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Topic Cement chemistry
Asked 2 times across 2 UPSC exams over 33 years (1992–2025), peaking in 1992.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 1 of 2 PYQs
- Most asked in 1992
- Recurs across 2 years (1992–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1992 → GEO 2025
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (1 of 2) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
GEO2025
Which one among the following constituents of cement is responsible for initial setting?
- A Calcium sulphate
- B Dicalcium silicate
- C Tricalcium aluminate ✓
- D Tetracalcium alumina ferrate
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
CSE1992
Gypsum is added to cement clinker to
- A Increase the tensile strength of the cement
- B Bind the particles of calcium silicate
- C Decrease the rate of setting of cement ✓
- D Facilitate the formation of colloidal gel
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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