UPSC Prelims Question Paper - 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

Students must practice the UPSC Prelims Question Paper for years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 to get an idea about UPSC 2024. Download the UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Paper below!

The UPSC Prelims question papers illustrate the types of questions, difficulty level, marking scheme, and important topics, that one might expect on the upcoming examination. Practising them is one of the most effective ways to prepare and be selected for the Mains exam. The difficulty level of Paper 1 ranges from moderate to difficult while for Paper 2 it remains moderate. Once the recruitment process is complete, UPSC provides the official UPSC previous year question papers PDF along with answer keys. Candidates will also benefit from having access to UPSC previous year question papers to gauge how challenging this exam will be and plan their study strategies appropriately. Further, aspirants will learn how to avoid making avoidable mistakes from the perspective of the UPSC CSE 2024 exam. Candidates can find direct links to the UPSC CSE previous year question paper PDFs for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 below.

How to Download UPSC Prelims Question Paper?

Follow the below-mentioned steps to download UPSC IAS Prelims question papers for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019:

Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website - upsc.gov.in.
Step 2: Click on the “Examinations” tab on the homepage.
Step 3: Select “Previous Year Question Papers” from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: Search Civil Services previous year's question papers.
Step 5: Click on the IAS Prelims Question paper PDF.
Step 6: Download UPSC Prelims previous year's question papers PDF for future reference.

UPSC Prelims Question Papers PDF Download - 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019

We have provided all the links to UPSC Prelims previous year question paper pdfs in order to make the UPSC IAS exam 2024 preparation effortless and easy to understand. Candidates who want a comprehensive grasp of the requirements of the UPSC Exam must solve the UPSC Prelims previous year question papers. The applicants will be helped in overcoming the worry and anxiety that can hinder a student's journey in the exam room by solving UPSC IAS Prelims previous year Question Papers. 

UPSC Prelims 2024 Question Paper - Direct PDF Download Links

Papers

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UPSC IAS Prelims Paper I

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UPSC IAS Prelims Paper II

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UPSC Prelims 2023 Question Paper - Direct PDF Download Links

Papers

PDF Download Link

UPSC IAS Prelims Paper I

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UPSC IAS Prelims Paper II

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UPSC Prelims 2022 Question Paper - Direct PDF Download Links

Papers

PDF Download Link

UPSC IAS Prelims Paper I

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UPSC IAS Prelims Paper II

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UPSC Prelims 2021 Question Paper - Direct PDF Download Links

Papers

PDF Download Link

UPSC IAS Prelims Paper I

Click here (To be updated)

UPSC IAS Prelims Paper II

Click here (To be updated)


UPSC Prelims 2020 Question Paper - Direct PDF Download Links

PaperDateQuestion Paper PDF
UPSC Prelims GS I (Paper I)October 04, 2020Click here
UPSC Prelims CSAT (Paper II)October 04, 2020Click here


UPSC Prelims 2019 Question Paper - Direct PDF Download Links

PaperDateQuestion Paper PDF
UPSC Prelims GS I (Paper I)June 2, 2019Click here
UPSC Prelims CSAT (Paper II)June 2, 2019Click here


Also ReadUPSC Exams 2024 Preparation Tips

UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Pattern 2024

The IAS exam Pattern must be internalised by candidates, with a focus on the prelims' negative grading. In 2014, the IAS main exam pattern was changed, which also modified the UPSC CSE Syllabus 2024. The CSE now includes an Ethics paper.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cannot change the UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2024 without taking the approval of the Ministry of Personnel. The IAS prelims exam is designed to screen out a large number of students, and the IAS main exam is designed to measure the depth of the candidates' knowledge. The IAS examination is split into two stages, and each stage has a unique exam pattern. For IAS preparation, having a thorough understanding of the IAS exam Pattern is crucial. Each year, the UPSC includes a modification of the IAS exam format in the official notice. The IAS Preliminary Exam 2024 will consist of two papers of 200 marks each containing objective-type multiple-choice questions. Candidates must voluntarily take both exams, which have a two-hour time limit each. Find the UPSC CSE exam pattern 2024 in detail below:

Paper

Number of Questions

Marks

General Studies Paper- I 

100

200

General Studies Paper-II (Aptitude Test)

80

200

Total

400

UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis

The UPSC preliminary paper 1 contains questions on current affairs, science and technology, history, the Indian Constitution, etc. The overall difficulty level of the exam ranges from moderate to difficult. In Paper 2, questions are asked from reading comprehension, quantitative aptitude, and logical reasoning. The difficulty level of Paper 2 is typically moderate.

