Home / Topic / Seismic waves
Topic Seismic waves
Asked 10 times across 3 UPSC exams over 37 years (1989–2026), peaking in 2023.
Key insights
- Most tested in NDA — 6 of 10 PYQs
- Most asked in 2023
- Recurs across 6 years (1989–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1989 → NDA 2021 → CDS 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (9 of 10) 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.
NDA2026
Consider the following statements
- Earthquake waves are basically of two types, namely body waves and surface waves
- The body waves interact with the surface rocks and generate surface waves
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A I only
- B II only
- C Both I and II ✓
- D Neither I nor II
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Geomorphology
NDA2026
Consider the following statements
- In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves
- In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A I only
- B II only
- C Both I and II ✓
- D Neither I nor II
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Geomorphology
CDS2025
Consider the following statements with reference to Secondary waves (S-Waves) generated during an earthquake
- They create troughs and crests in the material through which they pass
- The direction of vibrations of S-waves is perpendicular to the wave direction in the vertical plane
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2 ✓
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Geomorphology
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 →