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UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025, Syllabus Analysis, Cut-off

PWOnlyIAS September 23, 2024 08:57 31 0

Know about the expected UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025, syllabus analysis, and cutoff trends. Plan your UPSC Civil Services Exam preparation with insights and effective strategies for success.

UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025, Syllabus Analysis, Cut-off

UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025: The UPSC Prelims examination is the initial and most important step towards the journey of clearing the UPSC Civil Services Exam and becoming a civil servant like  IAS, IPS, or IFS officer. To maximize your chances of success, it is essential to understand the UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025. This will help the aspiring candidates to effectively allocate their time and effort to subjects that carry more importance based on previous years’ trends. Additionally, analyzing the UPSC Prelims syllabus and question paper patterns gives insight into the exam’s nature.

This specifically tailored guide will discuss the UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025, analyze the syllabus, and provide tips to prepare an effective UPSC Prelims preparation strategy.

Overview of UPSC Prelims Examination

The UPSC Prelims examination consists of two papers:

  1. General Studies Paper I (GS I)
  2. General Studies Paper II (CSAT – Civil Services Aptitude Test)

While CSAT is qualifying in nature (requiring at least 33% to pass), GS I determines whether a candidate clears the UPSC Prelims cutoff and proceeds to the Mains. Therefore, understanding the subject-wise weightage of GS I is necessary.

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Overview of UPSC Prelims Examination
Feature Details
Examination Name UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination
Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Examination Level National
Mode of Examination Offline (Pen and Paper Based)
Number of Papers 2 (General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II – CSAT)
Duration 2 hours per paper
Total Marks 400 (200 marks each paper)
Negative Marking Yes (1/3rd of the marks deducted for incorrect answers)
Type of Questions Objective (Multiple Choice Questions)
Qualifying Nature Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying, requiring 33% to pass
Cut-off Criteria
  • Based on the Paper I score
  • Paper II is qualifying in nature
Subjects Covered Paper I: History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science, Current Affairs
Eligibility for Mains Candidates qualifying for Prelims are eligible for the UPSC Mains Examination
Language of Exam English and Hindi 
Exam Frequency Once a year
Age Limit 21-32 years (with relaxation for reserved categories)
Number of Attempts 6 attempts (general category); relaxations for reserved categories
Official Website upsc.gov.in

UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025

Based on trends from past years and an analysis of the UPSC Prelims question papers, the following subjects contribute to the GS I paper:

  • History: Indian History, Ancient and Medieval and Modern History (freedom struggle)
  • Geography: Indian Geography, World Geography, Physical Geography
  • Polity: Indian Constitution, Governance, Political System
  • Economics: Indian Economy, Economic Development, Budget, Banking
  • Environment and Ecology: Biodiversity, Environmental Governance, Conservation
  • Science and Technology: Current developments, Basic science concepts
  • Current Affairs: National and International events, Government schemes, etc.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus PDF 2025
Click Here

UPSC Prelims Question Paper Analysis

The UPSC Prelims syllabus is wide and broad in nature which requires candidates to have a deep understanding of the topics mentioned above. It is essential for them to keep a good track of recurring themes in the question papers to focus on high-priority areas.

In-depth UPSC Prelims question paper analysis from previous years indicates that dynamic subjects like Current Affairs and Environment are receiving increasing attention. The syllabus is specifically designed to test the awareness level of the candidate, reasoning, and decision-making abilities, which all are critical in public administration.

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Here is the UPSC prelims analysis 2024 for  GS Paper I, which will help you in examining the UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025;

UPSC Prelims Analysis 2024 GS Paper
Subjects Total Questions Difficulty Level Type
Polity 18 Easy to Moderate Application Based
Economy 15 Moderate Application Based
History 9 Moderate to Difficult Static
Science & Technology 9 Easy Application Based
Geography 19 Easy to Moderate Static
Environment 10 Moderate Application Based
Current Affairs /Misc. 20 Easy to Moderate Application Based
Total 100 Moderate Mostly Application Based

UPSC Prelims Question Paper Analysis
Prelims Question Paper 2024 Download Link
UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 2024  Click Here
UPSC Prelims GS Paper 2 2024 Click Here

UPSC Prelims Cutoff Analysis

The UPSC Prelims cutoff varies every year depending on factors like the number of vacancies, the difficulty level of the exam, and the number of candidates. Based on previous trends, the cutoff has ranged between 90 and 95 marks for the General Category in GS Paper I.

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Expected Cutoff for UPSC Prelims 2024 Category Wise
Category of Candidates UPSC Prelims Expected Cutoff Marks
General 90-95
EWS 80-85
OBC 85-90
SC 70-75
ST 65-70
PwBD 1 60-65
PwBD 2 60-65
PwBD 3 55-60
PwBD 5 50-55

UPSC Prelims Preparation Strategy for 2025

According to the expected UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025, the preparation strategy should focus on both static and dynamic topics. Here are some key strategies:

  1. Time Allocation: Dedicate more time to high-weightage subjects like History, Polity, and Current Affairs.
  2. Revision: Continuous revision of concepts, especially in Economics, Geography, and Environment, helps candidates to retain factual information.
  3. Mock Tests: Solve previous year’s papers and take mock tests to understand the UPSC Prelims mark distribution.
  4. Current Affairs: Focus on events of the last year, government schemes, and international developments. Reading daily newspapers and monthly current affairs magazines is essential.
  5. Focus on Qualifying CSAT: Don’t neglect CSAT preparation, as failing to qualify can disqualify the candidate from the exam.

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Conclusion

The UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025 provides a clear guide for aspirants to plan their preparation effectively. By understanding the distribution of questions across subjects, analyzing the syllabus, and aligning it with a comprehensive UPSC Prelims preparation strategy, candidates can increase their chances of success. Regular practice, keeping up with current affairs, and consistent revision will help clear the UPSC Prelims cutoff and move toward the Mains examination.

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FAQs On UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage 2025

Understanding subject-wise weightage helps in prioritizing key areas and improving preparation efficiency.

Syllabus analysis identifies important topics and trends, helping candidates focus on high-weightage sections.

In recent years, around 18-22 questions have been asked from Polity, making it a critical area.

The cutoff depends on the paper’s difficulty level, usually ranging between 90-100 marks for the general category.

The UPSC Prelims consists of two papers—General Studies (200 marks) and CSAT (200 marks).

Focus on subject-wise analysis, solve previous years' papers, and stay updated with current affairs for balanced preparation.
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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

Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
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
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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