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UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key: The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 was held on 25th May 2025. This crucial exam is the gateway for thousands of aspirants aiming to join prestigious services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A & B services. Understanding the question paper pattern, difficulty level, and key topics is vital for effective preparation, both for current aspirants and those targeting future exams.
In this article, you will find the official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 PDFs for both General Studies (GS) Paper 1 and CSAT (Paper 2), along with detailed analysis and preparation tips.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key
The UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key was published by well-known coaching centers immediately after the exam was conducted on 25th May 2025. It includes full solutions for the General Studies Paper 1, which helps the aspirants verify their performance and estimate their marks. The answer key is published in the PDF format for sets A, B, C, and D. The aspirants can download it to verify their chances of clearing the UPSC Mains 2025.
Paper | Subjects Covered | Total Questions | Total Marks | Negative Marking | Qualifying Marks |
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General Studies I | History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science & Current Affairs | 100 | 200 | -0.66 | Based on the Cut-off |
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 with Detailed Explanation
UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key PDF for All Set A, B, C, D
Students who have completed the UPSC Prelims 2025 exam can now download the unofficial answer keys in PDF format for All Set A, B, C, D and see how well they performed in the exam. The answer key includes in-depth solutions for GS Paper 1 as well as the CSAT, where aspirants can estimate their score and review their chances of qualifying for the Mains exam. It is a good practice to review the solutions to see any trends in the questioning for future strategy. If you would like to download the UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key PDF, please click the link given below:
UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key PDF for All Sets (GS Paper 1) | |
Set A | Download PDF |
Set B | Download PDF |
Set C | Download PDF |
Set D | Download PDF |
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 – Marking Scheme Explained
To estimate their scores accurately, candidates can refer to the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025, whether official or unofficial, along with the marking scheme set by the Union Public Service Commission. The Prelims exam consists of two papers—General Studies Paper 1 (GS-I) and CSAT Paper 2 (GS-II)—carrying a combined total of 400 marks.
Using the answer key in conjunction with the marking scheme helps aspirants calculate their expected scores and get a sense of their performance in the exam.
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 Marking Scheme | ||
Particulars | Paper 1 | Paper II |
Correct Answer | 2 | 2.5 |
Incorrect Answer | -0.66 | -0.83 |
Unanswered | 0 | 0 |
No. of Questions | 100 | 80 |
Total Marks | 200 | 200 |
UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key: Subject-wise Question Distribution
The UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 gives candidates a clear idea of how they performed across different subjects. This year’s paper had a balanced mix of questions—Economy (20), Polity (14), History & Culture (16), Environment and Science & Tech (13 each), Geography (12), International Relations (6), and Miscellaneous (6). With 100 questions in total, the answer key helps aspirants identify strong areas and topics that may need more attention in future preparation, boosting their strategy for upcoming exam stages.
S.No | Subject | No. of Questions |
1 | Economy | 20 |
2 | Environment | 13 |
3 | Geography | 12 |
4 | History & Culture | 16 |
5 | International Relation | 6 |
6 | Science & Technology | 13 |
7 | Polity | 14 |
8 | Miscellaneous | 6 |
Grand Total | 100 |
UPSC Prelims 2025: Nature of Questions
The UPSC Prelims 2025 Answer Key provides valuable insights into the types of questions asked in this year’s exam. The General Studies Paper 1 featured a diverse mix, including 18 single-option questions, 15 two-statement, 39 three-statement, and 9 four-statement questions. Additionally, there were 4 questions with five or more statements, 7 assertion-reasoning, and 8 matching-type questions. This variety reflects UPSC’s focus on analytical thinking and conceptual clarity. By reviewing the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025, aspirants can assess their performance across different formats and refine their preparation strategy for future stages, including the UPSC Mains examination.
S.No | Type of Questions | No. of Questions |
1 | Single Option | 18 |
2 | Two Statement | 15 |
3 | Three Statement | 39 |
4 | Four Statement | 9 |
5 | Five or More Statement | 4 |
6 | Assertion/Reasoning | 7 |
7 | Matching Type | 8 |
Grand Total | 100 |
Expected Cut-Off for UPSC Prelims 2025
According to this year‘s paper difficulty and student response, cut-off marks for the General Category can be anticipated in the range of 85–90. The paper of CSAT was of moderate difficulty, particularly the comprehension and reasoning part.
Category | Expected Cut-Off (GS Paper 1) |
---|---|
General | 85–90 |
OBC | 80–85 |
SC/ST | 70–75 |
EWS | 80–85 |
How to Calculate Your UPSC Prelims Score
Use the following formula:
Total Score = (Correct Answers × Marks per Question) – (Wrong Answers × Negative Marks)
Example for GS Paper 1:
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Correct: 70 questions = 70×2 = 140
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Incorrect: 20 questions = 20×0.66 = 13.2
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Final Score: 140 – 13.2 = 126.8
Steps to Download UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025
Candidates who appeared for the UPSC Exam 2025 can follow these simple steps to download the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 once it’s officially released:
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Visit the official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in
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On the homepage, go to the “Examinations” section.
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From the dropdown menu, click on “Answer Keys” or look for “UPSC Answer Key 2025.”
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Find the link titled “UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025” and click on it.
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The answer key PDF will open in a new tab—click Download to save it for future reference.
Please note, the official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 will only be released after the entire recruitment process is completed, usually after the final result is declared.