Qs
10
Environment Qs
40
Current / Sci / Misc
History — Ancient, Medieval & Modern
Q1–Q20 · 20 Questions| Q.No | Topic / Question | Primary Source | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q.1 |
Pleistocene-era River System Assertion
Yamuna→Indus / Sutlej→Yamuna palaeography
|
Palaeogeography / Research Papers NCERT Geo XI (hints only) | Very Hard |
| Q.2 |
Empty Seat in Early Buddhist Iconography
Represents Mahaparinibbana of the Buddha
|
Art & Culture — Fine Arts Reference Nitin Singhania (Art & Culture) | Hard |
| Q.3 |
Ancient River Names — Vitasta, Asikni, Parushni, Yavyavati
Matched to modern names: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas
|
NCERT History VI (Our Pasts) Old NCERT Ancient India — R.S. Sharma | Moderate |
| Q.4 |
Amaravati Stupa & Relief Sculpture
Lower Krishna valley; influence on Sri Lanka & SE Asia
|
NCERT History XI — Themes in World History Nitin Singhania Art & Culture | Moderate |
| Q.5 |
King-Dynasty Pairs — Early Historical Tamilakam
Senguttuvan (Chera), Udiyanjeral, Nedunjeliyan (Pandya)
|
Sangam Literature / Tamil History Old NCERT — A.L. Basham | Hard |
| Q.6 |
Forward Bloc Formation — Factors (1939)
Subhas Chandra Bose, Congress Left, Communists, M.N. Roy
|
NCERT History XII — Modern India Spectrum — Modern India (Rajiv Ahir) | Moderate |
| Q.7 |
British Policy in Awadh after Annexation 1856
Taluqdars, Summary Revenue Settlement, peasant revenue
|
NCERT History XII — Ch. 10 (Rebels and the Raj) Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence | Moderate |
| Q.8 |
Montague-Chelmsford Reforms & Community Politics
Separate electorates, Indian nationalism, community rallying
|
NCERT History XII — Politics in India Spectrum Modern India | Hard |
| Q.9 |
Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur — Gharana
Classical singer from Karnataka → Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana
|
Indian Classical Music — Niche Art & Culture Nitin Singhania | Very Hard |
| Q.10 |
Kshetra-patni (Mistress of the Field) — Vedic Text
Term originates in Ashtadhyayi (Panini's grammar)
|
Vedic Literature — Deep Scholarship Beyond standard UPSC material | Very Hard |
| Q.11 |
Carnatic Music Raga similar to Bilawal (Hindustani)
Answer: Dheera Shankarabharanam
|
Indian Classical Music — Comparative Ragas Nitin Singhania (Advanced) | Very Hard |
| Q.12 |
Hilton-Young Commission (1926) — Rupee-Sterling Exchange
Adopted to aid remittances and India's creditworthiness
|
Economic History of British India Bipan Chandra — Economy Under British | Hard |
| Q.13 |
Pali Texts — Coins & Place-Value System
Kahapana, nikkha, kamsa; punch-marked coins
|
Numismatics / Pali Literature Old NCERT — R.S. Sharma Ancient India | Hard |
| Q.14 |
Temples with Nagara-style Shikhara
Malegitti Shivalaya, Huchimalligudi, Dashavatara, Virupaksha
|
Temple Architecture — Deep Art & Culture Nitin Singhania (Architecture chapter) | Hard |
| Q.15 |
Jainism — Four Main Forms of Existence
Deva, Yaksha, Manushya, Tiryancha — which NOT included
|
NCERT History VI — Jainism section Old NCERT Ancient India | Hard |
| Q.16 |
Hallisalasya Painting — Bagh Caves
Represents a joyous folk dance
|
Cave Paintings — Extremely Niche Art History Beyond standard coaching material | Very Hard |
| Q.17 |
Place-Value System in India — Inscriptions
Mankani plates (Gujarat, AD 595–596), Sanskrit inscriptions
|
History of Mathematics / Epigraphy Old NCERT Medieval India (hints) | Very Hard |
| Q.18 |
Archaeological Findings in Harappan Towns — Inferences
