The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the minimum qualifying marks for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024. These cut-off marks are crucial for aspirants to understand the benchmark set by the commission for various categories at each stage—Prelims, Mains, and the Final selection.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the category-wise cut-off marks:
📝 UPSC CSE 2024 – Minimum Qualifying Marks (Category-Wise)
| Examination Stage | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwBD-1 | PwBD-2 | PwBD-3 | PwBD-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS (Prelims) | 87.98 | 85.92 | 87.28 | 79.03 | 74.23 | 69.42 | 65.30 | 40.56 | 40.56 |
| CS (Mains) | 729 | 696 | 702 | 685 | 664 | 663 | 696 | 307 | 361 |
| CS (Final) | 947 | 917 | 910 | 880 | 884 | 876 | 913 | 701 | 461 |
📌 Important Notes:
-
Prelims Cut-off is based only on GS Paper-I. GS Paper-II (CSAT) is of qualifying nature, requiring 33% marks as per Rule-15 of the CSE 2024.
-
Mains Cut-off is subject to candidates securing at least 10% marks in each of the seven papers, including Essay, GS-I to GS-IV, and both Optional papers.
📈 What Does This Mean for Aspirants?
Understanding the UPSC cut-off trend is vital for smart preparation. Here’s how it can help:
-
✅ Strategic Preparation: Set a realistic target score for each stage.
-
✅ Category Advantage: Identify cut-off variations and leverage your category wisely.
-
✅ Benchmarking: Evaluate your mock scores against actual cut-offs.
🔍 Category-Wise Analysis
-
The General category cut-off for Prelims stands at 87.98, slightly higher than OBC (87.28) and EWS (85.92).
-
The lowest Prelims cut-off was for PwBD-3 and PwBD-5, both at 40.56.
-
The highest Final score cut-off was for the General category at 947, closely followed by PwBD-2 (913).
📊 Comparison With Previous Years (2023 vs 2024)
Although the 2023 comparison is not provided here, candidates are advised to review historical trends to see if the cut-off is rising or falling and plan accordingly.
🔔 Final Tips for UPSC 2025 Aspirants:
-
Focus on Prelims MCQs: With the Prelims GS-I cut-off hovering around 85–90 for the General category, aim for 100+ safe attempts with accuracy.
-
Master GS Mains Papers: Target 750+ in Mains to ensure Final list safety.
-
Practice Essay & Optional: These two papers are often decisive in making or breaking your final selection.
-
Mock Tests & PYQs: Stick to UPSC standard mock test series and solve previous year questions (PYQs) regularly.
Conclusion:
The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 cut-off marks have given aspirants a clear picture of where the competition stands. Whether you’re a first-timer or a repeater, use these stats smartly to guide your strategy for UPSC 2025.