2026 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

Question 37: History and Culture

Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct ?

  1. 1.They acted as army fortresses.
  2. 2.They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.
  3. 3.They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.
  4. 4.They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.

Select the answer using the code given below :

a1 only
b1 and 3
c3 only
d2 and 4

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Moidams are the mound-burial system of the Tai-Ahom dynasty at Charaideo in Assam, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024. They are vaulted chambers beneath earthen mounds in which Ahom kings, queens and nobles were buried with their belongings. They were burial grounds, not army fortresses, recreation spots or drill centres.

  • 1. They were funerary mounds, not army fortresses.
  • 2. They were not recreation centres.
  • 3. They were burial grounds of the Ahom royalty and nobles.
  • 4. They were not battle drill centres.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (b) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: They were funerary mounds, not army fortresses.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (d) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: They were not recreation centres.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statements 3 or 4.

This follows UPSC’s provisional key; the final key could change it.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: Moidams were not fortresses.
  • (b) Wrong: they were not fortresses, though they were burial grounds.
  • (c) Right: they were the burial grounds of royals and nobles.
  • (d) Wrong: they were neither recreation nor drill centres.

Only the provisional key (27 May 2026) was found; the final key replaces it when found.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.