The Union Public Service Commission has officially released the cut-off marks for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025. These cut-off scores indicate the minimum marks secured by the last recommended candidate in each category across different stages of the exam, including Prelims, Mains and Final selection. The announcement provides aspirants with a clear idea of the competition level and the score required to move forward in one of India’s most prestigious examinations.
I am writing about this update because the release of cut-off marks is always an important moment for Civil Services aspirants. It helps candidates analyse their performance and understand how close they were to clearing each stage of the exam. For those preparing for future attempts, studying the official cut-off marks is extremely useful as it gives a realistic benchmark for preparation and strategy. Knowing the target score can help aspirants plan their study schedule more effectively.
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 Cut-Off Marks
According to the official notification issued by the Union Public Service Commission, the minimum qualifying marks secured by the last recommended candidates in different categories are listed below.
| Examination Stage | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwBD-1 | PwBD-2 | PwBD-3 | PwBD-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 92.66 | 89.34 | 92.00 | 84.00 | 82.66 | 76.66 | 54.66 | 40.66 | 40.66 |
| Mains | 739 | 706 | 717 | 700 | 694 | 703 | 708 | 536 | 451 |
| Final | 963 | 926 | 931 | 905 | 902 | 917 | 944 | 804 | 631 |
Download UPSC CSE 2025 Cut-Off PDF File: Click Here
These cut-offs represent the minimum marks required to qualify at different stages of the examination process.
How UPSC Calculates Prelims Cut-Off
For the preliminary stage of the Civil Services Examination, only the marks obtained in General Studies Paper I are considered for determining the cut-off.
Important points candidates should know:
- The Civil Services Prelims consist of two papers.
- GS Paper I is used to determine the merit cut-off.
- GS Paper II (CSAT) is only qualifying in nature.
- Candidates must score at least 33% in CSAT to qualify. CSE_2025_Cut-OffMks_Eng_09032026
This system ensures that analytical ability is tested while keeping the main focus on General Studies.
Understanding the Mains Cut-Off
The Mains examination is descriptive in nature and includes multiple papers such as Essay, General Studies papers and optional subjects.
To qualify for the final stage, candidates must meet certain requirements:
- Secure minimum qualifying marks in the written papers
- Achieve at least 10% marks in each of the seven competitive papers
- Score above the overall category-wise cut-off marks
The Mains stage is crucial because it determines which candidates will be shortlisted for the Personality Test or interview.
Final Cut-Off and Selection
The final cut-off marks represent the total marks obtained in the written Mains examination plus the Personality Test (Interview).
These marks determine whether a candidate is recommended for appointment to services such as:
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Other central civil services
The final cut-off is usually higher than the Mains cut-off because it includes the interview marks as well.
How UPSC Resolves Tie Cases
Sometimes two or more candidates secure the same total marks in the examination. In such situations, the commission follows a specific tie-breaking process.
The ranking is decided based on:
- Higher marks in compulsory papers and the personality test combined
- Higher marks in compulsory written papers
- Seniority in age if marks are still equal CSE_2025_Cut-OffMks_Eng_09032026
This method ensures fairness and transparency in the final ranking.
Why Cut-Off Marks Matter for Aspirants
Cut-off marks provide valuable insights for candidates preparing for the Civil Services Examination.
They help aspirants:
- Understand the competition level each year
- Set realistic score targets for preparation
- Analyse performance compared with the qualifying marks
- Improve strategy for the next attempt
Many aspirants use these figures to evaluate how much improvement is needed in their preparation.
