UPSC Prelims Cutoff Last 5 Years

The Union Public Service Commission will soon release the UPSC prelims cutoff 2025. UPSC prelims cut off are the minimum marks required to clear this stage and move to the next level. While the 2025 cut-offs are not yet released, you can still get some idea about the qualifying marks from the past 5 years’ UPSC Prelims cut-offs. As per the UPSC prelims cutoff 2024, the minimum required marks for the General category were 87.98.

In this blog, we explore the last five years of UPSC prelims cut-off marks. Moreover, we shall analyse the importance of UPSC 2025 cut-off marks. On top of that, the blog provides a comprehensive analysis of the UPSC prelims cut-off trend of the past five years.

UPSC Prelims Paper Overview

This preliminary exam is the first stage of the UPSC CSE. It comprises two papers, Paper I and Paper II, General Studies and CSAT, respectively. Each paper is 2 hours long and is worth 200 marks each. To qualify for the first stage, you must score above the cut-off marks. The exam is conducted in a multiple-choice question format. Please note that there is negative marking for incorrect answers. Both papers are necessary to qualify for the UPSC Mains exam.

The two papers in the UPSC prelims are General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Paper I covers various topics such as general knowledge, current events, history, geography, and more. Paper II is a qualifying paper and includes logical reasoning, comprehension, and analytical ability. It is mandatory to score at least 33% in paper II to qualify.

Also read: UPSC CSE 2025 Exam

Previous 5-Year UPSC Prelims Cut-Off (2020–2024)

For an aspirant, the UPSC prelims cut-off plays a crucial role. These marks shall help you analyse the trend, difficulty level, and competition level in an exam. Moreover, they are essential for estimating the UPSC CSE Prelims cut-off 2025. In this section, we have prepared a UPSC Prelims cutoff last 5 years. The list includes nine different categories and the cut-off for each category.

UPSC Prelims Cut Off 2024

The table shows the UPSC Prelims cut-off 2024:

UPSC Prelims Cut Off 2023

In this table, you would find the UPSC Prelims cut-off of the year 2023:

UPSC Prelims Cut Off 2022

The table shows the UPSC Prelims cut-off 2022:

UPSC Prelims Cut Off 2021

In this table, you would find the UPSC Prelims cut-off of the year 2021:

UPSC Prelims Cut Off 2020

Check out the UPSC Prelims cut-off marks from 2020:

If you want, you can also read: Top 8 Online Courses You Can Pursue While Preparing UPSC: Backup Plan.

Analysis of the Prelims Cut-Off From the Past 5 Years

The past five years’ cut-off marks suggest that scoring above 90 shall put you into the safe zone. These scores provide you with a safety net, saving you from any sudden shifts, competition intensity, difficulties, and total vacancies. It shall offer you a buffer and help you prepare well for the mains exam.

What Influences the UPSC Prelims Cut-Offs?

You might have noticed that these cut-off marks are not fixed. The marks vary each year based on several factors, such as difficulty level, number of vacancies, total applicants, and change in paper patterns. Let’s take a thorough look at these factors that shall determine the cut-off marks UPSC Prelims 2025:

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  Difficulty Level: The direct effect of a difficult prelims paper is a lower cut-off. Sometimes, when the questions are difficult or options are not easy to eliminate, scoring good marks becomes difficult. Tough paper might lead to more disqualifications, which might affect the overall cut-off.
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  Total Applicants: Every year, lakhs and lakhs of students appear for the UPSC prelims exam with dreams and hopes in their hearts. The competition is strenuous and tough. Each year, even a slight increase in the applicants can lead to a higher cut-off.
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  Total Vacancies: If there are more seats available, it shall directly lead to a lower cut-off. However, fewer vacancies lead to a higher cut-off. It is crucial to count the number of vacancies while estimating the UPSC Prelims 2025 cut-off marks.
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  Change in Paper Pattern: A slight change in the question paper can lead to disqualification, which might ultimately affect the cut-off marks. If there is a change in the paper pattern or any topic is added, the performance might be affected.

Also read: How to Prepare for UPSC in 6 Months?

Preparation Tips for UPSC CSE Exam

UPSC CSE is one of the toughest exams in India, with extremely high competition. Before starting your preparation, you must lay out a plan. It would make your preparation structured and easier to execute. Here are a few tips that shall help you crack the UPSC CSE exam:

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  Create a realistic study plan. Make a daily and weekly study schedule, bifurcating slots for different subjects.
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  Focus on subjects with high weightage first, like History, Geography, Polity, and more.
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  Inculcate a habit of reading newspapers daily. Stay updated with current affairs and make notes of them.
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  Solve as many mock question papers and practice tests as possible. It would help you analyse your preparation level.
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  Work on your answer writing skills. Learn to write clear, concise and structured answers in a limited time frame.
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  Don’t forget to focus on your well-being. A healthy mind produces the best results. Exercise regularly, eat healthy, and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night.

A Final Takeaway

The UPSC Prelims Cut-off plays a crucial role in an aspirant’s preparation journey. The past cut-off marks set the benchmark for future candidates. This blog provides a comprehensive look at the prelims cut-off from the last 5 years. It shall give you an idea about the cut-off trends and the factors that determine these marks. On top of that, this blog discusses the pro tips for clearing your UPSC CSE exam.

Remember, it is one of the toughest exams in India, with a low qualifying percentage. This is why you must make hard work, patience, and relentless determination your best friends in this journey. Make the most of your time, stay focused and believe in yourself. Success comes to those who never back down.