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Understanding the UPSC CSE Prelims cutoff is not a post-exam activity. For aspirants preparing for the examination, tracking historical cutoff data is one of the most practical inputs available for calibrating preparation targets, managing exam-day strategy, and deciding how many questions to attempt. This page provides a complete record of official UPSC Prelims cutoff marks, year-wise and category-wise, along with a detailed analysis of the factors that drive cutoff movement each cycle.
For a complete guide to the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, visit the UPSC CSE Prelims main page.
Before examining the data, it is important to understand the mechanics behind the cutoff.
The UPSC Prelims cutoff is based exclusively on GS Paper 1 marks out of 200. GS Paper 2 (CSAT) has a fixed qualifying mark of 33%, which equals 66 out of 200, regardless of category. Only candidates who score at least 66 in CSAT and above the official cutoff in GS Paper 1 are declared qualified for the UPSC Mains.
Key rules about the cutoff:
| Rule Detail | |
| Based on | GS Paper 1 marks only (out of 200) |
| CSAT requirement | Minimum 33% (66 out of 200) - same for all categories |
| Category-wise cutoff | Different thresholds for General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, PwBD |
| How it is set | Marks secured by the last candidate selected for that stage in that category |
| When it is released | Only after the final result of the complete examination cycle |
| Negative marking | 1/3rd of question mark deducted per wrong answer (0.66 marks per question) |
The cutoff is not pre-announced. UPSC determines it after evaluating all papers and produces it as a statistical outcome - the score of the last candidate who qualifies in each category. This means the cutoff varies every year depending on paper difficulty, number of vacancies, and the aggregate performance of all candidates.
UPSC shortlists approximately 12 to 13 times the total advertised vacancies for the Mains stage. For example, if 933 vacancies are announced (as in 2026), approximately 11,000 to 13,000 candidates are shortlisted from Prelims.
| Year General EWS OBC SC ST PwBD-1 PwBD-2 PwBD-3 | ||||||||
| 2024 | 87.98 | 85.92 | 87.28 | 79.03 | 74.23 | 73.12 | 66.57 | 40.56 |
| 2023 | 75.41 | 72.89 | 74.75 | 63.08 | 57.63 | 57.36 | 48.58 | 28.24 |
| 2022 | 88.22 | 86.13 | 86.14 | 73.48 | 69.67 | 69.40 | 53.34 | 38.65 |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 84.57 | 84.85 | 74.15 | 65.75 | 69.07 | 53.34 | 38.65 |
| 2020 | 92.51 | 90.00 | 90.57 | 78.28 | 72.04 | 70.49 | 56.17 | 40.15 |
| 2019 | 98.00 | N/A | 95.34 | 82.00 | 77.34 | 66.67 | 52.50 | 38.00 |
| 2018 | 98.00 | N/A | 96.00 | 84.00 | 76.00 | 72.00 | 53.00 | 40.00 |
| 2017 | 105.34 | N/A | 102.66 | 88.66 | 87.34 | 72.66 | 57.34 | 40.66 |
| 2016 | 116.00 | N/A | 110.66 | 99.34 | 96.00 | 76.00 | 72.00 | 40.00 |
| 2015 | 107.34 | N/A | 106.00 | 94.00 | 91.34 | 72.00 | 60.00 | 40.00 |
| 2014 | 205.00* | N/A | 204.00* | 182.66* | 181.33* | - | - | - |
| 2013 | 241.00* | N/A | 222.66* | 209.33* | 206.66* | - | - | - |
*Note: From 2013 and 2014, CSAT was merit-based. From 2015, CSAT became qualifying. EWS category was introduced in 2019. Pre-2015 cutoffs are out of a higher total as both papers contributed to merit. All post-2015 figures are for GS Paper 1 out of 200.
Source: Official UPSC cutoff PDFs published on upsc.gov.in after final results.
The 2024 Prelims was conducted on 16 June 2024. The official cutoff, released in April 2025, stood at 87.98 for the General category. This represented a sharp recovery from 2023's historic low.
The 2024 GS Paper 1 was described as moderate in overall difficulty, with a mix of static and current affairs questions. Subjects like Environment and International Relations received prominent coverage. History questions focused on Buddhism, Jainism, literary texts, and early British expansion rather than purely political events.
Notable pattern: OBC (87.28) and General (87.98) cutoffs converged to within 0.70 marks - the narrowest gap observed in recent years. This reflects increasing competition across all categories.
Out of approximately 13.4 lakh registered candidates, around 14,627 qualified for the Mains based on 2024 Prelims performance.
The 2023 Prelims cutoff was the lowest recorded in UPSC history for all categories. The General category cutoff fell to 75.41 from 88.22 in 2022 - a drop of nearly 13 marks.
