UPSC Mains Topic-Wise PYQ (2013–2024) with Weightage Analysis | UPSC Pathfinder
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
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
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
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
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
GS 4 Weightage Analysis (2013–2023)
| Topic |
Percentage Share |
| Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration |
28% |
| Ethics and Human Interface |
21% |
| Probity in Governance |
16% |
| Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service |
15% |
| Contributions of Moral Thinkers & Philosophers from India & World |
11% |
| Emotional Intelligence |
7% |
| Attitude |
2% |
GS 4 (Ethics) Case Studies for UPSC Mains
Tips to Use UPSC Mains PYQs for Effective Preparation
Using UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions effectively can significantly improve your preparation strategy. Here are some actionable tips to get the most out of this resource:
- Analyze Exam Trends: Study the weightage tables to identify high-priority topics like Constitution and Polity (GS 2) or Indian Economy (GS 3), which have consistently high weightage.
- Practice Answer Writing: Use PYQs to practice structured answer writing, focusing on clarity, coherence, and time management. Check out our UPSC answer writing guide for more tips.
- Revise Key Areas: Focus on topics with recurring questions, such as Philosophical Essays or Ethics in Public Administration, to ensure you’re well-prepared for similar questions.
- Simulate Exam Conditions: Attempt PYQs under timed conditions to build speed and accuracy for the actual exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on UPSC Mains PYQs
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.
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