UPSC IAS Exam Analysis 2025 - CSE Prelims Exam Analysis, Cut off

UPSC IAS Exam Analysis 2025 - CSE Prelims Exam Analysis, Cut off

Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Sep 16, 2024 03:20 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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Candidates will be able to check the UPSC IAS exam analysis 2025 here after the conclusion of examination. The UPSC IAS exam analysis comprises overall difficulty level, topics asked in the UPSC IAS exam and more. Candidates will be able to check the subject-wise weightage from the UPSC prelims 2025 analysis. Aspirants can check their expected UPSC IAS 2025 cut off with paper analysis. To know more about UPSC CSE exam analysis 2025, read the complete article.

This Story also Contains
  1. UPSC IAS Prelims Exam Analysis 2025
  2. UPSC IAS Paper Analysis (Previous Years)
  3. UPSC IAS Paper Analysis 2024
  4. UPSC CSE Mains Paper Analysis 2022 (Essay paper)
  5. UPSC IAS 2022 Exam Analysis (Prelims)
  6. UPSC IAS Result 2025
  7. UPSC IAS Cut Off 2025
UPSC IAS Exam Analysis 2025 - CSE Prelims Exam Analysis, Cut off
UPSC IAS Exam Analysis 2025 - CSE Prelims Exam Analysis, Cut off

UPSC IAS Prelims Exam Analysis 2025

Union Public Service Commission IAS prelims exam consists two papers - GS Paper 1 and CSAT Paper. Candidates who appeared for IAS exam must check the UPSC prelims 2025 subject-wise analysis. UPSC IAS prelims exam is qualifying in nature. Candidates will be shortlisted for the mains exam on the basis of performance in UPSC prelims 2025 exam. Aspirants can also check the previous years IAS exam analysis.

UPSC IAS Paper Analysis (Previous Years)

UPSC IAS Paper Analysis 2024

UPSC IAS 2024 Exam Analysis GS Paper 1

Candidates can check the UPSC CSE exam analysis 2024 of GS paper in the below table. The table consists of the difficulty level of the questions in every subject and the number of good attempts.

SubjectsNumber of questionsDifficulty levelGood attempts
Current affairs4-6Easy to moderate3-5
Geography12-18Easy to moderate10-13
Medieval history9-12Moderate to difficult8-12
Modern history9-12Moderate to difficult8-12
Ancient history9-12Moderate to difficult8-12
Environment and ecology12-18Moderate6-10
Polity12-19
Easy to moderate
9-11
Science and technology9-13Easy10-11
Economy18-23Moderate10-12
Overall100Easy to moderate56-74

UPSC IAS 2024 Exam Analysis CSAT Paper

SubjectsNumber of questionsGood attemptsDifficulty level
English Comprehension
22-2413-17Moderate

Quantitative Aptitude
23-2514-19Easy to moderate
Reasoning35-4423-27Moderate
Overall8050- 63Moderate
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UPSC IAS 2023 Exam Analysis GS Paper 1

Candidates can check a complete UPSC IAS exam analysis for GS Paper 1 good attempts and difficulty level by subject given in the table below.

Subjects
Good Attempts
Difficulty Level
Current Affairs
15-19
Easy to Moderate
Geography
13-17
Moderate
Medieval History
11-14
Difficult
Modern History
12-15
Moderate
Ancient History
10-13
Difficult
Environment and Ecology
13-17
Easy
Polity
11-14
Moderate
Science & Technology
7-10
Moderate
Economy
12-15
Moderate to Difficult
Overall
104-134
Moderate to Difficult

UPSC IAS 2023 Exam Analysis CSAT Paper

Subjects
Good Attempts
Difficulty Level
English Comprehension
25-27
Moderate to Difficult
Quantitative Aptitude
12-13
Moderate
Reasoning
37-39
Moderate to Difficult
Overall
74-79
Moderate to Difficult

UPSC CSE Mains Paper Analysis 2022 by Civils daily

UPSC IAS Mains Paper Analysis for General Studies - Paper 1

"Overall the paper has Medium Level of difficulty. Surely students can attempt all questions as no questions seemed to be from the “Not Heard about it” category. But to score above 110 in this paper would require that students handle history and society sections well.

History: Medium level difficult - Had some easy ones like famines, chola/gupta period and reorganization of states.

Some bouncer like connecting medieval sculptures with social life, British east India company against a better equipped Indian rulers army, How to write 3 pages on lion and bull figures significance

Geography: The number of questions from this section has reduced this year.

Majorly most questions come from the static portions of geography which is covered in NCERT like troposphere, ocean currents, wind energy, primary rocks, etc. Except for color coded weather warning (which if you cover current affairs can be written) most of the questions were doable.

Society: From last year this section has more questions.

The themes were more or less similar to previous years like secularism, religion, globalization and diversity etc. But the questions demanded deep and analytical thinking to write good answers. Some of such examples are Linking culture consumption with growth of tier 2 cities, Tribal community as a single community, salience of sect and question on secularism.

