The PYQ Vault · free to read

Every question UPSC has set, on one screen.

UPSC's own papers since 2011 — Prelims GS, CSAT and Mains — with UPSC's answer keys and explanations quoted from their sources. Each square below is a subject in a year: tap one to open those questions.

Prelims GS: 1,581
CSAT: 880
Mains: 884

Prelims GS Paper I, by subject and year

Number of Prelims GS Paper I questions per subject per year, 2011–2026
Subject	'11	'12	'13	'14	'15	'16	'17	'18	'19	'20	'21	'22	'23	'24	'25	'26
Economy & social development	24	14	17	11	21	17	21	20	21	22	15	15	14	15	15	14
Environment & ecology	16	18	17	23	15	17	13	11	18	12	20	16	13	14	13	9
Geography	14	17	16	13	13	10	8	13	12	14	12	20	23	21	18	11
Polity & governance	6	18	18	9	11	7	22	12	13	15	16	11	13	16	15	12
Science & technology	17	9	13	9	9	10	9	12	14	12	10	13	10	8	11	13
International relations & current affairs	6	3	0	4	12	23	13	10	6	5	7	9	14	15	11	21
Modern India & the freedom struggle	7	9	5	5	8	6	7	14	5	9	7	4	4	3	9	5
Art & culture	2	4	5	13	5	2	4	5	3	1	6	2	2	4	1	8
Ancient India	4	4	5	2	0	4	2	2	5	7	3	4	5	3	5	7
Medieval India	0	2	1	3	4	4	1	1	3	3	4	6	2	1	2	0

Tap a square: a subject in a year opens its questions, each with UPSC's answer.

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Prelims GS I10 subjects · every year 2011–20261,581 → CSATby skill · the fastest method880 → Mains · Essay + GS I–IVby syllabus line · an approach for each884 → Public Administration (optional) · 616 questions → Every PDF, free with sign-up →

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Analyse the complexity and intensity of terrorism, its causes, linkages and obnoxious nexus. Also suggest measures required to be taken to eradicate the menace of terrorism. GS Paper III · 2021 · 15 marks · 250 words

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प्रारंभिक GS I · CSAT · मुख्य परीक्षा, आदर्श उत्तर सहित · निबंध

UPSC के अपने हिंदी प्रश्नपत्रों से, 2016–2026

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Prelims 2019 · Q3

Reports & indices X-Ray · Core #35 Easy

The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) World Economic Forum

The Global Competitiveness Report, built around the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), is brought out by the World Economic Forum, the Geneva-based foundation. Its 2019 edition reviewed 141 economies.

✓ (c) The GCI and the report that presents it are the World Economic Forum's; the 2019 edition assessed 141 countries.
✗ (d) The World Bank's country ranking of that period was the Doing Business Report, a different index on business regulation (India was 63rd of 190 in the 2020 edition).

Remember · Global Competitiveness Report / Index = World Economic Forum. Doing Business Report = World Bank (a separate ranking).

Sources

PIB: Global Competitiveness Index (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), 2019 ↗ “The GCI brought out by the World Economic Forum involved performance review of 141 countries.”
PIB: India ranks 63 in World Bank's Doing Business Report (24 October 2019) ↗ “India has recorded a jump of 14 positions against its rank of 77 in 2019 to be placed now at 63 rd rank among 190 countries”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Every paper, year by year

Pick a year: its Prelims paper (to read, or as a 2-hour timed test), CSAT and Mains.

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Prelims GS I: read with answers · timed test CSAT: paper Mains: GS I · GS II · GS III · GS IV · Essay

UPSC PYQ PDFs — free download

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Mains 2026 (Essay + GS I–IV), every GS paper topic-wise by syllabus line, every essay topic, and each year's Prelims and CSAT paper — with answers and explanations. Free; sign up once.

Mains 2026 · Essay + GS I–IV89 pp GS Paper I · syllabus-wise303 pp GS Paper II · syllabus-wise221 pp GS Paper III · syllabus-wise410 pp GS Paper IV · syllabus-wise247 pp Essay topics · by theme89 pp Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I79 pp CSAT 202655 pp

Quick answers

How many questions are there in UPSC Prelims GS Paper I?

100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks in two hours — two marks each. Your Prelims merit is decided by this paper.

Is CSAT qualifying?

Yes. General Studies Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying: you need 33%, that is 66 of 200 marks. Its marks are not added to your Prelims score.

Is there negative marking in UPSC Prelims?

Yes. A wrong answer costs one-third of the marks for that question (0.66 in GS Paper I, 0.83 in CSAT). A blank costs nothing; marking two answers counts as wrong.

How many marks are the UPSC Mains and interview worth?

Seven written papers count for merit — Essay, GS I–IV and two optional papers, 250 marks each, 1,750 in all — plus a 275-mark Personality Test: 2,025 in total.

When is UPSC Prelims 2027?

UPSC's annual calendar (as on 20 May 2026) lists CSE 2027 Prelims on 23 May 2027, with the notification on 13 Jan 2027. UPSC may revise these dates.

From UPSC's Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSP (Appendix I), the instructions on the test booklet, and UPSC's annual calendar.