UPPSC previous year question papers (also searched as UPPCS, UP PCS, or यूपीपीसीएस प्रश्न पत्र) are the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services papers set by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission. This hub lists 2021–2024 PDFs for Prelims GS, CSAT, and Mains. From 2023, Mains dropped optional subjects and added GS Paper 5 and GS Paper 6 on Uttar Pradesh. Official copies sit under Previous Question Papers on uppsc.up.nic.in.
Key highlights
- Archive on this page: Prelims GS + CSAT and Mains PDFs for 2021–2024.
- Current Mains (from 2023): eight papers — General Hindi, Essay, GS 1–6. No optionals.
- Prelims: GS Paper 1 ranks the list; CSAT (Paper 2) is qualifying at 33%.
- Year pages: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021.
- Official source: Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services on uppsc.up.nic.in.
UPPSC / UPPCS exam at a glance
| Stage | What it is | Marks in final merit |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | Two objective papers (GS + CSAT), 2 hours each | Not added |
| Mains | Eight descriptive papers (from 2023) | 1,500 |
| Interview | Personality Test | 100 |
UPPSC and UPPCS refer to the same PCS exam. The Commission’s formal name is Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services. Prelims screens candidates; only GS Paper 1 is used for the Prelims merit list, provided CSAT is cleared.
UPPSC Prelims pattern
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 — General Studies | 150 | 200 | Ranks the Prelims list |
| Paper 2 — CSAT (GS II) | 100 | 200 | Qualifying: 33% (66 marks) |
Negative marking is one-third of the marks assigned to that question. On Paper 1 that is about 1.33 for a correct answer and −0.44 for a wrong one; on CSAT, 2 and −0.66. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. Prelims series A, B, C, and D shuffle the same questions.
UPPSC Mains pattern (from 2023)
| Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| General Hindi | 150 | 3 hours |
| Essay | 150 | 3 hours |
| General Studies I | 200 | 3 hours |
| General Studies II | 200 | 3 hours |
| General Studies III | 200 | 3 hours |
| General Studies IV | 200 | 3 hours |
| General Studies V (Uttar Pradesh) | 200 | 3 hours |
| General Studies VI (Uttar Pradesh) | 200 | 3 hours |
Written total is 1,500. General Hindi also has a minimum mark set by the Commission. Typical GS papers use 20 compulsory questions: Section A (10 × 8 marks, ~125 words) and Section B (10 × 12 marks, ~200 words). Confirm the instruction page on each PDF.
GS 5 covers UP history, culture, polity, local bodies, security, and state current affairs. GS 6 covers UP economy, geography, agriculture, industry, resources, and environment. Together they are 400 marks — more than a quarter of Mains.
What changed in 2023
Until 2022, Mains had General Hindi, Essay, GS 1–4, and two optional papers. From 2023, optionals were removed and replaced by GS 5 and GS 6. 2021 and 2022 in this archive therefore have no GS 5–6 files. Optional papers from those years are not in this set.
UPPSC previous year papers PDF — all years
2024 — Prelims (22 December 2024) and Mains (29 June–2 July 2025)
Full dates, marking, and GS 5–6 notes: UPPSC 2024 question paper.
| Paper | |
|---|---|
| Prelims GS Paper 1 | Download |
| Prelims CSAT | Download |
| Mains Essay | Download |
| Mains General Hindi | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 1 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 2 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 3 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 4 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 5 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 6 | Download |
2023 — first year of GS 5 and GS 6
Prelims: 14 May 2023. Mains: 26–29 September 2023. See UPPSC 2023 question paper.
| Paper | |
|---|---|
| Prelims GS Paper 1 | Download |
| Prelims CSAT | Download |
| Mains Essay | Download |
| Mains General Hindi | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 1 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 2 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 3 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 4 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 5 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 6 | Download |
2022 — last cycle with optionals in this set
Prelims: 12 June 2022. Mains Hindi, Essay, GS 1–4: 27–29 September 2022. See UPPSC 2022 question paper.