Questions on Work from home and globalization - technology link just like last year are from contemporary topics."

UPSC IAS Mains Paper Analysis for General Studies - Paper 2

Overall: What's most striking, unexpected, not sticking with the pattern. Just like the paper 1, medium difficulty paper. No bouncers as such in this paper. A lot of topics picked from previous year questions, themes and current affairs. But even the current affairs theme has been linked with the core static portion.

Polity: Many themes from previous have repeated here like NCBC, representative act, governor and ordinance, EC and model code. current topics which were in news like president elections, vice president and right to movement formed the basis for static questions formed on them.

Governance and social issues: Focus on schemes and acts in this section. Acts covered from RTE 2009 to disability act 2016 meaning students need to keep a tab on flagship schemes and acts and not only those which are covered in the last 1 year.

IR: 3 out of 4 questions are from recent current affairs. Thus, highlighting the importance of current affairs in this section.

UPSC CSE Mains Paper Analysis 2022 (Essay paper)

As per the candidate’s input, the UPSC CSE 2022 mains paper 1 of the essay was moderate. It leans a bit towards rigor as it requires a lot of thought. This is the highest scoring paper of all and will give the maximum boost to your overall rank in the final result. As per the UPSC IAS mains exam pattern 2022, the essay paper carried a total of 250 marks and this paper was conducted for three hours.

UPSC IAS Mains Question Papers 2022 (Section A - Essay)

  • Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.

  • Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.

  • History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.

  • A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ship is for.

UPSC IAS Mains 2022 Question Papers (Section B - Essay)

  • The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining

  • You cannot step twice in the same river

  • A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities

  • Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.

UPSC IAS 2022 Exam Analysis (Prelims)

Candidates can check UPSC prelims subject-wise weightage. For UPSC IAS exam analysis 2022, candidates can check the details below.

UPSC IAS 2022 Exam Analysis for Paper 1

Subjects

Difficulty level

Current events of national and international importance

Moderate

Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic

Easy

History of India and Indian National Movement

Moderate

Geography of India and the World

Difficult

Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution

Moderate

Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Easy

Economic and Social Development-Sustainable

Tough

General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization

Moderate

Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

Moderate

General Science

Tough

Overall

Moderate to difficult

UPSC IAS Exam Analysis for Paper 2

As per the candidates who appeared in the UPSC IAS 2022 CSAT paper, the paper was moderate and time-consuming.

Topics

Difficulty level

Comprehension

Moderate

Logical reasoning and analytical ability

Easy to moderate

Mathematics

Tough

Decision making and problem-solving-

Moderate

Direction question, dates related & statement related questions

Tough

Overall

Moderate to dif

UPSC Prelims 2021 Paper 1 (Set-A) Analysis

Candidates who appeared in Paper 1 of the exam found the questions moderately difficult. According to the UPSC IAS exam analysis, most of the candidates felt that there were too many questions from polity and history and they were difficult. As per the UPSC IAS exam analysis, some of the students held the view that there were hardly any questions on government policy. Some students said that there were three questions from sports also.

UPSC Prelims 2021 Paper 1 (Set-A)Subjects
Ques. Core Subject
Ques. Current Affair
Total Ques.
1. Current Events: sports & Award
2
3
5
2. History (India, Culture & Indian N. Movement)
21
0
21
3. Indian & World Geography
12
2
14
4. Indian Polity & Governance
18
1
19
5. Economic & Social Development
13
1
14
6. G. issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change
15
0
15
7. General Science
10
2
12
Total
91
9
100

UPSC Paper 1 Prelims 2021 Exam Analysis:

Topics
Difficulty Level

Current events of national and international importance

Moderately difficult

History of India and Indian National Movement

Difficult

Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution

Difficult

Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic

Moderately difficult

Geography of India and the World

Easy

General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization

Easy

Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Moderately difficult

Economic and Social Development-Sustainable

Easy

Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

Easy

General Science

Easy

UPSC IAS Exam Analysis - General Studies Paper 1

  • The questions were based on Environment, History, Political, Arts and culture.

  • The UPSC prelims questions from the Current affairs section were maximum covered.

  • The UPSC 2020 question paper for prelims was a bit difficult. The overall analysis for GS 1 was moderate to difficult.

  • The current affairs were from the pre-6-month period. Not recent current affairs.

UPSC Prelims Trend Analysis - General Studies Paper 1

As per the IAS exam analysis, most questions in IAS prelims 2020 were asked from Current Affairs, Polity and Latest technology questions. In 2020, the paper was tough compared to 2019.

