What the UPSC Prelims cut-off means
There are three bars to clear. In the prelims, UPSC fixes a total qualifying mark for GS Paper I, and you also need at least 33% in GS Paper II (CSAT). In the Mains, you need 25% in each of the two language papers, then enough marks in the written part to be among the candidates called for the Personality Test. The final merit adds your Mains written marks and your Personality Test marks. Prelims marks don’t count towards it.
Prelims cut-off: GS Paper I decides, CSAT must be cleared
The prelims is only a screening test. UPSC draws up the Mains list on two conditions: at least 33% in GS Paper II, and a total in GS Paper I at or above the qualifying mark it fixes. Your CSAT score doesn’t affect your rank once you cross 33%. The number called to the Mains is about 12 to 13 times the vacancies.
| Paper | Questions · time | Cut-off rule |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I | 100 Q / 200 marks · 2 hours | Total qualifying marks fixed by UPSC |
| GS Paper II (CSAT) | 80 Q / 200 marks · 2 hours | Qualifying only — minimum 33% |
| Both papers | 400 marks · objective, Hindi & English | About 12–13× vacancies called for the Mains |
Source: Appendix I, Section I, para 2 and Note I, and Section II(A) of Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSE. Question counts are from the covers of the 2026 question papers. Both papers are compulsory, and every wrong answer costs one-third (0.33) of that question’s marks. UPSC doesn’t issue prelims mark sheets; it uploads marks, cut-offs and answer keys after the final result.
CSE 2025 cut-offs, by category
These are the minimum marks of the last recommended candidate in each category at each stage of CSE 2025, published by UPSC after that year’s final result. The bars show the 2025 prelims cut-off (GS Paper I, out of 200) for the five main categories.
| Category | Prelims (GS-I, /200) | Mains (/1,750) | Final (/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-1 (locomotor) | 76.66 | 703 | 917 |
| PwBD-2 (blindness & low vision) | 54.66 | 708 | 944 |
| PwBD-3 (deaf & hard of hearing) | 40.66 | 536 | 804 |
| PwBD-5 (multiple disabilities) | 40.66 | 451 | 631 |
Source: UPSC, “Civil Services Examination, 2025 – minimum qualifying marks” (PDF, 09.03.2026). The prelims cut-off is on GS Paper I only; GS Paper II was qualifying at 33%. The Mains figures are subject to 10% in each of the seven merit papers. These are 2025 figures. UPSC will publish the CSE 2026 cut-offs only after the 2026 final result, and we don’t print guesses.
Mains cut-off: language papers first, then the written total
The Mains has nine papers. UPSC evaluates the Essay, GS and optional papers only of candidates who score at least 25% in both qualifying language papers. It then fixes a minimum mark for the written part and calls about twice the number of vacancies to the Personality Test. UPSC can also fix qualifying marks in any or all of the seven merit papers.
What decides the cut-off
UPSC doesn’t fix the marks in advance. According to the notification, these four things shape where the line falls:
Number of vacancies
The Mains list is about 12–13 times the vacancies and the interview list about twice. UPSC put CSE 2026 at 1,016 vacancies, against 1,087 for CSE 2025.
Category-wise standards
UPSC publishes separate minimum marks for General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST and each PwBD sub-category, as in the 2025 table.
The 33% CSAT gate
GS Paper II marks don’t decide your rank, but below 33% you’re out however high your GS Paper I score is.
Negative marking
Every wrong answer costs one-third of that question’s marks, and marking more than one option counts as wrong. Blank answers cost nothing.
How the final merit list works
Your final rank is your marks in the seven Mains merit papers (1,750) plus the Personality Test (275), out of 2,025. Prelims marks and the two qualifying language papers aren’t added. Services are then allotted by rank and by the preferences you gave.
If two candidates have equal final marks, the one with more marks in the compulsory papers (Essay and GS I–IV) plus the Personality Test is ranked higher. If that’s also equal, the compulsory papers alone decide, and after that the older candidate is placed higher (Appendix I, para 4.3). Any tie left after that is resolved at UPSC’s discretion.
See how the prelims is scoredPrepare for UPSC Prelims with your own daily plan
Daily targets, timed practice mocks & mock analysis for GS Paper I and CSAT.
Clear CSAT safely, then push GS Paper I
Your rank for the Mains list comes from GS Paper I alone, but a weak CSAT paper can knock you out before that rank is even looked at. JobSafal helps you keep both papers in view and fix the weak one early.
Subject-wise mock analysis
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Daily plan
Daily targets that spend more time on the subject pulling your score down.
Accuracy over guessing
Practise deciding when to skip, since every wrong answer costs one-third of the question’s marks.
Timed practice mocks
Practice mocks against the clock, so you build pace and judgement before exam day.
