UPSC CSE Question Paper

Introduction To UPSC CSE

The following article provides an outline for UPSC CSE Question Paper. UPSC or Union Public Service Commission is recruiting committee for Civil Services across all India for group A and group B posts. The commission was formed in 1926, and its headquarter is in Delhi. UPSC conducts examination for CSE or Civil Services Examination. The committee peculiarly designs the exam so that candidates ability to present his/her capabilities in a consistent manner can be tested.

UPSC conducts the exam to check the candidate’s overall performance.

For CSE, it conducts two exams:

• Preliminary Exam: 400 Marks
  • Two papers each of 200 Marks
  • Objective type questions

• Main Exam: 2025 Marks
  • Candidate must qualify pre before appearing in Mains
  • The candidate has to appear for 9 question papers

UPSC Question Paper

• UPSC question papers are designed uniquely and test candidates’ overall ability. The papers are held in 2 different languages (Hindi and English). For literature, the candidate has the choice to select from 15 languages. Blind Candidates are given extra time as well.
• For pre-candidate has to answer objective-type questions only, but in mains, all the papers are subjective. The papers are time-bounded, and the candidate must appear for all the papers.

UPSC Question Paper Prelims

There are two papers for prelims that must be cleared before appearing in the mains exam.

Below are the details of both the papers of the prelims exam:

1. Paper 1: It is of 200 Marks, and the duration is 2 hours.

Topics Of Paper 1:

• Current affairs national & international.
• Indian history and movements of India.
• Geography of both India and the world, including social, physical and economic conditions.
• Governance and polity of India including the constitution, rights, panchayati raj, public policy and political system.
• Social and economic development addressing social sector initiatives, poverty, sustainable development, clean energy etc.
• Bio-Diversity, climate change, ecology and related general issues.
• Science

2. Paper 2: It is 200 Marks, and the duration is 2 hours.

This paper must be qualified min 33%.

Topics Of Paper 2:

• General aptitude
• Comprehension
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Analytical ability and logical reasoning
• Problem-solving and decision making
• Math’s: Class X level

UPSC Question Paper Mains

Candidate can appear for main only and only when he has qualified Prelims exam.

In the mains Exam, the paper pattern is as below:

• 2 Qualifying papers
• 7 papers to account for merit
• All papers are subjective

Below is the breakdown of the mains exam:

1. Two Qualifying Papers:

• Paper A: 300 Marks
  • Literature in any of the language candidates selects as per the constitution’s 8^th

• Paper B: 300 Marks
  • English

2. 7 Papers To Account For Merit:

• Paper 1: 250 Marks
  • Essay writing

• Paper 2: 250 Marks
  • General studies – I
  • Indian culture and heritage
  • Geography and history of India and world

• Paper 3: 250 Marks
  • General studies – II
  • Constitution
  • Polity
  • International relations
  • Social justice
• Paper 4: 250 Marks
  • General studies – III
  • Economic development
  • Security
  • Bio-diversity
  • Environment
  • Technology
  • Disaster management
• Paper 5: 250 Marks
  • General studies – IV
  • Integrity
  • Aptitude
  • Ethics
• Paper 6: 250 Marks
  • Optional subject paper – 1
• Paper 7: 250 Marks
  • Optional Subject Paper – 2
• Final personality interview test: 275 Marks

The total mains marks add up to 2025 Marks.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to UPSC CSE Question Paper. Here we discuss the introduction and UPSC question paper, prelims and mains respectively. You can also go through our other suggested articles to learn more –

1. UPSC CSE Previous Year Paper
2. UPSC CSE Mains Syllabus
3. UPSC CSE
4. How to Prepare for UPSC CSE?