Solving UPSC’s previous year’s question papers is an essential part of any successful UPSC preparation strategy. Analyzing these past papers can provide valuable insights into the exam pattern, question types, and important topics that are frequently tested.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to effectively utilize UPSC previous year papers for your preparation:

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam Question Papers

YearUPSC Prelims Question PapersUPSC Mains Question Papers
2024General Studies Paper – I
2023General Studies Paper – II
2022
2021
2020
2019Paper I
Paper II
2018Paper I (General Studies)
Paper II (General Studies)
2017
2016Paper I
Paper II
UPSC Mains 2016 Question Papers
2015General Studies, Paper – I
General Studies, Paper – II
UPSC Mains 2015 Question Papers
2014General Studies Paper I
General Studies Paper II
General Studies Paper II (X Series)
UPSC Mains 2014 Question Papers
2013Paper I
Paper II
UPSC Mains 2013 Question Papers
2012Paper I
Paper II
UPSC Mains 2012 Question Papers
2011UPSC Mains 2011 Question Papers
2010UPSC Mains 2010 Question Papers
2009UPSC Mains 2009 Question Papers

UPSC Year-Wise Question Papers

YearQuestion Papers
2024UPSC 2024 Previous Year Question Papers
2023UPSC 2023 Previous Year Question Papers
2022UPSC 2022 Previous Year Question Papers
2021
2020
2019
2016UPSC 2016 Question Papers
UPSC Year-Wise Question Papers

UPSC Exam-Wise Question Papers

UPSC CAPF Question Papers
UPSC IES / ISS Question Papers
UPSC SCRA Question Papers
UPSC ESE Question Papers
UPSC NDA / NA Question Papers
UPSC Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination Question Papers
UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) Question Papers
UPSC CMS Question Papers
UPSC Geologist Exam Question Papers
UPSC Exam-Wise Question Papers

Effective Strategies for Solving UPSC Previous Year Papers

  1. Understand the Exam Pattern: Before attempting the previous year papers, familiarize yourself with the UPSC exam pattern, including the number of questions, marking scheme, and time duration.
  2. Analyze the Question Paper: Carefully analyze the previous year question papers to identify the types of questions asked, the difficulty level, and the distribution of marks.
  3. Practice Time Management: Solve the previous year papers within the stipulated time to improve your time management skills.
  4. Identify Important Topics: Observe the topics and themes that are frequently tested in the UPSC exam and focus your preparation on these areas.
  5. Evaluate Your Performance: After solving the previous year papers, analyze your performance, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and work on improving the areas that need more attention.