UPSC CSE 2024 Paper 1 Analysis

SubjectNumber of Questions AskedGood AttemptsDifficulty Level
Geography16-1810-13Moderate to Difficult
Environment 12-146-10Moderate to Difficult
Science and Tech10-127-11Moderate to Difficult
History14-168-12Moderate
Economics and Govt. Schemes15-2010-12Easy to Moderate
Polity14-169-11Easy to Moderate
Current Affairs and Sports6-83-5Moderate

UPSC CSE 2024 Paper 2 Analysis

SubjectNumber of Questions AskedGood AttemptsDifficulty Level
Reading Comprehension22-2414-17Moderate
Quantitative Aptitude23-2515-18Moderate
Logical Reasoning35-4021-26Moderate

UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2023

UPSC Paper 1 (GS) Analysis 2023
SubjectNumber of Questions AskedGood AttemptsDifficulty Level
Geography20 - 2413 - 17Moderate
History13 - 157 - 9Moderate to Difficult
Economics14 - 169 - 12Moderate
Science and Technology3 - 52 - 3Moderate to Difficult
Polity10 - 127 - 8Moderate to Difficult
Environment7 - 95 - 6Easy to Moderate
Current Affairs15 -1912 - 13Easy to Moderate
Total10060 - 68Moderate to Difficult
UPSC Paper 2 (CSAT) Analysis 2023
Reasoning Ability13-1414-17Moderate
Reading Comprehension2715-18Moderate to Difficult
Numerical Ability39-4021-26Moderate to Difficult
Total8050-62Moderate to Difficult

UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2022

UPSC Paper 1 (GS) Analysis 2022
SubjectsTotal QuestionsDifficulty Level
Polity 13Moderate to Difficult
Economy17Moderate to Difficult
Modern History4Moderate
Ancient  and Medieval History5Difficult
Art & Culture7Difficult
Science & Technology14Moderate
Geography12Moderate
Environment17Moderate
International Relations11Moderate
Total100Moderately Tough
UPSC Paper 2 (CSAT) Analysis 2022
Reasoning Ability/Data Sufficiency21Moderate to Difficult
Reading Comprehension28Easy to Moderate
Numerical Ability31Moderate to Difficult
Total80Moderate to Difficult

UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2021

UPSC Paper 1 (GS) Analysis 2021
SubjectsTotal QuestionsDifficulty Level
Polity 17Easy to Moderate
Economy14Moderate
History18Difficult
Art & Culture3Difficult
Science & Technology12Moderate to Difficult
Geography+Agriculture9Easy to Moderate
Environment21Moderate to Difficult
Sports/Misc. Current Affairs6Difficult
Total100Moderately Tough
UPSC Paper 2 (CSAT) Analysis 2021
Reasoning Ability21Moderate 
Reading Comprehension27Moderate to Difficult
Numerical Ability24Difficult
Misc.8Moderate to Difficult
Total80Moderately Tough

UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2020

UPSC Paper 1 (GS) Analysis 2020
SubjectsTotal QuestionsDifficulty Level
Polity 14Easy to Moderate
Economy14Moderate to Difficult
History and  Art and Culture19Moderate to Difficult
Science & Technology10Easy to Moderate
Geography13Moderate to Difficult
Environment11Moderate to Difficult
Current Affairs19Moderate to Difficult
Total100Moderately Tough
UPSC Paper 2 (CSAT) Analysis 2020
Reasoning Ability16Easy to Moderate
Reading Comprehension25Moderate to Difficult
Numerical Ability39Moderate to Difficult
Total80Moderate

UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2019

UPSC Paper 1 (GS) Analysis 2019
SubjectsTotal QuestionsDifficulty Level
Polity 15Moderate to Difficult
Economy14Easy to Moderate
History+Art & Culture17Difficult
Science & Technology7Moderate to Difficult
Geography14Moderate to Difficult
Environment11Moderate
Current Affairs22Moderate to Difficult
Total100Moderate 
UPSC Paper 2 (CSAT) Analysis 2019
Reasoning Ability18Easy to Moderate
Reading Comprehension30Moderate
Numerical Ability32Moderate to Difficult
Total80Moderate 

Benefits of Solving UPSC Prelims Question Papers

Wondering why it is significant to solve UPSC Prelims question papers before taking the exam? Well, check out the reasons mentioned below to learn why:
  • Gaining Insight into the Exam Pattern: Working through UPSC Previous Year Question Papers can help you have a comprehensive understanding of the exam Pattern, marking scheme, and types of questions that will be asked throughout the examination. This will enable appropriate preparedness strategy planning.
  • Identifying Important Topics: Going through the UPSC Previous Year Question papers will help aspirants in identifying the important topics that are frequently asked in the exam.
  • Time Management: Because the UPSC exam has a time limitation, completing UPSC Previous Year Question Papers will assist candidates in improving their time management abilities. It will provide a candidate with a rough estimate of how much time to devote to each question and segment
  • Increasing Confidence: Working through UPSC Previous Year Question questions can help candidates get a feel for the actual examination and increase confidence. Additionally, it will assist in recognizing one's skills and flaws so that they can be improved upon.
  • Practising UPSC Previous Year Question papers would aid candidates in increasing their speed and accuracy. Regular practice will enable a candidate to answer questions accurately and rapidly, which is essential for performing well on the actual examination.

In conclusion, solving UPSC Civil Services Previous Year Question Papers from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 are an important part of exam preparation, and they can significantly increase a candidate's chances of making it through the exam.

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