UPSC Previous Year Question Papers, Prelims, Mains & Optional Subjects

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers are important checkmarks that can help aspirants effectively the vast syllabus. Here are the links of the official previous year's papers from 2014 to 2022.

Table of Contents

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers

UPSC is a highly competitive exam, with lakhs of students appearing for it each year. As we all know that the UPSC Syllabus is very vast. Each of its sub-topics is a graduation subject in itself. Does this mean that UPSC wants aspirants to fathom it all. The answer is clearly no. UPSC wants aspirants to be smart enough to be able to cover the entire syllabus as per the requirements of the exam.

This is where the role of the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers comes in. They act as a guiding light in an aspirant’s preparation journey. Going through them carefully, one can understand the nature of questions asked by UPSC and the probable areas. This will make preparation more exam-oriented.

Here we are providing year-wise question papers from 2014 to 2022 for both UPSC Prelims (both general studies and CSAT) and UPSC Mains (from general studies perspective).

Read More: UPSC Syllabus for Prelims

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Prelims (2014-2022)

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Prelims Papers from 2014 to 2022 for both General Studies and CSAT:

Year	Question Paper Links
2014	General Studies CSAT
2015	General Studies CSAT
2016	General Studies CSAT
2017	General Studies CSAT
2018	General Studies CSAT
2019	General Studies CSAT
2020	General Studies CSAT
2021	General Studies CSAT
2022	General Studies CSAT

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Mains (2014-2022)

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Mains Papers from 2014 to 2022 from general studies perspective:

Year	Question Papers
2014	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper
2015	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper
2016	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper
2017	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper
2018	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper
2019	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper
2020	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper
2021	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper
2022	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper

Read More: UPSC Syllabus in Hindi

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Geography Optional

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Geography Optional Papers from 2018 to 2022 in the table:

Year	Question Papers
2018	Paper – I Paper – II
2019	Paper – I Paper – II
2020	Paper – I Paper – II
2021	Paper – I Paper – II
2022	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers History Optional

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year History Optional Papers from 2018 to 2022 in the table:

Year	Question Papers
2018	Paper – I Paper – II
2019	Paper – I Paper – II
2020	Paper – I Paper – II
2021	Paper – I Paper – II
2022	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Sociology Optional

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Sociology Optional Papers from 2018 to 2022 in the table:

Year	Question Papers
2018	Paper – I Paper – II
2019	Paper – I Paper – II
2020	Paper – I Paper – II
2021	Paper – I Paper – II
2022	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Public Administration Optional

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Public Administration Optional Papers from 2018 to 2022 in the table:

Year	Question Papers
2018	Paper – I Paper – II
2019	Paper – I Paper – II
2020	Paper – I Paper – II
2021	Paper – I Paper – II
2022	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Political Science & International Relations Optional

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Political Science & International Relations Optional Papers from 2018 to 2022 in the table:

Year	Question Papers
2018	Paper – I Paper – II
2019	Paper – I Paper – II
2020	Paper – I Paper – II
2021	Paper – I Paper – II
2022	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Anthropology Optional

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Anthropology Optional Papers from 2018 to 2022 in the table:

Year	Question Papers
2018	Paper – I Paper – II
2019	Paper – I Paper – II
2020	Paper – I Paper – II
2021	Paper – I Paper – II
2022	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Philosophy Optional

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Philosophy Optional Papers from 2018 to 2022 in the table:

Year	Question Papers
2018	Paper – I Paper – II
2019	Paper – I Paper – II
2020	Paper – I Paper – II
2021	Paper – I Paper – II
2022	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Mathematics Optional

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Mathematics Optional Papers from 2018 to 2022 in the table:

Year	Question Papers
2018	Paper – I Paper – II
2019	Paper – I Paper – II
2020	Paper – I Paper – II
2021	Paper – I Paper – II
2022	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers in Hindi

All the above question paper links are attached to official previous year papers published by the UPSC. These papers are both in English and Hindi language.

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers Importance

To understand the demand of the UPSC.
To effectively cover the UPSC Syllabus.
To gauge the depth of understanding needed in each topic.
To predict probable areas from which questions can be asked.
Practice with good-quality questions, that check your conceptual clarity.

FAQs

Do UPSC repeat questions?

This happens very rarely. Thus, it is advisable to scan the previous year's questions.

Is UPSC a hard exam?

If one looks at the selection ratio, it is certainly a tough exam. However, with the right approach and hard work, it can be easily cracked.

Is UPSC full of MCQ?

MCQs are asked in the prelims stage of this exam. Mains stage is subjective in nature where one is expected to write with a pen as in a conventional copy pen exam.

Why I failed in UPSC?

There can be many reasons depending on the individual’s circumstances. A common reason for failure despite hard work is lack of proper guidance, not understanding the requirement of the exam etc.

Who cleared UPSC without coaching?

Many aspirants do so every year. One needs the right strategy and guidance which can be sought through coaching institutes, seniors, mentors or any other source.