Evolution – Zoology Optional PYQs (2004–2026)

Here are all 78 Evolution questions asked in UPSC Zoology Optional Paper II from 2004 to 2026, arranged under the 5 topics of the official syllabus. Within each topic the latest questions come first.

Each question ends with a code such as [2024/15m/3b] – the year, the marks, the word limit (where UPSC set one) and the question number in the paper.

3.1] Origin of life

6 questions

1. What is Oparin concept? Comment on the chemical theory of origin of life. [2026/20m/4a]

2. Explain Stanley Miller experiment. In which way, it provided support to most acceptable theory of origin of life? [2023/15m/2c]

3. Enlist theories of origin of life. Explain the theory of biochemical evolution proposed by Oparin and Haldane. [2021/15m/4b]

4. Explain the Stanley Miller’s experiment related to origin of life. [2019/10m/1e]

5. Give a brief account of the various theories of ‘Origin of Life’ on earth. [2017/20m/4a]

6. Illustrate the different theories regarding the origin of life with special reference to protein evolution. [2015/20m/2b]

3.2] Theories of evolution and speciation

39 questions

1. Role of variations in evolutionary change. [2026/10m/150w/1e]

2. What is speciation? Elaborate the role of continental drift in the formation of new species. [2026/15m/2c]

3. Sympatric and allopatric speciation. [2025/10m/150w/1e]

4. Explain how mutations affect variations in population and natural selection. [2025/15m/2b]

5. Describe the synthetic theory of evolution. [2025/10m/3a(i)]

6. Describe common types of mimicry in insects with suitable examples. [2025/10m/3a(ii)]

7. Geographic versus reproductive isolation. [2024/10m/150w/1d]

8. Explain phenomenon of natural selection taking examples of peppered moth and sickle cell anaemia. [2023/15m/4c]

9. Write a note on the theory of natural selection. [2022/10m/150w/1e]

10. Define variation. Describe different types of variations and their role in evolution. [2022/15m/4b]

11. Define mimicry. Discuss the types of mimicry with suitable examples. [2021/10m/150w/1c]

12. What is isolation? Describe the major isolating mechanisms which lead to speciation. [2021/20m/4a]

13. Differentiate between sympatric and parapatric speciation with suitable examples. [2020/10m/1c]

14. With suitable examples, describe how adaptive radiation helps in the evolution of terrestrial and aquatic animal groups. [2018/15m/2c]

15. What are micro, macro and mega evolutions? Explain the terms with suitable examples. [2018/15m/3b]

16. Define Isolation. Explain in detail the pre-mating and post-mating isolating mechanisms. [2018/20m/4a]

17. Explain in brief the role of ‘isolation’ in evolution by giving suitable examples. [2017/10m/1c]

18. What is meant by molecular drive? Explain its significance in evolution giving suitable examples. [2017/15m/2c]

19. Explain the salient features in the ‘theory of natural selection’. Add a special comment on ‘synthetic theory of evolution’. [2016/15m/2c]

20. Discuss the role of mutation in speciation. Comment on the effect of the process of variation on evolution. [2016/20m/4a]

21. “Isolation is the key factor in evolution.” Justify the statement giving suitable examples from geographical and reproductive isolation. [2015/15m/3a]

22. Define mimicry. How does it occur? How has mimicry evolved in the animal kingdom? Give examples. [2015/15m/3c]

23. Describe the phenomena of mimesis and crypsis in animal with suitable examples. [2013/10m/1c]

24. How are evolutionary patterns and processes affected by the dual operation of mutation and natural selection? Give examples. [2013/15m/2b]

25. Using suitable examples of natural and induced mutations, discuss their role in the evolution of species. [2012/20m/2b]

