UPSC Prelims Analysis 2024 - Subject Wise Analysis of GS Paper 1, Difficulty Level

by Vajiram & Ravi

UPSC Prelims 2024 exam was successfully conducted on 16 June 2024 all over India. It comprises two papers: General Studies Paper I covers a broad range of topics including History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science and Technology, and Current Affairs, and CSAT which tests the candidates' aptitude in areas such as Comprehension, Interpersonal Skills, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability, Decision-Making, Problem-Solving, Basic Numeracy, and Data Interpretation. A detailed subject-wise exam analysis of UPSC Prelims 2024 GS Paper 1 is shared here.

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UPSC Prelims 2024 Analysis

The difficulty level of the UPSC Prelims can vary each year, but it is generally considered challenging due to the vast syllabus and unpredictable nature of the questions. Some general trends found in the UPSC Prelims 2024 analysis are as follows:

  • The paper was found easier as compared to the last year.
  • More questions were asked from the conceptual part. Fewer questions are from Current Affairs and Institutions.
  • A lot of questions were asked about species just like last year.
  • More questions were from physical conceptual geography this year.
  • Very few questions were asked from Modern History.
  • Many questions were asked from Military and Defence
  • A lot of questions were asked from location/map
  • Paper seems to be more factual in nature
  • Art and Culture questions were linked with current affairs
  • Questions asked directly from schemes and acts

Subject-Wise UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis

Given the competitive nature of UPSC Prelims, a detailed subject-wise analysis can provide valuable insights for aspirants. This section breaks down the key subjects covered in the General Studies Paper I along with the number of questions asked from each subject over the years.

Subject2024202320222021
Environment15122216
History12131520
Geography1816814
Economics14141715
Science & Technology13151112
Polity1512917
Misc13181815

UPSC Prelims 2024 History Questions Analysis

  • Modern history weightage has reduced from 3 to 1
  • 8 questions asked from Art and Culture
  • Art, Architecture, and Literature was the dominant theme
  • No question asked on Chronology
  • 2 questions asked about Buddhism
  • UNESCO - 2 questions
  • Location based questions (Inamgaon)
  • Modern History (Post 1857 ignored again)
  • Post independence history (constituent assembly)
  • Vijaynagara Period again asked (Bhatkal)

UPSC Prelims 2024 Economics Questions Analysis

  • Many questions asked from Economics basics (working capital)
  • Major focus on Money, Banking, and Capital Market
  • Current affairs linked to static
  • US economy happenings and its impact on India
  • Contemporary affairs instead of current affairs
  • G-sec important theme
  • Digital Currency

To check for other subjects, watch the full video presenting UPSC Prelims 2024 Analysis and Cut-off Prediction by the experts at Vajiram and Ravi.

UPSC Prelims Analysis - Expected Cut Off

The expected UPSC Prelims 2024 cut off is 95 to 100 for the General Category. It is based on the difficulty level of the paper, the number of vacancies, students' feedback, and expert analysis.