OVERVIEW DASHBOARD
10-year consolidated subject-wise question count and strategic insight at a glance.
| Subject | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Avg | Trend |
|---|
SUBJECT WEIGHTAGE
UPPCS PYQ sub-topic breakdown from 2016 to 2025 — fine-grained distribution.
| Sub-Topic | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 10yr Avg |
|---|
📌 UP Special + Miscellaneous — Combined Row
UP Special GK and Miscellaneous questions have been clubbed together. UP Special alone never exceeds 1–7 questions in any year — it is a low-yield, highly unpredictable category. For 2016–17, only UP Special questions existed (no separate Misc). From 2018 onward, UP Special questions are absorbed within the Miscellaneous count as per the source data (PDF2). In 2025, the split is approximately UP Special ≈ 7 and Misc ≈ 11.
🔑 Key Insight: History is King
History (Ancient + Medieval + Modern combined) has featured 18–32 questions across all years in the UPPSC syllabus framework. Modern History alone averaged ~9–12 Qs, making it a non-negotiable pillar.
⚠️ Current Affairs — High Variance
Current Affairs ranged from 22 Qs (2025) to 38 Qs (2022). This volatility means you must prepare it, but not at the cost of static subjects. Aim for quality over quantity.
HISTORY ANALYSIS
Topic-wise PYQ mapping for Ancient, Medieval & Modern History (2021–2025).
📌 Modern History dominates
- Modern History = consistently 7–12 Qs per year. Focus: Gandhi-era movements, Governor-Generals, freedom struggle chronology, INC sessions.
- Key sources: Spectrum – Modern India, NCERT Class 8–10.
📌 Ancient History — underestimated
- Zero Ancient Qs in 2025, but 8–9 Qs in 2022–2023. Harappan, Mauryan, Gupta are recurring.
- Source: NCERT Class 6, 12 Part-1, R.S. Sharma.
POLITY ANALYSIS
Topic-wise mapping from 2021–2025. Laxmikanth is the definitive source for ~95% of questions.
📌 Laxmikanth = 95% Coverage
- Almost every polity question traces back to M. Laxmikanth — Indian Polity.
- Top recurring chapters: Parliament, Fundamental Rights, Panchayati Raj, Constitutional Bodies, Schedules & Amendments.
📌 Consistency is the edge
- Polity asks 15–27 Qs every year. Unlike Current Affairs, it does not fluctuate wildly.
- NCERT Class 11 — Constitution at Work is a strong secondary source.
GEOGRAPHY ANALYSIS
Indian and World Geography topic mapping 2021–2025. Map-based questions are staple.
📌 Indian Geography is higher priority
- Rivers, minerals, crops, soils, climate — all ask location-matching Qs. Use NCERT Class 9–12.
- UP-specific geography (dams, forest cover, districts, wildlife sanctuaries) is asked every year.
📌 World Geography — atlas-dependent
- Lakes, ports, mountains, rivers of the world — Oxford Atlas or Orient Blackswan Atlas is a must.
- Local winds, ocean currents, climatic regions repeat frequently.
SCIENCE ANALYSIS
Physics, Chemistry & Biology topic mapping 2021–2025. NCERT-centric preparation.
📌 Biology dominates General Science
- Biology (Class 9–12 NCERT): human physiology, diseases, plant biology, cell biology — ~7–12 Qs.
- Chemistry: everyday chemicals, acids-bases, compounds — Class 9–10 NCERT is key.
📌 Physics — fewer but predictable
- ~3–6 Qs from Physics. SI units, motion, optics, electrostatics — all NCERT Class 9–12.
- New additions: mRNA vaccines, biotechnology, electromagnetic spectrum (2023–25).
EXAM STRATEGY
Evidence-based priority matrix and preparation roadmap derived from 7 years of PYQ data.
| Subject | 6yr Avg Qs | Stability | Difficulty | Priority | Key Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs | 28.5 | Volatile | High | TIER 1 | Ghatnachakra, PIB, Drishti Monthly |
| History (A+M+MH) | 24.3 | Stable | Medium | TIER 1 | Spectrum Modern India, NCERT 6–12 |
| Indian Polity | 21.3 | Very Stable | Low-Med | TIER 1 | M. Laxmikanth (complete) |
| General Science | 19.2 | Moderate | Medium | TIER 2 | NCERT Class 9–12 (Bio/Chem/Phy) |
| Geography | 20.8 | Stable | Medium | TIER 2 | NCERT Class 9–12 + Atlas |
| Economy + Schemes | 13.5 | Moderate | Medium | TIER 3 | Budget, Economic Survey, NCERT Eco |
| Environment | 8.3 | Moderate | Medium | TIER 3 | Shankar IAS Env., Biodiversity Acts |
| UP Special + Misc | 7.6 | Volatile | Low | TIER 3 | UP Special GK books, Gazetteer; 1–7 Qs from UP Special max |
🎯 High-Yield "Combo" Topics
- Panchayati Raj — asked in Polity AND sometimes History sections. 73rd/74th Amendment is almost perennial.
- Forest & Environment — ISFR data + National Parks + Ramsar Sites form a recurring cluster.
- Parliament — Composition, procedures, committees: 3–5 Qs consistently from Laxmikanth.
- Modern History Chronology — Gandhi-era movements in correct order is a regular trap question.
❌ Common Preparation Mistakes
- Over-investing in UP Special GK (only 1–8 Qs, highly unpredictable).
- Ignoring World Geography (consistently 9–15 Qs from atlas-based topics).
- Reading chemistry deeply but skipping biology — biology gives 3× more questions.
- Treating Current Affairs as optional — 22–38 Qs range means it can make or break cutoff.
- Not practising PYQ-based matching questions — Polity is full of match-the-following.
PREPARATION CHECKLIST
Track your topic-level coverage. Click to mark as done. State saved in session.