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UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper Analysis, Subjects Weightage and Trends!

PWOnlyIAS May 17, 2024 05:58 1848 0

UPSC mains GS 2 paper is an important part of UPSC mains exam syllabus. Candidates can find out more about subject-wise breakdown and trends here!

UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper Analysis, Subjects Weightage and Trends!

UPSC Mains GS 2 paper covers subjects such as polity, governance, social justice and  international relations. The paper carries a weightage of 250 marks. Candidates scoring >100 marks in this paper have a very high chance of clearing the cutoff marks.

Most of the questions asked in UPSC Mains GS 2 paper are inspired by current events. UPSC chooses the theme and links it with the static syllabus to form tricky questions. As evident from the past few years, the depth of questions is increasing continuously.

Candidates preparing for UPSC Mains can understand the nuances of preparation to score more marks in UPSC Mains GS 2 paper by going through this article. 

UPSC Mains Exam Overview

Candidates have to attempt nine papers as part of the UPSC mains exam. Marks scored in seven of these papers will be considered to prepare the merit list. Two of the remaining papers are qualifying in nature. The details of the UPSC mains exam are provided below.

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Exam Name UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam 2024
Eligibility Qualify Prelims
UPSC Mains Exam Date 20th to 28th September 2024
Exam Format Descriptive format
Number of Papers 9
Duration 3 hrs each
Qualifying Papers Paper A (Indian Language)

Paper B (English)

Qualifying Marks: 75 Marks

Papers used for Calculating Merit Essay

General Studies 1

General Studies 2

General Studies 3

General Studies 4

Optional Paper 1

Optional Paper 2

Total Marks 250 X 7 = 1750
Cutoff marks Varies every year (741 for General in 2023)

UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper Overview

UPSC mains GS 2 paper has a total marks of 250. The paper is divided into 20 questions (10 markers and 15 markers). The marks scored in this paper are considered while preparing the merit list. Details of UPSC mains GS 2 paper are provided below.

Paper Name General Studies paper 2
Total Marks 250
Duration 3 hrs
Number of Questions 20 Questions

(10X10 marks and 10X15 marks)

Nature of Paper Considered for Merit List
Qualifying Marks 10% (25 marks)

Also Read: UPSC Mains GS Syllabus

UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper Subject-wise Division

UPSC Mains GS 2 paper is further divided into four subjects. These subjects include Indian Polity, Governance, Social Justice and International Relations. The subject-wise division of UPSC mains GS 2 paper is given below.

Subject Sub Topic
Indian Polity
  • Indian Constitution
  • Separation of Power
  • Indian Legislature
  • Functioning of executive and judiciary
  • Representation of Peoples Act
  • Statutory and quasi-judicial body
Governance
  • Important aspects of governance
  • Role of civil services
  • Government policies and interventions
  • Role of NGO, SHG etc
Social Justice
  • Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections
  • Issues related to social sector
  • Issues related to poverty and hunger
International Relations
  • Indian Neighborhood Relations
  • Important International Institutions
  • Indian Global Diaspora
  • Bilateral, regional and global grouping

UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper 2024

UPSC mains GS 2 paper 2024 is set to be held on 21st September 2024 across 24 centres in India. A detailed analysis of the paper will be available after the exam. The details of UPSC mains GS 2 paper 2024 is given below.

Date of Exam 21st September 2024 (tentative)
Timing 2 pm to 5 pm
Duration  3 hrs

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UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper Analysis 2023

UPSC mains GS 2 paper 2023 was held on 16th September 2023 from 2 pm to 5pm. The overall difficulty level of the GS 2 paper was between moderate to difficult.

  • In the polity part, statement-based questions were asked. This required in-depth knowledge and analytical skills to answer.
  • In the social justice section, questions were straightforward but required inter-linking between topics.
  • Questions based on governance were based on current affairs themes. 
  • International relations questions were based on organizations in the news. Some organizations not directly linked to India were also asked.
Also Read: UPSC Mains PYQ

UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper Analysis Last Five Years

Analysing UPSC mains GS 2 paper from the last five years, we can say that the focus has always been on polity subject. About 40-50% of questions are directly or indirectly linked to polity. The detailed breakdown is provided below.

UPSC mains GS 2 paper

Year Download Link
2024 Click Here
2023 Click Here
2022 Click Here
2021 Click Here
2020 Click Here
2019 Click Here

The UPSC Mains GS 2 paper carries significant weight, focusing on topics like polity, governance, social justice, and international relations. The evolving trend of linking current events with a static syllabus reflects the exam’s increasing depth. Candidates aiming for success should grasp the nuances of these subjects to secure over 100 marks, enhancing their chances of clearing the cutoff and ultimately excelling in the UPSC mains examination.

Also Read: UPSC Mains Subject List

Worried about UPSC Preparation? Join the best courses from Physics Wallah to boost your score! Register Now!

Must Read
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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UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper FAQs

Polity subject has a higher weightage of 50% in UPSC mains GS 2 paper.

Yes. The examiner chooses themes that have been in the news while framing questions in UPSC mains GS 2 paper.

Difficulty level of the questions ranges from moderate to difficult. This trend is almost constant.

Yes. Candidates having PSIR as an option have an edge over their competitors in UPSC Mains GS 2 paper.

Candidates scoring 100 marks or above are considered to have a to have a good score. It can contribute not only to clearing the UPSC mains but also to the final ranking.
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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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