The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successfully conducted the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 on 25th May 2025 across multiple centers nationwide. With lakhs of aspirants appearing for the most coveted exam in India, the release of the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025—especially for GS Paper 1, Set B—has become a crucial reference point for candidates to estimate their scores, evaluate their performance, and get a reality check before the official results are out.
The unofficial answer key for UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 (Set B) has been released by experts at APTI PLUS Academy, one of the most trusted coaching institutes for UPSC aspirants. This answer key is for reference purposes only and should be used to get a preliminary assessment. The official answer key will be released by UPSC on their website once the entire selection process concludes.
Overview of UPSC Prelims 2025
- Exam Date: 25th May 2025
- Papers Conducted:
- General Studies Paper I (GS-I) – Morning Shift
- Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT/GS Paper II) – Afternoon Shift
- Nature of CSAT Paper: Qualifying only (minimum 33% required)
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 – GS Paper 1 Set B (Unofficial)
The GS Paper 1 of the Prelims covers subjects like Indian Polity, Economy, Environment, History, Geography, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs. The unofficial answer key for Set B has been meticulously compiled by subject matter experts to help candidates evaluate their performance.
🔗 [Download UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper 1 Set B Answer Key PDF]
Note: This answer key is not final. The UPSC will release the official answer key only after the recruitment cycle for CSE 2025 is complete.
| Q.No | Ans | Q.No | Ans | Q.No | Ans | Q.No | Ans | Q.No | Ans |
| 1 | C | 21 | C | 41 | B | 61 | A | 81 | C |
| 2 | D | 22 | C | 42 | C | 62 | A | 82 | C |
| 3 | C | 23 | B | 43 | D | 63 | C | 83 | A |
| 4 | C | 24 | A | 44 | D | 64 | B | 84 | A |
| 5 | B | 25 | B | 45 | C | 65 | A | 85 | C |
| 6 | B | 26 | C | 46 | C | 66 | A | 86 | D |
| 7 | C | 27 | B | 47 | A | 67 | C | 87 | D |
| 8 | D | 28 | D | 48 | C | 68 | D | 88 | A |
| 9 | D | 29 | B | 49 | C | 69 | D | 89 | D |
| 10 | A | 30 | C | 50 | C | 70 | A | 90 | B |
| 11 | B | 31 | B | 51 | D | 71 | D | 91 | B |
| 12 | C | 32 | D | 52 | D | 72 | A | 92 | C |
| 13 | B | 33 | B | 53 | C | 73 | D | 93 | B |
| 14 | A | 34 | B | 54 | D | 74 | C | 94 | A |
| 15 | A | 35 | D | 55 | A | 75 | A | 95 | C |
| 16 | C | 36 | C | 56 | D | 76 | C | 96 | B |
| 17 | D | 37 | A | 57 | A | 77 | C | 97 | A |
| 18 | C | 38 | A | 58 | A | 78 | A | 98 | A |
| 19 | B | 39 | A | 59 | A | 79 | B | 99 | C |
| 20 | B | 40 | A | 60 | B | 80 | D | 100 | D |
UPSC Prelims 2025 Marking Scheme
To calculate your score using the Set B answer key, follow the official marking scheme:
| Particulars | Paper 1 (GS) |
| Correct Answer | +2 marks |
| Incorrect Answer | -0.66 marks |
| Unanswered | 0 marks |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Maximum Marks | 200 |
Formula to Calculate Estimated Marks:
Total Score = (No. of Correct Answers × 2) – (No. of Incorrect Answers × 0.66)
This estimation helps you understand where you stand in relation to the expected cutoff.
Steps to Download the Official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 (When Released)
Once the recruitment process is over, follow these steps to download the official answer key:
- Go to the official UPSC website – upsc.gov.in
- Click on the “Examinations” tab.
- Choose “Answer Keys” from the dropdown menu.
- Find the link titled “UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025”.
- Click to download the PDF file for GS Paper 1 and CSAT.
Until then, the unofficial answer key can serve as a helpful guide.
Exam Analysis of GS Paper 1 (Set B) – Highlights
While we await the complete analysis of Set B, initial insights from candidates and coaching institutes indicate:
Moderate to Difficult Paper:
GS Paper 1 this year leaned more towards analytical and conceptual understanding.
Subject-wise Breakup (Tentative):
- Polity: 12–14 questions (many conceptual)
- Geography: 13–15 questions (map-based and conceptual)
- Environment & Ecology: 15–18 questions (moderate)
- Economy: 12–14 questions (current affairs-linked)
- Modern History: 11–13 questions (standard topics)
- Science & Tech: 10–12 questions (a mix of static and current)
- Current Affairs: Spread across all subjects