UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper: Download GS and CSAT Paper
The UPSC Prelims 2025 was a massive milestone for countless aspirants across India, kicking off the journey through the Civil Services Examination (CSE). Held on May 25, 2025, this beast of an exam doesn’t just test what you know—it pushes your mental toughness, planning, and ability to think on your feet. Whether you’re a newbie or a battle-hardened candidate, the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 is your secret weapon to figure out how this exam works, from question patterns to which topics matter most. In this guide, we’re diving deep into the UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper, hooking you up with PDF downloads, breaking down the syllabus, sharing past papers, and dropping tips to help you nail the UPSC Prelims 2026.
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GS Paper 1 PDFs
Paper |
Set |
Download Link |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Set A | Download PDF (Live) UPSC Prelims Question Paper Pdf |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Set B | Download PDF (Live) UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper Pdf |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Set C | Download PDF (Live) Prelims Question Paper 2025 UPSC |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Set D | Download PDF (Live) UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 Pdf
Download PDF (Bilingual Live) 2025 UPSC Prelims Question Paper Pdf |
CSAT PDFs
Paper |
Set |
Download Link |
| CSAT Paper 2 | Set A | Download PDF (Live) UPSC Prelims Question Paper Pdf |
| CSAT Paper 2 | Set B | Download PDF (Live) UPSC Prelims CSAT Question Paper 2025 Set B |
| CSAT Paper 2 | Set C | Download PDF (Live Soon) Prelims Question Paper 2025 UPSC |
| CSAT Paper 2 | Set D | Download PDF (Live) UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT Question Paper Set D |
Also Check:
What Was the UPSC Prelims 2025 All About?
The UPSC Prelims 2025 threw two papers at candidates: General Studies Paper 1 (GS Paper 1) and General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT), each worth 200 marks, adding up to 400 marks total. Held in offline mode (good old pen and paper) on May 25, 2025, in two sessions, this exam is the first gate to the UPSC Mains and dream careers like IAS, IPS, or IFS. The CSAT is just a qualifying hurdle—you need 33% (66 marks) to clear it—but your GS Paper 1 score decides if you move forward. Candidates found the paper moderately tough, blending straight-up facts with questions that make you think. The UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 is a must-have for anyone prepping for the next round, showing you exactly what UPSC is looking for.
Quick Facts About UPSC Prelims 2025
What’s Up? |
Details |
| Exam Date | May 25, 2025 |
| Papers | GS Paper 1 (General Studies), GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| Marks | 200 per paper (400 total) |
| Time | 2 hours each paper |
| Question Style | Multiple Choice (Objective) |
| CSAT Pass Mark | 33% (66 marks) |
| Candidates | Still counting (TBD) |
| Vacancies | 979 (2024 number, 2025 TBD) |
| Results | Coming soon |
| Official Site | upsc.gov.in |
The UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 is like a treasure map for future aspirants, revealing question patterns, key subjects, and trends. Let’s break down the papers and share tools to level up your prep.
Breaking Down the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025
General Studies Paper 1 (GS Paper 1)
The UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper 1 hit candidates with 100 questions covering History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, and Current Affairs. With 0.66 marks docked for every wrong answer, you had to play smart. Most found it moderately challenging, mixing fact-based questions with ones that needed you to connect the dots. Here’s how the subjects stacked up, based on what candidates and experts are saying:
GS Paper 1: What Went Down
Subject |
Questions |
Vibe |
Toughness |
| Polity | 18 | Practical, real-world | Easy to Moderate |
| Geography | 20 | Straight facts | Easy to Moderate |
| Current Affairs & IR | 20 | Tied to other topics | Easy to Moderate |
| Environment | 10 | Think-on-your-feet | Moderate |
| Economy | 15 | Real-life applications | Moderate |
| History | 9 | Fact-heavy | Moderate to Tough |
| Science & Technology | 8 | Modern and basic | Easy |
| Total | 100 | Mix of brain teasers and facts | Moderate |
- Polity: Questions dug into constitutional rules, how governance works, and new laws, rewarding those who understood the system over those who memorized it.
- Geography: Zeroed in on physical landscapes, maps, and climate stuff, keeping things pretty straightforward.
- Current Affairs: Weren’t in-your-face but woven into subjects, touching on government programs, global relations, and recent news in sneaky ways.
- Environment: Focused on wildlife, climate change, and green policies, asking you to think critically.
- Economy: Hit up budget details, economic changes, and world trade, leaning on practical know-how.
- History: Tested modern history, freedom fighters, and cultural roots, with a few curveballs that needed sharp recall.
- Science & Technology: Covered new tech like AI and biotech plus basic science, easy if you kept up.
