12 – UPSC Prelims Tricks: How to Make the Best Out of a Bad Bargain

Last Updated on May 12, 2025 by Admin

Introduction

The UPSC Civil Services Prelims exam is known for throwing questions that even well-prepared candidates find unfamiliar. In such situations, smart reasoning and elimination techniques can help you make an educated guess – essentially making the best out of a bad bargain. Below, we discuss 10 proven strategies to tackle Prelims questions using logic when you are unsure of the answer. Each trick is explained with its underlying logic and followed by a real example from recent UPSC Prelims papers to demonstrate how it works in practice.

If you’ve been preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination for some time, chances are that you already know – or at least have heard of – many of the logical tricks and elimination strategies discussed in this article. Perhaps you’ve even used some of them while solving mock tests or past year questions. However, what often remains missing is a systematic understanding of when and how to apply them. That’s why we strongly recommend going through this article in full. It is not merely a list of tips – it is an attempt to organise these scattered insights into a structured format so that you can consciously recognise and apply them under real exam pressure, when it matters the most.

1. Identifying Extreme Statements

The Logic: Statements that use absolute words like “always,” “never,” “none,” “only,” etc., are typically extreme and leave no room for exceptions. UPSC rarely frames correct statements in such rigid terms, because just one counterexample can make them false. By default, treat extreme statements with skepticism – they are often incorrect unless you know a clear factual proof otherwise. This trick works because UPSC examiners avoid indefensible claims; an absolute statement is hard to always justify and thus usually intended to be wrong.

Example (UPSC Prelims 2022): A question on nanotechnology gave the statement: “Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature.” This is a sweeping claim – essentially saying no nanoparticles occur naturally. With basic science knowledge, one can suspect this is false:

In Prelims, when you spot an extreme phrase, it’s usually a red flag that the statement won’t hold up to real-world evidence.

2. Trusting Generic Statements

The Logic: The opposite of extreme statements are generic statements – those using words like “some,” “often,” “can,” or “likely.” These are broad, non-absolute claims that allow for exceptions. UPSC often uses such balanced wording for correct statements because they are hard to disprove. A vague, general statement is safer for the examiner – unless you know a specific contradiction, you should lean towards considering it true. In essence, when a statement sounds cautiously worded, it’s probably designed to be correct.

Example (UPSC Prelims 2023): One question listed four statements about mushrooms, each beginning with “Some mushrooms have…,” followed by medicinal properties, psychoactive properties, insecticidal properties, and bioluminescent properties. All these statements are generic – using “some” – which makes them plausible. It would be risky for UPSC to claim no mushroom has such properties, since at least one example of each likely exists in nature. As expected, the answer was that all four statements are correct.

Another question in 2023 stated, “Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change.” The phrase “likely to be” is cautiously optimistic, not definitive. An aspirant applying this trick would trust the statement – and would be right, as it turned out to be correct.

In summary, unless a generic statement contradicts well-known facts, give it the benefit of the doubt.

3. Finding Contradictions in Paired Statements

The Logic: Sometimes a question contains two statements that essentially contradict each other. If both cannot logically be true at the same time, at least one of them is false. Identifying such internal contradictions can help eliminate wrong options quickly. This scenario is relatively rare, but when it occurs, it’s a gift – you’ve spotted a built-in clue. Compare the content of paired statements carefully: if one says “X is ancient” and another says “X was created in 20th century,” or if they assign conflicting origins or attributes to the same subject, you know one must be incorrect.

Example (UPSC Prelims 2014): A question on the Sattriya dance of Assam provided the following statements: (1) Sattriya is a combination of music, dance, and drama. (2) It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam. (3) It is based on classical ragas and talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.

Here, statements (2) and (3) raise a logical inconsistency. Sattriya is rooted in Assam’s Vaishnavite culture, which dates back centuries, whereas Tulsidas, Kabir, and Mirabai were saint-poets from North India. It’s unlikely that an indigenous Assamese dance tradition would be based on the songs of those North Indian bhakti saints – that would contradict the dance’s regional origins. Sensing this, you could conclude that one of these two statements is wrong, and it’s more plausible that the third statement (about Tulsidas/Kabir/Mirabai) is the odd one out.

