The assessment administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC Previous Year Question Paper), known as the Civil Service Examination, stands as one of India’s most esteemed and formidable tests. Annually, UPSC orchestrates this examination to enlist individuals for a variety of All India Services and Central Civil Services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others. Succeeding in this evaluation unveils pathways to a rewarding profession dedicated to serving the nation and fostering a constructive influence on society.
Pattern Overview: UPSC Previous Year Question Paper
The UPSC Exam pattern is:
- Stage I: Preliminary Examination (UPSC Prelims)
- Stage II: Mains Examination (UPSC Mains)
- Stage III: UPSC Personality Test (UPSC Interview)
Preliminary Exam
- The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT-Upsc civil Service Question Paper) comprises of two papers:
- General Studies Paper I
- General Studies Paper II.
Both exams consist of multiple-choice questions of the objective type.
- In the first General Studies Paper, topics such current events, history, geography, economy, politics, the environment, and science are covered.
- The CSAT (General Studies Paper II) tests a candidate’s aptitude as well as their capacity for logical thought, analytical skill, decision-making, comprehension, and fundamental numeracy.
Main Exam:
- Candidates who pass the preliminary exam proceed to the main exam.
- The Main Examination has nine papers, of which seven are used to determine rankings.
- Essay, General Studies I, General Studies II, General Studies III, General Studies IV, Optional Subject Paper 1, and Optional Subject Paper 2 are among the papers that may be submitted.
- Candidates must submit two essays on general interest topics for the essay exam.
- History, politics, economics, the environment, ethics, and other topics are all covered in general studies papers.
- Candidates may select a subject from a list of authorized optional subjects for their optional subject papers.
Interview (Personality Test):
- Candidates who clear the Main Examination are called for the Interview stage.
- The Interview assesses the candidate’s overall personality, communication skills, and suitability for a career in the civil services.
- The Interview is conducted by a board of competent and unbiased observers.
Stage I: Preliminary Exam
| Sl. No. | Name of the Paper | Nature of the Paper | Duration of the Exam | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IAS Exam Paper – I: General Studies | Merit Ranking Nature | 2 Hours | 100 | 200 Marks |
| 2 | IAS Exam Paper – II: General Studies (CSAT) | Qualifying Nature | 2 Hours | 80 | 200 Marks |
- The questions in the UPSC Previous Year Question Paper Exam (Prelims) are of the objective type or Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- There is ‘Negative Marking’ in the Exam for each incorrect answer but only in the Prelims stage. The negative marking for incorrect answers will be 1/3rd (0.66) of the allotted marks of that question.
- The GS Paper II (CSAT) in IAS exam is of qualifying nature and candidates should score a minimum of 33 per cent in this paper to qualify to the next stage of the Upsc civil Service Question Paper Exam i.e. the Mains.
- Blind candidates are given an extra time of 20 minutes for each paper in the Upsc civil Service Question Paper (Prelims).
- It is mandatory for the candidates to appear in both the papers of civil services prelims exam for the evaluation.
- The marks scored by the candidates in the preliminary examination are not counted for the final score. It is only a screening test where candidates not securing the cut-off marks are eliminated.
Stage II: Main Exam
The second stage of the UPSC Previous Year Question Paper is called the Mains Exam, which is a written descriptive examination and comprises 9 papers. The 9 papers(UPSC Previous Year Question Paper) in UPSC Exam (Mains) are as follows: Paper-A (Compulsory Indian Language); Paper –B (English) which are qualifying in nature, while the other papers like Essay, General Studies Papers I, II, III, and IV, and Optional Papers I and II are considered for the final ranking.
| Sl. No. | IAS Exam Paper | Name of the Paper | Nature of the Paper | Duration of the Exam | Marks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paper – A | Compulsory Indian Language | QUALIFYING NATURE | 3 Hours | 300 Marks | ||
| 2 | Paper – B | English | 3 Hours | 300 Marks | |||
| 3 | Paper – I | ESSAY | MERIT RANKING NATURE | 3 Hours | 250 Marks | ||
| 4 | Paper – II | General Studies I | 3 Hours | 250 Marks | |||
| 5 | Paper – III | General Studies II | 3 Hours | 250 Marks | |||
| 6 | Paper – IV | General Studies III | 3 Hours | 250 Marks | |||
| 7 | Paper – V | General Studies IV | 3 Hours | 250 Marks | |||
| 8 | Paper – VI | Optional Paper I | 3 Hours | 250 Marks | |||
| 9 | Paper – VII | Optional Paper II | 3 Hours | 250 Marks | |||
| TOTAL | 1750 Marks | ||||||
| Interview or Personality Test | 275 Marks | ||||||
| GRAND TOTAL | 2025 Marks | ||||||
Stage III: Interview
The Interview, also known as the Personality Test, is the final stage of the UPSC Exam. After clearing the Main Examination, candidates who score above a certain threshold are invited for the interview. This stage evaluates the candidate’s personality traits, communication skills, and overall suitability for a career in the civil services.
