June 9, 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 on May 25, with lakhs of aspirants appearing across two shifts — General Studies Paper I in the morning, and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in the afternoon. As candidates await the results, expected in mid-June, all eyes are now on one key question: what will be the cut-off?
Prelims 2025: One of the Toughest in Recent Memory
According to feedback from aspirants and coaching experts, both GS Paper I and CSAT this year were significantly more difficult compared to previous years. Many candidates particularly struggled with the CSAT paper, calling it “time-consuming” and “more complex than expected.”
This mirrors what happened in 2023, when a similarly difficult CSAT resulted in a steep drop in cut-off marks. That year, the General category cut-off dropped to 75.41, the lowest in five years, with similarly sharp declines across other categories.
Past Year Cut-Offs: A Quick Recap
Here’s a comparison of General category cut-offs from 2020 to 2024:
- 2020: 92.51 (highest in five years)
- 2021: 87.54
- 2022: 88.22
- 2023: 75.41 (sharp drop due to tough CSAT)
- 2024: 87.98 (significant rebound)
The CSAT paper in 2023 was widely blamed for the sudden dip, and similar conditions this year may indicate a repeat of that trend.
Expected Cut-Off for 2025
With the difficulty level of the exam being notably high in both papers, many experts are predicting a lower cut-off for UPSC Prelims 2025, especially if a large number of aspirants fail to clear the CSAT qualifying threshold (33%).
However, a more accurate prediction will only emerge after the official answer keys and result PDF are released on the UPSC website (upsc.gov.in).
When Will the Results Be Declared?
Based on past trends, UPSC usually releases the Prelims result within 15 days of the exam. That means candidates can expect the UPSC CSE 2025 Prelims result by mid-June. The result will be released in the form of a PDF list of roll numbers who have qualified for the Mains examination.
What’s Next?
Candidates who clear the Prelims will move on to the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2025, tentatively scheduled for September. With increasing unpredictability in paper patterns and difficulty, aspirants are advised to prepare holistically for the next stage.