The cause was a combination of an exceptionally difficult GS Paper 1 and an unusually challenging CSAT paper. The CSAT difficulty level in 2023 was described as the hardest in recent memory, and many candidates who performed reasonably in GS Paper 1 still failed the CSAT qualifying mark. This simultaneous difficulty in both papers created a situation where aggregate scores across all candidates dropped significantly.
This year serves as a crucial lesson: even strong GS preparation cannot fully compensate for CSAT neglect. Candidates must always ensure a comfortable CSAT buffer above the 33% threshold.
The 2022 GS Paper 1 was considered moderate to difficult, consistent with the trend of increasing analytical complexity. The paper was conducted on 5 June 2022 and the cutoff returned to the mid-to-high 80s range after declining slightly in 2021.
The 2021 paper saw a notable development - the sports section made a comeback after a long gap. Science questions were reported to be factual and difficult. CSAT difficulty began rising noticeably in this cycle, signalling a deliberate shift by UPSC in the aptitude paper.
The 2020 cutoff of 92.51 remains the highest of the 2020-2024 period. The GS Paper 1, while challenging in parts, did not see the extreme difficulty that 2023 would produce. The relatively higher cutoff in 2020 reflects a paper where more candidates performed comparatively well.
At 98.00, the 2019 General category cutoff was the highest of the recent decade (post-CSAT transition). This was the first year the EWS category was introduced following the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. The paper, while challenging, tested a pattern that prepared candidates could navigate effectively.
The 2017 cutoff was 105.34, and in 2016 it was 116. These higher figures reflect a period when UPSC Prelims papers were structured differently, with questions that could be answered with strong factual preparation. The shift toward analytical, multi-statement questions since 2018 has made high scores increasingly difficult, which is why cutoffs have trended downward in aggregate since 2016.
This is the single most influential factor. When the paper is difficult (as in 2023), fewer candidates can score high, and the cutoff drops. When the paper is moderate (as in 2024), more candidates score in the 80-100 range, pulling the effective cutoff up.
The Commission does not pre-set the cutoff. The difficulty of the paper and the collective performance of all candidates together determine where the cutoff lands.
A difficult CSAT paper (as seen in 2023) reduces the pool of candidates who qualify both papers simultaneously. This puts downward pressure on the GS Paper 1 cutoff because fewer candidates make it through both filters. Conversely, if CSAT is straightforward, more candidates qualify the aptitude test, and the GS Paper 1 cutoff rises as the pool competing for shortlisting positions is larger.
UPSC shortlists approximately 12-13 times the vacancies for Mains. If vacancies decrease (as happened during certain years), the shortlist size contracts, making the cutoff higher for the same pool. When vacancies increase, the cutoff may be comparatively lower even with the same paper difficulty.
The total registered versus appeared candidates affects the distribution of scores. In years when a higher proportion of registered candidates actually appears, the competitive pool is larger, which can push cutoffs upward.
Some years see questions being cancelled or bonus marks given due to disputed questions or errors in the answer key. This can slightly shift the effective score distribution and thus influence the final cutoff.
Unlike GS Paper 1, the CSAT cutoff is fixed at 33% for all categories:
| Category CSAT Qualifying Marks (Fixed) | |
| All Categories | 66 out of 200 (33%) |
This does not change year to year. However, the practical challenge varies because CSAT difficulty fluctuates. In an easy CSAT year, clearing 66 is straightforward for most candidates. In a difficult year (like 2023), many well-prepared GS candidates found it challenging to cross the 33% mark.
The recommended target for CSAT is 90 marks or above, which provides a buffer of 24 marks above the qualifying threshold. This buffer is necessary because no aspirant can accurately predict in advance whether a given year's CSAT will be easy or hard.
A consistent pattern in UPSC Prelims cutoffs is the gap between the General category and reserved categories. Understanding this gap helps aspirants from each category set appropriate targets.
Historically, the OBC cutoff tracks very closely with the General cutoff - typically within 0.5 to 2.0 marks. In 2024, this gap was just 0.70 marks (87.98 vs 87.28). This means OBC candidates essentially compete on par with General candidates at the Prelims stage.
The SC-General gap has ranged from approximately 8 to 13 marks over the last decade. In 2024, SC candidates needed 79.03 versus 87.98 for General - a gap of approximately 9 marks.
The ST-General gap has ranged from approximately 12 to 22 marks. In 2024, ST candidates needed 74.23 versus 87.98 - a gap of approximately 14 marks.
PwBD cutoffs vary significantly based on disability category. PwBD-3 and PwBD-5 categories consistently show the lowest cutoffs, often 40 to 50 marks below the General category threshold.
The cutoff data provides the foundation for a smart preparation benchmark. The key principle is: target a score 15 to 20 marks above the expected cutoff for your category.
