Topic Heredity
Asked 8 times across 5 UPSC exams over 15 years (2011–2026), peaking in 2026.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 2 of 8 PYQs
- Most asked in 2026
- Recurs across 5 years (2011–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2011 → CDS 2021 → NDA 2023 → CAPF 2024 → CISF 2026
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (7 of 8) 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.
CDS2026
A world chess champion has curly hair, attached earlobes and freckles. Which one of the following traits is not likely to be passed on to his/her offsprings ?
- A Chess skills ✓
- B Curly hair
- C Attached earlobes
- D Freckles
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Biotech & Genetics
CISF2026
Which one of the following statements is the most appropriate with regards to the inheritance of traits in a normal human individual?
- A Each trait is influenced by the maternal DNA.
- B Each trait is influenced by the paternal DNA.
- C Each trait is influenced by both the paternal and the maternal DNA.
- D Each trait is influenced more by the maternal DNA and less by the paternal DNA.
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Science & Technology › Biology & Health
CISF2026
Which one of the following pairs of scientists and their contributions is correctly matched?
- A Charles Darwin : Laws of Inheritance
- B Gregor Mendel : Natural Selection
- C Ernst Mayr : Biological Species Concept
- D R.H. Whittaker : Six-Kingdom Classification
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Science & Technology › Biology & Health
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