General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT)
The UPSC Prelims 2025 CSAT Paper threw 80 questions at you, focusing on Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Numerical Ability, and Decision-Making. Worth 200 marks with a 0.83-mark penalty for wrong answers, it was moderately tough. The CSAT has been getting trickier, making it a real challenge even though it’s just for qualifying. Here’s the breakdown:
CSAT Paper 2: The Lowdown
Section |
Questions |
Good Attempts |
Toughness |
| Reasoning Ability | 35–40 | 21–26 | Moderate |
| Reading Comprehension | 22–24 | 14–17 | Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 23–25 | 15–18 | Moderate |
| Total | 80 | 50–61 | Moderate |
- Reasoning Ability: Packed with puzzles, logic games, and sequences, testing how fast you could think under pressure.
- Reading Comprehension: Passages were a bit long, asking deeper questions that made you analyze, not just skim.
- Numerical Ability: Included math basics, data crunching, and algebra, needing quick number skills.
- Decision-Making: Threw real-life scenarios at you, testing ethics and problem-solving (no penalty for these, thankfully).
Big Takeaways
- GS Paper 1: The moderate vibe came from mixing factual and thinky questions, with current affairs sneaking into classic subjects. You needed to know how topics like Economy and Environment connect and spot the right answer fast.
- CSAT: It’s no joke anymore—CSAT was a time suck for some, with logic-heavy questions and tough passages. Don’t sleep on it.
- Trends: The UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 loved big-picture thinking, practical questions, and news tied to old-school topics, moving away from just memorizing facts.
Grab the UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper PDFs
The UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF is ready for you to download, with set-wise papers for GS Paper 1 and CSAT. These are your key to cracking the question pattern, subject focus, and difficulty. Here are the download links for the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 (links will be live once UPSC drops them):
GS Paper 1 PDFs
Paper |
Set |
Download Link |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Set A | Download PDF (#) |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Set B | Download PDF (#) |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Set C (Hindi) | Download PDF (#) |
| General Studies Paper 1 | Set D | Download PDF (#) |
CSAT PDFs
Paper |
Set |
Download Link |
| CSAT Paper 2 | Set A | Download PDF (#) |
Heads-up: Links will drop once the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF hits upsc.gov.in For early access, check sites like edutech companies website like coaching websites.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key
Want to know how you did? The UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 for GS Paper 1 and CSAT will help you guess your score and cut-off odds. They’ll pop up post-exam on UPSC’s site or coaching hubs like Guru’s Ashram IAS:
- GS Paper 1 Answer Key: Coming soon (#)
- CSAT Answer Key: Coming soon (#)
How to Snag the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF
Here’s the easiest way to get your hands on the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF Download:
- Hit Up UPSC’s Site: Head to upsc.gov.in.
- Find Examinations: Click the “Examinations” section.
- Look for Old Papers: Search for “Previous Question Papers” or “Question Papers.”
- Pick 2025 Prelims: Find “Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025.”
- Choose Your Set: Grab Set A, B, C, or D for GS Paper 1 or CSAT.
- Download It: Save the UPSC Question Paper PDF to your device.
- Backup Plan: If UPSC is slow, try some others coaching websites for the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 With Answers.
For the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 In Hindi, check Set C or bilingual resources on coaching sites.
What’s on the UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025?
The UPSC Prelims Syllabus is your starting point for prep. It’s built to test what you know, how you think, and how you handle pressure. Here’s the rundown for GS Paper 1 and CSAT.
GS Paper 1 Syllabus
- Current Affairs: Big news, national and global, plus government schemes and reports.
- Indian History and Freedom Struggle: From ancient times to freedom fighters and cultural gems.
- Indian Polity and Constitution: Governance, laws, and recent changes.
- Indian Economy and Social Development: Budgets, reforms, and social programs.
- Geography: Landforms, human geography, and world maps.
- Environment and Ecology: Wildlife, climate issues, and green efforts.
- General Science: Basic concepts and new tech like AI.
CSAT Paper 2 Syllabus
- Reading Comprehension: Passages with deep questions.
- Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability: Puzzles, logic, and patterns.
- Mental Ability: Quick thinking and problem-solving.
- Decision-Making & Problem Solving: Ethical choices in tough spots.
- Basic Numeracy and Data Interpretation: Math and data skills (Class 10 level).
The UPSC Prelims Syllabus shapes the questions, with a big focus on practical and cross-subject thinking.
Why Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Papers Are a Must
Working through Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Papers is like having a cheat code. The Last 10 Years UPSC Question Papers With Answers PDF and Last 25 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers With Answers PDF let you:
- Get the exam’s vibe and question styles.
