UPSC Prelims Cut Off Analysis 2024, Check Category Wise Cut Off List

UPSC Prelims Cut Off Analysis 2024: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official cut-off for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024. For the General category, the cut-off stands at 87.98, while for EWS, it is 85.92. This continues the trend of cut-offs staying below 100 for the past several years, reflecting the increasing competitiveness and evolving nature of the exam. 

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UPSC Prelims Cut off Category-wise 2024

UPSC Prelims Cut Off Analysis 2024

The UPSC Prelims 2024 cut-off has been officially released, and it has sparked discussion as the consistent decline in Prelims exam cut-offs over recent years points to a shift in UPSC's pattern—more conceptual, tricky questions rather than straightforward factual ones. For the last 5 years, the General cut-off has consistently stayed below 100, debunking myths that aspirants must aim for 110+ to be safe. As the exam becomes more analytical, aspirants need to focus not just on content but on accuracy, understanding, and elimination techniques during the exam.

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Also, candidates are often confused about how many questions to attempt in prelims. The answer depends on two factors: paper difficulty and individual accuracy. If the paper is tough, cut-offs naturally fall, and even 60–70 accurate attempts can be sufficient. Hence, aspirants must focus on accuracy over quantity and not panic based on paper difficulty. With just a month left for the upcoming prelims, the focus should now shift to intense revision, mock tests, and PYQs. Avoid reading too much new content and instead reinforce what you've already studied as you target the next Prelims.

How UPSC Prelims Cut off is Calculated?

General Studies-I (GS-I): This paper is worth 200 marks, and the marks obtained here are used to determine the cut-off and the result for each category.

General Studies-II (CSAT): This paper is also worth 200 marks, but its marks are not counted towards the final result. It's a qualifying paper. You need at least 33% (at least 66 marks) to pass, but these marks don’t count towards the cut-off.

Also Read: UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2024

UPSC Prelims Cut Off Analysis 2023

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Last 5 Years UPSC Prelims Cut Off Analysis

From 2018 onwards, the UPSC Prelims cut-off has consistently remained below 100 marks. In 2018, the cut-off for the General category was 98 marks, which remained the same in 2019 at 98 marks again. However, in 2020, there was a noticeable drop, with the cut-off falling by almost 6 marks to 92.51. The year 2023 marked the lowest cut-off in recent years, primarily due to the high difficulty level of both GS and CSAT papers. In 2024, however, the cut-off slightly increased to 87.98, indicating a relatively easier paper compared to 2023, but still not as easy as some predicted.

Also Read: UPSC CSE Final Result 2024

This trend highlights the importance of relative performance and exam difficulty rather than aiming for a fixed numerical target.

Category Wise UPSC Prelims Cut Off Trends

Key Insights from UPSC Prelims Cut Off Analysis

1. Though 2024 saw a rise to 87.98, it still indicates a challenging paper. If the trend continues, Prelims may become even tougher in upcoming years.
2. The GS paper cut-off for the General category in 2023 was only 75.41, a rare dip reflecting the paper’s high difficulty.
3. In categories like EWS and ST, this fall is significant.
4. CSAT can no longer be ignored, and candidates should give proper focus to this paper.
5. Candidates must solve previous years' UPSC prelims question papers and aim to score 5 to 10 marks above the cut off to be safe in this stage.
6. Target scoring 80+ marks in the CSAT test series, as this paper has become more unpredictable.
7. Do not hesitate to seek the help of mentors whenever required in UPSC Prelims preparation.