UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 PDF – Unofficial
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 was held on May 25 across the nation. Aspirants now seek reliable resources to evaluate their performance. This article provides the unofficial answer key for General Studies Paper 1 (Set A, B, C, D) to help candidates.
UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 PDF – Unofficial Overview
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successfully conducted the Civil Services (Prelims) Examination 2025 in two shifts on May 25, 2025. This prestigious exam, which acts as the first gateway to India’s elite civil services, comprises two objective-type papers—General Studies Paper I and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), also known as Paper II. As is the standard procedure, UPSC does not release the official answer keys immediately after the prelims. Instead, the official answer key is published only after the final results of the UPSC exam cycle are declared, following the Mains and Interview stages. Meanwhile, Apni Pathshala releases unofficial answer keys to help aspirants self-assess their responses and calculate tentative scores. Below, we provide a complete overview, followed by the unofficial answer key for All Set of Paper 1 (GS).
|
Exam Name |
UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2025 |
|
Conducting Authority |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|
Exam Date |
May 25, 2025 |
|
Paper I (GS) Timing |
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
|
Paper II (CSAT) Timing |
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
|
Paper Types |
Objective MCQs |
|
Official Answer Key Release |
After final results (Tentatively Dec 2025 or Jan 2026) |
|
Unofficial Answer Key Release Date |
May 25, 2025 (by Apni Pathshala) |
|
Mode of Answer Key Availability |
PDF (Online) |
|
Official Website |
Unofficial Answer Key: UPSC Prelims 2025 Paper 1 – All Sets
The following unofficial answer key for General Studies Paper I (Set A, B, C, D) has been prepared by academic experts after in-depth analysis of the questions. It helps aspirants cross-check their marked responses and estimate their scores. These answers have been compiled based on subject-matter expertise. While not official, they are typically 90-95% accurate and helpful for early evaluation.
|
Q. No. |
A |
B |
C |
D |
|
1 |
B |
C |
D |
B |
|
2 |
D |
D |
D |
C |
|
3 |
B |
C |
C |
B |
|
4 |
B |
C |
C |
A |
|
5 |
D |
B |
A |
C |
|
6 |
C |
B |
D |
B |
|
7 |
A |
C |
A |
A |
|
8 |
A |
D |
A |
A |
|
9 |
A |
D |
D |
C |
|
10 |
A |
B |
B |
D |
|
11 |
C |
A |
A |
D |
|
12 |
C |
D |
A |
A |
|
13 |
B |
B |
C |
D |
|
14 |
A |
A |
B |
C |
|
15 |
B |
A |
A |
A |
|
16 |
C |
C |
A |
C |
|
17 |
B |
D |
C |
C |
|
18 |
D |
C |
B |
A |
|
19 |
B |
B |
D |
B |
|
20 |
A/C |
B |
A |
D |
|
21 |
B |
C |
B |
A |
|
22 |
C |
C |
C |
A |
|
23 |
D |
B |
B |
C |
|
24 |
D |
A |
A |
B |
|
25 |
C |
B |
C |
A |
|
26 |
C |
C |
B |
A |
|
27 |
A |
B |
A |
C |
|
28 |
C |
D |
A |
B |
|
29 |
C |
B |
C |
D |
|
30 |
C |
A/C |
D |
A |
|
31 |
A |
B |
D |
C |
|
32 |
D |
D |
A |
C |
|
33 |
B |
B |
D |
A |
|
34 |
A |
B |
C |
A |
|
35 |
A |
D |
A |
C |
|
36 |
C |
C |
C |
B |
|
37 |
D |
A |
C |
D |
|
38 |
C |
A |
A |
D |
|
39 |
B |
A |
B |
D |
|
40 |
B |
A |
D |
B |
|
41 |
C |
B |
C |
D |
|
42 |
D |
C |
C |
D |
|
43 |
C |
D |
A |
C |
|
44 |
C |
D |
A |
C |
|
45 |
B |
C |
C |
A |
|
46 |
B |
C |
B/D |
D |
|
47 |
C |
A |
D |
A |
|
48 |
D |
C |
D |
A |
|
49 |
D |
C |
D |
D |
|
50 |
B |
C |
C |
B |
|
51 |
C |
D |
C |
B |
|
52 |
C |
D |
D |
D |
|
53 |
A |
C |
C |
B |
|
54 |
A |
C |
C |
B |
|
55 |
C |
A |
B |
D |
|
56 |
B |
D |
B |
C |
|
57 |
D |
A |
C |
A |
|
58 |
A |
A |
D |
A |
|
59 |
D |
D |
D |
A |
|
60 |
C |
B |
B |
A |
|
61 |
D |
A |
A |
B |
|
62 |
A |
A |
D |
C |
|
63 |
D |
C |
B |
D |
|
64 |
C |
B |
A |
D |
|
65 |
A |
A |
A |
C |
|
66 |
C |
A |
C |
C |
|
67 |
C |
C |
D |
A |
|
68 |
A |
B |
C |
C |
|
69 |
B |
D |
B |
C |
|
70 |
D |
A |
B |
C |
|
71 |
B |
D |
B |
C |
|
72 |
B |
D |
B |
C |
|
73 |
B |
D |
D |
B |
|
74 |
A |
C |
D |
A |
|
75 |
C |
A |
C |
B |
|
76 |
B |
C |
