UPSC IAS Mains Question Paper - Download here

UPSC IAS Mains Question Paper - Download here

Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Sep 20, 2024 02:13 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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UPSC CSE  Exam Date : 25 May' 2025 - 25 May' 2025

Candidates who qualify in the prelims exam are required to appear in the main examination. While preparing for the UPSC IAS 2024 mains exam they should go through the IAS mains previous year question papers to get an idea about the question paper level of IAS exam. The commission releases the UPSC mains question paper on the official website.

This Story also Contains
  1. IAS Mains Question Paper 2024 (Official) - Direct Download Links
  2. UPSC IAS Mains Previous Year Question Papers
  3. UPSC IAS mains exam pattern
  4. IAS Books for Mains
UPSC IAS Mains Question Paper - Download here
UPSC IAS Mains Question Paper - Download here

Candidates will be able to download the UPSC IAS 2024 mains question paper at upsc.gov.in. The commission will release the UPSC mains paper separately for all the papers. The UPSC 2024 mains question paper will also be released for language and optional subjects. Aspirants can download last 10 years UPSC mains question papers pdf here.

IAS Mains Question Paper 2024 (Official) - Direct Download Links

Papers

Download link

UPSC IAS Mains Paper I

Essay

UPSC IAS Mains Paper II

General Studies - Paper I

General Studies - Paper II

General Studies - Paper III

General Studies - Paper IV

How to Download the Official UPSC IAS Mains Question Paper?

Candidates can download the IAS mains question papers by following the steps given below.

Step 1: Visit the UPSC 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 mains previous year's question papers.

Step 5: Click on the IAS main question paper PDF.

Step 6: Download UPSC mains previous year question papers PDF for future reference.

UPSC IAS Mains Previous Year Question Papers

Candidates who appearing for UPSC IAS mains exam 2024 can download the UPSC mains previous year question papers here. Check the tables below for direct links to previous years' UPSC IAS mains question paper.

UPSC IAS 2023 Mains Question Papers Direct Download Links

Papers

Download link

UPSC IAS Mains Paper I

Essay

UPSC IAS Mains Paper II

General Studies - Paper I

General Studies - Paper II

General Studies - Paper III

General Studies - Paper IV

UPSC IAS 2022 (Official) - Mains Question Papers Direct Download Links

UPSC Mains Question Papers (2016 to 2020)


Quick links:

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Benefits of Solving UPSC Mains Question Paper

Candidates can gain many benefits while referring the UPSC Mains question papers. Some of the advantages of solving UPSC mains question paper are mentioned below

  • It helps to understand about UPSC mains exam pattern

  • It helps to know about what types of topics are frequently asked in the exam.

  • It also helps us in time management while solving UPSC mains previous year question papers.

UPSC IAS mains exam pattern

Number of papers

9

Language of paper

English

Hindi

Descriptive paper: Candidates can appear for language paper in 22 languages mentioned in schedule 8 of the Indian constitution

Duration of exam

3 hours each

Subjects

Compulsory Indian language

English

Essay

  • General Studies I

  • General Studies II

  • General Studies III

  • General Studies IV

  • Optional I

  • Optional II

Number of questions

Part A and B: 300 each

General studies and optional paper: 250 each

Sub Total (Mains)

1750 marks

Other exams conducted by UPSC

IAS Books for Mains

GS Paper 1 (History, Indian Heritage & Culture)

  • Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania

  • India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

  • India after Independence by Bipan Chandra

  • History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra

  • Ancient India by R.S Sharma

GS Paper 1 (Geography)

  • Geography of India by Majid Husain

  • World Geography by Majid Husain

  • World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)

  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography – G C Leong

  • Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11

GS Paper 2 (Polity & International Relations)

  • Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

  • Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu

  • International Relations: Pushpesh Pant

GS Paper 3 (Economy)

  • Indian Economy – Nitin Singhania

  • Environment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw Hill

  • Challenges to Internal Security of India – Ashok Kumar

GS Paper 4 (Ethics)

  • Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chaudary

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where can I get the IAS mains questions pdf?

Aspirants can download the UPSC mains question papers from the official website at upsc.gov.in.

2. When will the UPSC IAS mains question paper be released?

The commission will upload the IAS mains question paper 2024 two to three days after completion of exam.

3. Will the commission release all the UPSC mains papers on the official website?

Yes, the commission will upload UPSC IAS mains question paper for all the subjects including language and optional subjects.

4. Are there any login credentials required to download the IAS mains question papers?

No, aspirants can directly download the IAS mains question paper on the official website by following the steps given above in this article.

5. What is the time period between prelims and mains exam of IAS?

The commission provides approximately 4 months time duration for mains exam after completion of prelims 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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