UPSC Mains Topic-Wise Previous Year Questions (2013–2024)
Dive into the topic-wise compilation of UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions (PYQs) from 2013 to 2024. Organized by subjects and subtopics as per the official UPSC Mains syllabus, this resource helps you prioritize high-weightage areas, understand exam patterns, and enhance your answer-writing skills. Click the links below to access detailed questions and supercharge your preparation!
The topic-wise weightage charts below highlight the percentage share of each topic in UPSC Mains from 2013 to 2023. Use this data to prioritize your preparation, focusing on high-weightage areas to maximize your scores. For a comprehensive collection of 2013–2023 PYQs, check out our UPSC Mains PYQ Book.
Essay Topic-Wise PYQs for UPSC Mains
| Sr. No. | Topic Name | Previous Year Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essay Topics | Essay Topic-Wise Mains Questions (2013–2024) |
Essay Weightage Analysis (2013–2023)
| Topic | Percentage Share |
|---|---|
| Philosophical Essays | 56% |
| Society | 21% |
| Science and Tech | 8% |
| Politics & History | 8% |
| India | 4% |
| Economics | 2% |
General Studies 1 (GS 1) Topic-Wise PYQs
| Sr. No. | Topic Name | Previous Year Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art & Culture | GS 1 – Art & Culture PYQs |
| 2 | Modern Indian History | GS 1 – Modern Indian History PYQs |
| 3 | Post-Independence History | GS 1 – Post-Independence History PYQs |
| 4 | World History | GS 1 – World History PYQs |
| 5 | Society & Social Issues | GS 1 – Society & Social Issues PYQs |
| 6 | Geography | GS 1 – Geography PYQs |
GS 1 Topic-Wise Weightage (2013–2023)
| Topic | Percentage Share |
|---|---|
| Indian Geography | 21% |
| Post Independence Consolidation | 19% |
| Indian Culture | 13% |
| Modern Indian History | 13% |
| Women, Population, Poverty, Development, and Urbanization | 12% |
| World Geography | 11% |
| Social Empowerment, Caste, Communalism, Regionalism | 10% |
| Indian Society and Diversity | 7% |
| Effects of Globalization on Indian Society | 7% |
| Physical Geography | 4% |
| World History | 3% |
General Studies 2 (GS 2) Topic-Wise PYQs
| Sr. No. | Topic Name | Previous Year Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Constitution & Polity | GS 2 – Constitution & Polity PYQs |
| 2 | Social Justice | GS 2 – Social Justice PYQs |
| 3 | Governance | GS 2 – Governance PYQs |
| 4 | International Relations | GS 2 – International Relations PYQs |
GS 2 Topic-Wise Weightage (2013–2023)
| Topic | Percentage Share |
|---|---|
| Constitution and Polity | 53% |
| Governance and Social Justice | 27% |
| International Relations | 20% |
General Studies 3 (GS 3) Topic-Wise PYQs
| Sr. No. | Topic Name | Previous Year Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Economy | GS 3 – Indian Economy PYQs |
| 2 | Science & Technology | GS 3 – Science & Technology PYQs |
| 3 | Environment | GS 3 – Environment PYQs |
| 4 | Disaster Management | GS 3 – Disaster Management PYQs |
| 5 | Internal Security | GS 3 – Internal Security PYQs |
GS 3 Topic-Wise Weightage (2013–2023)
| Topic | Percentage Share |
|---|---|
| Indian Economy | 41% |
| Internal Security | 20% |
| Environment | 17% |
| Science and Tech | 15% |
| Disaster Management | 7% |
General Studies 4 (GS 4) Ethics Topic-Wise PYQs
| Sr. No. | Topic Name | Previous Year Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ethics and Human Interface | GS 4 – Ethics and Human Interface PYQs |
| 2 | Attitude | GS 4 – Attitude PYQs |
| 3 | Aptitude and Foundational Values | GS 4 – Aptitude and Foundational Values PYQs |
| 4 | Emotional Intelligence | GS 4 – Emotional Intelligence PYQs |
| 5 | Contributions of Moral Thinkers & Philosophers | GS 4 – Moral Thinkers & Philosophers PYQs |
| 6 | Public Administration Ethics | GS 4 – Public Administration Ethics PYQs |
| 7 | Probity in Governance | GS 4 – Probity in Governance PYQs |
| 8 | Case Studies | GS 4 – Case Studies PYQs |
GS 4 Topic-Wise Weightage (2013–2023)
| Topic | Percentage Share |
|---|---|
| Case Studies | 50% |
| Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service | 17% |
| Ethics and Human Interface | 13% |
| Probity in Governance | 8% |
| Emotional Intelligence | 7% |
| Public Administration Ethics | 3% |
| Attitude | 2% |
| Contributions of Moral Thinkers & Philosophers | 0% |
UPSC Mains Preparation Tips with PYQs
- Understand the Syllabus: Before diving into PYQs, thoroughly understand the UPSC Mains syllabus for each paper. This helps in categorizing questions and focusing your study.
- Topic-Wise Analysis: Use this topic-wise PYQ compilation to identify recurring themes and high-weightage areas. Focus more on topics that appear frequently.
- Weightage Prioritization: Pay close attention to the weightage analysis provided for each GS paper. Allocate your study time proportionally to these insights.
- Practice Answer Writing: Don't just read the questions; practice writing answers within the word limit and time constraints. This is crucial for improving speed and structure.
- Identify Trends: Analyze how questions from certain topics evolve over years. This helps in predicting potential future questions.
- Interlink Topics: UPSC questions often interlink concepts from different topics and papers. Practice connecting various aspects of the syllabus in your answers.
- Review and Refine: After attempting PYQs, critically evaluate your answers. Compare them with model answers or discuss with peers/mentors to identify areas for improvement.
Ready to Master UPSC Mains?
Access a comprehensive collection of UPSC Mains PYQ (2013–2023) for all GS Papers and Essay, along with detailed analysis and model answers.
Download Your PYQ Book Now!Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to use UPSC Mains PYQs for preparation?
UPSC Mains PYQs help you understand the exam pattern, identify high-weightage topics, and practice answer writing. Start by analyzing the weightage of topics, focus on frequently asked areas, and practice writing structured answers under timed conditions.
Where can I download UPSC Mains PYQs PDF?
You can download UPSC Mains PYQs PDFs from UPSC Pathfinder by clicking the links in the topic-wise tables on this page. Additionally, the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in) provides past question papers for free.
What are the high-weightage topics in UPSC Mains?
High-weightage topics in UPSC Mains include Philosophical Essays (56%) in Essay, Constitution and Polity (53%) in GS 2, and Indian Economy (41%) in GS 3. Check the weightage tables on this page for detailed insights.
