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What will be the UPSC Prelims Qualifying Marks 2026?
The Union Public Service Commission will release the UPSC Prelims 2026 qualifying marks in online mode on its official website at upsc.gov.in. The commission will declare the expected qualifying marks for the UPSC prelims along with the declaration of the final result.
Candidates can download the UPSC prelims qualifying marks 2026 PDF for all categories from the official portal.
The UPSC Prelims 2026 analysis provides a detailed understanding of the subject-wise weightage, difficulty level, and expected qualifying marks. All the candidates who appeared for the UPSC IAS exam must score the minimum qualifying marks to appear in the next stages of the selection process. Go through the article below to know more about the UPSC Prelims qualifying marks 2026.
UPSC Prelims Qualifying Marks 2026
The commission determines the UPSC Prelims 2026 qualifying marks by three primary variables, namely, difficulty level, number of vacancies available, and the overall performance of the candidate taking the exam.
UPSC Prelims 2026 Expected Qualifying Marks
Category | Expected Qualifying Marks |
General | 85-88 |
OBC | 83-85 |
EWS | 84-87 |
SC | 70-75 |
ST | 60-65 |
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UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
Download EBookWhy is the UPSC Prelims Cutoff 2026 Important?
The exam authority releases the UPSC Prelims 2026 Cutoff for every stage of the selection process. Candidates must note that the UPSC Prelims is the only qualifying stage, where the cutoff plays an important role. It is the minimum score that a candidate must clear in the General Studies paper 1, while CSAT requires only 33% to qualify. It helps the candidate to:
Estimate the performance realistically
Make clear decisions regarding the UPSC Mains preparation
Avoid the unwanted stress during the wait for the results.
Steps to check the UPSC Prelims Cutoff 2026
Go to the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in
On the homepage, go to the examination tab.
Locate the cutoff marks section in the examination tab
A new window will open, displaying the UPSC Cutoff marks year-wise.
Click on the UPSC Prelims Cutoff 2026 download section.
Download and save the UPSC Prelims Cutoff PDF.
Also Read-
Previous Years UPSC Prelims Minimum Qualifying Marks- Category-wise
Year | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwBD-1 | PwBD-2 | PwBD-3 | PwBD-5 |
2025 | 92.66 | 89.34 | 92.00 | 84.00 | 82.66 | 76.66 | 54.66 | 40.66 | 40.66 |
2024 | 87.98 | 85.92 | 87.28 | 79.03 | 74.23 | 69.42 | 65.30 | 40.56 | 40.56 |
2023 | 75.41 | 68.02 | 74.75 | 59.25 | 47.82 | 40.40 | 47.13 | 40.40 | 33.68 |
2022 | 88.22 | 82.83 | 87.54 | 74.08 | 69.35 | 49.84 | 58.59 | 40.40 | 41.76 |
2021 | 87.54 | 80.14 | 84.85 | 75.41 | 70.71 | 68.02 | 67.33 | 43.09 | 45.80 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many marks are needed to qualify for UPSC prelims?
A:
To qualify for UPSC Prelims, you must score at least 33% (66 marks) in the CSAT (Paper-II)
Q: How are UPSC Prelims Cutoff Calculated?
A:
It varies yearly and is determined dynamically based on the total number of vacancies, exam difficulty, and the number of test-takers
Q: Are CSAT marks counted for the merit list?
A:
No. GS Paper II (CSAT) is only a qualifying paper. Marks from this paper are not added to your overall Prelims score.
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