Question Paper Analysis: UPPSC PCS Prelims 2025

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) conducted the State Combined Civil and Upper Services Prelims exam for 2025 on Sunday (June 29). It was held in two shifts — morning and afternoon. While the morning shift for GS paper 1 started at 9:30 am, the afternoon shift for GS paper 2 (CSAT) began at 2:30 pm.

Candidates were required to carry their admit card to the examination center, along with a valid ID card (Aadhaar/PAN card) that displayed the candidate’s photograph.

The exam is held in three stages — prelims, mains, and the personality test to select officers for the various posts in Grade A and B posts in the state government and its departments.

UPPSC PCS preliminary exam consists of objective-type questions. Candidates scoring above the cut-off marks will become eligible to register for the UPPSC PCS Main examination. The Mains Exams will be descriptive, followed by an interview round for candidates for the various services and posts.

Download UPPCS Pre Paper 2025 GS

Prelims Paper I Analysis: Difficulty Level

The candidates found the paper for GS Paper I to be somewhere between easier and moderately difficult in comparison to the observed model of UPPSC conventions. The Paper was a bit more relaxing than the last few years, although it had its tough questions in between.
The range of areas and topics considered for the questions asked was wider this year, and in the opinion of many, “was unexpected.”
The question paper consisted of a variety of questions ranging from the Vice President of the country to the latest literature awards on one hand, and from the various battles fought in the medieval Indian era to the latest space exploration missions.
Experts suggested that the candidates would have to have a knowledge bank on an extensive range of topics, with not only the contemporary static GS and World and National Current Affairs in hand, but also a trivial understanding and awareness in the day-to-day world.

Prelims Paper I Analysis: Subject/Topic Breakdown

The question paper was active on the parliamentary proceedings and procedures.
There were a few direct questions on Geography, Polity, and Economy from the NCERT textbooks.
There were about 12- 18 questions on the geographical environment and ecology, with an addition of Uttar Pradesh Geography having about 5-6 questions. Most of the questions were of a moderate level. Apart from a few, the remaining questions were either inspired by current affairs or from class notes and compasses.
The Polity section comprised about 25-30 questions, some of which were found to be comparatively challenging by the candidates, owing to the conditions that all the options were close to being correct, making it confusing for the candidates at the same time.
The state polity also comprised additional questions.
Some questions were in a way that could be identified by the candidates in the various textbooks and reference books they read and made notes from.
On the first look at the UPPSC PCS Prelims 2025 exam, it looks like there were approximately 25-30 questions from Polity, 15-18 from Environment, 25-30 from History, Art and Culture, 15-18 from Geography + Mapping, 5-6 from Economics, 10-12 from Science and tech., and a good section from current world and national affairs, miscellaneous.
The State GK, that is Uttar Pradesh GK/GS section, was along the expected lines in terms of overall weightage and themes, carrying a smaller number of questions and areas.
Overall, the question paper Exam was more relaxing and easier compared to last year. The geography and science sections were mainly application-based.

Historical Chronology and constitutional provisions for the polity should have been on the tip of a candidate for accuracy in the polity section.

Paper I Analysis: Types of Questions

This year’s paper saw a continuation and a break, respectively, in the pattern of questions from the previous years.
There were some ‘statement type’ questions than the others, with 2 to 3 statements to analyse.
The number of questions for pair-wise analysis or ‘match the following pairs’ was comparatively low.
Mapping questions or the questions based on maps were reduced this year not only in number but also in their category and span level. They were comparatively easier.
The overall pattern was a perfect blend of patterns that UPPSC has held in the last 10- 20 years, keeping their tradition safe, with some direct questions finding their way back and statement or analytical questions maintaining their stand.
What impressed the candidates most was the applicative use of questions from current affairs, which can be heard, read, or found anywhere around us.
Basically, statement-type questions, along with direct questions, were found to follow the lines of general trivia and knowledge.

Paper II Analysis: CSAT

The C-SAT section did not see much of a change in the difficulty level as compared to the previous few years.
The level of questions under the maths category proved to be comfortable for the candidates, especially keeping the time constraint in mind, which was not so last year.
However, the comprehension-based questions were easier too, both in English and Hindi.
The difficulty level in reasoning was reduced from last year, but a few categories and topics were completely washed off from the paper, which had been a part of it over the previous years.
The Statement questions, meant to test the decision-making and observation capabilities of a candidate, were found to be in number.
Analogy and verbal reasoning made up most of the question paper’s weightage.
Although the complaints of candidates from last year about having to solve questions from topics out of the purview of the prescribed CSAT syllabus were taken care of, the same was compensated for in the form of the level of questions, especially in the Mathematical category.
The paper was moderately easier and less exhaustive than as expected.

What should be expected from Sunday’s paper?

In the words of candidates and experts, the question paper was critically and visibly balanced and moderate. It followed last year’s pattern with a twist of bringing back the old and contemporary UPPSC PCS style. CSAT did make the highlight of the day with slightly more decision-making and language-based questions than figures, but the wholesome experience and reaction to the question papers for both GS I and GS II were kind of a mixture, from easy to moderately difficult.

In the outline, the paper was not very lengthy and focused on the new breed of future bureaucrats who are well-versed with current events and straddle both the present and future of India.

The candidates should expect the result of the UPPSC PCS Prelims 2025 to be out soon on the official website of UPPSC.

The cutoff is expected to be somewhere more than last year but less than the years before it. Since the paper was moderately difficult in all aspects, the cutoff can reach a comfortable bracket of 95 to 105 for the General category, thereby following along the same lines for the further categories.

Disclaimer: The Above article is based on the opinions and views of various candidates and experts from our institute. For the latest and most accurate information and notifications, visit the official website of UPPSC regularly.

Download UPPCS Pre Paper 2025 GS