PRELIMINARY
The Preliminary examination, now popularly known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
- It consist of two papers General Studies Paper-1 and Paper-2
- Intends to focus on analytical abilities and understanding rather than the ability to memorize.
- The new pattern includes two papers of two hours duration and 200 marks each. Both papers have multiple choice objective type questions only.
- They are as under: Paper I tests the candidate's knowledge on
- Current events
- History of India and Indian national movement,
- Indian and World Geography,
- Indian Policy and governance,
- Economic and social development,
- Environmental ecology,biodiversity, climate change and general science.
- Paper II tests the candidates' skills in comprehension, interpersonal skills, communication, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision making, problem solving, basic numeracy, data interpretation, English language comprehension skills and mental ability. To qualify minimum marks should be 70.
In May 2015, the Government of India announced that Paper II of Preliminary Examination(CSAT) will be of qualifying in nature i.e. it wouldn't be graded for eligibility in Mains Examination & a candidate needs to secure at least 33% marks in order to be eligible for graded on basis of Marks of Paper I of Preliminary Examination.
Note: These papers are qualifying in nature and are not used for ranking. Hence their marks are not added to the total. Candidates who fail these papers as per the Commission's standards are not eligible for the mains.
UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers
| 2022 | GS Paper 1 | CSAT Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | GS Paper 1 | CSAT Paper 2 |
| 2020 | GS Paper 1 | CSAT Paper 2 |
| 2019 | GS Paper 1 | CSAT Paper 2 |
| 2018 | GS Paper 1 | GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| 2017 | GS Paper 1 | GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| 2016 | GS Paper 1 | GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| 2015 | GS Paper 1 | GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| 2014 | GS Paper 1 | GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| 2013 | GS Paper 1 | GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| 2012 | GS Paper 1 | GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| 2011 | GS Paper 1 | GS Paper 2 (CSAT) |
| 2010 | General Studies | |
| 2009 | General Studies | |