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ClearIAS » Civil Services Interview » Cut-Off Marks for UPSC Civil Services Exam: Trend Analysis

Cut-Off Marks for UPSC Civil Services Exam: Trend Analysis

Last updated on November 18, 2020 by Alex Andrews George

UPSC Cut-off marksWhat are the cut-off marks for UPSC?

Marks needed to qualify UPSC Civil Services Prelims and Mains has always been a topic of hot discussion and speculation.

There are always different rumours around and many candidates are unclear about how UPSC fix the bottom cut-off. That’s why in this post, we have decided to give insights about the Cut-Off Marks for UPSC Civil Services Exam.

In this post, we share some important statistics collected from the official UPSC website over the previous years.

UPSC Prelims Cut-off Marks – Over the Years

Year
Cut-off Marks
Percentage
2005
284/450
63.11
2006
282/450
62.66
2007
256/450
56.88
2008
244/450
54.22
2009
250/450
55.55
2010
248/450
55.11
2011
198/400
49.5
2012
209/400
52.25
2013
241/400
60.25
2014
205/400
51.25
2015
107.34/200
53.67
2016
116.00/200
58.00
2017
105.34/200
52.67
2018
98/200
49.00
2019
98/200
49.00

Mains and ‘Mains+Interview Marks’ (Total Marks) of Last Recommended Candidate in UPSC Civil Services Examination

Year
Mains Marks of the last candidate (General Category) 
Mains Percentage
of the last candidate (%)(General Category) 
Mains+Interview marks of the last candidate (General Category) 
Mains+Interview Percentage of the last candidate (%) (General Category) 
2005
986/2000
49.3
1203/2300
52.3
2006
975/2000
48.75
1179/2300
51.26
2007
1005/2000
50.25
1210/2300
52.6
2008
954/2000
47.7
1161/2300
50.47
2009
899/2000
44.95
1127/2300
49
2010
904/2000
45.2
1134/2300
49.3
2011
842/2000
42.1
1090/2300
47.39
2012
700/2000
35
936/2300
40.69
2013
562/1750
32.1
775/2025
38.27
2014
678/1750
38.74
889/2025
43.90
2015
676/1750
38.62
877/2025
43.30
2016
787/1750
44.97
988/2025
48.79
2017
809/1750]
46.22
1006/2025
49.67
2018
774/1750
44.22
982/2025
48.49
2019
751/1750
42.91
961/2025
47.45

Trend Analysis of UPSC Interview Marks

Interview marks until 2012, usually ranged from 90 to 245 out of the maximum possible score of 300. That meant the interview marks varied from 30 per cent to 80 per cent, which is a very big range. The median of the interview marks was in the 55-60 percent range.

However, from 2013, the total possible marks for interview is reduced to 275. Currently, marks are awarded in the range of 45% to 75%. Marks below 45% is not uncommon, however, it’s very rare that UPSC award marks above 75 per cent in the personality test.

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Still, there is a big variation between the top interview marks and bottom interview marks awarded. If there is a 50 per cent difference between the top and bottom marks in the interview, that will account to about 140 marks, which is by now means a meagre thing to neglect! That difference is enough to shatter hopes of many and enough to give wings to the hopes of others!

What is the cut-off score to make it to the final rank list in UPSC Civil Services Exam?

UPSC cut off marksIt all depends on the vacancies in category or community you are from. UPSC prepares a separate rank list for those under General Category, OBC, SC, ST etc and you have to make sure that you rank well within the number of vacancies listed in each category to be in the final rank list.

Also, be clear that the ‘General Vacancies’ are always filled on merit, and that means that all other categories can get into the Vacancies mentioned under General Vacancies, and not just general category candidates.

There is no reservation for general category candidates. However, the vacancies reserved for separate categories are only open to those respective candidates, and since they are reserved, there is no competition based on open-merit in these vacancies.

Ok. Back to the topic. Do you have any idea what was the minimum percentage of marks (General Category) required to make it into any of the 24 services for which UPSC conducts Civil Services Examination, during the last few years?

