The Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2025 English (Compulsory) question paper is now available for download for candidates who appeared in the exam and aspirants preparing for future attempts. The English compulsory paper is one of the qualifying language papers in the UPSC Mains examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. While the marks scored in this paper are not counted for the final merit list, clearing it is mandatory for evaluation of all other papers. Accessing the official question paper helps candidates understand the paper pattern, difficulty level and key focus areas.
I am writing about the English compulsory paper because many aspirants tend to underestimate it, assuming English is easy or manageable without focused preparation. Every year, several strong candidates fail to qualify simply because they ignore the basics of comprehension, précis writing and structured expression. Having the actual 2025 question paper allows aspirants to assess the level of language proficiency expected by UPSC and prepare more realistically for future examinations.
About the English (Compulsory) Paper in UPSC Mains
The English compulsory paper is designed to test a candidate’s basic command over the language. It does not evaluate subject knowledge but checks whether the candidate can read, understand and express ideas clearly and correctly in English.
The paper generally includes:
- Comprehension passages
- Precis writing
- Usage and vocabulary
- Basic grammar and sentence correction
Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by UPSC to move ahead in the selection process.
Why Downloading the 2025 Question Paper Is Important
The latest question paper gives aspirants a clear idea of how UPSC frames questions for the English language paper. It helps candidates understand whether the emphasis is more on comprehension, clarity of writing or language precision.
Key benefits of using the 2025 paper include:
- Understanding the current question pattern
- Practising answers in exam-like conditions
- Identifying weak areas in English language skills
- Improving time management during the exam
Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025 English Paper Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025 |
| Paper | English (Compulsory) |
| Nature | Qualifying |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Medium | English |
Only candidates who qualify this paper have their remaining answer sheets evaluated.
How to Download UPSC CSE Mains 2025 English Question Paper
Aspirants can download the official question paper by following these steps:
- Visit the official UPSC website
- Go to the “Examinations” section
- Click on “Previous Year Question Papers”
- Select “Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025”
- Choose “English (Compulsory)” and download the PDF
N.B: If you want to download the question paper without any difficulty, you can easily download it by Click Here.
Candidates are advised to rely only on the official UPSC website to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the question paper.


