Spindle-whorls, weights, baked bricks — what can be inferred
|
NCERT History XII — Bricks, Beads & Bones Old NCERT Ancient India — R.S. Sharma | Hard |
| Q.19 |
Eka Movement vs Bardoli Satyagraha
Bardoli = land revenue; Eka = against excessive rent extraction
|
NCERT History XII — Modern India Spectrum Modern India / Bipan Chandra | Moderate |
| Q.20 |
Rigvedic Period — Irrigation from Wells
Ashma chakra, ahava, parashu/kulisha references in Rigveda
|
Rigveda — Primary Source Analysis Old NCERT Ancient India | Hard |
Geography — Physical, Indian & World
Q21–Q35 · ~12 Questions| Q.No | Topic / Question | Primary Source | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q.21 |
Tungurahua Volcano — UNESCO Global Geopark 2025
Located in Ecuador
|
Current Affairs 2025 — UNESCO Geoparks NCERT Geo XI (volcanoes chapter) | Hard |
| Q.22 |
Madhav National Park — Tiger Reserve 2025, Sakhya Sagar
Declared Tiger Reserve in India in 2025; Ramsar Site inside
|
Current Affairs 2025 — Tiger Reserves Mixed: Environment + Geography | Moderate |
| Q.23 |
Climate of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Humid tropical coastal; SW + NE monsoon; max precipitation Nov–May
|
NCERT Geography IX — Climate Certificate Physical & Human Geo (G.C. Leong) | Moderate |
| Q.24 |
Peninsular Block of India — Features & Phenomena
Submergence of western coast, Veliconda hills, V-shaped valleys
|
NCERT Geography XI — India: Physical Environment Majid Husain — Indian Geography | Hard |
| Q.29 |
Lake Turkana — Facts
Largest desert lake; East Africa (Kenya/Ethiopia); UNESCO WHS; 'Jade Sea'
|
World Geography — G.C. Leong / Oxford Atlas Current Affairs (UNESCO recognition) | Hard |
| Q.33 |
Rationale for Protecting Mangrove Ecosystems
Tidal energy reduction, salt-sensitive roots, bio-shields
|
NCERT Biology XII — Ecosystem Shankar IAS Environment | Moderate |
| Q.35 |
Identify the River — Antecedent Drainage, 3 Countries, Tibet
Brahmaputra — antecedent, flows through China/India/Bangladesh, no distributaries
|
NCERT Geography IX — Drainage Majid Husain Indian Geography | Moderate |
| Q.36 |
Indian States — Boundary Facts (NOT correct)
UP shares boundary with most states; Rajasthan longest intl border; Sikkim shares with 1 state
|
NCERT Geography India (Political Maps) Majid Husain Indian Geography | Moderate |
| Q.40 |
Countries Crossing Strait of Hormuz to Indian Ocean
Bahrain, Qatar need to cross; Syria, Egypt do not
|
World Geography / Atlas NCERT World Geo XI (Water Bodies) | Hard |
Environment & Ecology
Q26–Q32 · ~10 Questions| Q.No | Topic / Question | Primary Source | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q.26 |
Rhynchostylis retusa — Foxtail Orchid
Epiphytic orchid; endemic to NE India; state flower of Assam
|
Current Affairs — Biodiversity / State Symbols Flora of NE India — Niche | Hard |
| Q.27 |
Moidams — Tai-Ahom Kingdom, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Burial grounds of Royals and Nobles (not fortresses/recreation)
|
Current Affairs 2024 — UNESCO WHC inscription History of Assam / Ahom Kingdom | Moderate |
| Q.28 |
UN Ocean Conference 2025 — FAO "Four Betters"
Better production, nutrition, environment and better life
|
Current Affairs June 2025 — UNOC, FAO Extremely specific — niche current affairs | Very Hard |
| Q.30 |
First Plan Vivo Certified REDD+ Project in India
Uttarakhand REDD+ project (Plan Vivo certification)
|
REDD+ / Carbon Markets — Extremely Niche Recent Policy / Ministry of Environment | Very Hard |
| Q.31 |
