| Stage | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwBD-1 | PwBD-2 | PwBD-3 | PwBD-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims (GS-I*) | 87.98 | 85.92 | 87.28 | 79.03 | 74.23 | 69.42 | 65.30 | 40.56 | 40.56 |
| Mains (1750 marks) | 729 | 696 | 702 | 685 | 664 | 663 | 696 | 307 | 361 |
| Final (2025 marks) | 947 | 917 | 910 | 880 | 884 | 876 | 913 | 701 | 461 |
Cracking the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) isn’t just about clearing a score—it’s about outperforming thousands of equally driven aspirants. As the UPSC result 2024 brings a fresh wave of excitement and anxiety, one number instantly becomes the talk of every study circle: the UPSC CSE cut off 2024. In this quick primer, we’ll decode what this year’s cut-off means, why it fluctuates, and how it can shape your strategy for the next attempt. Whether you’ve already glimpsed your marks or you’re gearing up for 2025, understanding the cut-off trends is the first step toward turning that dream rank into reality.
Why the cut-off matters
If you Googled UPSC cut off 2024, chances are you want two things:
1. The exact numbers, category‑wise and stage‑wise, trends for the last few years.
2. A reality check on how high you need to aim in 2025.
You’ll find both below, plus a quick recap of the UPSC prelims cut off last 5 years, so you can see how the bar keeps sliding.
Official Category-wise UPSC Cut Off 2024
*CSAT (GS-II) remains qualifying at 33 %.
Source: UPSC cut off 2024 notice (uploaded 23 Apr 2025)
UPSC CSE Prelims 2024 cut-off
| Category | Prelims Cutoff (GS Paper-I) |
|---|---|
| General | 87.98 |
| EWS | 85.92 |
| OBC | 87.28 |
| SC | 79.03 |
| ST | 74.23 |
How does the Prelims trend look over time?
Here’s a bird’s‑eye view of the UPSC prelims cut off last 5 years (General category):
Fig: UPSC Prelims result trend (2020 – 2024)
| Year | Prelims (GEN) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 87.98 |
| 2023 | 75.41 |
| 2022 | 88.22 |
| 2021 | 87.54 |
| 2020 | 92.51 |
How did 2024 compare with 2023?
| Stage & Category | 2023 | 2024 | ▲ / ▼ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims – General | 75.41 | 87.98 | ▲ 12.57 |
| Prelims – EWS | 68.02 | 85.92 | ▲ 17.90 |
| Prelims – OBC | 74.75 | 87.28 | ▲ 12.53 |
| Prelims – SC | 59.25 | 79.03 | ▲ 19.78 |
| Prelims – ST | 47.82 | 74.23 | ▲ 26.41 |
| Final – General | 953 | 947 | ▼ 6 |
| Final – OBC | 919 | 910 | ▼ 9 |
| Final – SC | 890 | 880 | ▼ 10 |
| Final – ST | 891 | 884 | ▼ 7 |
Source for 2023 figures: UPSC CSE-2023 cut-off PDF UPSC
UPSC CSE Mains Cut-off 2024
The UPSC CSE Mains Exam comprises nine papers, with seven contributing to merit ranking. The English Language and Indian Language Papers are only qualifying in nature and marks obtained therein are not considered for merit.
The UPSC Mains Cut-off 2024 for the different categories of candidates is as follows.
