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UPSC Previous Year Question Papers

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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s central agency responsible for conducting civil services exams. Established under the Constitution, it recruits candidates for various civil services, including IAS, IPS, and IFS. The rigorous exam process involves three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview, testing candidates’ knowledge, aptitude, and personality. UPSC ensures a transparent and merit-based selection, playing a crucial role in shaping India’s administrative framework. The commission’s objective is to ensure efficient public administration by selecting competent and dedicated individuals for civil services.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is a central agency in India responsible for conducting examinations and appointments for various civil services and posts. Established under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution, the UPSC plays a crucial role in ensuring a fair and transparent recruitment process for the nation’s civil services. 

upsc essay paper all year pdf

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers 

As always said, “practice makes a man perfect,” so the candidates preparing for Civil services must answer questions from UPSC’s previous year’s paper. Practicing the previous year question paper helps the aspirants to familiarize themselves with the exam structure and the nature of the questions asked in the examination. Solving UPSC’s previous year question papers also helps the candidates to identify important topics and provide an opportunity for candidates to assess their conceptual clarity on the subjects.

The UPSC Prelims exam consists of 2 papers (General Studies-1 and CSAT). It has objective-based question, in other words the questions asked in the prelims round are of the MCQ( Multiple Choice Questions) type. In total, both papers are of 400 marks, divided into 200 each. The UPSC IAS Prelims Previous Year Question Papers will help aspirants score well in the preliminary round and will allow them to move ahead in the UPSC IAS selection process.

IAS Previous Year Question Paper – Prelims 

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024 GS Paper- I
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024 GS Paper- II (CSAT)
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2023 GS Paper- I
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2023 GS Paper- II
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2022 GS Paper- I
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2022 GS Paper- II
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2021 GS Paper- I
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2021 GS Paper- II
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2020 GS Paper- I
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2020 GS Paper- II
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2019 GS Paper- I
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2019 GS Paper- II

upsc essay paper all year pdf

UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Paper 

As important as it is to solve UPSC prelims previous year question papers, in a similar manner solving UPSC mains previous year question papers is also important. The previous year’s question papers are extremely important to gain insight into the type of questions asked in the exam. 

The UPSC Mains examination consists of 9 papers and is descriptive. Out of 9 papers, 2 papers are qualifying in nature while the marks scored in the remaining 7 papers are considered for merit. In total, the UPSC exam carries an overall weightage of 1750 marks. The 2 qualifying papers are the Language papers- English and a compulsory Indian Language. The remaining 7 papers are- General Studies I, II, III, IV, V, Optional Paper I & II, and an Essay. The duration of all these papers is 3 hours each.

UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Paper- General Studies

2023
2022
2021
2020
2019

UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Paper- Essay

UPSC IAS Mains (Essay) Paper- 2023
UPSC IAS Mains (Essay) Paper- 2022
UPSC IAS Mains (Essay) Paper- 2021
UPSC IAS Mains (Essay) Paper- 2020
UPSC IAS Mains (Essay) Paper- 2019

UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Paper- Optional Subjects 

Candidates can select two optional subjects for the UPSC IAS Mains Exam. Available options include Agriculture, Civil Engineering, Geology, Management, Political Science and International Relations, Zoology, Sociology, History, Economy, among others. Choose the subject that aligns with your interests and begin practicing previous years’ UPSC Mains optional question papers.

Agriculture
Animal Husbandry
Anthropology
Botany
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Commerece & Accountancy
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Geography
Geology
History
Law
Managemnet
Maths
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Science
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
PsychologyDownload Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2
SociologyDownload Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2
StatisticsDownload Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2Download Paper 1&Paper 2

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UPSC Previous Year Papers: 2023

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UPSC Mains 2019 Paper Discussions:

