UPSC Mains Question Paper Download PDFs

Download UPSC Mains Question Papers 2025 and previous year papers in PDF format. Access UPSC Mains GS Papers, Essay Papers, and Optional Subject Papers for better exam preparation.

UPSC Mains question paper

UPSC Mains Question Paper Download PDFs 

Accessing UPSC Mains Question Papers 2025 is essential for candidates preparing for the Civil Services Examination. Solving UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Papers helps in understanding the exam pattern and improving answer-writing skills. Aspirants can download the UPSC Mains Question Paper 2024, including subject-specific papers like UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 Paper 2024, UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 Paper 2024, UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 Paper 2024, and UPSC Mains GS Paper 4 Paper 2024. Additionally, candidates can practice with the UPSC Mains Compulsory English Paper 2024, UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2024, and UPSC Mains Optional Question Papers 2024 to enhance their preparation strategy.

Overview of UPSC Mains Question Paper

The UPSC Mains examination consists of nine papers, including two qualifying papers and seven merit-based papers. The structure of the question papers is designed to assess a candidate’s grasp of diverse topics such as Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Ethics, and more. Here is a breakdown of the papers:

Qualifying Papers:

  • Paper A: Any Indian language (as per the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution)
  • Paper B: English

Merit-Based Papers:

  • Essay Paper (Paper I): Focuses on evaluating the aspirant’s ability to present ideas coherently.
  • General Studies (GS) Papers (Papers II to V): Cover a wide range of subjects, including Polity, Economy, Science, and Ethics.
  • Optional Subject Papers (Papers VI and VII): Allow candidates to demonstrate expertise in a subject of their choice.

Download Previous Years UPSC Mains Question Papers

Below is a list of UPSC Mains question papers for recent years. Click on the links to download the papers for each subject.

Question Paper Download Link
UPSC Mains Question Papers 2024
Essay Link
General Studies I Link
General Studies II Link
General Studies III Link
General Studies IV Link
UPSC Hindi Compulsory Paper 2024 Click Here
UPSC Mains English Compulsory Paper 2024 Click Here
UPSC Mains Optional Question Papers Click Here
UPSC Mains Question Papers 2023
Essay Link
General Studies I Link
General Studies II Link
General Studies III Link
General Studies IV Link
UPSC Hindi Compulsory Paper 2023 Hindi
UPSC Mains English Compulsory Paper 2023 English
UPSC Mains Optional Question Papers Click here
UPSC Mains Question Papers 2022
Essay Link
General Studies I Link
General Studies II Link
General Studies III Link
General Studies IV Link
UPSC Hindi Compulsory Paper 2022 Hindi
UPSC Mains English Compulsory Paper 2022 English
UPSC Mains Optional Question Papers Click here
UPSC Mains Question Papers 2021
Essay Link
General Studies I Link
General Studies II Link
General Studies III Link
General Studies IV Link
UPSC Hindi Compulsory Paper 2021 Hindi
UPSC Mains English Compulsory Paper 2021 English
UPSC Mains Optional Question Papers Click here
UPSC Mains Question Papers 2020
Essay Link
General Studies I Link
General Studies II Link
General Studies III Link
General Studies IV Link
UPSC Hindi Compulsory Paper 2020 Hindi
UPSC Mains English Compulsory Paper 2020 English
UPSC Mains Optional Question Papers Click here

UPSC Mains Question Paper FAQs

Solving UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Papers helps candidates familiarize themselves with the exam pattern, question types, and difficulty level. It also enhances answer-writing skills and improves time management during the exam.

The UPSC Mains Question Papers include an Essay Paper, four General Studies (GS) Papers covering subjects like Polity, Economy, Ethics, and History, two Optional Subject Papers, and two qualifying language papers—one in English and one in an Indian language.

Candidates can download UPSC Mains GS Paper 1, GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3, and GS Paper 4 Question Papers for 2024 from the official UPSC website or trusted educational platforms that provide previous years’ papers in PDF format.

The best way to use UPSC Mains Question Papers for preparation is to attempt them under timed conditions, analyze mistakes, and improve answer structure. Regular practice with these papers helps in developing a clear writing style and refining content for the actual exam.

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[…] Practicing previous years’ questions (PYQs) is one of the best ways to prepare for the UPSC Mains Language Paper. It helps you understand the exam pattern, difficulty level, and frequently asked topics. […]

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