C |
C |
|
77 |
A |
C |
A |
B |
|
78 |
A |
A |
C |
D |
|
79 |
C |
B |
C |
B |
|
80 |
D |
D |
C |
A/C |
|
81 |
A |
C |
C |
C |
|
82 |
A |
C |
C |
D |
|
83 |
C |
A |
B |
C |
|
84 |
B |
A |
A |
C |
|
85 |
A |
C |
B |
B |
|
86 |
A |
B/D |
C |
B |
|
87 |
C |
D |
B |
C |
|
88 |
B |
A |
D |
D |
|
89 |
D |
D |
B |
D |
|
90 |
A |
C |
A/C |
B |
|
91 |
D |
B |
B |
A |
|
92 |
D |
C |
D |
D |
|
93 |
C |
B |
B |
B |
|
94 |
C |
A |
B |
A |
|
95 |
A |
C |
D |
A |
|
96 |
D |
B |
C |
C |
|
97 |
A |
A |
A |
D |
|
98 |
A |
A |
A |
C |
|
99 |
D |
C |
A |
B |
|
100 |
B |
D |
A |
B |
How to Calculate Your Expected Score
To assess your performance, use the following marking scheme:
- Correct Answer: +2 marks
- Incorrect Answer: -0.66 marks (1/3 negative marking)
- Unattempted: 0 marks
Suppose you attempted 85 questions: 65 correct and 20 incorrect. Your score would be:
- (65 × 2) – (20 × 0.66) = 130 – 13.2 = 116.8 marks
This rough estimate helps determine your chances of clearing the prelims cutoff, which usually hovers between 85–105 marks (varies annually).
How to Download the Official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025
Aspirants can rely on unofficial keys in the short term, the official answer key is the final authority and will be released by UPSC at the end of the examination process. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to download the official answer key from UPSC’s website:
- Visit the Official Website: Head to the Union Public Service Commission’s official site: www.upsc.gov.in
- Go to Examination Section: On the homepage, locate the top-left menu and click on the ‘Examinations’ tab.
- Click on ‘Answer Keys’: From the dropdown options, click on ‘Answer Keys’. This will lead you to a page listing various exams and their respective answer keys.
- Find ‘Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025’: Scroll down the list or use the search function to locate the correct link for the UPSC CSE Prelims 2025.
- Select the Relevant Paper: Once inside the link, you will see options for General Studies Paper I and CSAT (Paper II). Click on the desired paper.
- Download the PDF: Click the download icon next to your desired set (A/B/C/D) and save the PDF on your device.
- Cross-Verify Responses: Open the PDF and compare the official answers with those marked on your OMR sheet to determine the final tally.
Why the Answer Key Matters for Aspirants
The answer key acts as a mirror for aspirants to reflect on their preparation strategy. By knowing which areas yielded correct answers and which led to negative marking, candidates can pinpoint their strengths and gaps. This knowledge is crucial when preparing for Mains or planning another attempt. After downloading and analyzing the official key, candidates can also file RTI applications in case of serious doubts about specific questions, especially when the stakes are high.
FAQs: UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025
Q1. When will the official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 be released?
The official UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 will be published only after the final results of the exam cycle are declared, most likely in December 2025 or January 2026.
Q2. How accurate is the unofficial UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025?
While the unofficial UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 is not final, it is usually 90–95% accurate, as it’s prepared by experts and coaching institutes right after the exam.
Q3. Why is the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 important for candidates?
The UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 helps candidates estimate their scores, analyze their mistakes, and decide whether to start Mains preparation or reassess their strategy.
Q4. Where can I download the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 PDF for Set B?
You can find the UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 PDF for Set B on websites of top coaching platforms or officially from upsc.gov.in once it is released.
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