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UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions (2013–2025)
Practice 2,203 UPSC Mains questions. Browse GS Paper I–IV, Essay, and Optional Subjects organized topic-wise and year-wise.
✓ Verbatim from official UPSC papersTagged to the official UPSC syllabusFree · no login
2,203
Total Questions
13
Years (2013–2025)
48
Papers & Subjects
Explore all 1,137 questions
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Most-tested topics (2013–2025)
darker = asked more oftenMost-tested: Ethics Case Studies (76 questions since 2013). Use this to prioritise.
| Syllabus topic | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics Case StudiesGS-IV | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 76 |
| Natural Resources & Industrial LocationGS-I | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 45 |
| Women, Population & UrbanizationGS-I | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| Environment, Conservation & PollutionGS-III | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 34 |
| Civil Service Values & Ethics in AdministrationGS-IV | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 34 |
| Moral Thinkers & PhilosophersGS-IV | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 29 | |
| World Physical GeographyGS-I | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 28 |
| Probity in GovernanceGS-IV | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 27 | ||
| Indian Art, Culture & HeritageGS-I | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 26 | |
| Ethics & Human InterfaceGS-IV | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 26 |
| Indian ConstitutionGS-II | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 23 |
| Indian Society & DiversityGS-I | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 22 | |
| Geophysical Phenomena & Geography FeaturesGS-I | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | |
| Union-State Relations & FederalismGS-II | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 22 |
| IT, Space, Biotech & IPRGS-III | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 22 |
Why UPSC Mains PYQs Are Essential for Your Preparation
UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions reveal exactly how UPSC frames questions, what depth of analysis it expects, and which topics it emphasizes across years. While the syllabus defines the scope, PYQs define the standard.
Our collection spans 13 years of UPSC Mains papers, covering 1037 GS questions across four papers, 100 essay topics, and 1066 optional subject questions. Each GS question is reproduced verbatim and tagged to the official UPSC syllabus (header and sub-point).
Whether you are building your answer-writing skills or analyzing topic trends, this is the most comprehensive free UPSC Mains PYQ collection available.
General Studies Papers
See how toppers answered: 640+ real answer copies (free PDFs)
Evaluated mains booklets of Shakti Dubey, Shruti Sharma, Kanishak Kataria & more, year-wise (CSE 2017–2025) with examiner remarks, essay and ethics copies.
Essay Paper
Philosophical, social, economic & political essay topics
100 essay topicsOptional Subjects
43 optional subjects including Literature, Engineering & more. Compiled reference set (not verbatim-certified).
1066 questionsBrowse by Year
What Makes This Collection Different
Official Syllabus Classification
Every question tagged to the official UPSC syllabus, down to the header and sub-point. Browse by paper, syllabus topic, or year to focus your preparation exactly where you need it.
13 Years of Coverage
Questions from 2013 to 2025 across all GS papers, Essay, and optional subjects. Track how UPSC's testing patterns have evolved over time.
Answer Writing Practice
Each question shows its marks and word limit. Practice writing answers within the prescribed limits, then get them evaluated by the AWE Bot.
Start Practicing UPSC Mains PYQs Now
Choose a paper, pick a topic, or browse by year. Free to access.
Want fresh practice questions to attempt? Try the UPSC Daily Answer Writing questions (download & print), follow the free UPSC Mains 2026 Sprint plan or get evaluated answers and full-length tests with the UPSC Mains Test Series.
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Join @UPSCneil to see moreFrequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Mains previous year questions are available here?▼
This collection spans 13 years (2013–2025) of UPSC Mains across GS Paper I–IV, Essay, and optional subjects. Every GS and Essay question is reproduced verbatim from the official UPSC papers and tagged to the official UPSC syllabus (header → sub-point).
Should I practice UPSC Mains PYQs topic-wise or year-wise?▼
Both approaches are valuable. Start topic-wise to build depth in each area and understand UPSC's testing patterns. Then switch to year-wise full papers for time management practice. Our platform supports both modes.
How to use Mains PYQs for answer writing practice?▼
For each question, try writing your own answer within the word limit. Focus on introduction hooks, substantiation with examples, and balanced conclusions. Compare your structure and key points with standard frameworks.
Do UPSC Mains questions repeat from previous years?▼
While verbatim repetition is rare, UPSC frequently revisits themes and concepts. Topics like federalism, climate change, ethics in governance, and India's foreign policy appear in different forms across years. PYQ analysis helps predict high-probability topics.
Which GS paper has the most questions?▼
GS Paper I (Indian Heritage, History, Geography & Society) has the most questions, followed closely by GS Papers II and III, then GS Paper IV (Ethics).
Get your Mains answers evaluated.
Mains is decided by the answer you build under the clock. Train it daily with the Sherlocking programme and AWE Bot evaluation, or try one free evaluation now.