You are one aspirant with your own strong and weak areas. Here every previous-year question is linked to its syllabus topic, its explainer and the news behind it, so one question opens up a whole subject. Attempt, see why each option is right or wrong, and find exactly where you need work.
National current affairs with why it matters and the UPSC angle.
At a curtain raiser on 19 October 2026, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar announced the fifth edition of Swavlamban, the Navy’s flagship innovation and indigenisation seminar. It will be held on 26–27 October at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, where the Navy will release the NAUSETU interface standards and a technology compendium.
In a judgment of 16 October 2026, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices S.V.N. Bhatti and N.V. Anjaria held that investigating a bribe demand by a public servant does not need prior approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Asking for a bribe, the court said, is not part of discharging official duties.
A PIB backgrounder of 19 October 2026 explains how pumped storage projects (PSPs) will store solar and wind power for India’s grid. India runs 7.43 GW of pumped storage today, is building 15.87 GW more and has an assessed potential of 345.38 GW. A roadmap aims to add about 100 GW between 2025-26 and 2035-36.
Every syllabus line leads to its PYQs, explainers and current affairs.
Attempt a real previous-year question. Instant feedback, option-wise reasons.
In the context of polity, which one of the following would you accept as the most appropriate definition of liberty?
Option (d) is the most appropriate definition. In political theory, liberty means not only freedom from control, but the conditions that let people develop themselves fully. This is the positive view of liberty, held by thinkers such as T.H. Green and Harold Laski. Option (b), absence of restraint, is negative liberty; taken alone, it can turn into licence. Option (c), doing whatever one likes, is licence, not liberty, since it ignores others' rights. Option (a) is only one part of liberty.
The Preamble promises liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, read with equality and fraternity. Ambedkar said these three form a "union of trinity". Notice how Article 19's freedoms come with reasonable restrictions, matching the positive view.
(b) is a textbook definition, but it is the narrow one. UPSC asked for the "most appropriate".
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
From the official notification. Always re-check the current year's notice.
| Paper | Format | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I | 100 Q · 200 marks · 2 h | Counts for merit |
| GS Paper II (CSAT) | 80 Q · 200 marks · 2 h | Qualifying, 33% |
Negative marking: one-third of the marks for that question, per wrong answer.
| Paper | Marks | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A: Indian language | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper B: English | 300 | Qualifying |
| Essay | 250 | |
| GS I: Heritage, culture, history, geography, society | 250 | |
| GS II: Governance, Constitution, polity, social justice, IR | 250 | |
| GS III: Technology, economy, environment, security, disaster management | 250 | |
| GS IV: Ethics, integrity & aptitude | 250 | |
| Optional Paper I | 250 | |
| Optional Paper II | 250 |
Written 1750 + Personality Test 275 = 2025 marks
Computed from the Battle IAS UPSC PYQ bank.
Original MCQs from recent current affairs.
Consider the following statements:
1. Swavlamban is organised by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation.
2. Swavlamban 2026 is the first edition of the seminar.
3. NAUSETU is a set of interface standards.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Swavlamban 2026 is the fifth edition (PIB).
With reference to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, consider the following statements:
1. Section 17A requires prior approval before investigating any offence by a public servant.
2. Section 19 deals with sanction for prosecution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Section 17A applies only to offences relatable to decisions or recommendations made in discharge of official duties, as the Supreme Court reiterated on 16 Oct 2026.
Subjects aren't silos. Every PYQ links to related questions, explainers and news.