Date & Time Paper Faculty
25/9/19
10:00 AM
GS PAPER-2 DISCUSSION Dr. Piyush Choubey & Ashutosh Pandey
26/9/19
10:00 AM
GS PAPER-1 DISCUSSION Dr. Piyush Kumar & Rohit Lodha
27/9/19
10:00 AM
GS PAPER-4 DISCUSSION Manoj K. Jha
30/9/19
10:00 AM
GS PAPER-3 DISCUSSION Saurabh Jain & Gaurav Bansal
1/10/19
10:00 AM
ESSAY PAPER DISCUSSION Manoj K. Jha
1/10/19
1:00 PM
POLITICAL SCIENCE OPTIONAL PAPER DISCUSSION Dr. Piyush Choubey
1/10/19
1:00 PM
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OPTIONAL PAPER DISCUSSION Ashutosh Pandey
1/10/19
1:00 PM
GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL PAPER DISCUSSION Rohit Lodha
1/10/19
4:30 PM
HISTORY OPTIONAL PAPER DISCUSSION Piyush Kumar

Download UPSC Previous Year Question Paper PDF

The UPSC Previous Year Question Papers provide valuable insights about the types of questions that can be asked in the upcoming UPSC Exam 2024. UPSC PYQ will help aspirants understand the exam’s requirements and familiarize themselves with the exam pattern. They provide insights into the exam pattern , highlight important topics, improve problem-solving skills, and offer an opportunity for self-assessment. Regular practice with previous year papers can significantly enhance a candidate's chances of clearing the UPSC CSE and achieving their dream of becoming a civil servant. To assist candidates in their preparation, UPSC Previous Year Question Papers PDF are provided in this article, enabling candidates to download and utilize them effectively. It is important to note that the UPSC Exam 2024 is scheduled to be held on 16th June 2024 .

GS SCORE brings you all GS UPSC previous year questions essential for the examination all in one place for free to help you save time and focus on the preparation rather than going on a paper-finding mission. The UPSC previous year questions have also been segregated year-wise to make it easy for IAS aspirants.

Below, we have provided the last 10 years UPSC question papers with answers PDF to strategize, revise, and get helpful insights towards your preparation. These papers are essential tools to help you improve your efficiency in clearing the UPSC exam.

Political Science Question Paper-1&2 (2023)

Public Administration Question Paper-1&2 (2023)

Geography Optional Question Paper-1&2 (2023)

UPSC IAS MAINS 2023: ESSAY PAPER

UPSC IAS MAINS 2023 GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER – 4)

UPSC IAS MAINS 2023 GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER – 3)

UPSC IAS MAINS 2023 GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER – 2)

UPSC IAS MAINS 2023 GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER – 1)

UPSC IAS Prelims 2023 GS Paper 1 With Solution

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UPSC Previous Year Papers:

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ESSAY QUESTION PAPER : UPSC Civil Services IAS Exam MAINS 2021

Essay question  paper – upsc civil services  ias mains – 2021.

1. The process of self-discovery has now been technologically outsourced.

2. Your perception of me is a reflection of you; my reaction to you is an awareness of me.

3. Philosophy of wantlessness is Utopian, while materialism is a chimera.

4. The real is rational and the rational is real.

5. Hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

6. What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!

7. History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce.

8. There are better practices to “best practices”.

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In the journey to cracking the Civil Services Examination, UPSC previous year question papers play an important role. They offer valuable insights into the exam pattern, question types, priority areas, and time management strategies. Moreover, they provide a means for aspirants to assess their progress and build confidence. Aspirants should incorporate the practice of solving UPSC previous year papers into their study routine, making it an integral part of their preparation strategy. In doing so, they enhance their chances of mastering this challenging examination and realising their dream of serving the nation in prestigious administrative roles.

Every year, thousands of aspirants strive to crack this examination to secure prestigious positions in the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and various other central services. Among the myriad resources available for CSE preparation, UPSC previous year question papers stand out as invaluable assets. On this page, you can download the last 10 years UPSC question papers PDF and understand how they aid aspirants in their journey toward success.

