The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest exams in India. Every year, lakhs of students dream of becoming IAS, IPS, IFS, or IRS officers, and they work hard for months – sometimes years – to prepare for this exam. The Mains stage of UPSC is the most important part of the journey. It decides whether a candidate will move to the next stage, i.e., the interview.
This year, the UPSC Mains Exam 2025 was held between 22nd August and 31st August 2025. The question papers for all subjects — Essay, General Studies Papers (GS 1 to 4), Optional Subjects, and Language Papers — are now available for download. Practicing these papers is one of the best ways to prepare for future attempts because it helps you understand what UPSC actually expects from candidates.
Understanding UPSC Mains Exam
The Mains exam is the second stage of UPSC after the Prelims. Only candidates who clear the UPSC Prelims can appear for Mains.
The Mains is a written descriptive exam consisting of nine papers. Out of these, seven papers are counted for merit(totaling 1750 marks) and two papers are just qualifying (you need to pass them, but their marks are not added to the final result).
Here’s the structure of UPSC Mains:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Type |
| Paper A | Indian Language | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper B | English Language | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 | Counted for Merit |
| Paper II | General Studies 1 | 250 | Counted for Merit |
| Paper III | General Studies 2 | 250 | Counted for Merit |
| Paper IV | General Studies 3 | 250 | Counted for Merit |
| Paper V | General Studies 4 (Ethics) | 250 | Counted for Merit |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject Paper 1 | 250 | Counted for Merit |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject Paper 2 | 250 | Counted for Merit |
Total marks for Mains (counted for merit): 1750
UPSC Mains 2025 Question Papers – Download Links
Here is the complete list of question papers for 2025 that you can download and practice:
| Paper Name | Download Link |
| UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2025 | Download PDF |
| UPSC Mains GS 1 Paper 2025 | Download PDF |
| UPSC Mains GS 2 Paper 2025 | Download PDF |
| UPSC Mains GS 3 Paper 2025 | Download PDF |
| UPSC Mains GS 4 Paper 2025 | Download PDF |
| UPSC Mains Indian Language Paper 2025 | Download PDF |
| UPSC Mains English Paper 2025 | Download PDF |
UPSC Mains Optional Subject Papers 2025 (All Subjects)
| Optional Literature | · Assamese Literature Paper – I (1.08 MB)
· Assamese Literature Paper – II (1.05 MB)
· Bodo Literature Paper – I (1.06 MB)
· Bodo Literature Paper – II (1022.7 KB)
· English Literature Paper – I (1.52 MB)
· English Literature Paper – II (1.27 MB)
· Gujarati Literature Paper – I (1.21 MB)
· Gujarati Literature Paper – II (1.09 MB)
· Hindi Literature Paper – I (1.42 MB)
· Hindi Literature Paper – II (1.94 MB)
· Kannada Literature Paper – I (1.31 MB)
· Kannada Literature Paper – II (1.4 MB)
· Kashmiri Literature Paper – I (2.02 MB)
· Kashmiri Literature Paper – II (2.63 MB)
· Maithili Literature Paper – I (1.08 MB)
· Maithili Literature Paper – II (1.17 MB)
· Malayalam Literature Paper – I (1.88 MB)
· Malayalam Literature Paper – II (2.38 MB)
· Manipuri Literature Paper – I (1.12 MB)
· Manipuri Literature Paper – II (1.12 MB)
· Marathi Literature Paper – I (1.2 MB)
· Marathi Literature Paper – II (1.02 MB)
· Punjabi Literature Paper- I (1.67 MB)
· Punjabi Literature Paper- II (2.64 MB)
· Sanskrit Literature Paper – I (2 MB)
· Sanskrit Literature Paper – II (1.2 MB)
· Sindhi (Devnagari) Literature Paper – I (1.07 MB)
· Sindhi (Devnagari) Literature Paper – II (1.18 MB)
· Tamil Literature Paper – I (1.44 MB)
· Tamil Literature Paper – II (1.61 MB)
· Telugu Literature Paper – I (1.25 MB)
· Telugu Literature Paper – II (2 MB)
· Urdu Literature Paper – I (1.15 MB)
· Urdu Literature Paper – II (1.74 MB)