| Paper | |
|---|---|
| Prelims GS Paper 1 | Download |
| Prelims CSAT | Download |
| Mains Essay | Download |
| Mains General Hindi | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 1 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 2 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 3 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 4 | Download |
2021 — Prelims October 2021, Mains March 2022
See UPPSC 2021 question paper.
| Paper | |
|---|---|
| Prelims GS Paper 1 | Download |
| Prelims CSAT | Download |
| Mains Essay | Download |
| Mains General Hindi | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 1 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 2 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 3 | Download |
| Mains GS Paper 4 | Download |
The Commission has also published later Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services papers (including 2025 Mains) on uppsc.up.nic.in. This archive currently stops at 2024.
How to download official UPPSC PYQs from uppsc.up.nic.in
- Open uppsc.up.nic.in.
- Go to Previous Question Papers (Candidates Corner, or the list at PreQuesPapers.aspx).
- Find Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) for the year — Prelims or Mains.
- Open the paper (General Studies, CSAT, Essay, General Hindi, GS I–VI).
- Save the PDF. Confirm wording against the Commission file if you used a mirror.
The same list is also served from uppsc.pariksha.nic.in.
How to use these papers
| Stage | Span | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims GS | Last 8–10 years | Tag each question to a syllabus head; sit full papers with negative marking |
| CSAT | Last 5–8 years | Timer on; 33% is the floor, not the target |
| Mains GS 1–4 | Last 5 years | Tag to syllabus; write timed 8-mark and 12-mark answers |
| GS 5 and GS 6 | 2023 and 2024 (all years of the new pattern) | Build a UP-only notes file; do not treat UPSC GS as a substitute |
| Essay / Hindi | Last 5 years | Match UPPSC word limits and Hindi grammar demand |
UPPSC Prelims is not a copy of UPSC previous year papers. UP GK, state schemes, and UP current affairs carry more weight. Mains GS 5–6 have no UPSC equivalent.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I download UPPSC previous year question papers PDF?
Prelims GS, CSAT, and Mains PDFs for 2021–2024 are in the tables above. Year-wise pages: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021. Official files: uppsc.up.nic.in.
Are UPPSC and UPPCS the same exam?
Yes. UPPSC is the Commission; UPPCS / UP PCS / PCS is the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services exam it conducts. Search either name.
Did UPPSC remove optional subjects?
Yes, from the 2023 Mains cycle. Two optional papers were replaced by compulsory GS Paper 5 and GS Paper 6 on Uttar Pradesh (200 marks each).
How many years of UPPSC PYQs should I solve?
For Prelims, 8–10 years of GS and at least 5 years of CSAT. For Mains under the current pattern, write 2023 and 2024 in full (including GS 5–6), and use 2021–2022 for Hindi, Essay, and GS 1–4 only.
Is UPPSC CSAT qualifying?
Yes. Paper 2 is 200 marks, qualifying at 33% (66 marks). Prelims merit is drawn from Paper 1 only.
यूपीपीसीएस पिछले वर्ष के प्रश्न पत्र कहाँ से डाउनलोड करें?
इस पृष्ठ पर 2021–2024 के प्रीलिम्स (जीएस व सीसैट) और मेन्स पीडीएफ हैं। आयोग की प्रति uppsc.up.nic.in पर Previous Question Papers में है।
Key takeaways
- This hub is the 2021–2024 UPPSC / UPPCS PDF list; year pages add dates and pattern notes.
- From 2023, Mains is eight papers and 400 marks sit on Uttar Pradesh (GS 5 + GS 6).
- Prelims ranks on GS Paper 1; CSAT is a 33% qualifier with one-third negative marking.
- Do not skip GS 5–6 because older years in this set lack those files.
- Confirm each paper on uppsc.up.nic.in.