UPSC Previous Year Question Paper

UPSC previous year question papers offer a window into the variety of question types that the Commission employs. UPSC Questions are designed to test candidates' analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. These may include multiple-choice questions, essay-type questions, and those requiring subjective responses. By reviewing past papers, aspirants can identify common question structures and practice answering them effectively.

Last 10 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers PDF

2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014

UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Paper

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers - Essay

Upsc essay paper 2022, upsc essay paper 2021, upsc essay paper 2020, upsc essay paper 2019, upsc essay paper 2018, upsc essay paper 2017, upsc essay paper 2016, upsc essay paper 2015, upsc essay paper 2014, upsc essay paper 2013, upsc essay paper 2012, upsc essay paper 2011, upsc essay paper 2010, upsc essay paper 2009, upsc mains optional subjects question papers.

2023
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
2022
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
2021
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
2020
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology
2019
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology
2015
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology
2014
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology
2013
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology
2012
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology
2011
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology
2010
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology
2009
Anthropology
Commerce
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Admin
Sociology

Benefits of Solving UPSC Previous Year Question Paper

Solving UPSC previous year question papers is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for the UPSC exam . Here are some of the benefits of solving previous year's question papers:

  • Get familiar with the exam pattern and the type of questions asked. The UPSC exam is a very competitive exam, and the question paper is designed to test your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of subjects. By solving UPSC previous year question papers, you will get a good idea of the type of questions that are asked, the level of difficulty, and the time it takes to answer them. This will help you to prepare better for the actual exam.
  • Identify your strengths and weaknesses. As you solve UPSC previous year papers, you will start to identify your strengths and weaknesses in different subjects. This will help you to focus your studies on the areas where you need the most improvement.
  • Learn time management skills. The UPSC CSE is a three-hour exam, and you will need to manage your time wisely in order to answer all of the questions. By solving previous year question papers, you will get a better understanding of how much time you need to spend on each question.
  • Gain confidence. The more you practice, the more confident you will become in your ability to answer the questions in the exam. Solving UPSC previous year question papers is a great way to build your confidence and prepare for the actual exam.

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Last 25 Years Topic-wise Essay Questions From UPSC Mains (1994 - 2018)

Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services mains exam is the Essay. Here, prelims-qualified IAS aspirants have to write two essays out of a few given topics. The paper is for a total of 250 marks and its marks are taken into consideration for the Final Merit List. In this article, we have listed all the essay topics asked in the UPSC mains exam from 1994 to 2018. We have also classified the last 25 years essay questions into topics to make your preparation easier.

Latest – See the UPSC Essay Topics in the IAS Mains 2020 Essay Paper. Download UPSC Mains 2020 Essay Paper from the linked article.

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UPSC Essay Topics

Administration.

  • Politics, bureaucracy and business – fatal triangle. (1994)
  • Politics without ethics is a disaster. (1995)
  • The VIP cult is a bane of Indian democracy. (1996)
  • Need for transparency in public administration. (1996)
  • The country’s need for a better disaster management system. (2000)
  • How should a civil servant conduct himself? (2003)

Democracy/India since independence

  • Whither Indian democracy? (1995)
  • What we have not learnt during fifty years of independence. (1997)
  • Why should we be proud of being Indians? (2000)
  • What have we gained from our democratic set-up? (2001)
  • How far has democracy in India delivered the goods? (2003)
  • National identity and patriotism. (2008)
  • In the context of Gandhiji’s views on the matter, explore, on an evolutionary scale, the terms ‘Swadhinata’, ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Dharmarajya’. Critically comment on their contemporary relevance to Indian democracy. (2012)
  • Is the colonial mentality hindering India’s success? (2013)
  • Dreams which should not let India sleep. (2015)
  • Management of Indian border disputes – a complex task. (2018)

