UPSC Cut-off 2026: Category-wise Prelims & Mains
Complete UPSC cut-off analysis for 2025 with category-wise Prelims and Mains cut-off marks, historical trends, and what scores are needed to qualify.
The UPSC cut-off determines who advances from Prelims to Mains and from Mains to the Interview stage. For 2025, the General category Prelims cut-off was approximately 98 marks out of 200, while the Mains written cut-off hovered around 745 out of 1750. These numbers fluctuate annually based on paper difficulty, vacancy count, and the number of candidates. Understanding cut-off trends helps set realistic scoring targets.
The Union Public Service Commission releases official cut-off data with the final results. The figures discussed here combine official data from recent years with preliminary estimates for 2025.
Prelims Cut-off: Category-wise (2020–2025)
Historical Prelims Cut-off Marks (Out of 200)
| Year | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 92.51 | 87.54 | 84.85 | 73.69 | 67.34 |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 81.18 | 84.85 | 75.02 | 67.34 |
| 2022 | 91.09 | 82.67 | 84.85 | 78.37 | 70.67 |
| 2023 | 82.67 | 73.69 | 77.34 | 68.01 | 62.01 |
| 2024 | 98.00 | 90.00 | 92.00 | 82.00 | 74.00 |
| 2025 (Est.) | 95–100 | 88–93 | 89–94 | 80–85 | 72–77 |
What Drives Cut-off Fluctuations
| Factor | Effect on Cut-off |
|---|---|
| Paper difficulty | Harder paper = lower cut-off |
| Number of vacancies | More vacancies = slightly lower cut-off |
| Number of candidates appearing | More candidates = higher competition |
| Coaching quality improvements | Generally pushes cut-off up over time |
Key Observations
- The 2024 jump: The Prelims cut-off for General category reached 98 — one of the highest in recent years — indicating an easier paper.
- SC/ST relaxation: Typically 15–25 marks below General category.
- EWS category: Cut-off has been 5–10 marks below General since its introduction.
- OBC cut-off: Usually 5–15 marks below General, but sometimes very close.
Safe Score Targets for Prelims
| Category | Safe Target |
|---|---|
| General | 110+ |
| EWS | 105+ |
| OBC | 100+ |
| SC | 90+ |
| ST | 85+ |
Targeting 110+ for General category provides a comfortable margin above even the highest historical cut-off.
Related: UPSC Prelims Strategy 2026: How to Clear Paper 1 & 2
Mains Cut-off: Written Examination
Category-wise Mains Written Cut-off (Out of 1750)
| Year | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 734 | 700 | 696 | 700 | 699 |
| 2021 | 745 | 720 | 706 | 706 | 699 |
| 2022 | 748 | 727 | 718 | 700 | 696 |
| 2023 | 745 | 718 | 714 | 698 | 690 |
| 2024 | 752 | 730 | 722 | 706 | 695 |
What the Mains Cut-off Means
The Mains cut-off determines who gets called for the Interview. Candidates scoring above the written cut-off proceed to the Personality Test stage.
Important: The Mains cut-off is for the written examination only (1750 marks). The final selection cut-off (written + interview = 2025 marks) is different and higher.
Mains Scoring Reality Check
| Paper | Average Score (Successful Candidates) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 115–130 | 46–52% |
| GS 1 | 95–110 | 38–44% |
| GS 2 | 95–110 | 38–44% |
| GS 3 | 95–115 | 38–46% |
| GS 4 | 100–120 | 40–48% |
| Optional Paper 1 | 110–135 | 44–54% |
| Optional Paper 2 | 110–135 | 44–54% |
Scoring 42–48% consistently across all papers is sufficient for crossing the Mains cut-off. The challenge is maintaining this consistency across seven diverse papers.
