UPPSC PCS Cut Off: Previous Year Prelims Cut-off and Trends

The UPPSC PCS cut-off is the lowest score that gets a candidate in a given category to the next stage of the Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services Examination. In prelims, it is set on General Studies Paper I alone, out of 200, for candidates who have also scored at least 33% in CSAT. In the final result, it is the score of the last selected candidate out of 1,600 (mains plus interview), and it differs by post and category.

UPPSC usually releases category-wise cut-offs only after the final result of a cycle. The figures below are widely reported prelims cut-offs for the executive group of posts, which includes Deputy Collector and DSP. Use them as a benchmark, not a promise. Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. For the 2026 prelims on 6 December 2026, aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.

UPPSC PCS Prelims Cut-off: Previous Years

Source note: these are widely reported figures for the executive group, compiled from published cut-off lists and, for 2024, an RTI reply shared publicly. They are not taken from a UPPSC document we could open directly, so check the official cut-off notice on the UPPSC website before relying on any single number. Other groups of posts can have different cut-offs.

Cut-off Trend

The general category prelims cut-off moved from 115 in 2021 to 111 in 2022, rose to 125 in 2023, and then fell sharply to 101 in 2024. The 2024 drop is widely linked to a harder GS paper. In 2023, the OBC and EWS cut-offs were slightly higher than the general cut-off, which happens when many reserved-category candidates score high.

The swing of more than 20 marks between 2023 and 2024 shows why one year's figure is a poor target. A score that comfortably cleared 2024 would have failed in 2023.

Mains and Final Cut-off

Final selection is based on mains (1,500 marks) plus interview (100 marks), out of 1,600. UPPSC publishes post-wise and category-wise final cut-offs and individual marks after the final result. For example, marks for the PCS 2024 cycle, whose final result came on 29 March 2026, were made available for download in June 2026. Figures for mains and final cut-offs vary widely across unofficial sources, so they are not listed here. Use the official notice for the posts you are aiming for.

What Affects the UPPSC PCS Cut-off

• Paper difficulty: A tougher GS Paper I pulls the cut-off down, as seen in 2024.

• Number of vacancies: More posts mean more candidates called for mains, which can lower the cut-off. Vacancies can change a lot within a cycle. In 2025, posts rose from about 200 at notification to 920 before the prelims result.

• Number of candidates: Over 6 lakh candidates registered for the 2025 prelims, so competition at each mark is intense.

• Category and group: Cut-offs are set category-wise and can differ between groups of posts.

• Negative marking: The one-third penalty rewards accuracy, so candidates who guess heavily rarely reach the cut-off.

How to Set Your Target

• Prelims target: Aim for at least 125 to 130 in GS Paper I in mock tests. That would have cleared every recent general cut-off in the table above.

• CSAT floor: Score at least 90 to 100 in practice to keep a safe margin above the 66-mark minimum.

• Accuracy benchmark: Aim for 80% or higher accuracy in GS mocks, attempting about 110 to 120 questions.

• Track the trend: Compare each mock score with the range of past cut-offs, not with a single year's number.

Official results and cut-off notices are published on the UPPSC website.