This buffer accounts for:
| Category Historical Average (2020-2024) Recommended Preparation Target | ||
| General | ~86-88 | 100-110 marks |
| EWS | ~84-86 | 98-108 marks |
| OBC | ~85-87 | 98-108 marks |
| SC | ~73-80 | 90-100 marks |
| ST | ~68-74 | 85-95 marks |
These targets serve as preparation benchmarks, not guarantees. The actual cutoff each year is known only after the final result.
Given the 2-mark-per-question structure and 0.66-mark negative penalty, the following strategy helps aspirants navigate GS Paper 1 optimally:
| Metric Target | |
| Total questions | 100 |
| Recommended attempts | 75 to 85 |
| Target correct answers | 55 to 65 out of attempted |
| Score range from above | 95 to 115 marks |
Attempting 75-85 questions with high accuracy (above 70%) typically yields a score well above the General category cutoff. The key risk is over-attempting - trying 95+ questions without sufficient certainty leads to negative marking that can erode scores rapidly.
The widely-followed "leave the doubtful ones" approach remains the most effective strategy. For questions where two or more options seem plausible and elimination is not possible, it is statistically safer to leave the question unattempted rather than guess.
Clearing the Prelims cutoff is a binary outcome - a candidate either qualifies or does not, and the Prelims marks do not carry forward to the final merit list. The final rank is determined solely by Mains marks (out of 1750) and the Personality Test (out of 275), for a total of 2025 marks.
| Year Prelims Cutoff (GS1) Mains Cutoff (out of 1750) Final Cutoff (out of 2025) | |||
| 2024 | 87.98 | 729 | 947 |
| 2023 | 75.41 | 741 | 953 |
| 2022 | 88.22 | 745 | 960 |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 741 | 953 |
| 2020 | 92.51 | 733 | 944 |
| 2019 | 98.00 | 751 | 961 |
The final cutoff has been remarkably consistent in the 940-965 range for General category, suggesting that the Mains and Interview stages produce a more stable competitive outcome compared to the volatile Prelims cutoff.
One of the most effective ways to use cutoff data is to benchmark it against mock test performance. The UPSC CSE Prelims Test Series on Aspirant Mitraa includes 400 tests - topic-wise, subject-wise, and full-length mock tests - structured at UPSC-equivalent difficulty levels.
Candidates should treat their mock test GS Paper 1 score as follows:
| Mock Test Score Interpretation Recommended Action | ||
| Below 70 | Below safe zone | Increase standard source revision, solve subject-wise PYQs |
| 70-85 | Near the cutoff range | Focus on weak subjects, increase CSAT practice |
| 85-100 | Comfortable range | Consolidate strong subjects, improve speed and accuracy |
| Above 100 | Well above average cutoff | Focus on Mains preparation readiness and Current Affairs depth |
Mock test scores calibrated consistently above 95 marks provide a strong signal of Prelims readiness for General category aspirants.
Previous Year Questions provide the most authentic measure of where a candidate stands relative to the actual UPSC Prelims standard. Solving PYQs under timed conditions and scoring each paper allows aspirants to benchmark against historical cutoffs.
Access the complete PYQ repository on Aspirant Mitraa:
When does UPSC release the official Prelims cutoff? UPSC releases the official cutoff only after the completion of the entire examination cycle, meaning after the final result. For a Prelims conducted in May-June, the official cutoff typically becomes available the following April-May.
Is the UPSC Prelims cutoff the same for all states? No. The cutoff is category-wise (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD) and is uniform nationally. There is no state-level cutoff variation for UPSC CSE.
Can I check my Prelims score before the final result? No. UPSC does not release individual score cards for the Prelims stage. Candidates only receive confirmation of whether they qualified (roll number in the PDF) or not.
If the paper is very hard, will the cutoff always drop? Generally yes. A harder paper leads to lower average scores, which reduces the cutoff. However, if CSAT is also hard, it eliminates more candidates from the pool, which can sometimes keep the effective GS Paper 1 cutoff relatively stable due to reduced candidate numbers at the top.
What happens if my GS Paper 1 score is above the cutoff but I scored below 66 in CSAT? A candidate must satisfy both conditions - GS Paper 1 above the category cutoff AND CSAT minimum 66 marks. Failing either condition means disqualification from proceeding to Mains, regardless of how well one performed on the other paper.
How many marks above the cutoff should I target? For General category candidates, targeting 100 to 110 marks in GS Paper 1 is a reliable preparation benchmark. This provides a 12 to 22 mark buffer above the historical range of the cutoff and accounts for paper difficulty uncertainty.
The UPSC Prelims cutoff is the first major filter in the civil services selection process. Rather than treating it as a post-exam anxiety metric, use the historical data to build a preparation strategy that targets scores comfortably above the expected range - so that year-to-year cutoff volatility never becomes a threat to your qualification.