- Spot hot topics that keep popping up.
- Nail time management and accuracy.
- Figure out where you’re strong or slipping.
Grab Last 10 Years UPSC Prelims Papers
Year |
GS Paper 1 PDF |
CSAT Paper 2 PDF |
Answer Key |
| 2024 | Download (#) | Download (#) | Download (#) |
| 2023 | Download (#) | Download (#) | Download (#) |
| 2022 | Download (#) | Download (#) | Download (#) |
| 2021 | Download (#) | Download (#) | Download (#) |
| 2020 | Download (#) | Download (#) | Download (#) |
Pro Tip: Find UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers With Answers Free Download PDF on sites like Guru’s Ashram IAS or some others coachings websites.
Why Dig Into Past Papers?
- Spot Patterns: See what’s big, like Environment (35 questions lately) or Science & Technology.
- Get Concepts Down: Learn how facts mix with news (e.g., Polity + Current Affairs).
- Dodge Traps: Practice picking the right answer when options are close.
- Track Changes: Notice shifts, like CSAT getting logic-heavy.
Why You Need to Study the UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper
The UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 With Solutions isn’t just for practice—it’s your guide to winning. Here’s why it’s a big deal:
- Subject Breakdown: See what rules, like Geography and Current Affairs (20 questions each in 2025).
- Facts vs. News: Mix NCERT basics with current affairs from The Hindu or PIB.
- Repeat Topics: Climate change, new laws, and tech keep showing up.
- New Vibes: Practical questions need you to connect subjects like Economy + Environment.
- Track Your Progress: Use mock tests and past papers to see where you stand.
By tearing apart the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 With Answers, you’ll get inside UPSC’s head, giving you a leg up for UPSC Prelims 2026.
Tips to Crack the UPSC Prelims 2026
To ace the 2025 UPSC Prelims Question Paper and prep for 2026, here’s what to do:
- Own NCERTs: Nail the basics with NCERT books for History, Geography, Polity, and Science.
- Stay in the Know: Read The Hindu, Indian Express, and PIB, tying news to syllabus topics.
- Hit Up Past Papers: Work through Last 10 Years UPSC Question Papers With Answers PDF weekly. Grab UPSC Prelims Question Paper With Answers from Guru’s Ashram IAS.
- Mock It Up: Take full-length mock tests to practice speed and smarts.
- Don’t Ignore CSAT: Practice logic, reading, and math daily to hit that 33% mark.
- Think Big: Study subjects like Environment + Economy or Polity + Current Affairs together.
- Check Yourself: Review mock test scores to fix weak spots.
- Keep Cool: As Swadeep Kumar from Guru’s Ashram IAS says, “Stay confident and calm—your hard work will pay off.”
FAQs: UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper
Q1. Where can I get the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025?
Find the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF on upsc.gov.in under “Previous Question Papers.” Or hit up Guru’s Ashram IAS and some others coachings for the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 With Solutions.
Q2. Is CSAT getting harder every year?
Yup, CSAT is turning logic-heavy and time-tight, with tougher passages and math. Practice is non-negotiable.
Q3. What’s the minimum CSAT score?
You need 33% (66 marks out of 200) to pass CSAT. Only then does GS Paper 1 count.
Q4. Are current affairs straight-up in UPSC Prelims?
Nah, current affairs blend into subjects like Polity or Economy, testing you indirectly.
Q5. Why bother with past paper analysis for UPSC Prelims?
Previous Year UPSC Prelims Question Papers show UPSC’s tricks, common topics, and new trends, helping you prep smarter.
Q6. Can I find the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 In Hindi?
Yes, Set C of GS Paper 1 usually comes in Hindi. Check upsc.gov.in or coaching sites for UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 In Hindi.
Q7. Where’s the Last 25 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers With Answers PDF?
Look for Last 25 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers With Answers PDF on Guru’s Ashram IAS— free.
Conclusion:-
The UPSC Prelims 2025 Question Paper is your key to unlocking UPSC Prelims 2026. By grabbing the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF, digging into subject trends, and practicing Last 10 Years UPSC Question Papers With Answers PDF, you’ll get a handle on UPSC’s game. From GS Paper 1’s love for practical questions to CSAT’s growing toughness, the 2025 UPSC Prelims Question Paper screams for big-picture learning, news-savvy prep, and smart practice. Kick off with NCERTs, lean on past papers from Guru’s Ashram IAS, and stay focused. Your path to IAS, IPS, or IFS starts here—let the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 With Answers light the way.
Ready to tackle UPSC Prelims 2026? Snag the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF and get to work!
