Home / Topic / Gravitational waves
Topic Gravitational waves
Asked 5 times across 5 UPSC exams over 8 years (2016–2024), peaking in 2019.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 1 of 5 PYQs
- First appeared in CAPF 2016 — 3 years before CSE 2019 (allied exams preview CSE)
- Most asked in 2019
- Recurs across 5 years (2016–2024)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CAPF 2016 → CDS 2017 → CSE 2019 → GEO 2022 → NDA 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (5 of 5) 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.
NDA2024
LIGO experiment confirmed one of the predictions of:
- A String theory
- B Special theory of relativity
- C Quantum mechanics
- D General theory of relativity ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
GEO2022
The characteristics of gravitational waves that make them difficult to detect are
- A long wavelength and high energy
- B long wavelength and low energy ✓
- C short wavelength and high energy
- D short wavelength and low energy
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
CSE2019
Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation?
- A 'Higgs boson particles' were detected.
- B 'Gravitational waves' were detected. ✓
- C Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through 'wormhole' was confirmed.
- D It enabled the scientists to understand 'singularity'.
✓ Correct answer: (B)
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 →