26. How do isolation factors facilitate speciation? [2012/20m/7c]

27. Distinguish between allopatric and sympatric speciation. [2010/15m/150w/1a]

28. Distinguish between Darwinism and neo-Darwinism. [2010/15m/150w/1e]

29. What are “Darwin’s Finches”? Explain their significance in Evolution. [2010/20m/4a]

30. Explain mimicry and its significance in the life of animals. Mention relevant examples. [2009/20m/1b]

31. Distinguish between mutation and isolation in the process of evolution. [2009/20m/1c]

32. Factors that contribute to the speciation of animals. [2009/20m/200w/4a]

33. Different between any three of the following: Substantive and polymorphic variation. [2007/20m/1c]

34. Homologous and analogous organs. [2006/20m/200w/1d]

35. Natural selection. [2006/15m/4a]

36. Mega evolution. [2006/15m/4b]

37. Explain mutations. Discuss their origin and role in evolution. [2005/60m/3]

38. Define species. Describe the factors responsible for speciation. [2005/60m/4]

39. Lamarckism. [2004/15m/4a]

3.3] Evolution of horse, elephant and human

16 questions

1. Discuss the major morphological modifications during horse evolution. [2025/15m/4b]

2. Describe the stages of human evolution and mention the major hominid forms giving their time of origin. [2024/20m/4a]

3. What is fossil? Describe the origin and evolution of horse based on the fossil records. [2022/20m/4a]

4. What is fossil data? Discuss the chronological order of human evolution with suitable examples. [2021/15m/4c]

5. Define paleontology. Discuss the chronological order of elephant evolution. [2020/15m/2c]

6. Write a chronological account of human evolution as evidenced by palaeontological records. [2019/10m/1d]

7. Outline the course of evolution of modern day horse. [2017/15m/3b]

8. Give the characteristic features of ancestors of elephants and give progressive evolutions that have occurred during various geological times resulting in the emergence of the modern day elephant. [2015/20m/3b]

9. Identify the five important evolutionary changes led to evolution of modern Homo sapiens from the ancestral stock during various Geological era and epochs. [2014/15m/2b]

10. Give an illustrated account of evolution of horse, mentioning the relevant geological time periods. [2014/15m/3b]

11. Using the fossil history of humans, reconstruct the stages of evolution of present day Homo sapiens, mentioning the geological periods as well. [2013/20m/3b]

12. Discuss the trends in primate evolution that began as an adaptation for arboreal life. [2012/20m/3b]

13. Enumerate the selection pressures that led to bipedal locomotion in hominids. [2011/15m/1c]

14. Write a short note on Australopithecus. [2010/20m/4c]

15. Miohippus and Modern horse. [2005/20m/1c]

16. Eohippus and Parahippus. [2004/20m/200w/1c]

3.4] Hardy-Weinberg law

10 questions

1. What is Hardy-Weinberg law? How is gene frequency changed by mutation and genetic drift in populations? [2024/15m/4b]

2. Describe various means which result in change in gene frequencies in a population. [2023/15m/3c]

3. Explain Hardy-Weinberg law of equilibrium and mention the factors that upset the equilibrium. [2022/10m/150w/1d]

4. What is Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? Describe the principles, mechanism and its applications in population genetics. [2020/20m/4a]

5. Discuss Hardy-Weinberg law and its application in evolution. [2016/10m/1c]

6. State and explain Hardy Weinberg’s law of genetic equilibrium. What are its limitations? Calculate the allele frequencies of $L^M$ and $L^N$ genes from the following blood group data of a population on the basis of this law.

	Blood type	Genotype	Number of individuals
1	M	$L^M{L}^M$	1787
2	MN	$L^M{L}^N$	3039
3	N	$L^N{L}^N$	1303

[2014/20m/3c]

7. What is Hardy-Weinberg’s law? Give examples to establish its validity and limitations. [2013/15m/7c]

8. Discuss Hardy-Weinberg Law and mention its utility. [2007/60m/4]

9. Genetic drift. [2006/15m/4c]

10. Hardy-Weinberg law. [2004/15m/4d]

3.5] Continental drift and animal distribution

7 questions

1. What is speciation? Elaborate the role of continental drift in the formation of new species. [2026/15m/2c]

2. “Continental drift has resulted in discontinuous distribution of alligators and lungfishes”. Justify. [2023/10m/150w/1c]

3. Explain biodiversity. Discuss different grades and factors affecting the distribution of animal biodiversity. [2020/15m/4c]

4. Elucidate the process of continental drift and its impacts on animal diversity. [2019/20m/4a]

5. Explain the key features of Oriental region with its sub-regions. Add a note on the faunistic distribution of the region. [2016/10m/1e]

6. Define continental drift. Explain the processes by which this has impacted upon the geographical distribution of fauna restricting it to certain regions only. [2014/15m/4c]

7. Discuss the role of continental drift in the geographical distribution of animals with suitable examples. [2011/20m/7c]

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Last updated: 31 October 2026