No, it’s not in the eighties or nineties.

You might be surprised, in 2015 the total percentage of marks of the last recommended candidate from General Category was around 43 per cent! Five years after, in 2018, it is 49%.

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The ‘cut-off’ percentage of marks of other categories like OBC, SC and ST were 1-3 % lower than the general category.

It should also be specially noted that the percentage of marks for All India Topper was 53% in 2019!

Also read: Till Which Rank Can An Aspirant Get Into IAS, IPS or IFS?

Minimum Qualifying Marks in Prelims and Mains

UPSC Exam Cut Off marks

Quoting from Civil Services Exam Rules:

Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the Preliminary Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion shall be admitted to the Main Examination; and candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the Main Examination (Written) as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion shall be summoned by them for an interview for personality test : Provided that candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes may be summoned for an interview for a personality test by the Commission by applying relaxed standards in the Preliminary Examination as well as Main Examination (Written) if the Commission is of the opinion that sufficient number of candidates from these communities are not likely to be summoned for interview for a personality test on the basis of the general standard in order to fill up vacancies reserved for them.

UPSC uses the term ‘minimum qualifying mark’ instead of cut-off.

This minimum qualifying mark is the mark of the last candidate (in the descending order of marks) who made it to the list, be it Mains list, Interview list or Final Rank list.

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As per our understanding, the figure just depends on the number of vacancies each year and nothing else. So if there are 313 vacancies under OBC category this year, the mark of the last rank candidate in OBC category becomes the cut-off marks under OBC category. Hope the point is now clear!

How will UPSC determine the numbers, ie. Calls for Mains and Interview?

It should be noted that UPSC normally calls for Civil Services Mains Exam, 12-13 times the number of actual vacancies reported for the corresponding year.

For example, if the number of vacancies reported is 1200, UPSC will call 1000*12.5=approx.12,500 candidates for mains exam from the lakhs of candidates who write the Prelims.

Again, for the interview, UPSC will call about twice the number of candidates than the reported vacancies. In the above example, UPSC called about 2500 candidates for interview, which was 2.5 times the number of vacancies. UPSC selects only about 1000 candidates among the top 2500 in the final list.

Toppers’ Percentage range between 40 per cent and 55 per cent

Percentage of All India Topper in UPSC Civil Services Exam was around 60 per cent some five-six years back – when there were 2 optional subjects.

But it began to fall down later, obviously due to tougher questions, tougher evaluations, reduction in optional subject marks, and obviously due to lack of right resources to study General studies!

In 2013, the Topper’s percentage (AIR 1) was around 48% and the last recommended candidate in general category scored 38%. In 2018, the toppers percentage is 55% while that of the last recommended general category candidate is 49%.

If we observe the trend from 2013 to 2019, one can see an overall increase in mains marks and a tighter competition. Also, now, there is more cluttering per mark.

Will there be an increase in cut-off marks in the coming years?

If questions are easy, and evaluation is liberal, the cut-offs may increase.

However, if UPSC follows the same valuation standards, Civil Services Exam may still remain low scoring – with minor fluctuations.

As students in the online age of WhatsApp, telegram, and test-prep websites are now fully-equipped with a lot of resources, they are better prepared to deal with the requirements of IAS exam.

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About Alex Andrews George

Alex Andrews George is a mentor, author, and entrepreneur. Alex is the founder of ClearIAS and one of the expert Civil Service Exam Trainers in India.

He is the author of many best-seller books like 'Important Judgments that transformed India' and 'Important Acts that transformed India'.

A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training, Alex's guidance, strategies, study-materials, and mock-exams have helped thousands of aspirants to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jicky says

    May 21, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    civils is soooooooooooooooooooooooo very tough

    Reply
  2. Vipin kapoor says

    May 25, 2016 at 5:21 am

    33% you have to secure in the paper 2 . You have cleared first paper but not second thats why you are not in the list.