Number of Questions

Sections

Difficulty Level

25 to 30

Current Affairs

Moderate to Difficult

10 to 15

History

Moderate to Difficult

5 to 10

Geography

Difficult

15 to 20

Polity

Difficult

15 to 20

Economy

Difficult

25 to 30

Science & Technology

Moderate to Difficult

Also Read:

UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage

Candidates preparing for IAS 2025 exam can check the UPSC prelims subject wise analysis here. Along with the IAS exam analysis, candidates must also check the UPSC syllabus for their preparation.

India and World Geography

  • Climate

  • Environment

  • Ecology

  • Old and New World Crops

History, Art and Culture

  • Modern History

  • Ancient History of India (Zamindari System, Harappa civilization)

  • Indian Freedom Struggle

Science & Technology

  • General Principles

  • Summits and Conferences

Economy

  • Indian Economy

  • Social Development

Polity

  • Indian Polity Facts

  • Law

  • Governance Issues

UPSC IAS Exam Analysis - General Studies Paper 2

UPSC IAS paper 2 comprises 80 questions with negative marking. The questions will be asked from Reasoning, English Language and Quantitative Aptitude. For more details, candidates can check below.

UPSC Prelims Trend Analysis - General Studies Paper 2

Sections

Number of questions

Difficulty level

Reasoning

18

Difficult

English Comprehension

30

Moderate

Data Interpretation

-

-

Quantitative Aptitude

32

Difficult

Overall

80

Moderate to Difficult

UPSC IAS Result 2025

UPSC will release the UPSC IAS 2025 result for prelims in online mode on the official website. Candidates will be able to download the IAS 2025 result PDF at upsc.gov.in. After the declaration of the UPSC IAS result 2025 prelims, the shortlisted candidates will be eligible to appear in the mains stage.

UPSC IAS Cut Off 2025

Union Public Service Commission will release the UPSC IAS 2025 cut off along with the declaration of the result. Along with the IAS exam analysis, candidates can also check expected IAS cut off 2025. The exam conducting authority will release the IAS 2025 cut off separately for all the categories. For more details, candidates can check the table given below.

UPSC IAS expected cut off

Category

Expected Cut Off

General

95-105

OBC

85-95

SC

75-85

ST

65-75

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the eligibility criteria to apply for IAS 2025?

Candidates between 21 to 32 years can apply for IAS exam 2025 from the official website.

2. What is the selection process of IAS 2025?

UPSC IAS 2025 selection process comprises prelim exam, mains exam and personal interview.

3. How to download IAS admit card 2025?

Candidates can download UPSC IAS admit card 2025 through their registration number and date of birth.

4. How to download question papers of IAS 2025?

Candidates will be able to download IAS question papers 2025 from the official website after the conclusion of exam.

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Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

Hello!
IRAS (Indian Railway Accounts Service) officers can be posted in both cities and rural areas since Indian Railways has offices and operations nationwide. They typically work in divisional offices, zonal offices, workshops, and production units. Transfers do happen but are usually not very frequent and depend on government policies and organizational needs.

Hope this helps!

To become an IAS officer, you must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and then undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). While any bachelor's degree is acceptable, choosing a degree that aligns with the UPSC syllabus, particularly in humanities and social sciences, can be advantageous.

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE):

This is the primary exam for becoming an IAS officer, involving three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test (Interview).

Any Bachelor's Degree:

A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic requirement to be eligible for the CSE.

Beneficial Degrees:

Degrees in humanities and social sciences, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), can be helpful due to the syllabus overlap with subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics.

Optional Subject:

You can choose an optional subject in the Mains exam, and a BA degree can provide a wide range of options.

Hope it helps!!

Hello!!

That's a great goal—and your background as a research scholar can actually be a big asset in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is the path to becoming an IAS officer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IAS Officer:

1. Understand the Exam Structure

The UPSC CSE has three stages:

Prelims: Objective (GS Paper + CSAT)

Mains: Descriptive (9 papers)

Interview: Personality Test

2. Check Eligibility

Age: 21 to 32 (for General category)

Degree: Any graduate degree (you already qualify)

3. Choose Your Optional Subject

Choose something you’re comfortable with (can be from your research field if it's available).

Popular optionals: Sociology, Geography, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.

4. Build a Study Plan

Since you're a research scholar, time management is key.

Daily 4–6 hours of focused study can work if you're consistent.

Focus on:

NCERTs (6th–12th)

Standard books (like Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History)

Current Affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, or PIB + Monthly compilations)

5. Join a Test Series (Optional but Helpful)

For Prelims and Mains: to build speed, writing skills, and clarity.

6. Practice Answer Writing

Mains is all about articulation. Practice with previous year questions and mock tests.

7. Appear for the Exam

Notification comes out around February.

Prelims is in May/June, Mains in September, and Interview early next year.

How to Align This With Your Research Schedule:

Create a realistic time-table that includes 2–3 hours on weekdays, and more on weekends.

Use your research experience for deeper understanding and essay writing.

If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:

BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.

KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.

After 10th for IAS

Hello aspirant,

For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.

To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse

All the best!!

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