UPSC Prelims exam 2025 is coming soon! If you are preparing for the UPSC Prelims exam, practicing previous years’ question papers can help you a lot! Here, you will find UPSC Prelims question papers from 2015 to 2024 in PDF format. These papers will help you understand the exam pattern, important topics, and the types of questions asked. Solving them will make you more confident for the big day. Download the PDFs and start practicing now.

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers for Prelims Exam

UPSC Prelims Previous Year consists of two papers, the first is General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II which are asked in the preliminary exam of the UPSC Civil Services Exam. 

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers of General Studies Paper-I covers a wide range of subjects, with a focus on topics from Indian polity, geography, history, economics, and the environment. It includes questions related to current affairs, general knowledge, and subjects that are common to the civil services syllabus.

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers of General Studies Paper-II  (CSAT) covers logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, decision-making ability, and English comprehension skills. This paper is qualifying in nature, meaning that the candidate must score above a certain threshold (usually 33%) to proceed to the Mains stage.

Last 10 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers PDFs

In this article, we are providing the last five years’ UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers from 2020 to 2024 to get the trends of the question for aspirants and get a clear overview of the distribution of marks. By grouping questions from the last 5 years candidates can spot the key focus areas, enabling more targeted revision.

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers Year-wise Analysis of PYQs

Analyzing the PYQs year by year helps identify changing trends in the exam. Over the past decade, certain shifts have been observed, such as the increasing focus on current affairs in the General Studies paper.

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers: Analysis of General Studies Paper I

General Studies Paper: In recent years, questions from Current Affairs (both national and international) have increased, reflecting the dynamic nature of the exam. Similarly, topics such as Sustainability, Climate Change, and Geopolitics have gained prominence, aligning with global concerns.

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers: Analysis of General Studies Paper II

Although the difficulty level has remained relatively consistent, there has been a noticeable increase in the complexity of reasoning and analytical ability questions. However, the level of comprehension-based questions has remained moderate.

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers Analysis of Difficulty Level

Although the difficulty level of the UPSC Preliminary exam is not fixed. The difficulty level of the questions in the Prelims has fluctuated over the years, but certain trends can be identified:

• General Studies Paper: The questions are generally divided into three categories:

• Easy: Basic knowledge-based questions (e.g., general facts about geography or history).

• Moderate: Questions that require deeper understanding or analytical thinking (e.g., interpreting economic policies or government schemes).

• Difficult: Questions that test specialized knowledge or are based on complex scenarios (e.g., detailed case studies or multidimensional current affairs).

• CSAT Paper: While this paper remains qualifying, the complexity of questions in reasoning and analytical sections has increased, with puzzles and logical problems becoming more intricate. The reading comprehension sections remain challenging, demanding higher levels of focus and interpretation.

Preparation Strategy Based on UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers

Using PYQs strategically is a powerful method to fine-tune your exam preparation. Here are some tips based on PYQ analysis:

• Focus on High-Yield Areas: Certain topics like Polity, Geography, Economics, and Environment are asked frequently. Regularly revisiting these subjects will help you stay on top of the most tested areas.

• Current Affairs: Since the exam is evolving to focus more on current events, stay updated with national and international news. Focus on important events, government schemes, international relations, and environmental issues.

• Practice Through Mock Tests and PYQs: Regularly solve mock tests and previous year papers. This will help you improve your time management skills, and get a real-time sense of the exam’s pressure.

• Revise Frequently: Due to the vastness of the syllabus, frequent revision of important topics is necessary. Focus on consolidating your knowledge rather than cramming new information last minute.

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers Key Takeaways from PYQs

Analyzing the PYQs will provide valuable insights into how the UPSC frames questions, as well as the type of preparation required. Key takeaways include:

• Understanding Question Patterns: Most questions are designed to test your understanding of fundamental concepts rather than rote learning. Focus on building a strong conceptual foundation.

• Topic Prioritization: Some topics recur every year, such as Polity and Environment. These areas require more attention.

• Emphasis on Analytical Skills: Both General Studies and CSAT papers test your ability to analyze and apply knowledge, not just recall facts.

• Change in Trends: With the growing relevance of current affairs and environmental issues, adapting to these changing trends will be essential for success.

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers FAQs