In fact, the official answer was “1 and 2 only”, meaning the statement linking Sattriya to those poets was incorrect. Always cross-check paired statements for such discrepancies – you may get lucky at times

4. Applying Reverse Logic (Unfamiliar Info in a Known Topic)

The Logic: Reverse logic in this context means flipping your perspective: if a question mentions something completely unfamiliar within a topic you know well, that unfamiliar element is likely incorrect (or not associated with the answer you think). In other words, if you have diligently studied a subject and never encountered a particular term or fact mentioned in the question, there’s a good chance the question is pointing to something else. UPSC expects well-prepared candidates to be wary of odd combinations. Thus, when you see a known topic paired with a totally unknown term, apply reverse logic: the exam is hinting that the obvious known option is not the answer.

Example (UPSC Prelims 2020): A history question asked: “With reference to the history of India, ‘Ulgulan’ or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?” The options included major uprisings such as the Revolt of 1857, the Mappila Rebellion of 1921, the Indigo Revolt of 1859–60, and Birsa Munda’s revolt of 1899–1900.

Suppose you’ve extensively studied the Revolt of 1857 – a staple of Indian history – and not once came across the term “Ulgulan” (which means “great tumult”). That absence is telling. It’s unlikely that a prominent event like 1857 would have a significant nickname or description you never heard of. By reverse logic, you deduce that Ulgulan probably refers to a less familiar event.

The correct answer was indeed Birsa Munda’s 1899–1900 revolt. This technique saved you from the trap of picking the famous 1857 revolt.

Essentially, trust your preparation: if a purported fact in a well-trodden area of the syllabus seems alien, it’s probably there to mislead, and you should consider alternative answers.

5. Recognizing Regional or Linguistic Cues

The Logic: India’s diversity means names of people, places, magazines, etc., often carry regional linguistic signatures. If a question contains a name that hints at a particular language or region, use that clue to eliminate options that don’t fit. This trick comes in handy especially for history or culture questions (e.g. about personalities, movements, book names etc.) where the answer options belong to different regions. By matching the linguistic flavor of the name with the likely region of origin, you can zero in on the correct option.

Example (UPSC Prelims 2020): A question stated: “The ‘Vital-Vidhvansak’, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience, was published by ______?” The options were Gopal Baba Walangkar, Jyotiba Phule, Mohandas K. Gandhi, and B. R. Ambedkar.

The key clue here is the name “Vital-Vidhvansak”, if you have little knowledge, you can say that the term has a Marathi ring to it. Noticing this, a savvy candidate would recall that Mahatma Gandhi (Gujarati) as an answer is less likely.

Similarly, if you see a question about a scheme or place with, say, an Assamese-sounding name, the answer is likely something to do with Assam. Use these cues to eliminate options that don’t align. This approach turns your basic cultural knowledge into an elimination tool.

6. Using Common Sense and Everyday Logic

The Logic: Not all questions require textbook knowledge; some just test your common sense. These are usually general statements about the world, science, polity, or economy where an extreme or illogical claim can be spotted with basic reasoning. If a statement just “sounds wrong” in practical terms, trust your reasoning and consider eliminating it. Common-sense elimination often overlaps with identifying extreme statements, but it also includes scenarios where a little real-world reasoning goes a long way. Think about what normally happens or what would be feasible in reality.

Example 1 (Environment, UPSC 2022): A question asked: “Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi?” The choices were: Ant, Cockroach, Crab, Spider.

Even if you don’t remember the biology, you can use logic. Crabs live in aquatic or damp environments – it’s hard to imagine a crab farming fungus (fungi generally need decaying matter on land or plant material to cultivate). Spiders catch prey in webs and are not known to grow anything; the idea of a spider tending fungus is inconsistent with its predatory lifestyle. Eliminating crab and spider leaves ants and cockroaches. Cockroaches are scavengers and not famous for any symbiotic farming behavior. So, common sense points to ants – which indeed is correct, as certain ant species (like leaf-cutter ants) cultivate fungi for sustenance. Here, everyday knowledge about animal behavior helped solve a science question.

