UPSC Final Cut-Off Over the Years
Official cut-offs (2015–2025)
Final merit is computed out of 2025 marks — combining 1750 marks from the Mains written examination and 275 marks from the Personality Test. The figures denote the score secured by the last recommended candidate in each category.
| Year | Gen | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwBD 1 | PwBD 2 | PwBD 3 | PwBD 4 | PwBD 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 963 | 926 | 931 | 905 | 902 | 917 | 944 | 804 | — | 631 |
| 2024 | 947 | 917 | 910 | 880 | 884 | 876 | 913 | 701 | — | 461 |
| 2023 | 953 | 923 | 919 | 890 | 891 | 894 | 930 | 756 | 589 | — |
| 2022 | 960 | 926 | 923 | 893 | 900 | 879 | 913 | 632 | 590 | — |
| 2021 | 953 | 916 | 910 | 886 | 883 | 892 | 932 | 689 | 701 | — |
| 2020 | 944 | 894 | 907 | 875 | 876 | 867 | 910 | 675 | 465 | — |
| 2019 | 961 | 909 | 925 | 898 | 893 | 861 | 890 | 653 | — | 708 |
| 2018 | 982 | — | 938 | 912 | 912 | 899 | 908 | 754 | — | 718 |
| 2017 | 1006 | — | 968 | 944 | 939 | 923 | 948 | 830 | — | — |
| 2016 | 988 | — | 951 | 937 | 920 | 927 | 951 | 817 | — | — |
| 2015 | 877 | — | 834 | 810 | 801 | 802 | 830 | 697 | — | — |
Marks represent the final consolidated score out of 2025 (1750 written + 275 interview) of the last recommended candidate for service allocation.
Trend: General, OBC, SC, ST & EWS
Key findings
- Over the 10-year period (2015–2025), General category Final cut-off marks ranged from 877 (2015) to 1006 (2017) out of 2025 total marks — representing a 43.3% to 49.7% score band.
- Between 2019 and 2025, the General final cut-off has remained remarkably consistent within a narrow 19-mark band (944 to 963 marks), averaging ~47.1% of the aggregate total.
- OBC final cut-offs consistently track within 30 to 45 marks below General (931 vs 963 in 2025, 910 vs 947 in 2024).
- EWS final cut-offs closely align with OBC and SC levels, settling at 926 marks in 2025 and 917 in 2024.
- The delta between Mains written cutoff and Final cut-off averages between 210 and 230 marks across all categories, highlighting the decisive role of the 275-mark Personality Test.
Safe score benchmark targets
Consistently places candidates in the top 100 All India Ranks, ensuring confirmation of top service preferences irrespective of annual vacancy shifts.
Provides a safe 20–30 mark cushion above the last recommended candidate cutoff (947–963), securing central group A service allocation.
Safely clears recent qualifying benchmarks (880–926), providing strong advantage for cadre choice and core central services.
Frequently asked questions
How is the UPSC Final cut-off calculated?+
The UPSC Final cut-off is calculated by adding the Mains written score (out of 1750 marks across 7 merit papers) and the Personality Test / Interview score (out of 275 marks), resulting in a grand total out of 2025 marks. The score secured by the last recommended candidate in each category sets that year’s official final cut-off.
What is the difference between Mains cut-off and Final cut-off?+
The Mains cut-off is the minimum written score (out of 1750) required to get an interview call. The Final cut-off is the combined score (out of 2025) of Mains written plus Interview required to feature in the final merit recommendation list for service appointment.
How many marks are needed in UPSC for IAS allocation?+
While the last recommended cut-off for General category is around 945–965 marks, getting allocated to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) typically requires a final aggregate score of 1015–1045+ marks (Top ~75–80 General ranks), depending on category and state vacancy quotas.
Are Prelims marks included in the UPSC Final cut-off?+
No. UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination marks (GS Paper I & CSAT Paper II) are strictly screening and qualifying in nature. They are not added to the Mains or Final merit list calculations.
How does UPSC resolve ties in the Final Merit List?+
When two or more candidates secure identical total marks out of 2025, UPSC resolves ties through a 3-tier principle: (1) Higher combined marks in Compulsory Papers and Personality Test; (2) Candidate senior in age; (3) Higher marks in Compulsory Papers alone.
Is there a minimum qualifying mark in the UPSC Personality Test (Interview)?+
No. Unlike the written papers where candidates must score at least 10% in each subject, there is no minimum qualifying score for the 275-mark Personality Test. All interview scores are directly added to the Mains written marks to determine the aggregate total.
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