| Category | Cut-off marks |
|---|---|
| General | 729 |
| EWS | 696 |
| OBC | 702 |
| SC | 685 |
| ST | 684 |
| PwBD-1 | 663 |
| PwBD-2 | 696 |
| PwBD-3 | 307 |
| PwBD-5 | 361 |
UPSC CSE Mains cut off Trends (2020 – 2024)
| Category | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EWS | 696 | 706 | 715 | 713 | 687 | 696 |
| GENERAL | 729 | 741 | 748 | 745 | 736 | 751 |
| OBC | 702 | 712 | 714 | 707 | 698 | 718 |
| PWD 1 | 663 | 673 | 677 | 688 | 648 | 663 |
| PWD 2 | 696 | 718 | 706 | 712 | 699 | 698 |
| PWD 3 | 307 | 396 | 351 | 388 | 425 | 374 |
| PWD 5 | 361 | 445 | 419 | 560 | 300 | 561 |
| SC | 685 | 694 | 699 | 700 | 680 | 706 |
| ST | 684 | 692 | 706 | 700 | 682 | 699 |
Fig: UPSC Mains cut-off trends (2019-2024)
UPSC CSE Final cut off 2024
The final cut-off is the total (out of 2025 marks) obtained by the last candidate recommended for service after adding the marks of:
1. UPSC Mains (1750 marks) – seven merit-counting papers.
2. Personality Test / Interview (275 marks).
Category-wise Final Cut-off 2024
| Category | Final Cut-off* |
|---|---|
| General | 947 |
| EWS | 917 |
| OBC | 910 |
| SC | 880 |
| ST | 884 |
*Out of 2025 marks (Mains + Interview)
Fig: UPSC Final Result cut-off trends (2019-2024)
Service-wise Final Result: UPSC CSE 2024
The successful candidates are yet to be allocated services. Thus, the exact number of Service-wise Final Result is not yet known. However, a general overview of the number of candidates from each category finally selected for various services can be seen through the number of vacancies announced under the UPSC CSE 2024. The same is depicted in the table below.
.
Key take-aways
1. Huge Prelims spike – Every category saw a double-digit hike; for ST, the jump was >26 marks. A tougher paper + relatively higher overall performance pushed the threshold up.
2. But Final cut-off fell slightly across the board, signalling stricter evaluation in Mains & Interview or a wider score spread at the top.
3. OBC & General almost converged in Prelims (87.28 vs 87.98), but a gap reopened by the Final list (910 vs 947).
4. PwBD variance remains large – aspirants in PwBD-3 & 5 still need far lower scores, yet note the 300-plus jump required between Mains and Final.
Factors Behind the 2024 Numbers
| Factor | Impact on Cut-Off |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level of GS-I | Moderate-easy polity & environment sections led to higher raw scores. |
| Vacancy count ( >1 020 ) | More vacancies can lower the cut-off, but the score rise shows paper difficulty outweighed vacancy effect. |
| Normalisation & tie-breaking | UPSC’s scaling in Mains and interview moderation trimmed top-end scores, nudging the Final cut-off down despite higher Prelims marks. |
| Category-wise reservation | Redistribution of some PwBD vacancies across categories marginally altered thresholds. |
What the 2024 cut-off jump means for 2025 aspirants—and how to react
| 2024 reality | Practical impact on your preparation |
|---|---|
| Prelims GS-I cut-off shot up by 12-26 marks across categories | Raise your safety net. If you earlier kept a “safe” target of ~90 (General/OBC), inflate it to 105-110 +. For SC/ST, aim at least 15-20 marks above the new thresholds. |
| CSAT is still just qualifying but many lost out here | Don’t neglect CSAT. Treat it like a real paper; build an 80-plus buffer so that a tricky comprehension passage doesn’t sink you. |
| Final cut-off dipped even as Prelims spiked | Mains quality matters more than ever. The dip hints at tougher evaluation or wider score spread. You need balanced scores across all GS papers, Essay and Optional. |
| OBC & General nearly converged in Prelims | Competitive advantage for OBC/EWS is thinner at the first stage. You must match the “open” category standard to stay secure. |
| PwBD categories saw modest rises but still low absolute numbers | Focus on clearing CSAT and maximising GS-I; a strong Mains/Interview can more than compensate for a lower prelim cushion. |
Five concrete strategy tweaks for the year ahead
1. Front-load high-yield segments
Weight Polity, Environment, Ancient & Medieval Art-culture, basic Economy and science-tech current affairs—these delivered many direct hits in 2024.
