Home / Topic / Microscopy
Topic Microscopy
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 5 years (2019–2024), peaking in 2019.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 2 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 2019
- Recurs across 2 years (2019–2024)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2019 → NDA 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 3) 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
Which of the following is not a part of compound microscope?
- A Mirror
- B Stage
- C Clip
- D Retina ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Science & Technology › Biology & Health
CDS2019
Magnification is
- A actual size of specimen / observed size
- B observed size of specimen / actual size
- C actual size of specimen - observed size ✓
- D actual size of specimen × observed size
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Biology & Health
CDS2019
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of passage of light in a compound microscope?
- A Condenser—Objective lens—Eyepiece—Body tube
- B Objective lens—Condenser—Body tube—Eyepiece
- C Condenser—Objective lens—Body tube—Eyepiece ✓
- D Eyepiece—Objective lens—Body tube—Mirror
✓ Correct answer: (C)
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 →