Backtest · UPSC Prelims 2021
2021 paper — every CA question, every source, every rank.
The 22 Current Affairs questions from UPSC Prelims GS-1 2021. For each question
with a verifiable PIB source, we show our engine's rank in that week's basket — click any PRID to
open the original PIB release and verify the mapping yourself.
Exam date: 10 October 2021
Backtested — 10 question(s) with English PIB source
Q52
Palm oil
Hit · rank 1
Palm oil origin (SE Asia), industrial uses (cosmetics), biodiesel use
Trigger event
National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) approved by Cabinet Aug 18, 2021
2021-08-18
Ministry
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
PIB hit · full
PIB source
released 2021-08-18
Rank in week's basket
1 of 75
top 100%
PIB title: Cabinet approves implementation of National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm
Depth vs. question: PIB covered fully
Notes: Excellent PIB hit - just 53 days before exam. NMEO-OP cabinet approval was a major news event.
Whether Global Ocean Commission licenses seabed mining (no, it's ISA); whether India has seabed exploration license (yes); whether rare earths on seafloor (yes)
Trigger event
Deep Ocean Mission approved by Cabinet on June 16, 2021
2021-06-16
Ministry
Ministry of Earth Sciences
PIB hit · full
PIB source
released 2021-06-16
Rank in week's basket
1 of 34
top 100%
PIB title: Cabinet approves Deep Ocean Mission
Depth vs. question: PIB covered fully
Notes: Deep Ocean Mission cabinet approval is the obvious trigger. PIB release covers polymetallic nodules exploration in CIOB with ISA.
Whether these vaccines use genetic engineering (yes); whether bacteria and viruses are vectors (yes)
Trigger event
COVID-19 vaccines context — Covishield is a recombinant viral vector vaccine; Sputnik V also vector-based
2020-12 to 2021
Ministry
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
PIB hit · full
PIB source
released 2021-01-03
Rank in week's basket
1 of 45
top 100%
PIB title: Press Statement by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Restricted Emergency approval of COVID-19 virus vaccine
Depth vs. question: PIB covered fully
Notes: DCGI restricted emergency approval of Covishield (recombinant ChAdOx1) and Covaxin in Jan 2021 covered by PIB.
Motto 'A New World' (false — it was 'United by Emotion'); new sports inclusion (true)
Trigger event
Tokyo Olympics July 23 - Aug 8, 2021
2021-07-23
Ministry
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
PIB hit · full
PIB source
released 2021-07-23
Rank in week's basket
3 of 47
top 96%
PIB title: Year End Review: Department of Sports
Depth vs. question: PIB covered partially
Notes: PIB Year-End Review and multiple releases covered Indian contingent at Tokyo Olympics. Specific motto detail likely from IOC website / sports press.
Q73
ACE2 receptor
Hit · rank 6
Context of ACE2 — answer: spread of viral diseases (SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor)
Trigger event
COVID-19 pandemic research throughout 2020-21
2020-03 onwards
Ministry
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Ministry of Science & Technology
PIB hit · partial
PIB source
released 2020-12-22
Rank in week's basket
6 of 50
top 90%
PIB title: Ministry of Health issued Standard Operating Procedure for Epidemiological Surveillance and Response in the context of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in United Kingdom
Depth vs. question: PIB mentioned but UPSC went deeper
Notes: ACE2 is mentioned in some PIB COVID science releases but the receptor concept itself is from biomedical literature. UPSC inference: any aware student gets it via 'spread of viral diseases'.
Which grass used in natural mosquito repellent — lemongrass
Trigger event
CSIR Aroma Mission promoting lemongrass farming, PM mentioned in Mann Ki Baat 2020 (Manipur farmer)
2020-08-30
Ministry
Ministry of Science and Technology (CSIR)
PIB hit · full
PIB source
released 2020-08-30
Rank in week's basket
8 of 49
top 85%
PIB title: In Mann ki Baat, PM praises Apps developed under AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge
Depth vs. question: PIB covered fully
Notes: PM Modi praised lemongrass farmer in Aug 30, 2020 Mann Ki Baat; CSIR Aroma Mission heavily covered by PIB in 2020-21.
Whether these are Article 18(1) titles (no); whether Padma Awards suspended only once (no — twice); whether Bharat Ratna max 5/year (no — max 3)
Trigger event
Padma Awards 2021 announced January 25, 2021 (Republic Day eve)
2021-01-25
Ministry
Ministry of Home Affairs
PIB hit · full
PIB source
released 2021-01-25
Rank in week's basket
8 of 72
top 90%
PIB title: Padma Awards 2021 announced
Depth vs. question: PIB covered partially
Notes: PIB announced Padma Awards 2021 list. Trick statements 1/2/3 are general civics/legal knowledge — Supreme Court Balaji Raghavan case (1996) decides Art 18 question.
