UPSC Prelims previous year questions
UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers with Answers
Every UPSC Civil Services Prelims paper from 2016 (GS Paper 1) and 2018 (CSAT), taken from the official papers with UPSC's answer keys. Practise a full paper with UPSC's timing and negative marking, or a set by subject and year. Prelims 2025 and 2026 and CSAT 2020 to 2026 have every option explained and are also in Hindi.
- GS Paper 12016 to 2026, 100 questions a year
- CSAT2018 to 2026, 80 questions a year
- UPSC marking+2, minus 0.66, two hours
- Also in HindiPrelims 2025, 2026 and CSAT 2020 to 2026
GS Paper 1
UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Question Papers, 2016 to 2026
The 2026 paper follows UPSC's provisional answer key of 27 May 2026; every other year follows UPSC's final key.
Read the full paper with the answer key and explanations: Prelims 2026 · Prelims 2025
CSAT
UPSC CSAT Previous Year Question Papers, 2018 to 2026
CSAT is qualifying at 33 per cent. Questions on one passage stay together, as in the exam.
How it works
How to Use UPSC Prelims PYQs in Your Preparation
- Start with the latest two papersThey show the current style: statement-based questions, "how many of the above" and pairs.
- Then go subject by subjectTen years of Polity or Environment questions show which areas UPSC returns to.
- Finish with timed full papersTwo hours, one third negative marking, and a score report that shows where marks are lost.
Questions students ask
UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions: Common Questions
How many questions are there in the UPSC Prelims question paper?
General Studies Paper I has 100 questions for 200 marks in two hours: 2 marks for a right answer and one third of that deducted for a wrong one. CSAT (General Studies Paper II) has 80 questions for 200 marks in two hours and is qualifying: you need 33 per cent, that is 66.67 marks.
Where does UPSC publish its previous year question papers?
UPSC publishes the question papers and its answer keys on upsc.gov.in. Every question here is taken from those official papers, and every answer follows UPSC's own key.
Can I practise the UPSC question paper in Hindi?
Yes. Recent papers are also in Hindi, in UPSC's own printed Hindi (UPSC prints every paper in Hindi and English): Prelims 2025 and 2026, CSAT 2020 to 2026 and Mains 2025 and 2026; switch the language at the top of the practice screen.
What does "Answer in doubt" mean on some questions?
Where the wording of a question allows two answers to be defended, the explanation says so, names both, and counts both as correct in practice, until UPSC's final answer key settles it.