UPSC Previous Year Question Papers (2015–2025) PDF | Complete Syllabus & Preparation Guide
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. This page gives you everything in one place: exam pattern, eligibility, syllabus (PDF), preparation strategy, and a clean, easy-to-use table to download previous year question papers (Prelims I, Prelims II, Mains, Answer Keys).
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UPSC Previous Year Question Papers (2015–2025)
| Year | Prelims Paper-I (GS) | Prelims Paper-II (CSAT) | Mains (All Papers) | Answer Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2024 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2023 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2022 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2021 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2020 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2019 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2018 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2017 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2016 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
| 2015 | Download | Download | Download | Download |
UPSC Syllabus (Download PDFs)
Exam Pattern (Quick View)
- Prelims: GS Paper I (200 marks), CSAT Paper II (200 marks, qualifying)
- Mains: 9 descriptive papers (Essay, GS I–IV, Optional I & II, 2 language papers)
- Interview: Personality Test – 275 marks
Eligibility (2025)
- Age: 21–32 years (OBC +3, SC/ST +5)
- Education: Graduation in any discipline
- Attempts: General 6 | OBC 9 | SC/ST till age limit
UPSC Preparation Strategy (2025)
- Prelims: NCERTs (Class 6–12), last 12 months current affairs, 50+ mock tests, revise multiple times.
- Mains: Daily answer writing, standard books (Laxmikant, Spectrum, Ramesh Singh, Shankar IAS), notes + PYQs analysis.
- Interview: Read newspaper editorial daily, practice mock interviews, clarity & confidence.
Recommended Books
- Polity: M. Laxmikant
- History: Spectrum – Modern India
- Economy: Ramesh Singh
- Geography: G.C. Leong + NCERTs
- Environment: Shankar IAS
FAQs on UPSC
Q1. How much time is required for UPSC preparation?
Most aspirants need 12–24 months of consistent study and revision.
Q2. Is coaching mandatory?
No. With discipline and good resources, self-study is sufficient.
Q3. How should I choose my Optional subject?
Pick based on your interest, graduation background, and syllabus manageability; see past PYQs.
Q4. Are these papers the latest?
The table lists 2015–2025 placeholders for your domain. Upload the latest PDFs to the exact paths to keep it updated.
Disclaimer
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