UPSC Cut Off 2018: Category-Wise Prelims, Mains & Final Cut Off Marks

The UPSC Cut Off 2018 was released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after the completion of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2018. The cut off represents the minimum marks required by candidates to qualify for the next stage or secure a place in the final merit list. Separate cut-offs are announced for the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Final Selection.

Candidates preparing for the UPSC CSE can refer to the official UPSC 2018 cut off marks to understand previous year trends, assess the level of competition, and estimate the scores generally required for selection across different categories.

UPSC Cut Off 2018 Overview

Before checking the category-wise cut-off marks, candidates should understand how the UPSC Civil Services Examination is evaluated. The Commission releases separate cut-offs for each stage of the examination after the recruitment process is completed.

UPSC Prelims 2018 Cut Off

The UPSC Prelims 2018 cut off was determined based on the marks obtained in General Studies Paper-I only. Candidates who secured the prescribed category-wise cut off and qualified the CSAT paper became eligible for the Main Examination.

Important Note:

• The Prelims cut off was calculated only on General Studies Paper-I.

• GS Paper-II (CSAT) was qualifying in nature with 33% minimum qualifying marks.

UPSC Mains 2018 Cut Off

Candidates who cleared the Preliminary Examination appeared for the UPSC Main Examination. The written examination cut off determined eligibility for the Personality Test and was announced separately for each category.

Note: Candidates were also required to secure at least 10% marks in each of the seven competitive papers, including Essay, GS Papers, and Optional Papers.

UPSC Final Cut Off 2018

The UPSC Final Cut Off 2018 refers to the marks obtained by the last recommended candidate after combining the Main Examination and Personality Test scores. These marks determined the final selection for Civil Services Examination 2018.

UPSC Cut Off 2018 Analysis

The official cut off figures provide useful insights into the level of competition in UPSC CSE 2018.

• The General category Prelims cut off remained close to 100 marks, indicating a competitive examination.

• The difference between the General and OBC Prelims cut off was only 1.34 marks.

• SC and ST candidates had the same qualifying marks in both the Mains and Final stages.

• The final merit list was prepared using the combined marks obtained in the Main Examination and Personality Test.

• PwBD candidates were evaluated using separate qualifying standards as prescribed by UPSC.

UPSC 2018 Vacancy Details

Along with the cut-off marks, UPSC also released the category-wise recommendation details showing the notified vacancies, recommended candidates, and vacancies remaining after PwBD recommendations.

UPSC 2018 Reserve List

UPSC also published a reserve list to fill vacancies that could arise after the declaration of the final result. A total of 106 candidates were kept in the reserve list.

The UPSC Cut Off 2018 serves as a useful benchmark for aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination. Analysing previous year cut-offs helps candidates set realistic score targets for each stage and understand the level of competition across different categories. 

However, as the cut-off varies every year depending on factors such as vacancies, exam difficulty, and candidate performance, aspirants should use it as a reference rather than a fixed target.