UPSC Prelims & CSAT Cutoff Calculator
Calculate your exact net marks in General Studies Paper 1 and verify mandatory 33% qualifying cutoff (66.00 marks) in CSAT Paper 2 with official 1/3rd negative penalty logic and previous years' cutoff benchmarks.
Paper 1: General Studies
100 Questions • 200 Marks (+2.00 / -0.66)Paper 2: CSAT (Aptitude)
80 Questions • 200 Marks (+2.50 / -0.833)Net score: 87.50 / 200. You are +21.50 marks above the mandatory 66.00 qualifying cutoff.
- CSAT Mandatory 33%: If CSAT score is <66.00, GS 1 will not be considered.
- GS 1 Only for Mains Merit: Prelims marks are not added to final interview merit.
- 1/3rd Negative Marking: Unattempted questions carry zero penalty.
Official UPSC Civil Services Prelims Cutoff History (2019–2023)
Official minimum qualifying marks out of 200 in GS Paper 1 for Civil Services (Mains) examination.
| Year | General (UR) | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | CSAT Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.41 | 68.02 | 74.75 | 59.25 | 47.82 | 33% (66.00 Marks) |
| 2022 | 88.22 | 82.83 | 87.54 | 74.08 | 69.35 | 33% (66.00 Marks) |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 80.14 | 84.85 | 75.41 | 70.71 | 33% (66.00 Marks) |
| 2020 | 92.51 | 77.55 | 89.12 | 74.84 | 68.71 | 33% (66.00 Marks) |
| 2019 | 98.00 | 90.00 | 95.34 | 82.00 | 77.34 | 33% (66.00 Marks) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How are marks calculated in UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1? ↓
GS Paper 1 consists of 100 questions carrying 2 marks each (total 200 marks). For every correct response, you get +2 marks. For every incorrect response, 1/3rd of the marks assigned to that question (0.66 marks) is deducted. Unattempted questions carry 0 marks.
What is the CSAT 33% qualifying condition? ↓
Paper 2 (CSAT) contains 80 questions carrying 2.5 marks each (total 200 marks). You need a minimum of 33% marks (exactly 66.00 out of 200) to qualify. If you score less than 66 marks in CSAT, your GS Paper 1 will not be considered, and you will be disqualified from writing Mains.
How many questions should I attempt in GS Paper 1 to safely clear cutoff? ↓
Historically, with recent General cutoffs hovering between 75 and 88 marks, candidates aiming for safety generally attempt between 80 and 90 questions with at least 70% accuracy, yielding a net score of 95–105 marks.
Are marks of UPSC Prelims counted in the final rank list? ↓
No. The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary examination is strictly a screening test to select candidates for the Mains written exam. The marks scored in Prelims (both GS 1 and CSAT) are not counted for determining the final merit order.