UPSC Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs): Prelims and Mains PDF, 2016–2026
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Last updated: 31 October 2026 · Official source: upsc.gov.in › Previous Question Papers
UPSC Prelims Question Papers (2016–2026)
GS Paper I decides the Prelims merit. CSAT (GS Paper II) is qualifying at 33 per cent. Each PDF is the official question booklet as published by UPSC.
UPSC Mains Question Papers (2016–2026)
The five General Studies merit papers of the Mains: Essay, GS Paper 1 (Heritage, History, Geography, Society), GS Paper 2 (Polity, Governance, Social Justice, International Relations), GS Paper 3 (Economy, Environment, Science and Technology, Security, Disaster Management) and GS Paper 4 (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude). Scroll the table sideways on mobile.
What Each Paper Carries
| Paper | Questions / format | Marks | Counts for merit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims GS Paper I | 100 objective questions, 2 hours | 200 | Yes, for the Mains shortlist |
| Prelims GS Paper II (CSAT) | 80 objective questions, 2 hours | 200 | No, qualifying at 33% |
| Mains Essay | Two essays from two sections, 3 hours | 250 | Yes |
| Mains GS Papers 1–3 | 20 descriptive questions each (10 of 10 marks, 10 of 15 marks), 3 hours each | 3 × 250 | Yes |
| Mains GS Paper 4 (Ethics) | 12 questions: 6 theory questions and 6 case studies, 3 hours | 250 | Yes |
- Negative marking: one-third of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer in both Prelims papers.
- Not on this page yet: the two Optional papers and the two qualifying language papers of the Mains. See the full UPSC exam pattern for the complete scheme.
How to Use UPSC PYQs
Practise Beyond the Papers
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download UPSC previous year question papers?
This page has the official UPSC Civil Services question papers from 2016 to 2026 as free PDFs: Prelims GS Paper I and CSAT (Paper II), and Mains Essay and GS Papers 1 to 4. Each file is the paper published by the Union Public Service Commission on upsc.gov.in.
Are these the original UPSC question papers?
Yes. Every PDF is the official question paper published by UPSC on upsc.gov.in, with the same questions, instructions and marks that candidates saw in the exam.
How many years of UPSC PYQs should I solve?
For the Prelims, solving at least the last ten years of GS Paper I shows the weightage of each subject and the style of statement-based questions. For the Mains, the current pattern of four GS papers and an Essay paper started in 2013, so papers from that year onwards are the most relevant; this page covers 2016 to 2026.
Is the CSAT paper qualifying?
Yes. Since 2015, General Studies Paper II (CSAT) in the Prelims is qualifying: a candidate must score at least 33 per cent (66 out of 200). Only GS Paper I marks decide who qualifies for the Mains.
Does UPSC release official answer keys?
Yes, but only after the final result of that year’s Civil Services Examination is declared. Answer keys published by coaching institutes right after the Prelims are unofficial.
Does UPSC repeat questions from previous papers?
Exact repetition is rare, but themes, concepts and areas recur regularly, especially in polity, environment, economy and current-affairs-linked topics. That is why topic-wise analysis of past papers is one of the most useful preparation steps.
