UPSC CSE Cut-off 2025: Prelims, Mains & Final Marks

The UPSC CSE cut-off is the minimum score a candidate needs to move to the next stage, and it changes every year. UPSC declares it separately for the Prelims, the Mains and the final selection, and it publishes the marks only after the whole exam cycle ends. This page shows the latest cut-offs, the previous-year trend and how to use them to set your target.

UPSC CSE Cut-off 2025

The table below shows the category-wise cut-offs for the 2025 exam. The Prelims cut-off is out of 200 marks and counts General Studies Paper I only. The Mains cut-off is out of 1,750 and the final cut-off is out of 2,025.

For Persons with Benchmark Disability, the Prelims cut-off was 76.66 in the PwBD-1 category. The cut-offs for the other PwBD sub-categories are on the UPSC website.

How the Cut-off Works at Each Stage

• Prelims: UPSC shortlists candidates using the General Studies Paper I score and a 33 per cent minimum in CSAT, which is 66 marks out of 200. About 12 to 13 times the number of vacancies move on to the Mains.

• Mains: The cut-off is the minimum written score needed to be called for the Personality Test. About twice the number of vacancies are called.

• Final: This is the combined score of the Mains (1,750) and the interview (275), and it is the mark of the last recommended candidate in each category.

UPSC Cut-off Trend: General Category

The 2024 Mains cut-off for the general category was 729, against 739 in 2025. The Prelims cut-off moved by about 17 marks between 2023 and 2025, so one year's number is a weak predictor of the next.

What Decides the Cut-off Each Year

• Paper difficulty: A tougher General Studies paper usually lowers the cut-off.

• Number of vacancies: More vacancies mean more candidates are shortlisted for the Mains.

• Candidate performance: The cut-off follows how well the whole pool scores, not a fixed formula.

• Reservation: Each category has its own cut-off based on its own vacancies.

The Commission releases the official figures on upsc.gov.in after the final result, so check the site for corrections or later updates.