UPSC Civil Services Exam: Previous Year Cut Off Marks

Official UPSC CSE previous year cut off marks for Prelims, Mains, and Final stages in India. Analyze category-wise (General, OBC, SC/ST, EWS) trends for 2023, 2022 and 2021 to strategize your preparation.

UPSC Civil Services Previous Year Cut Off Download PDF (2023, 2022, 2021)

Understanding the previous years' cut-off marks for the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a crucial step in formulating a realistic preparation strategy. These marks represent the minimum score a candidate needed to secure in a particular year to advance to the next stage of the exam or to be included in the final merit list. Analyzing these trends helps aspirants in India set achievable targets for the Prelims, Mains, and Final stages of their journey to become an IAS, IPS, or IFS officer.

UPSC CSE 2023 Cut Off Marks (Final)

The following are the official cut-off marks for the Civil Services Examination 2023. The Prelims cut-off is based on marks in GS Paper-I only, as GS Paper-II (CSAT) is qualifying with 33% marks.

UPSC CSE 2022 Cut Off Marks (Final)

The following are the official cut-off marks for the Civil Services Examination 2022.

Analysis of UPSC Cut Off Trends

Analyzing the cut-off marks over the past few years reveals several important insights for aspirants:

• Dynamic Nature of Prelims Cut Off: The Preliminary exam cut-off is highly variable. It depends significantly on the difficulty level of the General Studies Paper-I. A tougher paper generally leads to a lower cut-off, as seen by the significant drop in 2023 compared to 2022.
• Importance of Every Mark: The narrow margin between the cut-offs for different categories, especially General and OBC, highlights the intense competition. Every single mark can make a difference.
• CSAT's Role: While CSAT (GS Paper-II) is qualifying, its increasing difficulty has become a significant hurdle for many aspirants. Scoring the minimum 33% (66 marks) is non-negotiable.
• Mains as the Decider: The Mains examination, with its 1750 marks, is the most crucial stage. Consistent performance across all GS papers, the essay, and the optional subject is key to getting a high score.
• Final Score: The final cut-off is the sum of Mains and Interview marks. A good performance in the interview (Personality Test) can significantly improve a candidate's final rank and help them secure their desired service.

Disclaimer: All cut-off marks are sourced from the official documents and press releases published by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on its official website. Candidates are advised to always cross-verify data with the official source for the utmost accuracy.

Official Website: www.upsc.gov.in

Freqently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does the UPSC cut-off change every year?

The UPSC cut-off varies each year due to several factors, including the difficulty level of the question papers, the number of vacancies announced for that year, and the overall performance of the candidates.

Is there a separate cut-off for the CSAT paper in Prelims?

Yes, there is a qualifying cut-off for the CSAT paper (General Studies Paper-II). A candidate must score a minimum of 33%, which is 66 marks out of 200, to qualify. If you don't clear this, your GS Paper-I will not be evaluated.

Are the Prelims marks added to the final score?

No. The Preliminary examination is purely a screening test to select candidates for the Main examination. The marks obtained in Prelims are not counted for determining the final order of merit.

What does the "Final Cut Off" signify?

The "Final Cut Off" is the total marks (out of 2025) of the last recommended candidate in a particular category. It is the sum of the candidate's marks in the Main Examination (out of 1750) and the Personality Test/Interview (out of 275).

Why is the OBC cut-off often very close to the General category cut-off?

The OBC cut-off is often close to the General cut-off due to the intense competition among a large number of OBC candidates and the exclusion of the 'creamy layer', which means only a specific socio-economic section within the OBC category is eligible for reservation.

How should I use these previous year cut-offs in my preparation?

You should use these cut-offs as a benchmark. Aim to score at least 15-20 marks above the previous year's Prelims cut-off in your mock tests to be on the safe side. For Mains, they help you understand the level of performance required to get an interview call.

Does UPSC release an official answer key before the Prelims result?

No, UPSC does not release an official answer key immediately after the Prelims exam. The official answer key is released on its website only after the entire examination process for that year is completed (i.e., after the declaration of the final result).

Is there a sectional cut-off for different papers in the Main examination?

UPSC does not officially declare separate or sectional cut-offs for individual papers within the Main examination. The Mains cut-off is based on the aggregate score of all seven merit-based papers (totaling 1750 marks).

What is the lowest cut-off among all categories?

Typically, the cut-offs for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) categories, particularly PwBD-3 and PwBD-5, are the lowest across all stages of the examination.

Where can I find the official UPSC cut-off documents?

The official cut-off marks are released by the Union Public Service Commission in a document on their official website, www.upsc.gov.in, usually a few weeks after the declaration of the final result for that examination cycle.