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Topic Earth's interior
Asked 7 times across 5 UPSC exams over 15 years (2009–2024), peaking in 2023.
Key insights
- Most tested in NDA — 3 of 7 PYQs
- Most asked in 2023
- Recurs across 6 years (2009–2024)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2009 → CDS 2014 → NDA 2021 → CBI 2023 → GEO 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (5 of 7) 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.
GEO2024
Which one of the following is the thinnest layer of the Earth ?
- A Inner Core
- B Outer Core
- C Mantle
- D Crust ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Geology & Earth Sciences › Geophysics
NDA2023
Which one of the following is found in the innermost part of the Earth?
- A Conrad discontinuity
- B Moho discontinuity
- C Guttenberg discontinuity
- D Lehmann discontinuity ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Geography › Geomorphology
CBI2023
Consider the following statements with respect to the 'asthenosphere'
- It extends from the lower crust to the upper mantle
- It is the main source of the magma that finds its way to the surface of the Earth during volcanic eruptions
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only
- B 2 only ✓
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Geography › Geomorphology
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