The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the Civil Services Preliminary Examination on May 25, 2025. Aspirants can now access the unofficial Prelims Answer Key 2025 for both General Studies (GS) Paper 1 and CSAT (Paper 2) to evaluate their performance and estimate their scores.
At Kalam IAS Academy, our expert faculty has also prepared detailed solutions to help aspirants understand the reasoning behind each answer.
Download UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 – All Sets PDF
Get the answer keys for all sets of both papers: (Scroll Down For Question Papers)
General Studies (GS) Paper 1
CSAT (Paper 2)
Download Prelims Answer Key Solutions – GS & CSAT
Want to go beyond just the answers? Our team has prepared comprehensive solutions to help you learn and self-evaluate:
These PDFs include:
Topic-wise question analysis
Explanation of correct answers
Elimination strategies for MCQs
Key concepts and references
📌 Use these to assess your performance and strengthen your understanding.
GS Paper 1 – Analysis from the Prelims Answer Key 2025
History – Modern, ancient, and medieval India
Geography – Indian and world geography with map-based questions
Polity – Constitution, governance, and rights-based frameworks
Economy – Budget, economic policies, and financial institutions
Environment – Biodiversity, climate change, and policies
Science & Technology – Basic concepts and recent developments
Current Affairs – National and international events from the past 1 year
Overall, the paper was moderately difficult with some tricky questions in polity and environment.
How to Calculate Marks Using Prelims Answer Key 2025
Once you’ve downloaded the Prelims Answer Key 2025 for GS Paper 1 and CSAT, you can easily calculate your score using the official UPSC marking scheme.
GS Paper 1 Marking Scheme:
Correct Answer: +2 marks
Incorrect Answer: –0.66 marks (1/3rd negative marking)
Unanswered: 0 marks
CSAT Paper 2 Marking Scheme:
Correct Answer: +2.5 marks
Incorrect Answer: –0.83 marks (1/3rd negative marking)
Unanswered: 0 marks
Steps to Calculate Your Score:
Count the total number of correct answers from the Prelims Answer Key 2025.
Multiply correct answers by the respective marks (+2 for GS, +2.5 for CSAT).
Count the number of incorrect responses.
Multiply incorrect answers by the negative mark value.
Subtract the negative score from your positive score to get the final total.
📌 Note: CSAT is qualifying in nature. You must score at least 66.66 out of 200 (33%) to pass.
Expected Cut-Offs for UPSC Prelims 2025
Based on expert reviews and past years’ data, the expected cut-offs are:
| Category | Expected Cut-Off (GS Paper 1) |
|---|---|
| General | 90–95 marks |
| OBC | 85–90 marks |
| SC | 75–80 marks |
| ST | 70–75 marks |
| EWS | 85–90 marks |
These are estimates. Official cut-offs will be released after the final results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When will UPSC release the official answer key?
The official answer key is typically released after the entire examination process concludes, including the declaration of final results. For example, the official key for UPSC Prelims 2024 was released on May 21, 2025, about 11 months after the exam.
Q2. When is the UPSC Prelims 2025 result expected?
Based on past timelines, the Prelims 2025 results are expected in June 2025, around 30–40 days after the exam held on May 25, 2025.
Q3. Can I challenge the official answer key?
No. UPSC does not entertain objections to the official answer key once it is released.
Q4. Are the unofficial answer keys reliable?
They are prepared by subject experts and coaching institutions, and while generally accurate, may differ slightly from the official version.
Q5. Will Kalam IAS provide Prelims 2025 answer key videos or discussions?
Yes! Stay tuned to our YouTube channel for detailed answer key discussions, strategy sessions, and more.
Related Resources
📄 Download GS Paper 1 – Question Paper (PDF)
📄 Download CSAT Paper 2 – Question Paper (PDF)
📚 UPSC Prelims 2025 Cut-Off Analysis
✍️ How to Prepare for UPSC Mains
