UPSC Mains Cut-Off Over the Years
Official category-wise Mains written cut-off marks (out of 1750) from 2020 to 2025 — the minimum aggregate needed to qualify for the interview.
Official cut-offs (2020–2025)
Mains cut-off is based on the written papers total of 1750 marks (Essay, GS I–IV, Optional I–II). Language papers are qualifying. Only candidates above this threshold are called for the personality test.
| Year | Gen | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwBD 1 | PwBD 2 | PwBD 3 | PwBD 4 | PwBD 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 739 | 706 | 717 | 700 | 694 | 703 | 708 | 536 | — | 451 |
| 2024 | 729 | 696 | 702 | 685 | 684 | 663 | 696 | 307 | — | 361 |
| 2023 | 741 | 706 | 712 | 694 | 692 | 673 | 718 | 396 | — | 445 |
| 2022 | 748 | 715 | 714 | 699 | 706 | 677 | 706 | 351 | — | 419 |
| 2021 | 745 | 713 | 707 | 700 | 700 | 668 | 712 | 388 | 560 | — |
| 2020 | 736 | 687 | 698 | 680 | 682 | 648 | 699 | 425 | 300 | — |
Marks are the last recommended candidate’s score in each category for that year’s Mains stage. PwBD columns follow UPSC’s disability classification for that cycle.
Trend: General, OBC, SC, ST & EWS
Key findings
- General Mains cut-off ranged from 729 (2024) to 748 (2022) — a 19-mark band across six cycles (2020–2025).
- 2024 was the softest General threshold (729); 2025 rebounded to 739 (+10 marks) when the interview list was drawn.
- 2022 still posted the highest General Mains cut-off in the period (748).
- OBC tracked General within ~12 marks every year — 22 marks apart in 2025 (739 vs 717).
- PwBD-3 saw the sharpest year-on-year move: 307 in 2024 to 536 in 2025 (+229 marks), reflecting small-category volatility.