UPSC Previous Year Question Papers are a crucial resource for aspirants as they help in understanding the exam pattern, difficulty level, and the types of questions asked in the past. Practicing these papers enables candidates to improve time management, identify important topics, and self-evaluate their preparation level. They also provide insights into frequently repeated themes and the weightage of different subjects, making them an essential part of UPSC exam strategy. Aspirants can download UPSC previous year question papers along with their answer keys from the table given below.
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UPSC Prelims Question Paper PDF Year Wise
UPSC Prelims Question Paper PDF year-wise is very helpful to see how the questions have changed over time. By going through these papers, candidates can spot the topics that come up again and again, understand how subjects like Modern History and Polity are tested, and learn how to remove wrong options in multiple-choice questions. Practicing the exam paper of UPSC Prelims from the last 5–7 years is strongly advised to improve speed and accuracy. Below is the table for UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 GS and CSAT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF(May 25, 2025):
UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Paper PDF
UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Paper PDF collection is a goldmine for aspirants, offering insights into General Studies demand, optional subject depth, and UPSC answer writing trends. Analyzing these papers helps candidates master time management, integrate current affairs with static syllabus, and practice mains answer writing, aligning their IAS preparation with the real expectations of UPSC. Below is the table for UPSC Mains 2025 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF:
UPSC Mains 2025 Optional Paper 1 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (August 31, 2025)
UPSC Mains 2025 Optional Paper 2 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (August 31, 2025)
UPSC Mains 2025 Literature Optional Paper 1 & 2 Question Paper PDF (August 31, 2025)
UPSC Mains 2025 Language Paper A Question Paper PDF (August 30, 2025)
UPSC Mains 2025 Language Paper B Question Paper PDF (August 30, 2025)
Download: UPSC CSE 2025 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
Last 10 Years UPSC Previous Year Papers
A comprehensive study of the Last 10 Year UPSC Previous Year Paper offers the most complete picture of the exam's trajectory. This decade-long analysis allows aspirants to spot long-term trends, observe the gradual phasing out of certain types of questions, and the introduction of new themes, especially related to environment, technology, and governance. It provides a macro-view that is crucial for building a resilient and adaptable preparation strategy that can withstand any change in the exam pattern.. below is the table for UPSC Prelims 2024 GS and CSAT Question Paper with Answer Key:
UPSC Mains 2024 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2024 Language Paper A September 28, 2024
Download: UPSC IAS 2024 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Prelims 2023 GS and CSAT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2023 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2023 Language Paper A September 23, 2023
Download: UPSC IAS 2023 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Prelims 2022 GS and CSAT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2022 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2022 Language Paper A September 24, 2022
Download: UPSC IAS 2022 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Prelims 2021 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2021 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2021 Language Paper A January 15, 2022
Download: UPSC IAS 2021 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Prelims 2020 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2020 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2020 Language Paper A January 16, 2021
Download: UPSC IAS 2020 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Prelims 2019 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2019 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
UPSC Mains 2019 Language Paper A September 28, 2019
Download: UPSC IAS 2019 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
IAS prelims 2018 is available to download in PDF. UPSC Prelims 2018 was conducted in two shifts on June 03, 2018 while UPSC Mains 2018 Paper was conducted on the following dates: September 28, 29, 30, October 6 and 7, 2018.
UPSC Prelims 2018 Paper I and CSAT Question Papers
UPSC Mains 2018 Previous Year Question Paper PDF
UPSC Mains 2018 Language A Question Paper- September 28, 2018
UPSC Mains 2018 Language B Question Paper September 28, 2018
| Papers |
Question Paper and Solution PDF |
| English Paper B |
Download PDF |
UPSC Mains 2018 Optional Papers I and II - September 29, 2018
IAS prelims 2017 is available to download in PDF. UPSC Prelims 2017 was conducted in two shifts on June 18, 2017 while UPSC Mains 2017 Paper was conducted on the following dates: October 28, 30, 31, November 1 and 3, 2017.
