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UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 was conducted on 23rd August 2025 in the first shift from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM across exam centres in India. The UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 PDF link for downloading is available in the article below. Candidates can download the PDF to get an understanding of the UPSC Exam 2025 and practice these questions for the UPSC Mains 2026 exams. The UPSC Mains Question Paper 2025 for GS and Optional Paper will also be made available as soon as the exam is conducted by the UPSC. 

UPSC Mains Exam 2025 is scheduled to be held from 22nd August to 31st August 2025. UPSC Mains is the second and most crucial part of the UPSC Exam 2025. candidates who qualify for the UPSC Prelims 2025 are eligible to appear for the Main Examination..

Also Read: UPSC Mains Question Paper 2025

UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 Overview

UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 checks candidates’ conceptual clarity, analytical depth, and current affairs integration across Society, Geography, History, Art and culture. Candidates who possess static knowledge with current affairs updates and practised answer writing are better positioned to score above the average (85–100 marks). UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 is given below:

Also Read: UPSC EASSY Paper 2025

UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 PDF Download

UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 is concluded on 23rd August 2025 in the first shift from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM across exam centres in India. The UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 PDF link for downloading is available in the article below.

UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 Analysis

Section-wise Distribution
– Art and Culture: 30 Marks
– Modern Indian History: 15 Marks
– Post-Independence and World History: 30 Marks
– Society: 65 Marks (+10 marks question, which is more like a GS4 question)
– Geography: 100 marks

Difficulty Level:
– 8 questions are difficult
– 4 Medium
– 8 Easy

Analysis
– Interesting and surprising paper full of linkages to GS 2, 3 and even ethics. (Eg. Q9 is linked to ethics; many other questions have a linkage to the Environment, the Economy etc.)

– More nuanced questions with requirements to connect different themes. (eg. Q8 required linking of Smart Cities – Urban Poverty and distributive justice)

– Paper looks easy when you just glance at it. But in reality, the questions are much nuanced with the complex demands of the question. E.g.. Q.20 about Tribal Development, Q17 on distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin.

– Importance of core resources: The paper underlines the importance of revising your basic sources multiple times. Eg. Q16 on continental drift is easy if you’ve read the 11th Geography NCERT properly.

DEMAND OF THE PAPER
– Conceptual clarity, not rote. E.g. Q13 on the French Revolution
– Multi-dimensional analysis. E.g. Q5 on physiographic influence
India-centric examples. Crucial for Q16, Q17, Q19
Schematic Presentation. Use of maps/diagrams in Geo-based questions is a must

TAKEAWAYS FOR FUTURE ASPIRANTS
– Do not ignore static portions, especially art, culture, and world history.
– Master answer structuring: intro-body-conclusion with examples and data.
– Improve map and diagram practice: crucial for scoring in geography-heavy papers.
– Focus on real-world examples: eg, Maldives (climate change), Dholavira (Harappan city), Zomato/Swiggy (fast food culture).
– Use ethical and constitutional values even in GS1 where applicable (eg, civil service question).

UPSC Mains GS 1 Paper Analysis- Last 5 Year Trend

UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 Analysis

Art and Culture: 30 Marks

Topic Covered-

• Harappan architecture: Urban planning, drainage systems, and material use.
• Chandella art and architecture: Aesthetic and cultural significance, particularly sculptures at Kandariya Mahadev.
• Cultural practices and their socio-historical linkages, including contributions of reformers like Jotirao Phule to subaltern movements.

Key Trends-

• Moderate, as questions demanded both factual recall and the ability to present nuanced interpretations.
• Consistent focus on cultural history, with an emphasis on analytical interpretation rather than rote memorisation.

Modern Indian History: 15 Marks

Topic Covered-

• Freedom struggle,
• contributions of leaders, and ideological shifts.

Key Trends-

• Moderately challenging, requiring candidates to blend static knowledge with interpretive insights.
• Modern Indian History, particularly the freedom struggle, remains a high-weightage area, with questions testing both factual knowledge and analytical depth.
• Questions leaned toward evaluating ideological shifts (e.g., Akbar’s inclusive policies) rather than purely descriptive accounts.

Post-Independence and World History: 30 Marks

Topic Covered-

Socio-political developments and their significance.

Society: 65 Marks (+10 marks question, which is more like a GS4 question)

Topic Covered-

• Urban poverty and smart cities: Socio-economic challenges in urban areas.
• Globalisation and consumer culture: Impact on Indian society, including health (e.g., fast food industry) and cultural shifts.
• Tribal development: Governance challenges and civil services ethos.
• Social reformers: Contributions to equity and social justice, with emphasis on figures like Jotirao Phule.

