What was the UPSC Civil Services Prelims cut-off in 2025?

The General category Prelims cut-off for CSE 2025 was 92.66 out of 200, based on General Studies Paper I only. It was 89.34 for EWS, 92.00 for OBC, 84.00 for SC and 82.66 for ST.

What was the UPSC final cut-off in 2025?

The General category final cut-off for CSE 2025 was 963 out of 2,025, which combines Mains marks out of 1,750 with interview marks out of 275. It was 926 for EWS, 931 for OBC, 905 for SC and 902 for ST.

Is CSAT counted in the UPSC Prelims cut-off?

No. The Prelims cut-off uses General Studies Paper I alone. CSAT is qualifying, and you need at least 33 per cent, which is 66 out of 200, to be considered.

When will the UPSC CSE 2026 cut-off be released?

The Commission publishes Prelims, Mains and final cut-offs together, only after the final result of the cycle. For CSE 2026, that is expected in 2027. Any figure shared before then is an estimate, not an official number.

Civil Services

UPSC Civil Services Cut-off 2025: Prelims, Mains and Final

The UPSC Civil Services cut-off is the score of the last candidate who moved on at each stage: the Prelims, the Mains and the final merit list. The Union Public Service Commission releases all three together, and only after a cycle's final result. Cut-offs change every year with paper difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants, so use past figures as a benchmark and aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.

UPSC Civil Services Cut-off 2025

These are the official minimum qualifying marks for CSE 2025, released in March 2026 after the final result of 6 March 2026.

Category	Prelims (out of 200)	Mains (out of 1,750)	Final (out of 2,025)
General	92.66	739	963
EWS	89.34	706	926
OBC	92.00	717	931
SC	84.00	700	905
ST	82.66	694	902

PwBD categories have separate cut-offs, listed in the official document on upsc.gov.in. The CSE 2026 cut-offs will be published only after that cycle's final result, expected in 2027.

Cut-off Trend: General Category

Exam year	Prelims	Mains	Final
2023	75.41	741	953
2024	87.98	729	947
2025	92.66	739	963

The Prelims cut-off swung by more than 17 marks over three years, while the Mains and final figures moved within a narrow band. In other words, the Prelims is the least predictable stage, and the Mains is where scores are most consistent.

What Moves the Cut-off

Paper difficulty: A tougher General Studies Paper I usually pulls the Prelims cut-off down.
Vacancies: Fewer posts mean fewer shortlisted candidates. CSE 2026 shortlisted 13,343 candidates against 1,016 vacancies, compared with 14,161 against 1,087 in 2025.
Category pool: Each category has its own vacancies and competition, so its cut-off moves separately.

How Each Cut-off Is Worked Out

Prelims: Based on General Studies Paper I alone. CSAT is qualifying, but scoring below 33 per cent in it rules you out regardless of Paper I.
Mains: The written total out of 1,750 needed for an interview call, subject to at least 10 per cent in each of the seven merit papers.
Final: Mains plus interview marks out of 2,025, being the score of the last recommended candidate in each category.

How to Set Your Target

Prelims: Aim for about 10 to 15 marks above the latest General cut-off in your mocks, and keep CSAT comfortably above 66.
Mains: Avoid a weak paper. A balanced score across the essay, General Studies and optional papers is safer than one very high paper.
Final: In 2025 the General final cut-off was 224 marks above the Mains cut-off, so a strong interview can decide your rank and service.

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