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Topic Decomposers
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 10 years (2013–2023), peaking in 2013.
Key insights
- Most tested in GEO — 2 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 2013
- Recurs across 3 years (2013–2023)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2013 → GEO 2022
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (2 of 3) 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.
GEO2023
In which one of the following trophic structures of ecosystems, both fungi and bacteria occur?
- A Decomposer ✓
- B Autotroph
- C Heterotroph
- D Food web
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Environment & Ecology › Ecology & Ecosystems
GEO2022
Earthworm is a well-known example of
- A saprophage
- B coprophage
- C necrophage
- D geophage ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Environment & Ecology › Ecology & Ecosystems
CSE2013
With reference to the food chains in ecosystems, which of the following kinds of organism is/are known as decomposer organism/organisms?
- Virus
- Fungi
- Bacteria
- A 1 only
- B 2 and 3 only ✓
- C 1 and 3 only
- D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Environment & Ecology › Ecology & Ecosystems
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