Example 2 (Polity, UPSC 2021): A statement in a citizenship question claimed, “A foreigner, once granted Indian citizenship, cannot be deprived of it under any circumstance.”

Even without knowing the citizenship law by heart, your common sense should tingle: can citizenship never be revoked? What if the person later commits terrorism or fraud? Governments usually retain some power to cancel citizenship obtained by naturalization (for extreme reasons like acting against national interests). The phrase “under any circumstance” is too absolute to be true. Recognizing this, you would label the statement false – correctly so, as Indian citizenship can indeed be revoked under certain conditions.

Another example: a question asked which factor is the “best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy.” One option was “centralization of power.” Intuitively, this is the opposite of what protects liberty – concentrating power in one authority usually endangers freedom rather than safeguards it. Thus you could confidently eliminate the “centralization of power” option just by understanding basic democratic principles, no fancy political theory needed. These instances show that if something strikes you as fundamentally unreasonable, it probably is. Trust your logic and eliminate those options.

7. Cross-Subject Inference

The Logic: UPSC loves to blend topics. A question might be about economics but require a bit of geography knowledge, or vice versa. Cross-subject inference is the art of using knowledge from one domain to inform an answer in another. If a statement in a question doesn’t directly ring a bell, ask yourself: “Does this make sense given what I know from other subjects?” Often, your understanding of history, geography, or general science can help eliminate or confirm statements in economics, environment, etc. This integrative reasoning showcases a well-rounded awareness, which UPSC rewards.

Example (Economy/Geography, UPSC Prelims 2020): Consider a question on India’s trade in South Asia with the following statement: “In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.”.

This is an economy-related statement, but think with some geography and current affairs: Nepal is a much smaller economy than Bangladesh. With that cross-subject inference, you can confidently judge the statement false.

Another statement in the same question was about Indo-Sri Lanka trade consistently increasing over the last decade. Even if you don’t recall exact figures, a bit of general awareness (perhaps from news about ups and downs in trade) plus the red flag of the word “consistently” can make you doubt an unbroken growth trend. A light application of historical knowledge – knowing Sri Lanka faced economic turbulence in the last decade – would reinforce that such a steady rise is unlikely (and indeed that statement was false as well).

The takeaway: use all the knowledge at your disposal, even from outside the subject of the question. Your understanding of demographics, regional politics, scientific facts, etc., can provide clues to eliminate or verify statements across disciplines.

8. Reading Hindi Translations (Bilingual Question Trick)

The Logic: The UPSC Prelims question paper is bilingual – every question and statement in English is also given in Hindi. If you are comfortable with Hindi, use this to your advantage. Sometimes the English version of a statement uses technical jargon or obscure names that don’t sound familiar. However, the Hindi translation might use a common term that you recognize. The Hindi text can thus provide a vital hint or clarify meaning. This trick only applies if you can read Hindi, but it’s extremely useful for certain questions on species, diseases, or historical terms where the local name reveals what the English is referring to.

Example (UPSC Prelims 2023): A question included a scientific name – niger seeds (Guizotia abyssinica) – and asked about its cultivation and usage. If you only read the English version, the term “niger” might not immediately register as a familiar crop. However, the Hindi translation clearly referred to it as “काले तिल”, which many recognize as a type of oilseed familiar in rural Indian households. The third statement about tribal communities using its oil for cooking suddenly made more sense when seen in Hindi.

Similarly, this also gives you a room to judge the first statement in question, mentioning that the Government of India provides MSP for these seeds.

All three statements were correct, and recognizing the common name “काले तिल” in Hindi helped bridge the gap for those unfamiliar with the botanical term. This reinforces why scanning both language versions of a question can provide clarity, especially when the English version uses technical or unfamiliar terminology.

The lesson: whenever you’re unsure about a term in English, check the Hindi – it might simplify or reveal the meaning. “It’s a free clue that many ignore.

