UPSC Cut Off for Prelims, Mains, and Final
If you are appearing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, one of the first things you must know is the cut-off. The UPSC cut-off is the minimum marks that you must score in order to proceed from one level of the examination to the next — Prelims to Mains, and Mains to the Interview.
Why is that so crucial? Because if you know the cut-off, you can set definitive targets, better manage your preparation, and there will be fewer surprises. It also provides an idea of how competitive the exam is and what score you must achieve in each phase.
This page is here to walk you through all that you should know about UPSC cut-offs — how they are determined, what they were in previous years, and how to use that data to plan your studies with confidence. Whether you're new to the game or well along in preparation, knowing the cut-off is a small but important step on your UPSC path.
UPSC Cut Off 2023
The UPSC Cut-Off for 2023 — including the Prelims, Mains, and the final selection list — has been officially declared on the UPSC website.
These cut-off marks are released every year after the whole exam process is complete, when the final results are declared.
The cut-off merely indicates the marks obtained by the last candidate who was selected for that specific stage of the exam.
As far as Prelims are concerned, UPSC follows a certain procedure to determine the cut-off. The marks you obtain in Paper 1 are the only ones that contribute to your merit. Paper 2 is merely qualifying in nature — it does not influence your ranking. You simply need to score 33% or more in Paper 2 to qualify for the Mains exam.
Knowing this process can assist you in preparing more intelligently and targeting your efforts where it truly matters.
To make it to the final round of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, it's critical to know the cut-off. Knowing the trend of the cut-off makes it easier for you to set practical goals and study with the proper emphasis. Clearing the expected cut-off marks can significantly increase your chances of going further in the exam procedure.
Solving mock tests is perhaps the best way to prepare for the UPSC exam. Mock tests provide you a feel of the actual exam and allow you to assess your preparation. If you are seriously preparing for the IAS, consistent practice with mock tests is a requirement.
Let's now comprehend some special scenarios about cut-off marks, which UPSC has elaborated clearly:
- Case 1: If two candidates have an equal total marks, the candidate with a higher mark in the compulsory papers and in the interview will be ranked higher.
- Case 2: If the tie is still present, then the senior candidate (according to age) will be assigned the higher rank.
- Case 3: In case both the candidates have the same marks and the same age, then the candidate who has scored higher in the compulsory papers will be ranked higher.
Now, before we move on to the actual cut-off marks of the last few years, you may also want to take a look at some of the important books that can prepare you better for the UPSC 2023 exam.
Let us now examine the cut-off scores for the previous three years in various stages of the exam.
UPSC Prelims Cut Offs 2023
| Category | UPSC Prelims Cut offs (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| General | 75.41 |
| EWS | 68.02 |
| OBC | 74.75 |
| SC | 59.25 |
| ST | 47.82 |
| PwBD-1 | 40.40 |
| PwBD-2 | 47.13 |
| PwBD-3 | 40.40 |
| PwBD-5 | 33.68 |
UPSC Mains Cut Offs 2023
| Category | UPSC Mains Cut offs (out of 1750) |
|---|---|
| General | 741 |
| EWS | 706 |
| OBC | 712 |
| SC | 694 |
| ST | 692 |
| PwBD-1 | 673 |
| PwBD-2 | 718 |
| PwBD-3 | 396 |
| PwBD-5 | 445 |
UPSC Final Cut Offs 2023
| Category | UPSC Final Cut offs (out of 2025) |
|---|---|
| General | 953 |
| EWS | 923 |
| OBC | 919 |
| SC | 890 |
| ST | 891 |
| PwBD-1 | 894 |
| PwBD-2 | 930 |
| PwBD-3 | 756 |
| PwBD-5 | 589 |
UPSC Prelims Cut Offs 2022
| Category | UPSC Prelims Cut offs (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| General | 88.22 |
| EWS | 82.83 |
| OBC | 87.54 |
| SC | 74.08 |
| ST | 69.35 |
| PwBD-1 | 49.84 |
| PwBD-2 | 58.59 |
| PwBD-3 | 40.40 |
| PwBD-5 | 41.76 |
UPSC Mains Cut Offs 2022
| Category | UPSC Mains Cut offs (out of 1750) |
|---|---|
| General | 748 |
| EWS | 715 |
| OBC | 714 |
| SC | 699 |
| ST | 706 |
| PwBD-1 | 677 |
| PwBD-2 | 706 |
| PwBD-3 | 351 |
| PwBD-5 | 419 |
UPSC Final Cut Offs 2022
| Category | UPSC Final Cut offs (out of 2025) |
|---|---|
| General | 960 |
| EWS | 926 |
| OBC | 923 |
| SC | 893 |
| ST | 900 |
| PwBD-1 | 879 |
| PwBD-2 | 913 |
| PwBD-3 | 632 |
| PwBD-4 | 590 |
UPSC Prelims Cut Offs 2021
| Category | UPSC Prelims Cut offs (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| General | 87.54 |
| EWS | 80.14 |
| OBC | 84.85 |
| SC | 75.41 |
| ST | 70.71 |
| PwBD-1 | 68.02 |
| PwBD-2 | 67.33 |
| PwBD-3 | 43.09 |
| PwBD-4 | 45.80 |
UPSC Mains Cut Offs 2021
| Category | UPSC Mains Cut offs (out of 1750) |
|---|---|
| General | 745 |
| EWS | 713 |
| OBC | 707 |
| SC | 700 |
| ST | 700 |
| PwBD-1 | 668 |
| PwBD-2 | 712 |
| PwBD-3 | 388 |
| PwBD-4 | 560 |
UPSC Final Cut Offs 2021
| Category | UPSC Final Cut offs (out of 2025) |
|---|---|
| General | 953 |
| EWS | 916 |
| OBC | 910 |
| SC | 886 |
| ST | 883 |
| PwBD-1 | 892 |
| PwBD-2 | 932 |
| PwBD-3 | 689 |
| PwBD-4 | 701 |
UPSC Prelims Cut Offs 2020
| Category | UPSC Prelims Cut offs (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| General | 92.51 |
| EWS | 77.55 |
| OBC | 89.12 |
| SC | 74.84 |
| ST | 68.71 |
| PwBD-1 | 70.06 |
| PwBD-2 | 63.94 |
| PwBD-3 | 40.82 |
| PwBD-4 | 42.86 |
UPSC Mains Cut Offs 2020
| Category | UPSC Mains Cut offs (out of 1750) |
|---|---|
| General | 736 |
| EWS | 687 |
| OBC | 698 |
| SC | 680 |
| ST | 682 |
| PwBD-1 | 648 |
| PwBD-2 | 699 |
| PwBD-3 | 425 |
| PwBD-4 | 300 |
UPSC Final Cut Offs 2020
| Category | UPSC Final Cut offs (out of 2025) |
|---|---|
| General | 944 |
| EWS | 894 |
| OBC | 907 |
| SC | 875 |
| ST | 876 |
| PwBD-1 | 867 |
| PwBD-2 | 910 |
| PwBD-3 | 675 |
| PwBD-4 | 465 |
Learning the UPSC cut-off marks is not merely a matter of figures — it's about knowing where you are and how to prepare better. The cut-off provides you with a definitive point to target at each level of the exam. Considering previous trends and practicing frequently with mock tests, you can make a strong and concerted preparation plan.
Whether you are beginning anew or reworking your strategy, don't forget: cracking the UPSC is as much a matter of intelligent planning as of elbow grease. Inform yourself, stay regular, and use the cut-off to your advantage as you step closer to your destination.