Key Trends-

• Increasing emphasis on contemporary social issues, with a focus on equity and socio-economic change.
• Questions demanded integration of static syllabus (e.g., social structure, diversity) with dynamic issues like globalization or urban planning.

Geography: 100 marks

Topic Covered-

• Physical Geography: Tectonic movements, tsunamis, and geomorphological features of the Ganga Basin.
• Environmental Issues: Climate change and sea-level rise affecting island nations, offshore vs. onshore oil exploration, and solar energy development.
• Human Geography: Application of technology (e.g., GIS, remote sensing, drones) in geographical studies.

Key Trends-

• Moderate to high, as questions required both conceptual understanding and application to contemporary issues.
• Questions moved beyond descriptive accounts to demand solutions-oriented responses, linking geography to real-world issues like climate change and resource management.
• Use of technology (e.g., GIS, drones) in geographical applications was a notable focus.

UPSC Mains GS 1 Paper Analysis 2024 

UPSC Mains 2024 GS Paper 1 showed a slight increase in the questions based on Indian society, displaying the UPSC’s focus on social challenges like globalisation and modernisation. The Geography section contained both the Indian and world aspects, including resources and industrial growth. This year’s GS Paper 1 level of difficulty ranges from moderate to somewhat challenging, especially in the Indian society section, requiring candidates to show their analytical skills and updated awareness about the subject. 

UPSC Mains GS 1 Paper Analysis 2023

UPSC’s main 2023 GS Paper 1  focus was on history and geography. The questions asked mostly address ancient and modern historical periods, along with the physical and economic geography. The paper was mostly moderate in difficulty level and expected the candidates to connect the static knowledge with current affairs. 

UPSC Mains GS 1 Paper Analysis 2022

In 2022, the UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 included 20 questions spread across the core subjects of GS Paper 1. There was a slight increase in the Art and Culture questions than the previous year. The geography section contained a total of 9 questions addressing resource distribution, climate patterns, and such. The difficulty level for this year’s GS Paper 1 was mostly moderate. 

UPSC Mains GS 1 Paper Analysis 2021

The 2021 GS Paper 1 carried questions across art and culture, history, society, and geography. The geography questions covered both the physical and human geography of India and the world. The overall difficulty level was from moderate to difficult, with social and geographical questions being more towards the difficult level. 

How to Download UPSC Mains GS 1 Question Paper 2025?

To download the UPSC Mains Question Paper 2025, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Official UPSC Website: Go to upsc.gov.in, the official website of the Union Public Service Commission.
2. Go Examinations Section: search the “Examinations” tab in the main menu and click on it.
3. Select UPSC Mains Previous Question Papers: Under the “Examinations” section, find and click on the “Previous Question Papers” link.
4. Choose Civil Services (Main) Examination: From the list of examinations, select “Civil Services (Main) Examination” to access the relevant papers.
5. Select UPSC Mains 2025 to view the available question papers.
6. Download the PDFs: Click on the links for the papers you want, such as General Studies (GS) Papers 1 to 4, Essay, or Compulsory Language Papers (English or Indian Language). 

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UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 FAQs?

Q1. What is the difficulty level of the GS 1 paper 2025?

GS 1 paper 2025 is moderately difficult, with a focus on conceptual understanding rather than heavy reliance on current affairs. The difficulty level of GS 1 is moderate to difficult due to its broad scope and the need for analytical answers. 

Q2. What is the structure of the UPSC Mains GS 1 Question Paper?

UPSC Mains GS 1 paper is part of the Civil Services Mains Examination and focuses on topics like Indian Heritage and Culture, History, Geography, and Indian Society. It has  20 questions of 250 marks, 10 questions carrying 10 marks each (150-word answers) and 10 questions carrying 15 marks each (250-word answers).

Q3. Where can I download the UPSC Mains GS 1 2025 Question Paper?

UPSC Mains 2025 GS 1 question paper is available in PDF format on the Official UPSC Website: Visit www.upsc.gov.in, and IAS HUB, Best IAS Coaching Institute Official Website Websites: 

Q4. How can I prepare for the UPSC Mains GS 1 2025?

To prepare effectively for GS 1, First gather Standard Resources for  History, Culture, Geography, and Indian Society, and then Practice Answer Writing to improve structuring and time management.

Q5. How many questions came from Modern History in UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 2025?

There are approximately 2-24Questions asked in UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 2025 from Modern History. The questions are mainly conceptual from the Indian National Movement, colonial policies, or key personalities.