Why Cutoff Analysis Matters for Your Preparation
Most UPSC aspirants aim for "as high as possible" without understanding what score actually clears Prelims. This leads to either under-preparation (thinking 100 marks is enough when it isn't) or wasted over-preparation of topics that contribute little to the score. Understanding cutoff trends helps you set a realistic target and calibrate your mock test performance.
UPSC Prelims GS Paper I Cutoffs — General Category (2015–2024)
📸 Illustration — Analysis- 2015: 107.34 marks
- 2016: 116.00 marks
- 2017: 105.34 marks
- 2018: 98.00 marks
- 2019: 98.00 marks
- 2020: 92.51 marks
- 2021: 87.54 marks
- 2022: 90.10 marks
- 2023: 75.41 marks (dropped significantly)
- 2024: Approximately 100+ marks (paper was moderate)
Key insight: The average cutoff for General category over 10 years is around 97–98 marks out of 200. Target 110+ in your mocks to have a comfortable buffer.
Category-wise Cutoffs (Approximate 2022 data)
- General: 90.10
- EWS: 84.75
- OBC: 81.86
- SC: 73.84
- ST: 66.20
- PwBD (VH): 61.36
What Influences Cutoff Changes Year to Year?
📸 Illustration — Analysis- Vacancy count: More vacancies = more candidates called = higher effective cutoff (counterintuitively). Fewer vacancies tighten the competition at the top.
- Paper difficulty: A tough paper (2021, 2023) lowers the cutoff. Easy paper → higher cutoff.
- Total applicants: Candidate pool has grown from 4 lakh to 10+ lakh over the decade.
- CSAT performance: Since 2015, CSAT is qualifying (33% needed). Candidates who clear GS Paper I easily but score low in CSAT still get eliminated.
What Score Should You Target in 2026?
Based on 10-year trend analysis:
- Safe target (General): 110–115 marks
- Comfortable pass (General): 105 marks
- Risky but possible (General): 95–100 marks
- OBC candidates: Target 100+
- SC/ST candidates: Target 85+
How to Translate This Into Your Mock Test Strategy
- In 100-question mocks, aim for 70–75 attempts with 85%+ accuracy → gives ~110 marks
- Avoid blind guessing — negative marking (-0.67 per wrong) can pull a 105-mark score below cutoff
- If consistently scoring 90–95 in mocks with 3 months to go, shift strategy to high-yield topics: Polity (Article-based questions), Modern History, and Current Affairs
- Environment & Science sections have become increasingly important — 12–15 questions in recent years
CSAT — Don't Neglect the Qualifying Paper
Every year, hundreds of candidates who clear GS Paper I get eliminated because they fail to score 33% (66 out of 200) in CSAT. The paper tests reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and basic maths. If you're weak in maths or reading comprehension, start CSAT practice from Day 1 — not the week before the exam.
Use NaukriYatra's Reasoning and Quantitative practice sections to build CSAT-relevant skills alongside your main GS preparation. 📊