UPSC Civil Services Exam Mains Essay Cut Off Marks
Updated 2026The following data represents the marks obtained by the last recommended candidate in the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination for the Essay paper, as derived from the official UPSC "Marks Information" portal and official result write-ups. Note: UPSC does not publish a "cut-off" for individual papers; the values below represent the marks secured by the last candidate recommended for service in the final merit list for the respective years.
UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination: Essay Paper Marks (Last Recommended Candidate)
| Exam Year | Category | Essay Paper Marks (Out of 250) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | General (UR) | 116 |
| 2022 | General (UR) | 112 |
| 2021 | General (UR) | 114 |
| 2020 | General (UR) | 113 |
| 2019 | General (UR) | 118 |
| 2018 | General (UR) | 115 |
| 2017 | General (UR) | 118 |
| 2016 | General (UR) | 119 |
| 2015 | General (UR) | 116 |
Source: Official UPSC Marks Information Portal (Public Disclosure of Marks and Other Details of Non-Recommended Willing Candidates and Final Merit List Data).
Important Verification Note: UPSC does not set a sectional cut-off for the Essay paper. The figures provided above reflect the marks secured by the candidate who ranked at the bottom of the final merit list for the General category in the respective years. Data prior to 2015 is excluded as the current format of public disclosure of individual paper marks was standardized by the Commission starting from the 2015 examination cycle.
