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UPSC IAS Answer Key 2025 - Check UPSC CSE Prelims Solution key PDFs
Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Sep 16, 2024 03:18 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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UPSC CSE Exam Date : 25 May' 2025 - 25 May' 2025
The unofficial prelims UPSC IAS 2025 Answer key for GS and CSAT will be available in the form of PDF files here after conclusion of exam. Many notable coaching institutes release the unofficial versions of the IAS answer key for prelims. The UPSC IAS answer key 2025 will enable candidates to make an estimate of the score they might receive in the prelims exam, the different types of question papers the difficulty of the exam and much more. The Commission will also release the official IAS Answer key after the declaration of the final IAS result 2025.
This Story also Contains
- IAS Answer Key 2025 for Prelims
- UPSC IAS Answer Key and Question Paper 2024 - Paper 1
- How to Download UPSC IAS 2025 Answer Key?
- IAS 2025 Marking Scheme
- IAS Question Papers
- IAS Result 2025
The IAS Answer Key 2025 will be made available for download for all sets. The Official IAS 2025 Answer Key will have the correct answer listed next to the question number. For further information about the IAS Answer Key 2025, and for materials like past answer key PDFs, candidates can consult the material below.
IAS Answer Key 2025 for Prelims
Candidates can check the IAS Answer Key 2025 dates for prelims released by various coaching institutes on this page.
IAS 2025 Answer Key Release Dates
Events | Dates |
Date of CSE prelims exam 2025 | May 25, 2025 |
Release of IAS Answer Key 2025 (unofficial) | To be announced |
UPSC mains 2025 exam date | August 22, 2025 |
Release of IAS 2025 answer key for mains (unofficial) | To be announced |
UPSC Civil Services answer key 2025 (official) | To be announced |
IAS Answer Key - Prelims Previous Years
Here, candidates can download the IAS Prelims Answer Key PDF files from previous years.
UPSC IAS Answer Key and Question Paper 2024 - Paper 1
Year | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
| 2024 | Click here | To be updated |
| 2023 | Click here | Click here |
2022 | ||
2021 | ||
2020 | ||
2019 | ||
2018 | ||
2017 | ||
2016 |
How to Download UPSC IAS 2025 Answer Key?
Candidates can follow the detailed steps below to download the IAS Answer Key 2025.
Visit the official website - www.upsc.gov.in.
Click on the Exam tab and choose the Answer Key option from the drop-down menu.
Click on the UPSC IAS answer key 2025 on the web page.
UPSC IAS 2025 PDF file will open.
Download the PDF file for future reference.
UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy and Best Books
UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
Download EBookWhat will Be the release date of the IAS 2025 Answer Key?
Based on the past years' trends of IAS answer key release dates, we can extrapolate that UPSE will release the IAS Answer Key 2025 after the release of the final result. However, the UPSC IAS official answer key release date has not been announced yet. Go through the table below to know the previous year’s trends of the IAS answer key release dates.
IAS Answer Key Release Dates - Previous Year's Trends
Year | IAS exam date 2025 | Answer key release date |
| 2025 | May 25, 2025 | To be announced |
| 2024 | June 16, 2024 | To be announced |
| 2023 | June 12, 2023 | May 9, 2024 |
2022 | June 5, 2022 | July 04, 2023 |
2021 | October 10, 2021 | May 30, 2022 |
2020 | October 4, 2020 | November 9, 2021 |
2019 | June 2, 2019 | August 10, 2020 |
2018 | June 3, 2018 | April 16, 2019 |
IAS Answer Key 2025 - Advantages
Candidates can go through the answer key of the IAS exam 2025 to get a rough idea of which questions they answered correctly and calculate their scores. Some coaching institutes released their own unofficial versions of the IAS answer key on the same day of the examination. Candidates will also be able to use the IAS 2025 answer key to calculate the expected cut off.
How to Calculate Score With IAS Answer Key 2025 (Prelims)?
To get an estimate of their scores, candidates will have to cross-check the answers they gave in the exam against those mentioned in the IAS Answer Key 2025. Candidates will be able to calculate their scores based on the number of correct and incorrect answers
Candidates can calculate their tentative scores based on the number of correct and incorrect responses provided in the UPSC IAS exam . To be able to do this, candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the marking scheme of the IAS 2025 exam. You can find details about the marking scheme in the table below.
IAS 2025 Marking Scheme
Candidates can calculate their probable IAS scores by using the UPSC CSE marking scheme. The marking scheme should be used along with the IAS Answer Key 2025 to arrive at a tentative score.
