Peak
2016 was the decade peak
The General-category cutoff reached 116.00 in 2016, the highest value in the 2015-2025 table.
Official cutoff history
UPSC Prelims Cutoff 2015-2025
Year-wise UPSC Prelims cutoff history for General category, plus category-wise figures for 2023, 2024, and 2025. The cutoff is GS Paper I only, out of 200 marks, with CSAT qualifying separately.
General-category cutoff, 2015 to 2025
Official UPSC Prelims General-category cutoff, GS Paper I out of 200.
| Year | General cutoff | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 107.34 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2016 | 116.00 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2017 | 105.34 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2018 | 98.00 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2019 | 98.00 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2020 | 92.51 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2021 | 87.54 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2022 | 88.22 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2023 | 75.41 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2024 | 87.98 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
| 2025 | 92.66 | GS Paper I, out of 200 |
Category-wise cutoffs, 2023 to 2025
Official UPSC Prelims cutoffs for GS Paper I out of 200.
| Year | General | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 92.66 | 92.00 | 89.34 | 84.00 | 82.66 |
| 2024 | 87.98 | 87.28 | 85.92 | 79.03 | 74.23 |
| 2023 | 75.41 | 74.75 | 68.02 | 59.25 | 47.82 |
Anomaly
2023 was unusually low
The 2023 General cutoff was 75.41 because the paper was unusually difficult.
Rebound
2024 and 2025 moved back up
The General cutoff was 87.98 in 2024 and 92.66 in 2025, after the 2023 anomaly.
What this means for your target score
The cutoff is GS Paper I only. CSAT Paper II is qualifying, and candidates need 33%, or 66.67 marks, in CSAT.
The recent General-category numbers cluster in the high-80s and low-90s, except for the anomalously low 2023 cutoff. The full 2015-2025 table also shows that 2016 reached 116.00.
A target score should therefore be read against the full range of official cutoffs, while CSAT must be cleared separately. Prelims marks do not count toward final merit; final merit is based on Mains and Interview.
Related UPSC Prelims resources
UPSC Prelims mock test
Practise with timed tests that include the same one-third negative-marking rule.
Open resource →Previous year questions
Open year-wise and subject-wise UPSC Prelims PYQs for cutoff-context practice.
Open resource →UPSC Prelims exam pattern
Review why GS Paper I decides the cutoff and CSAT is qualifying only.
Open resource →UPSC Prelims 2027
See the 2027 notification, application deadline, Prelims date, and Mains start date.
Open resource →UPSC attempt limit
How many attempts you get by category, and what officially counts as one.
Open resource →UPSC eligibility criteria
Official age limits, relaxations, and qualification rules from the notification.
Open resource →Frequently asked questions
- What is the UPSC Prelims cutoff based on?
- The UPSC Prelims cutoff is based on GS Paper I out of 200. CSAT Paper II is qualifying only, with 33%, or 66.67 marks, required.
- What was the UPSC Prelims 2025 General cutoff?
- The official UPSC Prelims 2025 General-category cutoff was 92.66 out of 200 in GS Paper I.
- Why was the UPSC Prelims 2023 cutoff low?
- The 2023 cutoff was anomalously low due to an unusually difficult paper. The General-category cutoff that year was 75.41 out of 200.
- Does CSAT affect the UPSC Prelims cutoff?
- CSAT Paper II is qualifying only. Candidates need 33%, or 66.67 marks, but the Prelims cutoff is decided by GS Paper I.
- Do Prelims marks count toward final merit?
- No. Prelims marks do not count toward the final merit list; final merit is based on Mains and Interview.
Practise with cutoff context
Use mock tests, PYQs, and the exam-pattern page alongside the official cutoff history above.