UPSC Prelims 2017 Paper I and CSAT Question Papers
UPSC Mains 2017 Previous Year Question Paper PDF
UPSC Mains 2017 Language A Question Paper- November 01, 2017
UPSC Mains 2017 Language B Question Paper: November 01, 2017
| Papers |
Question Paper and Solution PDF |
| English Paper B |
Download PDF |
UPSC Mains 2017 Optional Papers I and II - November 03, 2017
IAS prelims 2016 is available to download in PDF. UPSC Prelims 2016 was conducted in two shifts on August 07, 2016 while UPSC Mains 2016 Paper was conducted on the following dates: December 03, 05, 06, 07, 09 2016.
UPSC Prelims 2016 Paper I and CSAT Question Papers
UPSC Mains 2016 Previous Year Question Paper PDF
UPSC Mains 2016 Language A Question Paper: December 07, 2016
UPSC Mains 2016 Language B Question Paper: December 07, 2016
| Papers |
Question Paper and Solution PDF |
| English Paper B |
Download PDF |
UPSC Mains 2016 Optional Papers I and II - December 09, 2016
IAS prelims 2015 is available to download in PDF. UPSC Prelims 2015 was conducted in two shifts on August 23, 2015 while UPSC Mains 2015 Paper was conducted on the following dates: December 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 2015.
UPSC Prelims 2015 Paper I and CSAT Question Papers
UPSC Mains 2015 Previous Year Question Paper PDF
UPSC Mains 2015 Language A Question Paper- December 22, 2015
UPSC Mains 2015 Language B Question Paper- December 18, 2015
| Papers |
Question Paper and Solution PDF |
| English Paper B |
Download PDF |
UPSC Mains 2015 Optional Papers I and II - December 23, 2015
IAS prelims 2014 is available to download in PDF. UPSC Prelims 2014 was conducted in two shifts on August 24, 2014 while UPSC Mains 2014 Paper was conducted on the following dates: December 14, 15, 17, 19, 20 2014.
UPSC Prelims 2014 Paper I and CSAT Question Papers
UPSC Mains 2014 Previous Year Question Paper PDF
UPSC Mains 2014 Language A Question Paper- December 20, 2014
UPSC Mains 2014 Language B Question Paper- December 14, 2014
| Papers |
Question Paper and Solution PDF |
| English Paper B |
Download PDF |
UPSC Mains 2014 Optional Papers I and II - December 19, 2014
UPSC IAS Previous Year Question Papers
| Year |
UPSC IAS Previous Year Papers PDF |
| UPSC IAS 2013 Question Papers |
Click Here |
| UPSC IAS 2012 Question Papers |
Click Here |
| UPSC IAS 2011 Question Papers |
Click Here |
Benefits of UPSC Previous Year Paper PDF
Using UPSC Previous Year Paper PDF in preparation gives aspirants many benefits. It helps clear doubts about the exam pattern and reduces stress before the test. These papers also work as the best tool for self-assessment, allowing candidates to find out their strong and weak areas. Regular practice improves time management, which is crucial for both Prelims and Mains. Most importantly, these papers often include questions that are repeated directly or indirectly, giving well-prepared students an extra advantage. Studying UPSC paper last year along with previous years’ papers is one of the smartest ways to prepare effectively.
IAS FAQs
UPSC FAQs
Ques. What are the most repeated questions in UPSC exam?
Ans. The most frequently repeated topics in UPSC exam include Indian Polity and Governance, Modern Indian History, Geography of India and the World, Indian Economy, and Economic Development, International Relations and Current Affairs, Ecology and Environment, Science and Technology, Social Issues and Social Justice, etc.
Ques. How many marks for one question in UPSC?
Ans. Every question in paper 1 is of 2 marks. So, the question paper is a total of 200 marks. Every question in the Civil Service Aptitude Test carries 2.5 marks.
Ques. Why solving UPSC question papers is important?
Ans. Solving UPSC questions will make candidates acquainted with the MCQ pattern of the prelims. It is essential to develop speed and also learn tricks to avoid negative marks in the prelims paper.
Ques. How many UPSC test papers should be taken before UPSC CSE exam?
Ans. With UPSC’s previous year’s question papers, aspirants are advised to attempt as many UPSC test paper series or mock tests for better understanding of UPSC CSE Exam.
Ques. Are IAS Exam Questions tough?
Ans. Yes, IAS questions are difficult to answer. The nature of IAS questions differs in UPSC Prelims and Mains so aspirants should carefully go through previous years’ UPSC question papers to understand the pattern.
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