India's Response to Climate Change — LT-LEDS, BUR-4
Net-zero by 2070; BUR-4 submitted Dec 2024; climate-resilient dev
|
Current Affairs 2024–25 — Climate Policy Mixed: Environment + Current Affairs | Hard |
| Q.32 |
Western Hoolock Gibbons — Facts
Endangered (IUCN); brachiation; heavy build but agile; NE India
|
Shankar IAS Environment Current Affairs — Wildlife / Primates | Moderate |
| Q.37 |
Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake — Conservation Significance
Local conservation contributes; NOT advanced tracking technology
|
Current Affairs — Migratory Birds / Nagaland Shankar IAS Environment | Moderate |
| Q.38 |
Rainfed Area Development (RAD) — NMSA Objectives
Integrated Farming Systems, productivity, NOT monoculture
|
Economic Survey / Agriculture Policy Government Scheme — NMSA | Hard |
| Q.39 |
Oeko-Tex Certification for Eri Silk
Allows entry into high-end chemical-free global markets
|
Current Affairs 2025 — Textiles / Certification Niche trade/textile policy | Hard |
| Q.42 |
NIRANTAR Platform — Ministry of Environment
Botanical Survey / Central Zoo Authority / IFM Bhopal verticals
|
Current Affairs 2025 — MoEFCC Initiatives Very niche institutional knowledge | Very Hard |
Polity & Governance
Q41, Q53–Q56 · ~12 Questions| Q.No | Topic / Question | Primary Source | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q.41 |
INTERPOL Notices — Match List (Silver, Blue, Black, Green)
Silver=unidentified bodies; Blue=criminal info; Black=public safety; Green=criminal assets
|
Current Affairs — Internal Security / INTERPOL Laxmikanth (Internal Security chapter) | Hard |
| Q.53 |
Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) — Three Sub-Indices
Access, Usage, and Quality (RBI's FI-Index)
|
RBI Publications / Banking Awareness Current Affairs — RBI Policy | Hard |
| Q.54 |
ONDC — Key Objective
Break dominance of large e-commerce platforms via interoperability
|
Current Affairs — Digital Economy / DPIIT Economic Survey 2023–24 | Moderate |
| Q.55 |
UPI vs Digital Rupee — NOT correct statement
UPI = real-time payment; Digital Rupee = sovereign paper currency equivalent
|
RBI Publications / Monetary Policy Current Affairs — CBDC / Digital Rupee | Hard |
| Q.56 |
Real World Asset (RWA) Tokenization
Digital tokens using blockchain; 24×7 access; high growth investment
|
Current Affairs 2025 — FinTech / Blockchain Emerging Financial Technology — Niche | Very Hard |
| Q.62 |
Crowdfunding — Statements
Solicitation from multiple investors; SMEs raise capital
|
SEBI / Economic Concepts Current Affairs — FinTech Regulation | Moderate |
| Q.63 |
Financial Committees — R.N. Malhotra, L.C. Gupta, Urjit Patel, Y.H. Malegam
Match committee to objective and organization (IRDA, SEBI, RBI)
|
Economic Survey / RBI History Institutional financial history — niche | Very Hard |
| Q.64 |
Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) — Facts
Cannot accept demand deposits; not all registered with RBI; no DICGC
|
RBI Publications / Banking Regulation NCERT Economics XII (Money & Banking) | Moderate |
| Q.65 |
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) — Statements
Alkire-Foster methodology; NITI Aayog MPI has 12 indicators
|
Current Affairs — NITI Aayog Reports Economic Survey | Moderate |
Economy & Finance
Q51–Q65 · ~18 Questions| Q.No | Topic / Question | Primary Source | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q.51 |
Blockchain Technology Features
Immutable records; distributed copies; consortium blockchain; mathematical algorithms
