Topic Buoyancy
Asked 26 times across 5 UPSC exams over 47 years (1979–2026), peaking in 2025.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 11 of 26 PYQs
- Most asked in 2025
- Recurs across 16 years (1979–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1979 → CDS 2019 → EPFO 2020 → NDA 2021 → GEO 2023
How the concept evolved
179
181
182
285
286
288
189
190
119
120
121
222
323
224
325
226
Rising — more than half its appearances (15 of 26) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
NDA2026
A floating body is in stable state. Which one of the following is correct?
- A The centre of gravity of the body is above its centre of buoyancy.
- B The centre of gravity of the body is below its centre of buoyancy.
- C The centre of gravity of the body coincides with its centre of buoyancy.
- D The centre of gravity of the body is below the metacentre. ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
GEO2026
A block of wood floats in water with 3/4th of its volume submerged. The same block floats in another fluid with 2/3rd of its volume submerged. What is the specific gravity of the fluid?
- A 3/4
- B 4/3
- C 9/8
- D 8/9
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
CDS2025
A body floats in a liquid if the buoyant force is :
- A equal to its weight. ✓
- B less than its weight.
- C greater than its weight.
- D zero.
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
Study how UPSC repeats — not just the papers
₹199 / 1 year · Founding Member
Full access unlocks the three things no PYQ PDF gives you:
① Cross-exam learning — see the same idea recur across CSE, CAPF, CDS and NDA.
② Topic evolution — how each idea is framed, year by year.
③ Question intelligence — every PYQ + answer, linked to related concepts and similar questions.
e.g. Round Table Conference: CDS 2017 → CSE 2017 → … → CAPF 2024
15 days free, no card required — then ₹199 for 1 year.
Start your 15-day free trial →