What Bollgard I and II are — GM crop technology
Trigger event
Recurring Bt cotton debate; herbicide-tolerant Bollgard II RRF (HTBt) field trials and patent disputes in news 2020-21
2020-2021
Ministry
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (GEAC); Ministry of Agriculture
PIB hit · partial
PIB source
released 2020-09-14
Rank in week's basket
9 of 50
top 84%
PIB title: Study on Cultivation of GM Crops
Depth vs. question: PIB covered partially
Notes: PIB has discussed Bt cotton generically, brand names Bollgard I/II not standard in govt releases. Topic is essentially static biotech.
Whether 21 Feb is declared by UNICEF (statement 1, false — UNESCO did); whether Bangla national language demand in Pakistan CA
Trigger event
International Mother Language Day Feb 21 2021 observance
2021-02-21
Ministry
Ministry of Education
PIB hit · partial
PIB source
released 2021-02-21
Rank in week's basket
24 of 32
top 26%
PIB title: The Case for Rapid Vaccination of India -- and the Rest of the World
Depth vs. question: PIB covered partially
Notes: PIB has covered IMLD around Feb 21 each year but does not explicitly say 'declared by UNESCO not UNICEF'; UPSC's trick on UNICEF vs UNESCO is general knowledge.
Which ministry is nodal for FRA 2006 implementation — Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Trigger event
Recurring policy / parliament Q&A; FRA Section 11 designates Ministry of Tribal Affairs as nodal
ongoing
Ministry
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
PIB hit · full
PIB source
released 2020-03-18
Rank in week's basket
51 of 67
top 24%
PIB title: Research and Development Centres for Ayurveda And Siddha
Depth vs. question: PIB covered fully
Notes: Ministry of Tribal Affairs is repeatedly identified as FRA nodal in PIB releases.
Skipped — 4 source release was not in English
These questions did map to a PIB PRID, but the release was published only in a regional-language edition. Our pipeline filters baskets to English, so we did not rank these in the backtest. The question and PRID are still listed for transparency.
What R2 Code of Practices promotes — answer: environmentally responsible electronics recycling
Trigger event
E-waste rules and certifications in news; SUSTAINABLE Electronics Recycling International (SERI) R2v3 launched globally; India's E-Waste Rules 2016 in news in 2020-21
2020-2021
Ministry
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
PIB hit · partial
PIB source
released 2020-09-01
Rank in week's basket
source not English (lang detect, prid=1648971)
PIB title: பிரதமரின் ஜன் தன் கணக்கு நிதி அதிகாரமளித்தலை வழங்கியுள்ளது
Depth vs. question: PIB covered partially
Notes: PIB has covered e-waste recycling, but the specific R2 Code (a private US-based certification, not a government scheme) was not named by PIB. UPSC sourced from international environmental press.
Q31
Chausath Yogini Temple, Morena
Skipped — non-English source
Facts about the 11th-c. circular Kachchhapaghata temple and its supposed inspiration for Parliament building
Trigger event
New Parliament building announcement (Dec 2020 Bhumi Pujan by PM) revived discussion about its architectural inspiration
2020-12-10
Ministry
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
PIB hit · partial
PIB source
released 2020-12-10
Rank in week's basket
source not English (lang detect, prid=1680174)
PIB title: ماہ اکتوبر ، 2020 کے لیے صنعتی پیداوار کے عدداشاریے اور استعمال پر مبنی عدد اشاریے کا فوری تخمینہ (بنیاد 2011-12=100)
Depth vs. question: PIB covered partially
Notes: PIB covered Parliament bhumi pujan but not the temple connection specifically. UPSC drew from heritage/architecture press coverage.
Q47
INA officers (Shah Nawaz Khan, Sehgal, Dhillon)
Skipped — non-English source
Who were these three figures — INA officers tried at Red Fort 1945-46
Trigger event
75th anniversary of Red Fort INA trials (Nov 2020-May 2021); govt declared Jan 23 as Parakram Diwas in 2021
2021-01-23
Ministry
Ministry of Culture
PIB hit · full
PIB source
released 2021-01-19
Rank in week's basket
source not English (lang detect, prid=1690291)
PIB title: పశ్చిమ బంగాల్ లో జల్పాయీగుడీ లోని ధూప్ గుడీ లో రోడ్డు ప్రమాదం కారణం గా ప్రాణ నష్టం సంభవించడం పట్ల సంతాపం తెలిపిన ప్రధాన మంత్రి; పిఎమ్ఎన్ఆర్ఎఫ్ నుంచి అనుగ్రహపూర్వక రాశి చెల్లింపు ఉంటుందని ఆయన ప్రకటించారు
Depth vs. question: PIB covered fully
Notes: Parakram Diwas declaration on Bose's 125th birth anniversary, plus 75th anniversary of INA trials, both received heavy PIB coverage in Jan 2021.
