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Topic Electric circuits
Asked 6 times across 4 UPSC exams over 44 years (1981–2025), peaking in 2024.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 2 of 6 PYQs
- Most asked in 2024
- Recurs across 5 years (1981–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1981 → CDS 2022 → GEO 2024 → NDA 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (5 of 6) 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.
GEO2025
For a given system of resistors having resistances R, 2R, R₀ and 2R (shown in the figure), what will be the value of resistance of the resistor R₀, when there is NO current in the galvanometer G?
- A R₀ = 0
- B R₀ = R
- C R₀ = 2R
- D R₀ = 4R ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
NDA2024
In which one among the following situations, the bulb would glow the most ? (Consider all batteries are the same) [Four circuit diagram options with bulbs and batteries]
- A Circuit (a)
- B Circuit (b)
- C Circuit (c)
- D Circuit (d) ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
GEO2024
Shown in the circuit is a 20 V battery connected to an arrangement of four resistors. If the potential difference between points P and Q in the circuit is zero then :
- A R = 2 Ω
- B R = 8 Ω
- C R = 18 Ω ✓
- D R = 4 Ω
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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