2. “Two-tier” mock routine
Tier-1: weekly full-length Prelims tests under strict time; Tier-2: daily 50-question micro-quizzes to sharpen recall. Track rolling average—only move on when it stays >110.
3. Main answer-writing from day 1
With Prelims marks soaring, tens of serious candidates will cross the line. Distinguish yourself early: write three 150-word answers every weekday, one 250-word answer on weekends, get feedback, iterate.
4. Optional + Interview = differentiators
Optional still gives 500 marks, and the Interview gives 275. Begin second reading of optional by July-August and start peer/mock interviews by January, even if Prelims isn’t out—2024’s lower final cut-off shows these two areas can offset average GS marks.
5. Psychological conditioning
A jumpy cut-off breeds anxiety. Practice exam-day simulation, mindfulness, and timed breathing; your calm can add double-digit marks through better accuracy.
Category-specific checkpoints
| Category | Target Prelims score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS | 105-110 | Accuracy >80 %; guesswork limited to ≤10 questions. |
| SC | 95-100 | Focus on high-scoring static areas; maintain CSAT strength. |
| ST | 90-95 | Master Environment & Geography (heavy weightage, easy gains). |
| PwBD-1/2 | 75-85 | Ensure CSAT comfort; practice OMR handling if using a scribe. |
Total marks, cut‑off & service dreams
A common doubt in forums: “What are the UPSC total marks and cut off I should chase?” Remember:
• Written (Mains) + Interview = 2025 marks.
• Clearing the UPSC final cutoff (947 this year) is what gets your name in the PDF.
• The rank you need – “what rank is required for IAS?” – shifts each year, but sub‑100 is usually safe.
Smart targets for 2025 aspirants
• Prelims GS‑I: Shoot for 105‑110 (GEN/OBC/EWS) – that’s comfortably above the 2024 spike.
• CSAT: Don’t flirt with 67/200; master it early so it never threatens you.
• Mains papers: Bank on 110+ per GS paper, 130 Essay, 270+ Optional – you’ll glide past any realistic UPSC CSE cut off.
Bottom line
2024 proves the cut-off can swing wildly in a single cycle. Prepare for the highest recent threshold, not the average. If you habitually clear mocks by 15-20 marks, you’re insulated from paper difficulty or demographic shifts—and that confidence is itself a performance enhancer.
Stay nimble, benchmark high, and treat every stage as the real battle. Good luck for 2025!
Frequently Asked Questions (Quick Answers)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is CSAT cut-off also rising? | No – CSAT remains just qualifying (33 %); absolute score variance doesn’t affect merit. |
| Does category rank matter after allocation? | Service/cadre allocation depends on the Final score and category rank; if vacancies exist in your category, you can still get IAS with a lower overall rank. |
| Will 2025 cut-offs be higher again? | Too early to tell. Historically, spikes are followed by corrections when paper difficulty swings harder. Prepare for the highest recent value to be safe. |
Q. What is the UPSC prelims cut off 2024?
Ans:- 87.98 (GEN).
Q. What is the UPSC cut-off category-wise?
Ans:- The Table above covers every reservation category, including PwBD.
Q. What is the UPSC prelims cut off last 5 years?
Ans:- Trend graph just above (2020‑2024).
Q. What are the UPSC total marks and cut off?
Ans:- 2025 marks; final cut‑off 947 this year.
Conclusion
The UPSC CSE-2024 cut-off narrative is one of steep Prelims escalation but slightly softer Final selection lines. For aspirants, the lesson is clear:
Don’t chase cut-offs—chase competence.
If you routinely score 15 % above last year’s thresholds in mocks, you’ll stay insulated against the unpredictability of future papers.
Use the tables above as benchmarks, refine your study plan, and keep an eye on official PDFs—not the grapevine. Best of luck for UPSC 2025!