    Reply
  3. Vikash Kumar says

    June 17, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    paper 2 is only qualifying in nature, 106 cut off marks is only in paper 1, not included marks of paper 2

    Reply
  4. anusha says

    July 3, 2016 at 10:35 pm

    Is any minus mark deducted for upsc prelims exam

    Reply
  5. jaisingh says

    July 29, 2016 at 9:24 am

    jb tum logo ko cut off marks ka he pata nai chalta to tum paper he kyu dete ho

    Reply
    • Shailesh jha says

      September 14, 2016 at 11:38 pm

      mast jai singh bhai,carry on

  6. ab says

    August 12, 2016 at 4:14 am

    Very fitting reply

    Reply
  7. Dinesh Shripat says

    August 12, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    Don’t get tensed. Aspirants expecting 105 +-3 must dedicate themselves fully in the preparation of main. Somehow , if the luck doesn’t favour ,don’t get worried next prelims are not faraway . Stay optimistic fully and hope for the best. God will fulfill desire of the all who are seriously dedicated for this. Rest assured time is waiting for you .

    Reply
  8. ajit kumar says

    August 14, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    Sir
    I have paper 1-93
    Paper-2-101
    93+101=194
    I am preparation main exam

    Reply
    • vineet dixit says

      August 2, 2017 at 5:12 am

      how can i check marksheet upsc exams what is the link?

  9. ajit kumar says

    August 17, 2016 at 7:54 am

    J got paper-1 93mark
    I start preparation main exam

    Reply
    • Basam says

      July 14, 2018 at 1:46 pm

      how to check preliminary marks???? Pls tell me

  10. rubumoni says

    August 24, 2016 at 12:38 pm

    results date of upsc prelims

    Reply
  11. Shailesh says

    September 14, 2016 at 11:42 pm

    😉

    Reply
  12. gaurav kumar Sharma says

    October 11, 2016 at 7:06 am

    Kitne cse rank par ias exam clear kiya ja skta hai minimum btao plz.

    Reply
  13. Ayush Raj Singh says

    March 30, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    I had just given the m.p. Board 12th exams from biology subject so please suggest me that how i can become an IPS officer

    Reply
  14. yvy says

    July 7, 2017 at 1:30 am

    At least you should secure 67 in 2nd prelims

    Reply
  15. Megha says

    July 27, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    1st paper me 200 Ka 33%chahiye that mean 200 me se 66 mark to chahiye & 2nd paper to only qualified h usme 198/200 bhi ho to uska add 1st paper me nhi hoga

    Reply
  16. Ramagurulakshmi.S says

    March 21, 2018 at 2:35 am

    Please to give me a few suggestions to crack prelims. GS1 marks in prelims is it taken account to calculate overall cutoff??

    Reply
    • Arumughan says

      November 18, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      No

  17. Neha patel says

    May 1, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    I am doing bsc 2 year can I start preparation for IAS

    Reply
  18. bhabya trivedi says

    June 3, 2018 at 10:51 pm

    How much is the qualifying marks in paper-1 of prelims???
    And paper-2 respectively..!???

    Reply
  19. Ashok says

    July 15, 2018 at 12:42 pm

    Just get your category certificate renewed.

    Reply
  20. mauryakiran says

    February 5, 2019 at 1:48 pm

    wht should be cuttoff or passing marks for prelims paper 1st..????????

    Reply
  21. Akshay Kumar Dubey says

    July 12, 2019 at 11:16 pm

    Firstly , cutt-off & passing marks can’t be same…

    Reply
  22. Thomas says

    September 16, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    Brother don’t take tension they’ll be sending you direct IAS offer letter. No need to give mains exam.

    Reply
  23. Jagjit Singh says

    October 9, 2020 at 11:58 am

    If I get paper 1 g.studeies 25 marks and csat is 145 we are pass or not

    Reply
  24. Jai Singh lodhi says

    October 20, 2020 at 10:24 pm

    Prelims exam cutt off passing marks

    Reply

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