|
| Optional | · Agriculture Paper- I (2.32 MB)
· Agriculture Paper- II (2.17 MB)
· Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper- I (2.57 MB)
· Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Paper- I (2.1 MB)
· Anthropology Paper – I (1.77 MB)
· Anthropology Paper – II (1.9 MB)
· Botany Paper – I (2.55 MB)
· Botany Paper – II (1.79 MB)
· Chemistry Paper – I (6.34 MB)
· Chemistry Paper – II (4.8 MB)
· Civil Engineering Paper – I (8.32 MB)
· Civil Engineering Paper – II (4.96 MB)
· Commerce and Accountancy Paper – I (4.6 MB)
· Commerce and Accountancy Paper – II (1.96 MB)
· Economics Paper – I (2.78 MB)
· Economics Paper – II (1.96 MB)
· Electrical Engineering Paper – I (6.6 MB)
· Electrical Engineering Paper – II (5.12 MB)
· Geography Paper – I (1.77 MB)
· Geography Paper – II (3.05 MB)
· Geology Paper – I (2.04 MB)
· Geology Paper – II (2.26 MB)
· History Paper – I (2.83 MB)
· History Paper – II (2.37 MB)
· Law Paper – I (2.99 MB)
· Law Paper – II (2.53 MB)
· Management Paper – I (3.99 MB)
· Management Paper – II (7.32 MB)
· Mathematics Paper – I (4.23 MB)
· Mathematics Paper – II (3.72 MB)
· Mechanical Engineering Paper – I (7.61 MB)
· Mechanical Engineering Paper – II (8.25 MB)
· Medical Science Paper – I (4.41 MB)
· Medical Science Paper – II (2.67 MB)
· Philosophy Paper – I (2.19 MB)
· Philosophy Paper – II (1.93 MB)
· Physics Paper – I (3.78 MB)
· Physics Paper – II (2.52 MB)
· Political Science and International Relation Paper – I (2.03 MB)
· Political Science and International Relation Paper – II (2.3 MB)
· Psychology Paper – I (2.32 MB)
· Psychology Paper – II (1.72 MB)
· Public Administration Paper – I (2.02 MB)
· Public Administration Paper – II (1.8 MB)
· Sociology Paper – I (2.21 MB)
· Sociology Paper – II (1.95 MB)
· Statistics Paper – I (4.65 MB)
· Statistics Paper – II (4.38 MB)
· Zoology Paper – I (1.54 MB)
· Zoology Paper – II (1.64 MB)
|
What Each Paper Covers
Let’s quickly understand what these papers are about so you can plan your preparation smartly.
The UPSC Mains Essay Paper requires candidates to write two essays, each carrying 125 marks. The topics are usually philosophical, social, economic, or political in nature. To score well, aspirants must structure their essays in a clear Introduction, Body, and Conclusion format, presenting balanced arguments and relevant examples.
GS Paper 1 focuses on Indian History, World History, Indian and World Geography, and Indian Society. This paper tests a candidate’s understanding of historical events, social changes, and geographical concepts. Using maps, timelines, and simple diagrams wherever relevant can make answers more visually appealing and fetch better marks.
GS Paper 2 covers Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations. To write high-quality answers in this paper, quoting relevant Articles of the Constitution, important Supreme Court judgments, and recent government initiatives can significantly boost scores.
GS Paper 3 deals with topics such as the Indian Economy, Agriculture, Environment, Science and Technology, and Internal Security. The key to writing good answers here is to link concepts with current affairs, government schemes, and data from official sources such as NITI Aayog reports, Economic Survey, or RBI publications.
GS Paper 4 focuses on Ethics, Integrity, Attitude, and Aptitude, and includes theory questions as well as case studies. Since this paper tests moral reasoning and decision-making ability, aspirants should provide balanced, practical, and ethical solutions to the case studies, often supported by real-life examples from public administration or famous personalities.
The UPSC Mains examination also includes two language papers which are qualifying in nature. Paper A tests any one Indian language chosen from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, while Paper B tests English. Candidates must score a minimum of 75 marks out of 300 in each of these papers to qualify.