Related: UPSC Marks Distribution: Prelims, Mains & Interview
Final Cut-off: Mains + Interview
Category-wise Final Cut-off (Out of 2025)
| Year | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 960 | 925 | 912 | 906 | 905 |
| 2021 | 961 | 930 | 921 | 910 | 907 |
| 2022 | 964 | 940 | 927 | 914 | 907 |
| 2023 | 956 | 935 | 921 | 908 | 900 |
| 2024 | 968 | 942 | 930 | 916 | 909 |
What Determines the Final Cut-off
The final cut-off depends on:
- Total vacancies advertised that year
- Distribution of vacancies across categories
- Quality of the candidate pool
- Average interview scores that year
How Many Marks for Different Rank Ranges
| Rank Range | Approximate Score Needed (General) |
|---|---|
| Top 10 | 1100–1200 |
| Top 50 | 1050–1100 |
| Top 100 | 1020–1060 |
| Top 200 | 990–1030 |
| Top 500 | 960–1000 |
| Qualifying (last rank) | 950–970 |
Service Allocation Cut-offs
Different services within the Civil Services have different cut-off requirements based on rank:
| Service | Approximate Rank Range |
|---|---|
| IAS (Indian Administrative Service) | Top 80–100 |
| IFS (Indian Foreign Service) | Top 100–150 |
| IPS (Indian Police Service) | Top 150–300 |
| IRS (Indian Revenue Service) | Top 300–500 |
| IRTS, IDAS, ICAS | Top 500–800 |
| Group B Services | Below 800 |
These ranges vary annually based on vacancies and candidate preferences.
Related: IAS vs IPS vs IFS: Services Comparison Guide
Cut-off Analysis: Category-Wise Comparison
The Gap Between Categories
| Category Comparison | Average Gap (Prelims) | Average Gap (Final) |
|---|---|---|
| General vs OBC | 8–15 marks | 30–40 marks |
| General vs SC | 15–20 marks | 50–60 marks |
| General vs ST | 20–30 marks | 55–65 marks |
| General vs EWS | 5–10 marks | 25–35 marks |
The gap is wider in the final cut-off than in Prelims, reflecting the compounding effect across multiple stages.
PwD (Persons with Disability) Cut-offs
PwD candidates have separate, lower cut-offs across all categories. The Prelims cut-off for PwD-General is typically 15–20 marks below the General cut-off.
Strategy Based on Cut-off Data
For Prelims
- Target 15–20 marks above the highest recent cut-off for your category
- Focus on accuracy over attempts — net score matters, not gross score
- Don't panic about cut-off predictions on exam day — focus on maximum correct answers
For Mains
- Aim for consistent 42–48% across all papers rather than 55% in one and 35% in another
- The optional subject often makes the biggest difference — choose and prepare wisely
- Essay is the most underinvested paper relative to its impact — don't neglect it
For Interview
- An interview score of 180+ (Good) can compensate for a below-average Mains performance by 20–30 marks
- Preparation investment for the interview is small (60 days) relative to the marks it carries
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the UPSC release official cut-off marks?
The UPSC releases official cut-off data along with the final results of each Civil Services Examination cycle. This includes category-wise Prelims cut-off, Mains written cut-off, and final (written + interview) cut-off. The data is available on the UPSC website and in the Annual Report.
Why does the Prelims cut-off vary so much between years?
The primary driver is paper difficulty. An easier paper pushes more candidates into higher score ranges, raising the cut-off. In 2023, a relatively difficult paper brought the General cut-off down to 82.67. In 2024, an easier paper pushed it up to 98. The number of vacancies also plays a minor role.
What happens if a candidate clears the Prelims but not the Mains cut-off?
Candidates who clear Prelims but score below the Mains written cut-off are not called for the interview. Their journey for that year ends at the Mains stage. They must re-apply and clear Prelims again in subsequent attempts. There is no carrying forward of Mains scores.
Is the EWS cut-off always lower than General?
Since EWS reservation was introduced (2019), the EWS cut-off has consistently been 5–10 marks below General in Prelims and 25–35 marks below in the final cut-off. This gap exists because EWS is a newer category with a separate vacancy pool, though the candidates compete at similar preparation levels.Related: UPSC Result 2026: Toppers List & Cut-off Marks