Whether UNCDF and Arbor Day Foundation recognized Hyderabad (false: it was FAO not UNCDF); whether for urban forest commitment (true)
Trigger event
Hyderabad recognized as 2020 Tree City of the World by FAO + Arbor Day Foundation; announcement Feb 2021
2021-02-16
Ministry
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
PIB hit · partial
PIB source
released 2021-02-16
Rank in week's basket
source not English (lang detect, prid=1698968)
PIB title: ٹرائیفیڈ کا ویلیج اور ڈیجیٹل کنکیٹ- قبائلی عوام کے ساتھ رابطے کا قیام
Depth vs. question: PIB covered partially
Notes: Telangana state govt + Hyderabad municipal corp announced this. PIB had Hyderabad mentioned but the trick (UNCDF vs FAO) requires close reading of the original announcement.
No PIB anchor — 8 question(s) sourced from elsewhere
These questions did not have a verifiable PIB source. They came from RBI / SEBI / Supreme Court / international press / ministry-website notifications. pibtracker does not claim to catch these — they are listed here so you can see the full universe of 2021–2026 CA questions, not just the ones we score.
Q14
WaterCredit
Not in backtest
Whether WaterCredit uses microfinance for water/sanitation; whether launched under WHO+World Bank; whether aimed at making poor independent of subsidies.
Trigger event
WaterCredit by Water.org global microfinance initiative; in news around 2020-2021 for COVID-era water access via Indian MFIs
2020-04
Depth vs. question: no PIB
Notes: WaterCredit is a Water.org NGO initiative, not government-backed. PIB has not covered the specific program by name. UPSC likely sourced from environment news / NGO press.
Q19
Blue carbon
Not in backtest
What is blue carbon — carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems
Trigger event
Conservation International + IUCN Blue Carbon Initiative, mangrove restoration in Sundarbans; concept in news through 2020-21 climate discussions
2020-2021
Ministry
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
PIB hit · partial
Depth vs. question: PIB covered partially
Notes: Blue carbon mentioned in mangrove conservation PIB releases but as concept, not the precise definition UPSC asked. Term appears in climate science press.
Five facts about NYDF (endorsed 2014 UN Climate Summit; sets timeline to end forest loss; whether legally binding; signatories; India's role)
Trigger event
NYDF 2020 progress assessment published Sept 2020; came up before COP26 (Nov 2021)
2020-09
Depth vs. question: no PIB
Notes: India is NOT a signatory to NYDF. PIB does not cover this declaration. UPSC pulled this from international environmental news / Down to Earth coverage.
What CCM measures — answer: carbon footprint of building operations globally
Trigger event
UNEP-SBCI Common Carbon Metric; in news through 2020-21 in green building / IGBC discussions
pre-2020 concept; in news 2020-21
Depth vs. question: no PIB
Notes: Pure UNEP technical metric. No PIB coverage. UPSC sourced from international climate documentation.
CSV in India is CCAFS-led; CCAFS under CGIAR (HQ France); ICRISAT in India is CGIAR centre
Trigger event
CCAFS Phase-II programme ran 2017-2021; CGIAR One reform announced 2021; concept in news
2020-2021 ongoing
Depth vs. question: no PIB
Notes: PIB covers ICRISAT generically but the precise CCAFS-CGIAR-Climate Smart Village concept is from international agriculture research press.
Whether MRT before/after IVF can prevent mitochondrial disease transmission; whether mitochondrial diseases are maternally inherited
Trigger event
Three-parent baby technique; UK approval ongoing; topic recurrent in science news 2020-21
2020-2021
Depth vs. question: no PIB
Notes: Pure biology/biotech CA, no PIB trace. UPSC sourced from science press.
Year (2000), first winner (Tiger Woods — true), F1 dominance (false), Federer most wins (true)
Trigger event
Laureus Awards 2021 held May 6, 2021 (Rafael Nadal won Sportsman)
2021-05-06
Depth vs. question: no PIB
Notes: Pure international sports trivia — no PIB coverage of Laureus awards.
Whether finalists decided by matches won (false — it was Points Percentage); whether NZ ranked over ENG due to wins (false — same PCT logic)
Trigger event
WTC Final June 18-23, 2021 in Southampton (NZ won)
2021-06-23
Depth vs. question: no PIB
Notes: Pure cricket trivia. No PIB coverage of ICC rules/WTC qualifications.