UPSC Prelims 2025 Analysis

ISC Explained and Analysed Question Paper: UPSC CSE Prelims 2025

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the Civil Services Prelims exam for 2025 on Sunday (May 25). 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 needed to carry their admit card to the examination center, and a valid ID card (Aadhar/PAN card) with the candidate’s photograph on it.

The exam is held in three stages — prelims, mains, and the personality test to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Indian Police Service (IPS), and other Grade A and B posts in the central government and its departments.

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

Prelims Paper I Analysis: Difficulty Level

The candidates found the paper for GS Paper I to be somewhere between easier and more difficult in comparison to the observed model of UPSC conventions. The Paper was a bit more complex than the last few years.
The range of areas and topics considered for the questions asked was wider this year, and in the opinion of many, “they were unexpected.”
The question paper consisted of a variety of questions ranging from the Governor of the state to the latest tournament of sports played on one hand, and from the pattern of isotherms to the properties of activated carbon.
Experts suggest the candidates would have to have a knowledge bank on an extensive range of topics, with not only the contemporary static GS and World 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.
The paper also highlighted India’s newfound interest in Science and Technology. It asked questions on Majorana 1 Chip, batteries in Electric Vehicles, UAVs, and Artificial Rain.
There were a few direct questions on Geography, Polity, and Economy from the NCERT textbooks.
There were about 19 questions on the geographical environment and ecology. Most of the questions were of moderate difficulty. Apart from a few, the remaining questions were either inspired by current affairs or from class notes and compasses.
The Polity section comprised about 14 questions, out of which about 3 or 4 of them 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.
Some questions were in a way that can be identified by the candidates in the various textbooks and reference books they read and make notes from.
On the first look at the UPSC Civil Services Prelims exam, it looks like there were approximately 14 questions from Polity, 12 from Economy, 16 from History, Art and Culture, 10 from Geography + Mapping, 11 from Science, 10 from Environment and Ecology, 19 from current world and national affairs, and 5 miscellaneous.
The Economy section was along the expected lines in terms of overall weightage to Economy (12 Questions) and in terms of weightage to Themes like market economy, banking, finance, etc.
Overall, the question paper Exam was more challenging compared to last year. The geography and science sections were mainly application-based.
Articles and constitutional provisions for polity should have been on the tips of a candidate for accuracy in the polity section.

Paper I Analysis: Types of Questions

This year’s paper saw a break in the pattern of questions from the last few years.
There were more ‘statement type’ questions than the others with 3 to 4 statements to analyse.
The number of questions for pair-wise analysis or ‘match the following pairs’ was comparatively low.
What was the most surprising element in this year’s paper was the coming back of ‘direct questions’ which used to be a pattern for UPSC in the early 2000s.
Mapping questions or the questions based on maps were reduced this year not only in number but also in their category and span level.
Statement questions with comparison and connection between two or more statements were found to be more.
The options to the questions carrying ‘Statements’ to analyse were more relevant to each other.
The overall pattern was a perfect blend of patterns that UPSC has held in the last 15 years, 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 be following the lines of general trivia and knowledge.

Paper II Analysis: CSAT

The CAST section did not see much of a change in the difficulty level as compared to the previous few years.
The difficulty level of questions under the maths category proved to be a pain for the candidates, especially because of the time constraint.
However, the number of comprehension-based questions increased this year, which further challenges the time management skills of candidates appearing.
There were about 28 Comprehensions with 1-2 questions following them that do not stand just for a 30 to 50-second-long reading (and re-reading if needed).
The difficulty level in reasoning was reduced from last year, but a few categories and topics were completely washed off from the paper, which have 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 the form of the level of questions, especially in the Mathematical category.
The paper was moderately lengthy and exhaustive, with a lot to be read and solved to get one question right, in a restricted time window.

What should be expected from yesterday’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 UPSC style. CSAT did make the highlight of the day with slightly more analogies than figures, but the wholesome experience and reaction to the question papers for both GS I and GS II was exhaustive and worrisome. In the outline, the paper was 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 UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 to be out soon on the official website of UPSC.

The cutoff is expected to be somewhere less than last year but more than the years before it. Since the paper was moderately difficult in all aspects, the cutoff can reach a comfortable bracket of 80 to 85 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 UPSC regularly.

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