|
Science & Technology — Blockchain Current Affairs — Digital Economy | Hard |
| Q.52 |
Dropshipping / E-Commerce Revenue Model
Seller controls pricing, no inventory, transfers to supplier
|
Current Affairs — Digital Commerce / FinTech Business Model terminology — niche | Hard |
| Q.57 |
Sustainability Bond (Green Bond vs Social Bond vs Sustainability Bond)
Proceeds used to finance BOTH environmental AND social projects
|
Economic Survey / RBI Green Finance Current Affairs — Green Finance / SEBI | Moderate |
| Q.58 |
M1xchange — Role in MSME Financing
Discounting of invoices and Bills of Exchange; NOT collateral loans or credit rating
|
Current Affairs 2024–25 — Trade Receivables Platform Very niche MSME financial infrastructure | Very Hard |
| Q.59 |
Crowding Out Effect — Fiscal Policy Context
Government borrowing → higher interest rates → reduces private investment
|
NCERT Economics XII — Government Budget Ramesh Singh — Indian Economy | Moderate |
| Q.60 |
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) & Critical Minerals
AI/robotics use REEs; China highest share; NCMM launched 2025; 17 metallic elements
|
Current Affairs 2025 — National Critical Mineral Mission Science & Technology / Economic Survey | Moderate |
| Q.61 |
Aviation Insurance — Hull Insurance & Montreal Convention
Hull covers aircraft body; Montreal Convention (1999) liability without proving fault
|
Aviation Law / Insurance — Niche Current Affairs — Civil Aviation | Hard |
Science & Technology
Q44–Q50, Q66–Q73 · ~15 Questions| Q.No | Topic / Question | Primary Source | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q.44 |
DHRUV64 — India's Homegrown Microprocessor
Third chip under DIR-V Programme; 1.0 GHz 64-bit dual-core
|
Current Affairs 2025 — Semiconductor India Highly specific tech policy | Hard |
| Q.45 |
BIS Standard IS 19445:2025 — Bomb Disposal System
Developed by TBRL, DRDO with Russia's 30th Central Scientific Research Institute
|
Current Affairs 2025 — Defence / BIS Standards Extremely niche defence technology | Very Hard |
| Q.46 |
Nobel Prize 2025 — John Clarke (UK, American university)
Born in UK; professor in American university when prize announced
|
Current Affairs Oct 2025 — Nobel Prize | Moderate |
| Q.48 |
Semiconductor Plants in India — Location NOT correctly matched
CG Power (Gujarat); Tata (Assam); HCL-Foxconn (Madhya Pradesh); SicSem (Odisha)
|
Current Affairs 2024–25 — India Semiconductor Mission Requires tracking multiple plant announcements | Hard |
| Q.49 |
Bharat Forecast System — Indigenous Weather Model
Forecasts at Panchayat cluster level; developed by IIT Delhi
|
Current Affairs 2025 — Meteorology / IIT Delhi Niche science policy current affairs | Hard |
| Q.50 |
Film "Boong" — BAFTA Award
BAFTA Children's & Family category; directed by Lakshmipriya Devi; first Indian BAFTA win
|
Current Affairs 2025 — Awards / Indian Cinema Very niche awards tracking | Very Hard |
| Q.66 |
Genetic Medicine — Statements
Correct/compensates faulty genes; engineered viruses as carriers; does NOT alter entire DNA
|
Science & Technology (Biology) Current Affairs — Gene Therapy | Hard |
| Q.67 |
Large Language Models (LLMs) — Statements
Assign word probabilities; mathematical optimization; NOT unbiased outputs
|
Current Affairs 2024–25 — AI / LLMs Science & Technology for UPSC | Hard |
| Q.68 |
Stealth Technology — Statements
Small radar cross-section; detectable at specific frequencies; metamaterials REDUCE (not increase) scattering
|
