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UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Question Paper
The UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 was conducted on May 25, 2025, across centers nationwide. Aspirants from all over India appeared for the UPSC exam in hopes of clearing the first stage of one of the most prestigious examinations in the country. This article provides a complete overview of the UPSC Prelims 2025 question paper, detailed analysis, answer keys, and links to download the official PDFs of all sets.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Exam Date and Timing
UPSC Prelims 2025 exam date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
UPSC Prelims 2025 timing:
General Studies Paper 1 (GS Paper 1): 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
CSAT (General Studies Paper 2): 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Knowing the UPSC exam timing is crucial for effective time management and planning on the exam day.
Download UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Question Paper PDFs (All Sets)
Here are the links to download the UPSC Prelims 2025 paper for both GS and CSAT across all sets (A, B, C, D):
✅ General Studies Paper 1 (GS1):
✅ CSAT Paper (GS2):
Set C – Download PDF – Updating Soon
Subject-Wise Breakdown of UPSC Prelims 2025 Paper (GS Paper 1)
| Subject | No. of Questions |
| Economy | 21 |
| Polity | 15 |
| Geography | 14 |
| History (Modern + Ancient) | 12 |
| Science & Technology | 15 |
| Environment & Ecology | 10 |
| Current Affairs | 13 |
This year, Economy and Science & Tech had significant weightage, suggesting a trend toward analytical and application-based questions.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Difficulty Level & Trends
The UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 paper leaned toward moderate to difficult, especially in Polity and Economy. Some noticeable trends include:
Statement-based questions dominated the paper.
Conceptual clarity was more important than rote learning.
Current Affairs were blended with static topics.
The CSAT paper remained tricky for those who underestimated it.
Aspirants must remember that although CSAT is qualifying, it has eliminated many candidates in recent years.
Expected Cut-Off for UPSC 2025
While the official cut-off will be announced only after the Mains results, experts suggest the expected cut-off for UPSC 2025 Prelims could be:
General Category: 83–87 marks
OBC: 80–85 marks
SC/ST: 70–75 marks
These are tentative figures and may vary depending on CSAT qualifying performance and total number of vacancies.
The UPSC Prelims 2025 marks the first major milestone in the long CSE journey. Downloading and analyzing the UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 question paper is essential not just for checking your answers but also for refining your approach for Mains and future attempts.
Make sure to:
Use the UPSC prelims 2025 answer key to calculate your score.
Understand time zones using the correct UPSC prelims 2025 timing.
Treat the CSAT paper with seriousness—it can make or break your prelims result.
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