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Qualifying Marks For UPSC Mains are 300 each in Indian Language & English. Clearing the Qualifying Marks For UPSC Mains ensures evaluation of other merit-based papers in the Mains exam.
Qualifying Marks for UPSC Mains exam are discussed here! Passing the UPSC Main exam is essential to passing the Civil Services exam overall. We’ll explore the Qualifying Marks for UPSC Mains in this blog, how they’re calculated, and how to do well on the exam.
Every year, the UPSC sets the minimum qualifying marks for UPSC Mains, which change depending on the number of openings and the performance of applicants. The final ranking of merit is determined by tallying the candidates’ scores from both the main examination and the personality exam. As a result, to succeed on the IAS main exam, applicants must plan and secure the Qualifying Marks for UPSC Mains.
One of the hardest and most prestigious exams in India is the Civil Services Examination administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Preliminary Examination (Prelims), Main Examination (Main), and Personality Test (Interview) are the three phases that prospective candidates have to pass. All the phases are vital, but the UPSC Main Examination is the most important since it establishes your rank and military assignment.
The UPSC determines the minimum qualifying marks for UPSC Mains, which change every year. To have their other papers reviewed, candidates must receive at least 25% of the total marks allotted to the English and Indian language papers. The final ranking does not take these qualifying papers into account. Final candidate selection for various civil services positions is determined by the combined scores from the Personality Test and the mains examinations.
Do you want to learn more about the Qualifying Marks for UPSC Mains? Read further! There are nine papers in the UPSC Mains exam, two of which are qualifying examinations that are required of all applicants. These two documents are:
| UPSC Mains Papers | Minimum Qualifying Marks | Maximum Qualifying Marks | |
| Qualifying Papers | Paper-A: Indian Language | 25% | 300 |
| Paper-B: English | 25% | 300 | |
| Total Marks
(Not Included in Final Ranking Marks) |
600 | ||
| Merit Papers | Paper-I Essay | 10% | 250 |
| Paper-II General Studies I | 10% | 250 | |
| Paper-III General Studies II | 10% | 250 | |
| Paper-IV General Studies III | 10% | 250 | |
| Paper-V General Studies IV | 10% | 250 | |
| Paper-VI Optional Subject I | 10% | 250 | |
| Paper-VII Optional Subject II | 10% | 250 | |
| Total Marks | 1750 | ||
To qualify for the UPSC Mains 2025, candidates must clear two mandatory language papers: Paper A (Indian Language) and Paper B (English). Each paper carries 300 marks, but they are only qualifying in nature, meaning their scores do not count toward the final merit list. Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks set by UPSC in these papers to have their other papers evaluated. Additionally, the CSAT (Paper-II) in Prelims requires a minimum of 33% (66 marks out of 200) to qualify for Mains.
The UPSC Mains Examination 2025 consists of nine descriptive papers with a total of 1750 marks for merit ranking. The marks distribution is as follows:
| UPSC Mains Marks Distribution: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks | Qualifying/Merit |
| Paper A | Indian Language | 3 Hours | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper B | English | 3 Hours | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper I | Essay | 3 Hours | 250 | Merit |
| Paper II | General Studies-I | 3 Hours | 250 | Merit |
| Paper III | General Studies-II | 3 Hours | 250 | Merit |
| Paper IV | General Studies-III | 3 Hours | 250 | Merit |
| Paper V | General Studies-IV | 3 Hours | 250 | Merit |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject Paper-1 | 3 Hours | 250 | Merit |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject Paper-2 | 3 Hours | 250 | Merit |
| Total Marks | – | – | 1750 | – |
There is no negative marking in the Mains exam, and the final selection is based on the total marks in the Mains (1750) and the Interview (275), making a grand total of 2025 marks.
The UPSC aspirants must meet the minimum Qualifying Marks for UPSC Mains language papers and required cut-off score on the mains exam. The UPSC Mains exam is administered for total marks of 1750 and candidates should achieve the minimum UPSC Mains cutoff scores to be eligible for an interview test.
Each year, the UPSC Mains Cutoff varies depending on the category. Obtaining a score of 800 or higher on the UPSC mains exam is a reliable strategy to be chosen for the interview. UPSC announces the cutoff scores/Qualifying Marks for UPSC Mains each year following the publication of the final results. The below table represents the minimum qualifying marks or cutoff marks of previous years’ UPSC mains exam:
| Category | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| GENERAL | 741 | 748 | 745 | 736 | 751 |
| OBC | 712 | 714 | 707 | 698 | 718 |
| ST | 692 | 706 | 700 | 682 | 699 |
| SC | 694 | 699 | 700 | 680 | 706 |
| PWD 1 | 673 | 677 | 688 | 648 | 663 |
| PWD 2 | 718 | 706 | 712 | 699 | 698 |
| PWD 3 | 396 | 351 | 388 | 425 | 374 |
| PWD 5 | 445 | 419 | 560 | 300 | 561 |
| EWS | 706 | 715 | 713 | 687 | 696 |
The Qualifying Marks for UPSC Mains are not revealed in advance by the UPSC. The UPSC Mains cutoff marks are decided by several criteria, including:
Number of Vacancies: The cut-off is influenced by the overall number of vacancies available for the year. A somewhat lower cut-off usually corresponds with more vacancies, and vice versa.
Exam Difficulty: The cut-off point may be lowered if the paper is exceptionally difficult.
Candidate Performance: The qualifying marks may be affected by a candidate’s overall performance.
Normalization method: To take into consideration the differences in difficulty across the many optional subjects, UPSC may employ a normalization method.
The UPSC Aspirants can check and follow the below strategic points to score Qualifying Marks for UPSC Mains:
Thorough Preparation: Make sure you have covered every topic on the syllabus. Give equal attention to the optional papers and the general studies.
Answer Writing Practice: Writing essay answers regularly will help you manage your time and organize them well for the test.
Take as many practice exams as you can: This enhances accuracy and speed while also assisting with self-evaluation.
Review and Feedback: To pinpoint areas for growth, go over your responses regularly with the assistance of peers or mentors.
Practice Current Affairs: Stay up to date on current events because they will be covered extensively in the General Studies papers.
Obtaining qualifying marks for UPSC Mains is a crucial step on the path to becoming a civil servant. Gaining an understanding of these marks and developing a strategy around them will greatly increase your chances of success. To get the qualifying standards and beyond, keep in mind that diligent work, astute planning, and frequent practice are essential.
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| NCERT Notes For UPSC | UPSC Daily Current Affairs |
| UPSC Blogs | UPSC Daily Editorials |
| Daily Current Affairs Quiz | Daily Main Answer Writing |
| UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers | UPSC Test Series 2024 |
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