Economic growth and development

  • Resource management in the Indian context. (1999)
  • GDP (Gross Domestic Product) along with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) would be the right indices for judging the wellbeing of a country. (2013)
  • Was it the policy paralysis or the paralysis of implementation which slowed the growth of our country? (2014)
  • Crisis faced in India – moral or economic. (2015)
  • Near jobless growth in India: An anomaly or an outcome of economic reforms. (2016)
  • Digital economy: A leveller or a source of economic inequality. (2016)
  • Innovation is the key determinant of economic growth and social welfare. (2016)
  • Impact of the new economic measures on fiscal ties between the union and states in India. (2017)

Federalism, Decentralisation

  • The language problem in India: its past, present and prospects. (1998)
  • Water resources should be under the control of the central government. (2004)
  • Evaluation of panchayati raj system in India from the point of view of eradication of power to people. (2007)
  • Is autonomy the best answer to combat balkanization? (2007)
  • Creation of smaller states and the consequent administrative, economic and developmental implication. (2011)
  • Cooperative federalism: Myth or reality. (2016)
  • Water disputes between States in federal India. (2016)

Indian Culture & Society

  • The Indian society at the crossroads. (1994)
  • New cults and godmen: a threat to traditional religion. (1996)
  • The composite culture of India. (1998)
  • Youth culture today. (1999)
  • Modernism and our traditional socio-ethical values. (2000)
  • Indian culture today: a myth or a reality? (2000)
  • As civilization advances culture declines. (2003)
  • From traditional Indian philanthropy to the gates-buffet model-a natural progression or a paradigm shift? (2010)
  • Judicial activism. (1997)
  • Judicial activism and Indian democracy. (2004)
  • Justice must reach the poor. (2005)

Social justice/Poverty

  • Reservation, politics and empowerment. (1999)
  • Food security for sustainable national development. (2005)
  • The focus of health care is increasingly getting skewed towards the ‘haves’ of our society. (2009)
  • Farming has lost the ability to be a source of subsistence for the majority of farmers in India. (2017)
  • Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. (2018)

Media & Society

  • Misinterpretation and misuse of freedom in India. (1998)
  • Mass media and cultural invasion. (1999)
  • Responsibility of media in a democracy. (2002)
  • How has satellite television brought about cultural change in Indian mindsets? (2007)
  • Role of media in good governance. (2008)
  • Does Indian cinema shape our popular culture or merely reflect it? (2011)
  • Is sting operation an invasion on privacy? (2014)

Environment/Urbanisation

  • Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. (1997)
  • Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. (2006)
  • Urbanisation and its hazards. (2008)
  • Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? (2010)
  • We may brave human laws but cannot resist natural laws. (2017)

Economic sectors/MNCs

  • Multinational corporations – saviours or saboteurs. (1994)
  • Globalization would finish small-scale industries in India. (2006)
  • BPO boom in India. (2007)
  • Special economic zone: boon or bane? (2008)
  • Are our traditional handicrafts doomed to a slow death? (2009)
  • Is the criticism that the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model for development is more of a bane than a boon in the Indian context, justified? (2012)
  • Tourism: Can this be the next big thing for India? (2014)
  • Restructuring of Indian education system. (1995)
  • Literacy is growing very fast, but there is no corresponding growth in education. (1996)
  • Irrelevance of the classroom. (2001)
  • Privatization of higher education in India. (2002)
  • Modern technological education and human values. (2002)
  • What is real education? (2005)
  • “Education for all” campaign in India: myth or reality. (2006)
  • Independent thinking should be encouraged right from the childhood. (2007)
  • Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses? (2008)
  • Credit – based higher education system – status, opportunities and challenges. (2011)
  • Is the growing level of competition good for the youth? (2014)
  • Are the standardized tests good measure of academic ability or progress? (2014)
  • Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man more clever devil. (2015)
  • Destiny of a nation is shaped in its classrooms. (2017)
  • The new emerging women power: the ground realities. (1995)
  • Greater political power alone will not improve women’s plight. (1997)
  • Woman is god’s best creation. (1998)
  • Women empowerment: challenges and prospects. (1999)
  • Empowerment alone cannot help our women. (2001)
  • Whither women’s emancipation? (2004)
  • If women ruled the world. (2005)
  • The hand that rocks the cradle. (2005)
  • Women’s reservation bill would usher in empowerment for women in India. (2006)
  • Managing work and home – is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal? (2012)
  • If development is not engendered, it is endangered. (2016)
  • Fulfillment of ‘new woman’ in India is a myth. (2017)

