Topic Soil pH
Asked 3 times across 3 UPSC exams over 29 years (1993–2022), peaking in 1993.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 1 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 1993
- Recurs across 3 years (1993–2022)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1993 → CDS 2016 → GEO 2022
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.
GEO2022
Eagle fern, horsetail, chrysanthemum grow well in
- A acidic soil ✓
- B extremely alkaline soil
- C neutral soil
- D highly alkaline soil
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Environment & Ecology › Ecology & Ecosystems
CDS2016
Dolomite powder is applied in some agricultural lands. The purpose of applying it is to
- A increase the pH of the soil ✓
- B lower the pH of the soil
- C increase the phosphorus content of the soil
- D increase the nitrogen content of the soil
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Agriculture › Soils & Inputs
CSE1993
A fertile-soil, suitable for growing co1mnon crops, is likely to have a pH value of
- A three
- B four
- C six to seven ✓
- D nine to ten
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Agriculture › Soils & Inputs
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