One of the most difficult exams in India is regarded as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Exam. It is a door to well-respected jobs in the Indian civil service. To succeed, you need to know about the exam format which includes UPSC Previous Year Papers and syllabuses for each stage.
There are two stages in the UPSC Exam: Preliminary Examination and Mains Examination. Also, there is a Personality Test (Interview) for those who made it, among many others. Today, we will rummage through seven papers that you will come across during the UPSC Mains Exam.
Recommended Links:
UPSC Mock Test Sample Paper for 2025 Exam
UPSC Previous Years Question Papers for 2025 Exam
NCERT One for All for UPSC for Upcoming Exam
UPSC Qualifying Papers:
Any Indian Language (Paper-A): This paper qualifies with the minimum marks requirement. The languages are listed by the UPSC, from which you can choose.
English (Paper-B): Also, this paper has minimum marks requirement as a qualifying paper too. It tests your comprehension, writing ability and communication skills in English.
UPSC Mains Papers:
Essay (Paper-I): This paper evaluates your writing skills, knowledge of current affairs, and analytical thinking, among other things. You will be given various subjects to write about, with your task being to create well-organized essays that show your ability to think critically and express yourself properly through written language. Doing some essay-writing drills using UPSC Previous Year Papers can give you a huge boost in terms of how well you can put ideas together when under pressure.
Read More: HOW MANY BOOKS DO WE NEED TO STUDY FOR UPSC?
General Studies-I (Paper-II): This covers Indian Heritage and Culture, the History of India and the World, the Geography of India and the World, etcetera. Strong basics in these areas are vital for success in this subject matter area. In addition to consulting UPSC NCERT Books alongside other useful reference materials could help one kick off his/her preparation effectively.
General Studies-II (Paper-III): Topics covered include Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations, etcetera. To perform well, one must comprehend the intricacies of Indian governance and international relations. If you want to know how questions are structured or what depth of knowledge is expected, regularly analyzing UPSC Previous Year Papers for this segment will suffice.
General Studies-III (Paper-IV): The components covered in this paper include the Indian Economy; Agriculture; Infrastructure; Science and Technology; Economic Development and Security Issues. Updated information on current trends in economy as well as technological advancements is important for this paper such that looking into reliable sources alongside UPSC Previous Year Papers can be helpful to remain ahead.
General Studies-IV (Paper-V): This section is about Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. It tests your moral reasoning along with judgment-making skills and problem-solving capabilities. For instance, if you practice case studies and analyze UPSC Previous Year Papers in this area, it can be a great help to you.
Paper-6 & Paper-7 (Optional Subjects): Show us your knowledge! Among the many optional subjects listed by the UPSC, you can choose two. These may be topics related to your course or things that are personally interesting to you. Studying UPSC NCERT Books for these optional subjects can be a great starting point, but make sure that there is other more advanced study material accompanying them.
For UPSC Online Mock Test Sample Papers and Latest Courses for 2024 Exam – Click Here
For UPSC Online Previous Year Question Papers for the 2024 Exam – Click Here
Remember that if you are targeting success in any examination like the UPSC Exam, then your practice should be continuous and systematic, which revolves around a good plan of study. Extensive use of UPSC Previous Year Papers will make it easier for you to understand question patterns, check answer-writing tendencies as well as assess yourself accordingly, identifying areas where you have excelled so far and those ones which still need some amendments through recommended reference materials apart from others together with UPSC NCERT Books hence gaining ground knowledge base.