Quotes-based/Philosophy

  • Youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age a regret. (1994)
  • Useless life is an early death. (1994)
  • Disinterested intellectual curiosity is the lifeblood of civilisation. (1995)
  • When money speaks, the truth is silent. (1995)
  • Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. (1995)
  • Truth is lived, not taught. (1996)
  • True religion cannot be misused. (1997)
  • Search for truth can only be a spiritual problem. (2002)
  • The paths of glory lead but to the grave. (2002)
  • If youth knew, if age could. (2002)
  • There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. (2003)
  • Be the change you want to see in others. (2013)
  • With greater power comes greater responsibility. (2014)
  • Words are sharper than the two-edged sword. (2014)
  • Lending hands to someone is better than giving a dole. (2015)
  • “The past’ is a permanent dimension of human consciousness and values. (2018)
  • Reality does not conform to the ideal, but confirms it. (2018)
  • Attitude makes habit, habit makes character and character makes a man. (2007)
  • Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin. (2008)
  • Character of an institution is reflected in its leader. (2015)
  • Need brings greed, if greed increases it spoils breed. (2016)
  • Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. (2017)
  • A good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. (2018)
  • A people that values its privileges above its principles loses both. (2018)
  • Customary morality cannot be a guide to modern life. (2018)

Globalisation

  • Modernisation and westernisation are not identical concepts. (1994)
  • The world of the twenty-first century. (1998)
  • The implications of globalization for India. (2000)
  • My vision of an ideal world order. (2001)
  • The masks of new imperialism. (2003)
  • Globalizations and its impact on Indian culture. (2004)
  • ‘Globalization’ vs. ‘nationalism’. (2009)
  • Preparedness of our society for India’s global leadership role. (2010)

Science & Tech

  • The modern doctor and his patients. (1997)
  • Value-based science and education. (1999)
  • The march of science and the erosion of human values. (2001)
  • Spirituality and scientific temper. (2003)
  • The lure of space. (2004)
  • Science and Mysticism: Are they compatible? (2012)
  • Science and technology is the panacea for the growth and security of the nation. (2013)
  • Technology cannot replace manpower. (2015)
  • Alternative technologies for a climate change resilient India. (2018)

Internet/IT

  • The cyberworld: its charms and challenges. (2000)
  • Increasing computerization would lead to the creation of a dehumanized society. (2006)
  • Cyberspace and Internet: Blessing or curse to the human civilization in the long run. (2016)
  • Social media is inherently a selfish medium. (2017)

International organisations/relations

  • Restructuring of UNO reflect present realities. (1996)
  • India’s role in promoting ASEAN cooperation. (2004)
  • Importance of Indo-US nuclear agreement. (2006)
  • Has the Non- Alignment Movement (NAM) lost its relevance in a multipolar world. (2017)
  • Terrorism and world peace. (2005)
  • Are we a ‘soft’ state? (2009)
  • Good fences make good neighbours. (2009)
  • In the Indian context, both human intelligence and technical intelligence are crucial in combating terrorism. (2011)

Miscellaneous

  • India’s contribution to world wisdom. (1998)
  • The pursuit of excellence. (2001)
  • Geography may remain the same; history need not. (2010)
  • Fifty Golds in Olympics: Can this be a reality for India? (2014)
  • Quick but steady wins the race. (2015)

When preparing for IAS Mains, aspirants must focus on UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practise as this will improve one’s speed, efficiency and writing skills. It will automatically help in essay writing as well. 

Also, read:

Frequently Asked Questions on UPSC Essay Topics for UPSC Mains

Q 1. how can i write a good essay in upsc, q 2. does handwriting matter in upsc.

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