Particulars | Marking Scheme |
Correct response |
|
Negative marking | Negative marking is applicable for both papers and 1/3 of marks will be deducted for every wrong answer |
Marks reduced in Paper I | 0.33 marks |
Marks reduced in Paper II | 0.33 marks |
Total marks (prelims) | 400 marks
|
Paper 1 score | Correct responses out of 100 X 2 marks and 0.33 marks for each incorrect answer |
Paper 2 score | Correct responses out of 80 X 2.5 marks and 0.33 marks for each incorrect answer |
Aggregate score | (Correct answers in Paper 1 x 2) + (Correct responses in Paper 2 x 2.5) – (No. of incorrect response x marks reduced for each wrong answer) |
IAS Question Papers
The IAS question paper for the prelims exam 2025 will be made available at upsc.gov.in. similar to the IAS Answer key, the commission releases the UPSC CSE question papers after the conclusion of the exam. In previous years, it was seen that the IAS question paper was uploaded a few days after the examination was conducted. Candidates will be able to download the question papers as a PDF file and can find out about the difficulty level of the IAS exam 2025 and the types of questions asked.
IAS Cut off 2025
Union Public Services Commission will release the IAS cut off for all stages of the exam - prelims, mains and final cut-off. The cut off of the exam for all the stages will be published after the completion of the selection process, that is, after the declaration of the final IAS result 2025.
Quick Link:
The UPSC IAS 2025 cut off is the minimum mark that candidates must secure in each exam stage to be shortlisted for the next phase of the exam. Apart from the official UPSC IAS 2025 cut off, various coaching institutes will also try to predict the expected cut off for the examination. The previous years’ cut off of the IAS exam is given in the table below.
UPSC IAS Cut Off - Previous years’
Categories | Cut off |
General | 92-96 |
EWS | 90-14 |
OBC | 91-95 |
SC | 82-89 |
ST | 75-81 |
PwBD-1 | 52-62 |
PwBD-2 | 42-62 |
PwBD-3 | 57-67 |
PwBD-5 | 57-67 |
IAS 2025 Answer Key by Coaching Institutes
- UPSC IAS Answer key by Career Launcher
- CSE Answer key by Chanakya IAS Academy
- IAS Answer key by Vajiram & Ravi
- UPSC CSE Answer Key by Career Power
IAS Result 2025
Union Public Service Commission will release the IAS prelims 2025 results online on upsc.gov.in. The results of the IAS exam are released by the conducting body after the successful completion of the written exam. The UPSC IAS 2025 results will be published as a PDF file having the names and roll numbers of all qualified candidates. The final results will be released by UPSC after the completion of the IAS mains and interview rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When will the official UPSC IAS answer key be released?
The answer key of UPSC IAS will be published after the completion of the recruitment process.
2. What is the UPSC IAS answer key?
The IAS answer key comprises all correct answers to the questions asked in the exam. The UPSC answer key will be released officially in a PDF file only on the official website after the conclusion of the exam.
3. What are the benefits of UPSC IAS answer key?
The UPSC IAS answer key will help the students predict the probable score by using the marking scheme.
4. How to download the UPSC CSE answer key?
Candidates can download the answer key of IAS as a PDF file.
5. Can the candidates challenge the UPSC IAS answer key?
No, UPSC doesn't provide any chance to challenge the UPSC IAS answer key.
6. Is there any negative marking in the IAS UPSC exam?
Yes, there is a negative marking of 1/3 marks out of the total in the CSE prelims exam 2025.
7. When will the UPSC release the IAS 2025 cutoff?
The commission will release the UPSC CSE 2025 cut off on the official website after the declaration of the final result.
8. What will be the UPSC IAS cut-off for the prelims exam?
According to the previous years' trends, the CSE prelims exam 2025 expected cut off for the general category will be 92 to 96 marks.
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5 min ⋆ Mar 10, 2025 05:03 AM ISTQuestions related to UPSC CSE
Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?
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!!
sadafreen356 22 April,2025
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.
NITYAM MAHUR 12 April,2025
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.
Rubina Naseer 04 April,2025
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!!
Sakshi Sharma 31 March,2025
Hello Rishika,
You can take any stream for becoming IAS. As per the eligibility criteria of UPSC IAS , student have to graduate from any stream from any recognised university or college. So it's doesn't matter from which stream you choose. But if you really want to become IAS, then humanities , arts related subject helps you alot.
To know more, kindly go through the given link:
https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse
Good luck!
Sakshi Sharma 31 March,2025
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