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Last Updated on: 04 Feb 2026, 04:40 PM

UPSC Civil Services Exam: Previous Year Cut Off Marks

Official UPSC CSE previous year cut off marks for Prelims, Mains, and Final stages in India. Analyze category-wise (General, OBC, SC/ST, EWS) trends for 2023, 2022 and 2021 to strategize your preparation.

UPSC Civil Services Previous Year Cut Off Download PDF (2023, 2022, 2021)

Understanding the previous years’ cut-off marks for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is an essential part of building a realistic and data-driven preparation strategy. Cut-off marks represent the minimum score required by a candidate to qualify for a particular stage of the examination—Preliminary, Main, or the Final merit list. A careful analysis of these cut-offs helps aspirants in India set practical score targets and evaluate their performance objectively while preparing for services such as IAS, IPS, and IFS.

UPSC CSE 2023 Cut Off Marks (Final)

The following table presents the officially released cut-off marks for the Civil Services Examination 2023. It is important to note that the Preliminary cut-off is calculated based only on the marks obtained in General Studies Paper-I. General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature, with a minimum requirement of 33 percent.

Category	Prelims (Out of 200)	Mains (Out of 1750)	Final (Out of 2025)
General	75.41	741	953
EWS	68.02	706	923
OBC	74.75	712	919
SC	59.25	691	890
ST	47.82	681	891
PwBD-1	40.40	628	834
PwBD-2	47.13	668	878
PwBD-3	34.45	560	755
PwBD-5	41.76	525	718

UPSC CSE 2022 Cut Off Marks (Final)

The table below shows the final cut-off marks for the Civil Services Examination 2022. These figures clearly demonstrate how significantly the cut-off can vary from one year to another depending on factors such as question paper difficulty, competition level, and overall performance of candidates.

Category	Prelims (Out of 200)	Mains (Out of 1750)	Final (Out of 2025)
General	88.22	748	960
EWS	82.83	715	926
OBC	87.54	714	923
SC	74.08	699	893
ST	69.35	706	900
PwBD-1	49.84	677	879
PwBD-2	58.59	706	913
PwBD-3	40.40	596	792
PwBD-5	41.76	589	778

Analysis of UPSC Cut Off Trends

An analysis of recent UPSC cut-off trends provides several critical insights that aspirants should factor into their preparation strategy:

Highly Variable Prelims Cut Off: The Preliminary examination cut-off fluctuates significantly each year. The sharp decline in the 2023 cut-off compared to 2022 indicates a comparatively tougher General Studies Paper-I.
Intense Competition: The close difference between cut-offs across categories, particularly in the General and OBC categories, highlights the intense competition. Even a difference of one or two marks can determine qualification.
CSAT Cannot Be Ignored: Although CSAT is qualifying in nature, its difficulty level has increased in recent years. Failing to secure the minimum 33 percent can eliminate otherwise strong candidates.
Mains as the Primary Filter: With 1750 marks at stake, the Mains examination plays the most decisive role in determining final selection. Performance consistency across all General Studies papers, the essay, and the optional subject is essential.
Role of the Interview: The final cut-off is calculated by adding Mains and Interview marks. A strong Personality Test score can significantly improve the final ranking and service allocation.

Disclaimer: All cut-off marks mentioned above are based on official data released by the Union Public Service Commission through its notifications and press releases. Candidates are strongly advised to verify the information directly from the official UPSC website for complete accuracy.

Official Website: www.upsc.gov.in

KKT

Written by: KK Tiwari

Published on: September 25, 2025

Meet KK Tiwari, a leading expert in government exam analysis. With over 9 years of experience, he provides in-depth guides on syllabus, exam patterns, and cut-offs.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does the UPSC cut-off change every year?

The UPSC cut-off varies each year due to several factors, including the difficulty level of the question papers, the number of vacancies announced for that year, and the overall performance of the candidates.

Is there a separate cut-off for the CSAT paper in Prelims?

Yes, there is a qualifying cut-off for the CSAT paper (General Studies Paper-II). A candidate must score a minimum of 33%, which is 66 marks out of 200, to qualify. If you don't clear this, your GS Paper-I will not be evaluated.

Are the Prelims marks added to the final score?

No. The Preliminary examination is purely a screening test to select candidates for the Main examination. The marks obtained in Prelims are not counted for determining the final order of merit.

What does the "Final Cut Off" signify?

The "Final Cut Off" is the total marks (out of 2025) of the last recommended candidate in a particular category. It is the sum of the candidate's marks in the Main Examination (out of 1750) and the Personality Test/Interview (out of 275).

Why is the OBC cut-off often very close to the General category cut-off?

The OBC cut-off is often close to the General cut-off due to the intense competition among a large number of OBC candidates and the exclusion of the 'creamy layer', which means only a specific socio-economic section within the OBC category is eligible for reservation.

How should I use these previous year cut-offs in my preparation?

You should use these cut-offs as a benchmark. Aim to score at least 15-20 marks above the previous year's Prelims cut-off in your mock tests to be on the safe side. For Mains, they help you understand the level of performance required to get an interview call.

Does UPSC release an official answer key before the Prelims result?

No, UPSC does not release an official answer key immediately after the Prelims exam. The official answer key is released on its website only after the entire examination process for that year is completed (i.e., after the declaration of the final result).

Is there a sectional cut-off for different papers in the Main examination?

UPSC does not officially declare separate or sectional cut-offs for individual papers within the Main examination. The Mains cut-off is based on the aggregate score of all seven merit-based papers (totaling 1750 marks).

What is the lowest cut-off among all categories?

Typically, the cut-offs for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) categories, particularly PwBD-3 and PwBD-5, are the lowest across all stages of the examination.

Where can I find the official UPSC cut-off documents?

The official cut-off marks are released by the Union Public Service Commission in a document on their official website, www.upsc.gov.in, usually a few weeks after the declaration of the final result for that examination cycle.