9. Understanding the Examiner’s Mindset

The Logic: Step into the shoes of the UPSC exam-setter. UPSC is a public institution that strives to be fair and avoid controversy. This means they generally avoid questions or official answers that could be proven blatantly wrong or land them in litigation. The examiners know that if an answer is debatable, coaching institutes and candidates will challenge it. So, they craft statements carefully. This meta-strategy isn’t about a single type of content but about tone. It reinforces why extreme statements are usually false and generic ones true – because UPSC must be able to defend the correctness of a statement in all cases. Thus, if you see a statement and wonder, “Can UPSC justify this answer if someone brings a counterexample?”, you are applying the examiner’s mindset. If the answer is “probably not,” then UPSC likely made that statement false.

Example: Revisit the earlier example of mushrooms having certain properties. One of the statements was “Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.” Imagine if UPSC decided to mark this statement as false (meaning “no mushroom has psychoactive properties”). It would take only a single reference to some mushroom specie that is psychoactive, to prove UPSC wrong.

Broadly, this mindset tells you: UPSC doesn’t gamble on fringe cases. If a statement could possibly be true (especially in science or environment) and denying it outright might open a can of worms, they will allow it as true.

Use this understanding as a guiding principle. When torn between two options, ask which one aligns with a sensible, defensible stance an examiner would take. This higher-level insight can tip the scales when content knowledge isn’t enough.

10. Understanding the Government’s Perspective

The Logic: Many UPSC questions, especially in polity, economy, and schemes, revolve around what the government has done or would logically do. Here, try to channel the government’s perspective or intention. The idea is that official policies and decisions usually follow a certain rationale – typically aiming for public welfare, economic prudence, or political feasibility. If a statement in a question describes a policy decision that seems to clash with the general orientation of the government or is unrealistic for a government to implement, treat that statement with doubt. Think: “Would the government actually say or do this?” This approach helps in elimination when statements are about criteria, objectives, or targets of governmental schemes and commissions.

Example (UPSC Prelims 2020 – 15th Finance Commission Question): The 15th Finance Commission’s recommendations were given as a multi-statement question. One of the statements (a supposed criterion used by the Commission) was: “Stable government (political stability of states) was considered as a criterion for revenue devolution.”

Now, consider the government’s perspective: Would a high constitutional body like a Finance Commission openly use political stability of a state as a criterion to allocate funds? That would mean punishing states just for having changes in government – a highly controversial and subjective measure. It’s also against the principle of fairness, since states can’t always control political flux. Moreover, how do you even quantify stability? It sounds implausible and against government norms to have such a criterion.

If you understood the government’s mindset, you’d conclude this is not something they would include. And you’d be correct – “stable government” was not a criterion used by the 15th Finance Commission. The actual criteria were things like population, tax effort, etc., not political stability. By thinking like a policy-maker, you eliminated a trap.

Nine times out of ten, UPSC will align correct answers with what a reasonable, welfare-oriented government stance would be. This doesn’t mean the government never does odd things, but in exam statements, assume a rational, publicly justifiable government action as the truth. Use this perspective to sniff out statements that “just wouldn’t make sense” if you were in the government’s shoes making that decision.

Conclusion: Comprehensive Preparation is Key

These ten tricks – from spotting extreme language to channelling the examiner’s or government’s mindset – can be powerful tools in your UPSC Prelims arsenal. They help you make educated guesses and eliminate wrong options when you are unsure of the answer.

However, it must be emphasized that these strategies are supplementary. There is no substitute for thorough preparation and a solid grasp of concepts across the syllabus. You should not rely on tricks alone to clear the exam. Use them to enhance your performance on the margin, or eliminate at least one statement from the options.

Remember that for every question where logic can come to the rescue, there will be many that require direct knowledge. Also, be mindful of exceptions: once in a blue moon, an extreme-sounding statement might actually be true because it’s directly lifted from a law or an unusual fact, and occasionally a generic statement could be false. Such cases are rare, but they remind us that blind application of tricks can misfire.

The smart approach is to integrate these techniques into your practice now. While doing mock tests or past papers, consciously apply these logical filters and see if the outcomes align with correct answers. Over time, you’ll develop an intuition for when a question can be cracked with reasoning and when it’s safer to skip. On exam day, a combination of knowledge and logic will serve you best. Work to master the syllabus, and use these tricks as your safety net for the uncertain moments. With comprehensive preparation as the foundation and logical elimination as a supporting tool, you truly can make the best out of a bad bargain in UPSC Prelims. Good luck!