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PWOnlyIAS September 19, 2024 03:32 1838 0
UPSC Mains previous year question paper can be handy for candidates preparing for UPSC mains exam. Download mains questions papers from the last five years from here!
The UPSC Mains previous year question paper is easily the best available tool to understand the exam pattern and the difficulty level of the exam. Candidates can get an idea of the types of questions that can be asked in the UPSC Mains exam. Candidates preparing for the UPSC Mains exam 2024 which is set to be conducted between the 20th & 29th of September 2024 can go through the previous years’ question paper provided here.
By analyzing the UPSC mains previous year’s question paper, candidates can identify themes that are repeated multiple times in the UPSC mains exam. This strategy is applicable for both optional subjects and general studies papers. Candidates can read more about UPSC Mains previous year question papers and also download question papers from the last few years to prepare for the exam in a holistic manner!
UPSC mains exam is descriptive in nature, and candidates have to attempt nine papers as part of the exam. Before, checking the UPSC Mains PYQs, candidates must understand the UPSC Mains exam pattern to comprehend the exam marking scheme better. The marks scored in seven of these papers will be considered to calculate their standings on the merit list. The details about the UPSC mains exam are given below:
Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services (Main) Exam |
Eligibility | Qualify Prelims |
UPSC Mains Exam Date 2024 | Between 20 September & 29 September 2024 |
Exam Format | Descriptive Paper |
Number of Papers | 9 |
Duration | 3 hrs each |
Qualifying Papers | Paper A (Indian Language)
Paper B (English) |
Qualifying Marks for Language Papers | 25 % or 75 Marks |
Papers used for Calculating Merit |
|
Total Marks | 250 X 7 = 1750 |
Cutoff marks | Varies (741 for General in 2023) |
Candidates preparing for UPSC 2024 and beyond can download UPSC mains previous year question paper 2023 from the link below:
Subject | Question Paper Link |
Paper A: Indian language | – |
Paper B: English | Download |
Essay | Download |
General Studies 1 | Download |
General Studies 2 | Download |
General Studies 3 | Download |
General Studies 4 | Download |
Optional Paper 1 | – |
Optional Paper 2 | – |
Aspirants can prepare better for the exam by analyzing UPSC mains previous year question paper 2022 from the links given below:
Subject | Question Paper Link |
Paper A: Indian language | – |
Paper B: English | Download |
Essay | Download |
General Studies 1 | Download |
General Studies 2 | Download |
General Studies 3 | Download |
General Studies 4 | Download |
Optional Paper 1 | – |
Optional Paper 2 | – |
Candidates can download the UPSC Mains previous year question paper 2021 from the given links below.
Subject | Question Paper Link |
Paper A: Indian language | – |
Paper B: English | Download |
Essay | Download |
General Studies 1 | Download |
General Studies 2 | Download |
General Studies 3 | Download |
General Studies 4 | Download |
Optional Paper 1 | – |
Optional Paper 2 | – |
Given below are the links that aspirants can use to download UPSC mains previous year question paper 2020 so that they get an insight into the mentality of the examiner.
Subject | Question Paper Link |
Paper A: Indian language | – |
Paper B: English | Download |
Essay | Download |
General Studies 1 | Download |
General Studies 2 | Download |
General Studies 3 | Download |
General Studies 4 | Download |
Optional Paper 1 | – |
Optional Paper 2 | – |
Candidates can use the links given in the table below to download UPSC mains previous year question paper 2019 for a better shot at clearing UPSC mains 2024.
Subject | Question Paper Link |
Paper A: Indian language | – |
Paper B: English | Download |
Essay | Download |
General Studies 1 | Download |
General Studies 2 | Download |
General Studies 3 | Download |
General Studies 4 | Download |
Optional Paper 1 | – |
Optional Paper 2 | – |
The General Studies subject can be broken down into subtopics for better analysis of the question paper. The below mentioned table contains links to UPSC mains previous year question paper subject-wise breakdown.
Paper | Subject | Question Paper Link |
General Studies 1 | Geography | Download |
World History | Download | |
Medieval History | Download | |
Post-Independence History | Download | |
Modern History | Download | |
Indian Heritage and Culture | Download | |
Social Issues | Download | |
General Studies 2 | Indian Polity | Download |
Governance | Download | |
Social Justice | Download | |
International Relations | Download | |
General Studies 3 | Economy and Growth | Download |
Science and Technology | Download | |
Environment and Ecology | Download | |
Disaster Management | Download | |
Internal Security | Download | |
General Studies 4 | Ethics | Download |
Case Studies | Download |
Analysis of UPSC mains previous year question paper is of utmost importance for any candidate aiming to score high marks in mains examination. Below are reasons why analysis of UPSC mains previous year question paper is paramount.
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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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