UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025 – Download Paper I & II Question Papers PDF
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has successfully conducted the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, popularly known as the IAS Prelims, for recruitment to India’s most prestigious government positions — IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Central Group A & B services.
If you have appeared for the exam or are planning to prepare for UPSC CSE 2026, this article provides official 2025 question papers PDFs for both:
- Paper I – General Studies (GS)
- Paper II – Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
These papers are essential for analyzing trends, understanding question distribution, and practicing for future attempts.
Overview of UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Category | National-Level Competitive Exam |
| Purpose | Recruitment for IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Group A & B services |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (OMR-Based) |
| Exam Date | 26th May 2025 (Expected) |
| Papers | Paper I – General Studies & Paper II – CSAT |
| Total Marks | 400 (200 Marks each) |
| Duration | 2 Hours per Paper |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in |
Exam Pattern – Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025
| Paper | Subject | Type | Marks | Duration | Qualifying Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | Objective (MCQs) | 200 | 2 Hours | Counts for Merit |
| Paper II | CSAT (Aptitude Test) | Objective (MCQs) | 200 | 2 Hours | Qualifying (33%) |
Paper I – General Studies (GS) 2025
Purpose:
Paper I tests a candidate’s knowledge, awareness, and analytical ability across multiple subjects such as History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, and Current Affairs.
Marks: 200
Duration: 2 Hours
Nature: Objective (MCQ)
Key Topics Covered:
Current Events of National and International Importance
- Government schemes, global summits, defence exercises, and current issues.
Indian Polity & Governance
- Constitution, Parliament, Panchayati Raj, and Government Policies.
Economic & Social Development
- Poverty, Inclusion, Sustainable Development, Demographics, Social Sector Schemes.
Geography
- Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, and Economic.
Environment & Ecology
- Biodiversity, Pollution, Climate Change, and Environmental Conventions.
History
- Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History including Freedom Struggle.
Science & Technology
- Latest tech developments, space programs, biotech, and defense innovation.
Download UPSC CSE 2025 Paper I (General Studies) PDF
| Paper | Download Link | Source |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I (2025) | Download Official PDF (Paper I 2025) | UPSC Official Website |
| Answer Key (To be Released) | Check Answer Key 2025 (GS Paper I) | UPSC Official |
The official UPSC answer key will be uploaded after the final result of CSE 2025.
Paper I 2025 – Sectional Analysis
| Section | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polity | 18 | Moderate | 20% |
| Economy | 15 | Moderate–Tough | 18% |
| History | 13 | Easy–Moderate | 15% |
| Geography | 12 | Moderate | 14% |
| Environment | 11 | Moderate–Difficult | 13% |
| Science & Tech | 10 | Moderate | 12% |
| Current Affairs | 21 | Moderate | 25% |
Overall Level: Moderately Tough
Trend: Greater focus on governance, sustainable development, and international affairs.
Paper II – General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
Purpose:
The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) evaluates your analytical ability, logical reasoning, and comprehension skills.
It is a qualifying paper, requiring 33% (66 marks) to pass.
Marks: 200
Duration: 2 Hours
Type: Objective (MCQ)
Key Areas Covered:
Comprehension Passages
- English passages testing vocabulary, inference, and logic.
Interpersonal Skills & Communication
- Situational questions testing empathy and leadership.
Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability
- Syllogisms, assumptions, arguments, data analysis.
Decision-Making & Problem Solving
- Ethics and judgment-based situations (no negative marking).
General Mental Ability & Numeracy
- Arithmetic, ratios, percentages, time, speed, and geometry.
Data Interpretation (DI)
- Tables, charts, and graphs – application-based questions.
Download UPSC CSE 2025 Paper II (CSAT) PDF
| Paper | Download Link | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CSAT Paper II (2025) | Download Official PDF (Paper II 2025) | UPSC Official Website |
| Answer Key (To be Released) | Check Answer Key 2025 (Paper II) | UPSC Official |
Paper II 2025 – Sectional Analysis
| Section | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehension | 27 | Moderate | Reading-heavy |
| Reasoning | 20 | Moderate–Tough | Trick-based |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 33 | Tough | Time-consuming |
| Data Interpretation | 10 | Easy–Moderate | Calculation-based |
| Decision Making | 10 | Easy | High accuracy needed |
Overall Level: Tricky but doable
Trend: UPSC continued emphasis on comprehension and logic.
Difficulty & Cut-Off Trend (Expected – 2025)
| Category | Expected Cut-Off (GS Paper I) |
|---|---|
| General | 91–95 |
| OBC | 89–92 |
| EWS | 88–91 |
| SC | 76–80 |
| ST | 72–76 |
| PwBD | 58–65 |
Paper II (CSAT) remains qualifying — candidates must score 66 marks (33%) minimum.
Why You Must Download and Study UPSC CSE 2025 Question Papers
Practicing official UPSC 2025 papers gives you an edge over mock tests because it helps you:
You can understand the real difficulty level.
You can identify repeated topics and question framing patterns.
You can develop exam temperament and time discipline.
You can practice elimination techniques for MCQs.
You can gain confidence for UPSC CSE 2026.
How to Use These Papers for Practice
Attempt both papers in exam-like timed conditions.
Evaluate your performance using UPSC official answer keys.
Analyze weak areas and update your notes.
Focus on accuracy and time management.
For CSAT, build daily habit of solving reading comprehension and reasoning puzzles.
Tips for UPSC 2026 Preparation (Based on 2025 Analysis)
You can integrate Current Affairs into each GS subject.
You can revise NCERTs + Standard Books (Laxmikant, Spectrum, G.C. Leong).
You can practice previous 10-year papers (2015–2025).
For CSAT, solve 1 comprehension + 10 aptitude questions daily.
You can join a test series by March 2026 for performance tracking.
You can maintain consistent revision cycles – weekly & monthly.
Conclusion
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 Question Papers are a must-have resource for every aspirant preparing for India’s toughest exam.
By studying both Paper I (General Studies) and Paper II (CSAT), you can:
Analyze topic trends and difficulty levels
Identify key focus areas
Understand UPSC’s evolving question framing
Sharpen your reasoning and comprehension
“In UPSC, smart analysis of the previous year’s papers is smarter than random reading.”
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