The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, conducted on May 25, 2025, marked a crucial milestone for lakhs of aspirants striving to enter India’s most prestigious civil services, including the IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central Group A services. Known for its unpredictability and intensity, the UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 once again lived up to its reputation, testing candidates across a broad spectrum of topics—History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs.

In this article, we bring you the UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2 PDF download links, a detailed question paper analysis, and access to both official and unofficial answer keys. This breakdown will help aspirants evaluate their performance, identify key trends, and better understand the evolving nature of UPSC’s prelims exam pattern. Whether you appeared this year or are preparing for the next attempt, this comprehensive review is an essential resource.

UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 Overview 

The UPSC Prelims 2025 comprised two papers: General Studies Paper I and CSAT Paper II. GS Paper 1, carrying 200 marks with a 2-hour time limit, plays a decisive role in determining a candidate’s qualification for the Mains stage. The CSAT paper, although also 200 marks, is of qualifying nature and requires a minimum score of 33%. The Prelims Question Paper 2025 maintained the UPSC’s hallmark style of seamlessly blending static subjects—like History, Polity, Geography, and Economy—with dynamic current affairs. This balanced approach ensured that the questions tested not just factual recall but also analytical thinking, reasoning ability, and decision-making skills. Candidates found the paper to be moderately difficult, with several questions demanding conceptual clarity and awareness of interlinked topics.

You can download the UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 PDF 2025 and UPSC Prelims CSAT Paper II PDF 2025 below to analyze the questions and assess the evolving pattern of the examination.

UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF Download 

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 can download the official question papers in PDF format once they are released. The UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF for both General Studies Paper I and CSAT Paper II, along with the official answer key, will be made available to candidates shortly after the exam. Direct download links for the GS Paper I, CSAT Paper II, and the UPSC Answer Key 2025 PDFs will be updated here to facilitate easy access for all aspirants looking to analyze the paper and assess their performance.

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Papers PDFs (Last 5 Years)

Candidates can download the previous year UPSC Prelims previous year papers PDFs of General Studies Paper 1 and CSAT (Paper 2) in PDF format for the last 5 years. Practicing these previous year papers not only improves accuracy but also enhances time management skills by simulating exam-like conditions. Accessing and solving these papers helps aspirants understand question patterns, difficulty levels, and frequently asked topics, providing a strategic edge in preparation.

How to Download UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 PDF?

Candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 can easily download the official question papers and answer keys from the Union Public Service Commission’s official website. Following these simple steps will help you access the PDFs for General Studies Paper I and CSAT Paper II, which are essential for effective exam preparation.

Step 1: Visit the Official UPSC Website

Open your web browser and go to the official UPSC website by typing the URL:
www.upsc.gov.in

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘Examinations’ Tab

Once you land on the homepage, look for the menu or tab labeled ‘Examinations’. This tab contains important information about ongoing and past exams conducted by UPSC.

Step 3: Select ‘Previous Year Question Papers’

Under the Examinations section, find and click on the link titled ‘Previous Year Question Papers’. This section provides access to question papers of various exams conducted by UPSC over the years.

Step 4: Choose the Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam 2025

In the list of exams, locate and select ‘Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam 2025’. This will display the available question papers and related documents for the 2025 prelims exam.

Step 5: Download the Question Papers and Answer Keys

You will find links to download the following PDFs:

• General Studies Paper I (GS Paper 1)
• Civil Services Aptitude Test Paper II (CSAT Paper 2)
• Answer Key (when released by UPSC)

Click on the respective links to download these PDFs to your device.

Step 6: Save or Print the PDFs for Offline Use

After downloading, save the files in a dedicated folder on your computer or mobile device for easy access. You may also print the question papers and answer keys to practice offline under timed conditions, which helps simulate the actual exam environment.

Conclusion

The UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 serves as a vital resource for both recent exam takers and future aspirants. Whether you’re analyzing your performance or preparing for the next cycle, these papers offer deep insights into evolving trends, question patterns, and the level of conceptual clarity expected by the UPSC. By downloading and thoroughly solving the General Studies Paper I and CSAT Paper II, candidates can sharpen their time management, enhance accuracy, and gain a competitive edge. Moreover, combining this practice with official answer keys and previous year papers is a time-tested strategy to boost your readiness for the Mains.

UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 FAQs

Where can I download the official UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025?

The official UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 for both General Studies (Paper I) and CSAT (Paper II) will be available for download on the UPSC official website shortly after the exam. You can also find links on trusted coaching platforms.

How can solving the Prelims Question Paper 2025 help in my UPSC preparation?

Solving the Prelims Question Paper 2025 helps familiarize you with the exam pattern, difficulty level, and type of questions asked. It also improves time management, accuracy, and aids in identifying important topics for future exams.

Does the Prelims Question Paper 2025 include any new topics or changes in pattern?

 The Prelims Question Paper 2025 maintains the traditional structure but shows an increasing trend toward application-based and interdisciplinary questions, requiring deeper conceptual understanding and analytical skills.

Is the CSAT paper included in the Prelims Question Paper 2025 qualifying in nature?

Yes, the CSAT (Paper II) in the Prelims Question Paper 2025 is qualifying in nature, requiring a minimum of 33% (66 marks out of 200) to pass. However, proper preparation is essential as the paper is increasingly challenging.

How soon after the UPSC Prelims 2025 exam can I expect the question papers to be released?

Typically, the UPSC releases the Prelims Question Paper 2025 along with answer keys within a few days to a week after the exam date, enabling aspirants to analyze their performance and plan next steps accordingly.