Defence Science & Technology Current Affairs — Defence / Military Technology | Hard |
| Q.69 |
Black Boxes in Modern Aircraft
Red beacon (NOT red light pulses); records voice + flight data; stainless steel/titanium
|
Science & Technology — Aviation Safety Current Affairs — Civil Aviation | Hard |
| Q.70 |
Green Hydrogen — Statements
Electrolysis + renewable energy; NOT from natural gas reforming (that's Blue H2)
|
Science & Technology / Energy Current Affairs — National Green Hydrogen Mission | Moderate |
| Q.71 |
Private Entities in India's Space Programme
IN-SPACe is autonomous; Agnikul Cosmos = 3D-printed rocket; Skyroot = liquid fuel for GSLV (wrong)
|
Current Affairs 2024–25 — Space / ISRO / IN-SPACe Mixed: Space Policy + Current Affairs | Hard |
| Q.72 |
Drone Swarms — Communication & Counter Techniques
Terahertz frequency; individual drone-to-drone comm; GPS Spoofing to counter
|
Current Affairs 2025 — Defence Technology / UAVs Highly technical defence — niche | Very Hard |
| Q.73 |
GenomeIndia Project
NOT part of Human Genome Project; funded by DBT; catalogue of Indian genetic diversity
|
Current Affairs 2024–25 — Biotechnology / DBT Science & Technology for UPSC | Moderate |
Current Affairs, International Relations & Miscellaneous
Q25, Q28, Q43–Q47 · ~15 Questions| Q.No | Topic / Question | Primary Source | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q.25 |
Sagarmala Programme 2.0 — Statements & Relationships
Port-led growth; Sagarmala 2.0 = maritime innovation hub + Atmanirbhar Bharat
|
Current Affairs 2025 — Ministry of Ports Government Schemes / Economic Survey | Hard |
| Q.34 |
Vizhinjam International Seaport — Structural Shift
Deep draft + strategic location → reduce dependence on foreign transshipment ports
|
Current Affairs 2024–25 — Infrastructure / Ports Economic Survey 2024–25 | Hard |
| Q.43 |
German Chancellor Visit to India — January 2026 Outcomes
MoU on Youth Hockey; Indo-Pacific dialogue; Honorary Consul in Lucknow — NOT correctly matched
|
Current Affairs Jan 2026 — India-Germany Relations Very granular diplomatic current affairs | Very Hard |
| Q.47 |
Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments — Statements
Shared governance; open to ranked players above 14 (not just internationally ranked); wild card limit
|
Current Affairs — Sports / Tennis Niche sports governance | Hard |
◈ Key Insights for Legacy IAS Faculty
✓ Well Covered in Standard Material
Q3 (River names) · Q6 (Forward Bloc) · Q7 (Awadh) · Q19 (Bardoli) · Q23 (A&N Climate) · Q35 (Brahmaputra) · Q54 (ONDC) · Q59 (Crowding Out) · Q64 (NBFCs) · Q70 (Green H2)
⚡ Current Affairs Dependent
Q21 (Tungurahua) · Q22 (Madhav NP) · Q27 (Moidams) · Q28 (UNOC) · Q31 (LT-LEDS) · Q43 (Germany visit) · Q46 (Nobel) · Q48 (Semiconductor plants) · Q49 (Bharat Forecast) · Q50 (Boong BAFTA)
⚠ Beyond Standard — Niche
Q1 (Pleistocene rivers) · Q9 (Mansur Gharana) · Q10 (Kshetra-patni) · Q11 (Carnatic raga) · Q16 (Hallisalasya) · Q17 (Place-value) · Q28 (Four Betters) · Q30 (Plan Vivo REDD+) · Q45 (BIS bomb disposal) · Q72 (Drone swarms)
📌 UPSC Sourcing Pattern — 2026 Observation
History sourced heavily from Old NCERTs (R.S. Sharma, Satish Chandra) + Nitin Singhania for art/culture, with ~6 questions going beyond all standard material. Economy drew from RBI publications, Economic Survey, and bleeding-edge FinTech (RWA, M1xchange). Science was current-affairs driven. The new assertion-support format (Q1, Q8, Q25, Q31, Q34) requires reasoning skills beyond rote — this must be drilled in mock tests.
