BharatNotes GS Paper I cut-offs (General category) have ranged from 75.41 (2023) to 116.00 (2016). Recent trend: 87–93 marks. 2024 cut-off was 87.98; 2025 was 92.66 (released UPSC official).
UPSC Prelims GS Paper I cut-off — General category (verified from UPSC official notices and multiple coaching analyses):
Year-wise Cut-off Table (General Category, Paper I only)
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 107.34 | 106.00 | 98.00 | 92.00 | Post-CSAT-qualifying shift; Paper I only from 2015 |
| 2016 | 116.00 | 110.66 | 99.34 | 96.00 | Highest cut-off in CSAT-era; easier paper |
| 2017 | 105.34 | 102.66 | 91.34 | 82.00 | Moderate difficulty |
| 2018 | 98.00 | 95.34 | 84.00 | 82.00 | Stable year |
| 2019 | 98.00 | 95.34 | 84.00 | 82.00 | EWS category introduced (cutoff: 90.00) |
| 2020 | 92.51 | 89.51 | 79.51 | 72.51 | COVID year; adjusted exam calendar |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 84.68 | 78.68 | 72.68 | Widely reported as difficult paper |
| 2022 | 88.22 | 87.54 | 74.08 | 69.12 | Near-flat cut-off vs 2021 |
| 2023 | 75.41 | 68.68 | 63.34 | 57.34 | Historic CSAT-era low; toughest combo paper |
| 2024 | 87.98 | 80.00 | 74.68 | 68.68 | Recovery; moderately balanced paper |
| 2025 | 92.66 | 82.66 | 76.00 | 70.68 | Returned closer to recent average |
Source: UPSC official result notifications (upsc.gov.in); figures from 2013–2014 excluded as they included Paper II marks in merit cut-off, making comparison invalid.
Understanding the Trend
The 2016 peak (116.00): This was the highest cut-off in the CSAT-qualifying era. The paper was considered easier than average, with many direct NCERT-based questions. A high number of serious aspirants scored well, pushing the cut-off up.
The 2020–2021 dip (92.51 → 87.54): Combination of COVID disruption (smaller effective candidate pool, changed exam calendar) and increasing paper difficulty. Not a permanent "easier norm" — aspirants who assumed this were caught off guard by 2022's recovery.
The 2023 historic low (75.41): Dual factors — an unusually difficult GS Paper I and a substantially tougher CSAT Paper II that eliminated more aspirants at the qualifying stage, effectively raising the competition at lower GS scores. This was an outlier, not a trend.
The 2024 recovery (87.98): Paper was considered moderately balanced with more direct questions from NCERT and standard books. The cut-off returned to near the 2020–2022 range.
The 2025 return (92.66): Confirms that the 75.41 of 2023 was an outlier. The "new normal" for the CSAT-qualifying era appears to be 87–98 marks for General category, depending on paper difficulty.
What Determines the Cut-off?
Three factors interact:
- Paper difficulty: A tougher paper lowers average scores → cut-off falls. An easier paper raises average scores → cut-off rises.
- Number of vacancies: More vacancies → more candidates admitted to Mains → cut-off can fall even with moderate difficulty. Fewer vacancies → cut-off rises.
- Candidate pool quality and size: Growing number of serious aspirants with multiple attempts trends the cut-off upward gradually over years.
Safe Target Score
Targeting the exact cut-off is dangerous. If you aim for 88 and the cut-off is 92, you miss. If you have a bad exam day — paper anxiety, a difficult cluster of questions, a time management slip — you can lose 5–8 marks versus your mock average.
Target 110+ marks (General category) as your preparation benchmark. This gives a 15–22 mark buffer above recent cut-offs. In a difficult year (like 2023's 75.41), you clear comfortably; in an easy year (2016's 116), you are still at the boundary.
Worked example — the margin of safety:
If your last 5 mocks average 103 marks, your likely exam performance distribution (accounting for exam-day variance) is approximately 93–113. Targeting 110 in mocks means your lower tail (93) still clears most years.
If your mocks average 88 (at cut-off), your distribution is 78–98. In a moderate year (92.66 cut-off), you have roughly a 30–40% chance of missing — coin-toss territory.
Subject Variance — Where Cut-offs Are Made and Broken
| Subject | Year-to-year Q count range | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs | 18–29 questions | Highest variance; directly shifts cut-offs |
| Environment & Ecology | 13–19 questions | Growing importance; 2024 paper had 15 Qs |
| Science & Technology | 4–13 questions | Unpredictable; don't over-invest |
| Polity | 11–16 questions | Stable; always high ROI |
| Geography | 8–16 questions | Moderate variance; scoring subject |
PwBD and EWS Cut-offs
- EWS (introduced 2019): Cut-off typically 5–8 marks below General category
- PwBD (various categories): 15–30 marks below General category depending on disability category
Implication for CSE 2026 (24 May 2026)
With 2025 cut-off at 92.66, a reasonable planning assumption for 2026 is a General category cut-off in the 88–100 range, depending on paper difficulty. Target 110 marks minimum in your preparation. In the 8 days remaining, this means maximising your consolidation on high-frequency subjects (Polity, Environment, Current Affairs) rather than exploring new topics.
