UPPSC draws one of the largest applicant pools of any state commission, which pushes cutoffs up and leaves very little room for a weak section. Questions here cover Uttar Pradesh history, geography and economy, Indian polity and constitution, general science, and current affairs. The difficulty is pitched at the level the commission has actually used, so your accuracy here is a fair signal rather than a comfortable one.
Which ancient Mauryan capital was located in present-day Uttar Pradesh?
Answer: A
Pataliputra (modern Patna, Bihar is nearby) had connections, but Mathura and Varanasi were major Mauryan centers in UP region. However, Pataliputra is the primary Mauryan capital.
Q.42Medium
The Battle of Talikota (1565) was fought between which two powers in the Deccan?
Answer: A
The Battle of Talikota in 1565 was a significant conflict between the Vijayanagara Empire and the allied Deccan Sultanates, marking a turning point in South Indian politics.
Q.43Medium
The Awadh (Oudh) region's independence struggle is associated with which famous ruler?
Answer: B
Wazir Ali Khan of Awadh led a significant resistance against British colonial expansion in the late 18th century from the Lucknow region.
Q.44Medium
The terra cotta figurines and pottery of which UP region are recognized as UNESCO intangible heritage?
Answer: A
Khurja, located in Bulandshahr district, is famous for its traditional pottery and terra cotta work with significant cultural heritage value.
Q.45Medium
Which national park in UP is home to the endangered gharial and mugger crocodile?
Answer: B
The Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, shared by UP, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, is a critical habitat for gharials and mugger crocodiles.
Q.46Medium
The Sundarbans-like wetland ecosystem in UP is primarily located in which district?
Answer: A
Sultanpur National Park, located in Kaimganj, Hardoi district, is a ramsar wetland site crucial for migratory birds and aquatic biodiversity.
Q.47Medium
Which UP district has the highest forest cover as per recent Forest Survey of India data?
Answer: A
Sonbhadra district in eastern UP has significant forest reserves and the highest forest cover percentage in the state.
Q.48Medium
Which ancient center of learning was established in Nalanda, located in present-day Bihar but historically connected to UP learning traditions?
Answer: B
Nalanda Mahavihara was one of the world's oldest universities, attracting scholars from UP and across Asia for Buddhist studies.
Q.49Medium
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in UP is located in which city?
Answer: C
AIIMS Rishikesh, established in Uttarakhand (formerly UP region), serves as a premier medical institution in North India.
Q.50Medium
Which Sufi saint's 'Ajmer Sharif' dargah is one of the most visited religious sites in India, influencing UP's syncretic culture?
Answer: A
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's dargah in Ajmer influenced the spread of Chishti Sufi order across North India, including UP, promoting syncretism.
Q.51Medium
Which literary figure, known as the 'Father of Hindi Poetry', belonged to the Varanasi region of UP?
Answer: B
# Literary Figures of Hindi Literature - Father of Hindi Poetry
This question tests knowledge of major Hindi literary figures and their regional origins and contributions.
Step 1: Identify the Title and Honorific
Bharatendu Harishchandra is specifically credited with the title "Father of Hindi Poetry" (Hinди काव्य का जनक) for revolutionizing Hindi literature during the 19th century.
Step 2: Verify Regional Connection
Bharatendu Harishchandra was born and worked in Varanasi (Benares), Uttar Pradesh, where he established the Bharatendu Mandal and promoted Hindi as a literary language during the colonial period.
Additional Context on Other Options:
•Kabir Das (1398-1518) belonged to Varanasi region but is known as a saint-poet, not specifically titled "Father of Hindi Poetry"
•Surdas (1478-1580) was associated with Braj region and is famous for devotional poetry
•Amir Khusrau (1253-1325) was a Persian-Urdu poet, not a Hindi poetry pioneer
Final Answer: (B) Bharatendu Harishchandra — He modernized Hindi literature, established printing presses, and is universally recognized as the "Father of Hindi Poetry" in the Varanasi region.
Q.52Medium
The Bahmani Sultanate, which significantly influenced Deccan history, had its capital initially at which city before shifting to Bidar?
Answer: A
The Bahmani Sultanate was established in 1347 with Gulbarga (modern Kalaburagi) as its first capital. It was later shifted to Bidar in 1424 by Ahmad Shah Bahmani.
Q.53Medium
Which river, originating in the Vindhya Range and flowing through UP, is considered one of the major tributaries of the Yamuna?
Answer: A
The Betwa River originates in the Vindhya Range in Madhya Pradesh and flows through UP before joining the Yamuna near Hamirpur. It is a significant tributary of the Yamuna.
Q.54Medium
Which UP district is the largest producer of sugarcane in India and hosts several sugar mills?
Answer: B
Muzaffarnagar district in western UP is one of the largest sugarcane-producing regions in India, with numerous sugar mills and distilleries contributing significantly to the state's economy.
Q.55Medium
Which city in Uttar Pradesh was selected as one of the host cities for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023?
Answer: C
Understanding:
The question asks which UP city hosted matches during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
Step 1: Identifying the venue
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow was selected as one of the ten official venues for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, held across India.
Step 2: Eliminating other options
Kanpur's Green Park Stadium and Varanasi have not hosted ICC World Cup 2023 matches. Agra does not have an international cricket stadium.
Answer:
Lucknow was the UP city that hosted ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 matches.
Lucknow
Quick Tip:
Ekana Stadium in Lucknow is one of India's newest international cricket venues, inaugurated in 2017, making it a frequent current-affairs topic for UPPSC.
