Editorial Team, Self Study Wala

UPSC IAS Exam Cutoff Marks

UPSC Official Cutoff Marks

Are you preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination? Understanding the historical cutoff trends from UPSC Official Cutoff Marks is crucial for your preparation strategy. In this comprehensive guide, we analyze official UPSC cutoff marks from 2013 to 2023 across all stages – Preliminary, Mains, and Final Merit List – for General, OBC, SC, ST and other categories.

This data-driven analysis helps you:

1. Set realistic score targets for each exam stage
2. Understand category-wise qualifying marks
3. Track cutoff patterns over the last decade
4. Plan your preparation strategy effectively

Prelims: UPSC Official Cutoff Marks (2013-2023)

UPSC Prelims Cutoff 2013 to 2017

UPSC Prelims Cutoff 2018

UPSC Prelims Cutoff 2019 to 2023

Note 1 – Cut off marks on the basis of GS Paper-I only. GS Paper-II was of qualifying nature with 33% marks as per Rule-15 of Civil Services Examination, 2021.

Note 2 – Candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD)

Mains: UPSC Official Cutoff Marks (2013 to 2023)

UPSC Mains Cutoff 2013 to 2017

UPSC Mains Cutoff 2018

UPSC Mains Cutoff 2019 to 2023

Note 1 – Subject to 10% marks in each of the seven competitive papers i.e., Essay, GS-I, GS-II, GS-III, GS-IV, Optional-I and Optional-II.

Note 2 – 25% marks in ‘Indian Language’ and 25% in English as minimum qualifying standards in these qualifying papers (‘Indian Languages’ and ‘English’).

Final UPSC Official Cutoff Marks (2013-2023)

UPSC Final Cutoff 2013 to 2017

UPSC Final Cutoff 2018

UPSC Final Cutoff 2019 to 2023

Note: Wherever two or more candidates have secured equal aggregate marks in CSE Exam, 2019, the tie(s) have been resolved in accordance with the principles approved by the Commission, viz.

(i) Candidate securing more marks in the Compulsory Papers and the Personality Test put together is to be ranked higher;

(ii) In case where the marks mentioned at (i) above are equal, the candidate senior in age is to be ranked higher; and

(iii) In cases where the (i) and (ii) above are the same, then the candidate getting more marks in the compulsory papers is to be ranked higher.

UPSC Topper’s Marks (2013 to 2023)

UPSC Exam Pattern

The UPSC CSE examination comprises two successive stages:

(i) UPSC Prelims Exam (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination; and

(ii) UPSC Mains (Written and Interview) Exam (Subjective Type) for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts.

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

According to UPSC Notification:

Prelims – Screening test 

UPSC CSE Prelims consists of two papers namely General Studies I and CSAT (General Studies Paper-II). While CSAT is qualifying in nature, the marks obtained in the General Studies paper determine your selection for UPSC Mains. It means your score in the General Studies Paper will be considered for the Prelims cutoff.

Additionally, there is negative marking for the wrong answers. 1/3rd of the marks allotted for the question would be deducted as a penalty for marking the wrong answer. However, if you do not attempt the question, there will be no deductions. Hence, you should take only calculated risks when it comes to marking doubtful questions

Now, let us look at the UPSC Exam pattern for Prelims:

In reference to the UPSC Exam Pattern, the following points should be kept in mind while appearing for IAS Exam:

• It is mandatory for all the candidates to appear for both the exams viz General Studies and CSAT to qualify for the Mains.
• From 2015 – Cut off marks on the basis of GS Paper-I only. However, GS Paper-II was qualifying with 33% marks (Rule-15 of Civil Services Examination, 2016)
• The score obtained in the Prelims will not be added to the final score. UPSC CSE Prelims 2022 will be just for screening purposes.
• The question paper of Prelims will be bilingual. It will have questions written both in Hindi and English Language.
• There is a negative marking of 1/3rd for every incorrect answer in both papers.

UPSC Mains (Written and Interview) Exam Pattern

According to UPSC Notification:

Written (Mains) – To assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates

The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.

The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study.

The questions will be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services.

The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands.

The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.

The UPSC Exam Pattern for the Mains Exam is tabulated below. The IAS Mains Exam consists of two types of papers viz qualifying and merit-ranking. Paper A and Paper B namely the Language paper and English paper will be qualifying in nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be added to marks that may determine your rank. All the other papers will be evaluated for merit purposes.

UPSC Latest Syllabus 2025

UPSC Prelims Exam Syllabus

According to UPSC Notification:

UPSC Mains Exam (Written and Interview) Syllabus

According to UPSC Notification:

Note –

• The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
• The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved). language papers, Paper A and Paper B are Qualifying in Nature. It is mandatory to score at least 25% in each language paper to be evaluated other seven papers during the final selection.
• Except for language papers, Paper A and Paper B, scores in all the other papers will determine your rank.
• Hence, your score will be out of a total of 1750 marks.

Note –

• The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is broadly of the honors degree level i.e., a level higher than the bachelors’ degree and lower than the masters’ degree. In the case of Engineering, Medical Science and law, the level corresponds to the bachelors’ degree.

• Candidates will be required to write the answers in the answer sheets provided by the UPSC. No extra sheets will be provided.
• The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.
• At Present, 10% marks in each of the seven competitive papers i.e., Essay, GS-I, GS-II, GS-III, GS-IV, Optional-I and Optional-II.
• If a candidate’s handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to him.
• Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.

• Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.
• In the question papers, wherever required, SI units will be used.
• Candidates should use only international form of Indian numerals (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 etc.) while answering question papers.

• Candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Programmable type) Calculators at the conventional (Essay) type examination of UPSC. Programmable type calculators will however not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall is not permitted. It is also important to note that candidates are not permitted to use calculators for answering objective type papers (Test Booklets). They should not therefore bring the same inside the Examination Hall.
• The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
• Evaluation of the papers, namely, ‘Essay’, ‘General Studies’ and Optional Subject of all the candidates would be done simultaneously along with evaluation of their qualifying papers on ‘Indian Languages’ and ‘English’ but the papers on Éssay’, General Studies and Optional Subject of only such candidates will be taken cognizance who attain 25% marks in ‘Indian Language’ and 25% in English as minimum qualifying standards in these qualifying papers.

• The paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
• Marks obtained by the candidates for the Paper I-VII only will be counted for merit ranking. However, the Commission will have the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all of these papers.
• Wherever two or more candidates have secured equal aggregate marks in CSE Exam, 2019, the tie(s) have been resolved in accordance with the principles approved by the Commission, viz.

(i) Candidate securing more marks in the Compulsory Papers and the Personality Test put together is to be ranked higher;

(ii) In case where the marks mentioned at (i) above are equal, the candidate senior in age is to be ranked higher; and

(iii) In case where the (i) and (ii) above are same, then the candidate getting more marks in the compulsory papers is to be ranked higher.

UPSC Interview Syllabus

According to UPSC Notification:

Interview – To assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service

• The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his career. He will be asked questions on matters of general interest.
• The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers.
• The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs.
• Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.
• The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
• The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers.
• Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own State or Country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.

Good luck on your UPSC journey!
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UPSC Official Cutoff Marks

UPSC IAS Exam Cutoff Marks