UPSC Previous Year Question Papers, Download Last 10 Year PYQs

Candidates can download the last 10 years of UPSC Previous Year Question Papers from both Prelims and Mains. In this article, UPSC Previous Year Question Papers are important and can help aspirants effectively cover the vast UPSC syllabus. Download UPSC IAS Previous year papers from 2014-2024.

Table of Contents

The UPSC exam is highly competitive with a vast syllabus, but mastering every topic is not required. Instead, UPSC values smart and focused preparation. Looking at past exam papers from 2014 to 2023 can help you understand the exam pattern, how marks are distributed across different topics, and help you plan your study strategy. For effective preparation, refer to these papers for both UPSC Prelims (General Studies and CSAT) and Mains, as well as for optional subjects. Take a look at the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers from 2014 to 2024 below, with direct links provided.

UPSC Previous Year Question Paper

Candidate preparation for the Union Public Service Commission should have idea about the Question Pattern and difficulty level of the exam. Here comes the Previous year Question Paper in role. Solving the UPSC Previous Question Paper can help the aspirant to enhance there preparation journey.

Last 10 Years UPSC Prelims Previous Question Papers PDF

The UPSC Civil Service Prelims exam has two objective papers: General Studies Paper I and CSAT. Each paper is of 200 marks and lasts 2 hours. These papers are just for screening. We have put together previous years’ UPSC Prelims question papers from 2014 to 2024. You can click the link below to access these papers and answers in PDF format for practice.

Year	Question Paper PDF 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
2023	GS Paper I (Set A) GS Paper I (Set B) GS Paper I (Set C) GS Paper I (Set D) GS Paper I in Hindi (Set A) CSAT Set A CSAT Set A in Hindi
2024	General Studies CSAT

Last 10 Years UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Papers PDF

UPSC Mains exam is the second stage of the UPSC Civil Service exam. There are four General Studies papers, each covering different subjects. Studying previous years’ question papers for each subject is the best way to prepare. Look at the table below to find question papers for each subject in the UPSC Mains.

Year	Question Papers PDF Link
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
2023	General Studies – I General Studies – II General Studies – III General Studies – IV Essay paper

UPSC Geography Optional Previous Year Question Papers

We have provided the UPSC Geography year-wise PYQs from 2018 to 2023 in the table, practise these as much as you can.

Year	Geography 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
2023	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC History Optional Previous Year Question Papers

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC History Optional PYQs from 2018 to 2023 in the table, Practice more to achieve a higher score.

Year	History 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
2023	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Sociology Optional Previous Year Question Papers

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Sociology Question Papers from 2018 to 2023 in the table:

Year	Sociology 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
2023	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Public Administration Optional Previous Year Question Papers

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Public Administration Question Papers from 2018 to 2023 in the table:

Year	Publica Administration 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
2023	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC PSIR Optional Previous Year Question Papers

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Political Science & International Relations Question Paper from 2018 to 2023 in the table:

Year	PSIR 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
2023	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Anthropology Optional Previous Year Question Papers

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Anthropology Question Papers from 2018 to 2023 in the table:

Year	Anthropology 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
2023	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Philosophy Optional Previous Year Question Papers

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Philosophy Question Papers from 2018 to 2023 in the table:

Year	Philosophy 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
2023	Paper – I Paper – II

UPSC Mathematics Optional Previous Year Question Papers

Here we are providing year-wise UPSC Previous Year Mathematics Optional Papers from 2018 to 2023 in the table:

Year	Mathematics 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
2023	Paper – I Paper – II

Benefits of Solving the UPSC Previous Year Papers

To understand the demand of the UPSC.
It helps us understand the exam pattern of UPSC.
Practising Previous Year Questions helps understand the UPSC Exam Pattern 2024 of asking questions.
It also helps us with time management while solving questions.
To effectively cover the UPSC Syllabus 2024.
To boost the depth of understanding needed in each topic.
To predict probable areas from which questions is going to be asked.
Practice with good-quality questions, where you can check your conceptual clarity.

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers 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.

Is previous year question paper enough for UPSC?

UPSC Previous year question papers (PYQs) are an essential resource for UPSC Exam preparation, but they are not enough on their own also supplement your preparation with current affairs.