Q.56Medium
The UP government launched 'Mission Shakti' primarily to address which issue?
Answer: B
Understanding:
The question asks about the primary objective of Uttar Pradesh's 'Mission Shakti' campaign.
Step 1: About Mission Shakti
Mission Shakti was launched by the Uttar Pradesh government in October 2020 under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. It is a state-level campaign focused on women's safety, security, self-reliance and empowerment. It aims to make women aware of their rights and the legal mechanisms available to them.
Step 2: Distinguishing from other schemes
Solar energy promotion is handled by separate schemes. Skill development for youth is covered under 'Kaushal Vikas' programmes. Irrigation schemes operate under a different framework entirely.
Answer:
Mission Shakti was launched to ensure women's safety, security and empowerment in Uttar Pradesh.
Women’s safety, security and empowerment
Quick Tip:
Mission Shakti has multiple phases and includes activities like self-defence training, legal aid camps and awareness drives — details frequently appear in UPPSC current affairs questions.
Q.57Medium
Which Uttar Pradesh city was officially granted the status of a 'Smart City' under the Smart Cities Mission and also hosted the G20 Development Working Group meeting in 2023?
Answer: C
Understanding:
The question asks which UP city is both a Smart City Mission participant and hosted a G20 Development Working Group meeting in 2023.
Step 1: Smart Cities in UP
Several UP cities are part of the Smart Cities Mission, including Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj.
Step 2: G20 meetings in UP (2023)
During India's G20 Presidency in 2023, Varanasi hosted the Development Working Group (DWG) meeting. The city's cultural heritage and infrastructure made it a preferred venue, and Prime Minister Modi's parliamentary constituency adds to its prominence in national events.
Step 3: Combining both criteria
Varanasi uniquely satisfies both conditions: it is a designated Smart City and it hosted the G20 DWG meeting in 2023.
Answer:
Varanasi is the UP city that is a Smart City Mission participant and hosted the G20 Development Working Group meeting in 2023.
Varanasi
Quick Tip:
Varanasi hosted multiple G20 side events during India's presidency, making it a high-frequency topic for UPPSC 2024 current affairs.
Q.58Medium
The Uttar Pradesh government signed a landmark agreement with which country to establish an industrial township in the Greater Noida region, announced prominently during the UP Global Investors Summit 2023?
Answer: A
Understanding:
The question asks about the country that signed an agreement with UP for an industrial township near Greater Noida, highlighted at the UP Global Investors Summit 2023.
Step 1: UP Global Investors Summit 2023
The UP Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2023 was held in Lucknow in February 2023. It attracted investment pledges worth over ₹33 lakh crore and featured participation from several countries.
Step 2: Japan-UP Industrial Township
Japan has been partnering with India for the development of the Japan Industrial Township near Greater Noida (Yamuna Expressway region) under the Japan-India Industrial Township (JIIT) project. This agreement and its progress were prominently highlighted during GIS 2023.
Step 3: Eliminating alternatives
While South Korea and Singapore have investments in India, neither signed a specific industrial township deal with UP at GIS 2023. The Netherlands was not part of such an agreement.
Answer:
Japan signed the landmark industrial township agreement with UP highlighted at the Global Investors Summit 2023.
Japan
Quick Tip:
The Japan Industrial Township (JIIT) near Greater Noida is part of the broader Japan-India industrial corridor initiative — a recurring theme in investment-related current affairs questions for UP exams.
Q.59Medium
Which UP-based institute was granted the status of 'Institute of National Importance' by the Parliament of India through an amendment in 2023, elevating it to the level of an IIT?
Answer: C
Understanding:
The question asks which UP-based institution was accorded 'Institute of National Importance' status through parliamentary legislation in 2023.
Step 1: Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT)
RGIPT, located in Jais, Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, was established in 2008 as a premier petroleum-sector institution. Parliament passed the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (Amendment) Act, 2023, granting it the status of an 'Institute of National Importance' on par with IITs.
Step 2: Other options
MNNIT Prayagraj already held the NIT status (National Institute of Technology). HBTU Kanpur and AKTU Lucknow are state universities governed by UP state law, not Parliament. Neither received this status in 2023.
Answer:
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Rae Bareli was granted Institute of National Importance status by Parliament in 2023.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Rae Bareli
Quick Tip:
RGIPT is India's only institution dedicated to the petroleum sector that now carries Institute of National Importance status — a unique fact that makes it highly likely to appear in UPPSC and other state-level exams.
Q.60Medium
The Uttar Pradesh government launched 'One District One Product (ODOP)' scheme to boost local industries. Which product is associated with Moradabad under this scheme?
Answer: B
Understanding:
The question asks which product represents Moradabad under UP's One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
Step 1: About ODOP
The One District One Product scheme was launched by the UP government in January 2018 to promote and export traditional products unique to each district, thereby boosting local livelihoods and GI-tagged crafts.
Step 2: Moradabad's product
Moradabad is globally known as 'Brass City' or 'Peetal Nagri'. Its intrinsic identity under ODOP is brassware — metal handicrafts, decorative items and utensils that are exported worldwide. It contributes significantly to UP's export earnings.
Step 3: Other districts
Terracotta is associated with Gorakhpur; Firozabad is known for glassware; Agra is associated with leather goods.
Answer:
Moradabad is associated with brassware under the ODOP scheme.
Brassware
Quick Tip:
Remembering the ODOP product-district pairing is a reliable source of marks in UPPSC current affairs: Firozabad → Glass, Agra → Leather, Moradabad → Brass, Gorakhpur → Terracotta.
