1. Prologue: Problems in UPSC Prelims-2020 Answerkey
  2. 2 MCQs officially cancelled by UPSC
  3. 16 MCQs having Discrepancy between Official & private Answer Keys
  4. Correct Answers: private Keys vs official Keys

Prologue: Problems in UPSC Prelims-2020 Answerkey

  • Mitron, More than a year after conducting the UPSC Prelims-2020 examination (in 2020-Oct) finally today Nov-22-2021, They have released the official answer key.
  • The question paper was tough with many vaguely worded statements and factual information that was not easily available in the routine preparation sources.
  • As a result there has been so much discrepancy between the private coaching classes answer key versus The Official UPSC answer key.
  • Interestingly, UPSC itself cancelled TWO MCQs (Gandhi-Irwin & Exports). Then in 16 out of total 100 MCQs: Private coaching institutes answerkey not matching with UPSC official answer key.
  • Here is the list of those questions given in this article.
  • You can scroll down at the bottom to know the discrepancy in private keys vs correct official UPSC answer codes.
  • It is possible that some of the coaching institutes may have modified their answer keys at a later stage. but I’ve using their codes from the original answer keys that were released in 2020-Oct. (हो सकता है कि बाद में कुछ संस्थाओं ने अपने जवाब बदल दिए हैं लेकिन उन्होंने पिछले साल Prelim के तुरंत बाद जो आंसर-की डाली थी उसके कोड के हिसाब से मैंने तुलना की है)
  • Most of the coaching institutes used Questionbooklet Set B, but Vajiram used set-A, and Byjus used Set-C so I have not been able to do their data entry/matching with official keys yet.
  • PS: Stay tuned for the answery/explanations for this discrepancy.

2 MCQs officially cancelled by UPSC

UPSC Official Prelims-2020 Answerkey error

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.47. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?

  1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference
  2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
  3. Acceptance of Gandhi’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
  4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence

Select the correct answer using the code given below

[a) 1 only

[b) 1, 2 and 4 only

[c) 3 only

[d) 2, 3 and 4 only

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.82. With reference to the international trade of India at present, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. India’s merchandise exports are less than its merchandise imports.
  2. India’s imports of iron and steel, chemicals, fertilisers and machinery have decreased in recent years.
  3. India’s exports of services are more than its imports of services.
  4. India suffers from an overall trade/current account deficit.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 4 only

[c) 3 only

[d) 1, 3 and 4 only

16 MCQs having  Discrepancy between Official & private Answer Keys

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.12. In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around:

  1. women’s right to gain education
  2. age of consent
  3. restitution of conjugal rights

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 3 only

[c) 1 and 3 only

[d) 1,2 and 3

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.13. Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

[a) Peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters

[b) Its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions

[c) National leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of indigo

[d) Government control over the planters

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.18. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?

  1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
  2. Create meaningful short stories and songs
  3. Disease diagnosis
  4. Text-to-speech conversion
  5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[a) 1,2,3 and 5 only

[d) 1,3, and 4 only

[c) 2,4,and 5 only

[d) 1,2,3,4 and 5

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.29. consider the following statements:

  1. According to the Constitution of India, a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a state for six months even if he/she isnot a member of that state.
  2. According to the Representation of People Act,1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[a) 1 only

[b) 2 only

[c) Both 1 and 2

[d) Neither 1nor 2

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.30. Consider the following statements:

  1. The president of India can summon a session of Parliament at such place as he/she thinks fit.
  2. The Constitution of India provides for three sessions of the Parliament in a year, but it is not mandatory to conduct all three sessions
  3. There is no minimum number of days that the Parliament is required to meet in a year.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[a) 1 only

[b) 2 only

[c) 1 and 3 only

[d) 2 and 3 only

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.46. With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements :

  1. It warned against the Colonial State hypnotic conquest of the mind.
  2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs.
  3. The use of ‘desh’ by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 3 only

[c) 1 and 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.84. In the context of the Indian economy, non-financial debt includes which of the following ?

  1. Housing loans owed by households
  2. Amounts outstanding on credit cards
  3. Treasury bills

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[a) 1 only

[b) 1 and 2 only

[c) 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.90. In India, under cyber insurance for individuals, which of the following benefits are generally covered, in addition to payment for the loss of funds and other benefits ?

  1. Cost of restoration of the computer system in case of malware disrupting access to one’s computer
  2. Cost of a new computer if some miscreant wilfully damages it, if proved so
  3. Cost of hiring a specialized consultant to minimize the loss in case of cyber extortion
  4. Cost of defence in the Court of Law if any third party files a suit

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[a) 1, 2 and 4 only

[b) 1, 3 and 4 only

[c) 2 and 3 only

[d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.01. With reference to the carbon nanotubes, consider the following statement :

  1. They can be used as the carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
  2. They can be made into the artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body.
  3.  They can be used in biochemical sensors.
  4. Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2,3 and 4 only

[c) 1,3 and 4 only

[d) 1,2,3 and 4

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.08. Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution ?