Another crucial component of the Mains is the Optional Subject Papers. Candidates must choose one optional subject from a wide range of disciplines such as History, Geography, Sociology, Political Science, or others. This subject is tested through two papers – Paper I and Paper II – together carrying 500 marks. Performance in the optional subject can significantly influence the final rank, so it is important to choose a subject that genuinely interests you rather than simply following popular trends.
How to Use UPSC Mains Question Papers for Preparation
Just downloading the PDFs is not enough — you need to use them smartly. Here’s how:
Understand the Pattern
- Read question papers from the last 5 years.
- Identify recurring themes.
- Example: GS 2 often asks about federalism, judiciary reforms, and social justice.
- Set a timer and solve one paper in 3 hours to simulate real exam conditions.
- This builds speed and handwriting stamina.
Analyze Your Answers
- Compare your answers with toppers’ copies available online.
- Find gaps — Are you writing too much theory? Are your examples outdated? Fix them.
Improve Time Management
- Divide 3 hours wisely — 8 minutes for 10-mark questions, 12 minutes for 15-mark questions.
- Do not leave any question blank.
Work on Presentation
- Use headings, subheadings, flowcharts, and bullet points.
- Underline key points for better visibility.
Stay Updated with Current Affairs
- Read newspapers and government reports (Economic Survey, Budget Highlights, NITI Aayog reports).
- Link current events to your answers.
Toppers’ Tips for UPSC Mains
- Quality over Quantity: Write concise but meaningful answers.
- Practice Case Studies Daily: For GS 4, practice 1-2 case studies every day.
- Revise Regularly: Revise notes multiple times before the exam.
- Mock Tests Are Key: Join a good Mains test series to get regular feedback.
Final Words
The UPSC Mains Question Papers 2025 are a goldmine for aspirants. They show you exactly what UPSC expects from candidates and help you practice in the right direction. Whether you are appearing this year or preparing for future attempts, make sure you:
- Download and solve all papers under timed conditions
- Analyze your answers critically
- Keep improving your content and writing style
Remember, UPSC is not just about knowing facts — it’s about writing clear, logical, and well-structured answers within the time limit. With the right practice and consistent effort, you can crack this exam and move one step closer to your dream of becoming a civil servant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on UPSC Mains 2025 Question Papers
1. Where can I download the UPSC Mains 2025 Question Papers?
You can download all UPSC Mains 2025 papers — Essay, GS 1 to 4, Language Papers, and Optional Papers — from the official UPSC website or from the Aptiplus website.
2. Why should I solve previous year’s question papers?
Solving previous year papers helps you:
- Understand the exam pattern and difficulty level
- Identify important topics that are repeated
- Improve time management and writing speed
- Build confidence before the actual exam
3. How many years of question papers should I practice?
Ideally, practice last 5–7 years of question papers. This will give you a strong understanding of recurring trends and help you frame better answers.
Access Paper wise PYQ
4. Do I need to solve the qualifying language papers too?
Yes! Even though they are qualifying, you must score at least 75 out of 300 marks in each. Many candidates have lost their attempt because they ignored these papers.
5. Which paper is considered the most scoring in UPSC Mains?
Many toppers believe that GS Paper 4 (Ethics) and Optional Papers are the most scoring, as they allow you to showcase structured thinking and practical solutions.
6. How should I approach the Essay Paper?
- Practice writing essays regularly (1 per week).
- Follow a clear Introduction – Body – Conclusion
- Use examples from history, economy, and current affairs to make your essay richer.
7. Is it necessary to join a Mains Test Series?
It is highly recommended. Test series gives you:
- Regular practice
- Expert feedback
- Real exam-like experience
This helps improve answer quality and speed.
8. How much time should I spend on answer writing daily?
Even 1–1.5 hours of daily answer writing can make a huge difference. Focus on quality — not just quantity. Pick 2–3 questions, write them, and review critically.
9. What is the ideal word count for a 10-marker and 15-marker question?
- 10-mark question: 150 words
- 15-mark question: 250 words
Stick to the word limit to save time and improve clarity.
10. When should I start practicing Mains question papers?
Start after covering the foundation, even if you are not fully prepared. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to improve your writing style before the actual exam.
