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Topic Microbiology
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 30 years (1993–2023), peaking in 2021.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 2 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 2021
- Recurs across 3 years (1993–2023)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1993 → NDA 2023
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (2 of 3) are since 2016.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
NDA2023
An important cause of tooth decay by the bacterium Streptococcus mutans is because of their ability to attach to teeth surface by producing slime layer from
- A Sugar ✓
- B Alcohol
- C Saliva
- D Teichoic acid
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Biology & Health
CSE2021
Consider the following
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Virus
Which of the above can be cultured in artificial/synthetic medium?
- A 1 and 2 only ✓
- B 2 and 3 only
- C 1 and 3 only
- D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Biology & Health
CSE1993
Biofilms are
- A colour films used by biologists to photograph living organisms
- B photomicrographs of microorganisms from various habitats
- C accumulations of microorganisms at surfaces such as those of a rock, a tooth or an oil droplet ✓
- D photographic films made through fermentation processes of certain industrial microorganisms
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Biology & Health
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