  1. Automobile exhaust
  2. Tobacco smoke
  3. Wood burning
  4. Using varnished wooden furniture
  5. Using products made of polyurethane

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[a) 1, 2 and 3 only

[b) 2 and 4 only

[c) 1, 3 and 4 only

[d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.20. With reference to “Blockchain Technology” consider the following statements:

  1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
  2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only
  3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[a) 1 only

[b) 1 and 2 only

[c) 2 only

[d) 1 and  3 only

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.23. Consider the following statements:

  1. The Constitution of India defines its ‘basic structure’ in terms of federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and democracy.
  2. The Constitution of India provides for ‘judicial review’ to safeguard the ‘citizens’ liberties and to preserve the ideals on which the constitution is based.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[a) 1 only

[b) 2 only

[c) Both 1 and 2

[d) Neither 1 nor 2

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.41. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

  1. Aurang
 In-charge of treasury of the State
  1. Banian
 Indian agent of the East India Company
  1. Mirasidar
 Designated revenue payer to the State

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 3 only

[c) 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.60. Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?

[a) Corbett

[b) Ranthambore

[c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

[d) Sunderbans

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.61. If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

[a) A licence is required to cultivate that plant.

[b) Such a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances.

[c) It is a Genetically Modified crop plant.

[d) Such a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem.

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.70. In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture?

  1. Crop diversification
  2. Legume intensification
  3. Tensiometer use
  4. Vertical farming

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1,2 and 3 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 4 only

(d) 1,2,3 and 4

Correct Answers: private Keys vs official Keys

Q(SET-B) PHRASE Subject Difficulty Theory/Current/CTM Type of MCQ Source R ALL Keys
Matching?		 Key Mru Key
VisionIAS		 Key-
Insights		 KEY
SHANKAR		 KEY
DRISHTI		 KEY
IASBABA		 UPSC Official
SET_B
CSP20Q012 Rakhmabai case of 1884 H-Freedom Tough 🥵 Theory 📚 3TF ♻️ Random FALSE D B B D B B B
CSP20Q013 Indigo cultivation in India H-Freedom Ease 🤩 Theory 📚 1-Liner 🔠 pratik FALSE B/A B B B B B B
CSP20Q018 Artificial Intelligence SciTech-ICT Ease 🤩 Contemporary 📅 5TF 🔢 Random FALSE D D D D D D / B B
CSP20Q029 eligible to vote/ disqualification foe election Polity-Contm Medium 🧐 Contemporary 📅 2TF ☯️ LX FALSE D D A D A A D
CSP20Q030 sessions of the Parliament Polity-Legislature Medium 🧐 Theory 📚 3TF ♻️ LX FALSE A/C C C C C C C
CSP20Q046 the book “Desher Katha” H-Freedom Tough 🥵 Theory 📚 3TF ♻️ Random FALSE A A A/D B / D A A / D A
CSP20Q082 international trade of India e3 Ease 🤩 Contemporary 📅 4TF 🔢 mru FALSE D D D D D D X
CSP20Q084 non-financial debt e1 Tough 🥵 Theory 📚 3TF ♻️ random FALSE D D D C A/D* D D
CSP20Q090 cyber insurance e1 Tough 🥵 Contemporary 📅 4TF 🔢 random FALSE B B B D B B / D B
CSP20Q001 carbon nanotubes SciTech-Bio Tough 🥵 Contemporary 📅 4TF 🔢 Random FALSE D D D D D D C
CSP20Q008 exposure to benzene pollution G-Environ-Poll Medium 🧐 Theory 📚 5TF 🔢 TN-5050 FALSE D D D D D D A
CSP20Q020 “Blockchain Technology” e1 Ease 🤩 Contemporary 📅 3TF ♻️ mru FALSE D D D D D D / A D
CSP20Q023 The Constitution of India defines/ provides Polity-Amend Ease 🤩 Theory 📚 2TF ☯️ LX FALSE B B B B B B D
CSP20Q041 history of India: consider pairs- Aurang etc H-Ancient/Medieval Medium 🧐 Theory 📚 3TF ♻️ pratik FALSE B B B B B C B
CSP20Q047 The Gandhi-Irwin Pact H-Freedom Medium 🧐 Theory 📚 4TF 🔢 pratik FALSE B B B B B B X
CSP20Q060 Critical TigerHabitat G-Environ-parks Tough 🥵 Theory 📚 1-Liner 🔠 random FALSE C C C C C D C
CSP20Q061 Schedule VI of The Wildlife P. Act, 1972 G-Environ-flora Tough 🥵 Contemporary 📅 1-Liner 🔠 random FALSE A A A A A/B* A A
CSP20Q070 eco-friendly agriculture G-Agro Medium 🧐 Contemporary 📅 4TF 🔢 Kurukshetra FALSE D D D D D D A

Stay Tuned for the Detailed Answerkeys with Explanations at Mrunal.org/prelims