Eligibility Criteria: UPSC Previous Year Question Paper
The following requirements are eligible to take the UPSC civil exam:
- Nationality:
- India
Migrates from the East African nations of Kenya-Uganda- - Tanzania (mainland only)-Zambia-Malawi-Zaire,and Ethiopia to Nepal-Bhutan.
- Aging Criteria:
- Min age: 21 years old on August
- Max age: 32 years old on August 1.
- Age Relief:
- SC/ST: The lower age limit will be reduced by 5 years.
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): The minimum age will be reduced by three years.
- Former military personnel: If certain conditions are met, the minimum age will be reduced to 5 years.
- People with Disabilities (PwD): The minimum age will decrease by 10 years.
- Education and Number of Attempts:
- A BS degree is needed and Applicants in their last year of graduation can also apply, but must submit proof of graduation to the authorities after passing the primary examination.
- General category: 6 attempts
- OBC and PwD: 9 attempts.
- SC/ST: No restrictions
Download Question Paper: UPSC Previous Year Question Paper
| Paper Title | Year of Exam | Question Paper |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper-1 | 2023 | Click Here |
| GS Paper-2 | 2023 | Click Here |
| GS Paper-3 | 2023 | Click Here |
| GS Paper-4 | 2023 | Click Here |
| Agriculture Paper-1 | 2023 | Click Here |
| Economics Paper-1 | 2023 | Click Here |
| History Paper | 2023 | Click Here |
| Geography Paper-1 | 2023 | Click Here |
| Geography Paper-2 | 2023 | Click Here |
Common Mistakes to avoid in UPSC Previous Year Question Paper
The Upsc civil Service Question Paper , an arena of fierce competition, demands meticulous attention to detail. Even minuscule errors can incur significant consequences. Below, we explore prevalent pitfalls, elucidating strategies to circumvent them:
- Overlooking the Syllabus: Treat the syllabus as your beacon, illuminating the path to success. Grasp its intricacies and harmonize your preparation accordingly. Avoid diverting time towards inconsequential subjects.
- Inadequate Time Governance: Craft a pragmatic and methodically organized study timetable. Allocate time judiciously for each subject, ensuring periodic revisions to fortify your grasp.
- Neglecting Current Affairs: Cultivate awareness of global and national occurrences, governmental mandates, and economic oscillations. Current affairs permeate subjects like Economy, Polity, and Science & Technology.
- Over-dependence on Coaching Establishments: While coaching proves beneficial, it should not monopolize your learning journey. Cultivate personal insights through independent study, complemented by coaching counsel if required.
- Disregarding NCERT Books: The NCERT books, often underestimated, lay a robust groundwork for various subjects. Acknowledge their significance, especially in the realms of History, Geography, Polity, and Economy.
- Abandoning Answer Writing Practice: Despite the Prelims being objective, honing answer writing skills elevates analytical and critical thinking acumen. This proves pivotal in comprehending concepts and tackling application-based questions.
- Overlooking Revision: Consistent revision stands as the linchpin for information retention and effective recall during examinations. Develop a revision stratagem, revisiting critical topics with frequency.
- Resorting to Guesswork: Shun arbitrary conjectures, recognizing that negative marking can substantively impact your score. Tackle questions with confidence, eschewing random guesses.
- Undermining Mock Tests and Past Papers: Engaging in mock tests and replicating previous year’s examinations under exam conditions acclimates you to the examination format. This practice identifies your strengths and weaknesses, refining time management.
- Succumbing to Panic and Stress: The UPSC Prelims, demanding by nature, necessitates a calm and focused demeanor. Effectively manage stress through relaxation methodologies and affirmative self-dialogue.
FAQ's on UPSC Previous Year Question Paper
As per the UPSC exam pattern, the preliminary exam will have two papers – GS Paper 1 and CSAT, while the main exam will have 9 papers. that’s to say. must speak Indian, English, one test, GS 1, GS 2, GS 3, GS 4, select test 1 and 2.
The basic salary at entry-level is 56,000 INR per month, and it varies with promotions. The take-home salary per month would be 56100+DA+House rent Allowance+ Transport Allowance. The maximum take-home salary is INR 2,50,000, and it is for the cabinet secretary.
Arts Stream subjects can be considered the best graduation course for UPSC IAS Preparation after the 12th.
The success rate of UPSC Prelims is only 25%, so it is tough. However, it is not tough as the UPSC Mains or interview.
