The Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is one of the most reputed examinations in India. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for this examination, but only a few thousand are appointed. The cut-off marks for the CSE are an important factor that decides the fate of the candidates. The UPSC syllabus for CSE is very vast and if you want to get into the cutoff list, you should have thorough knowledge of it.
Table Of Contents
Factors Affecting UPSC CSE Cut Off
- Difficulty Level Of The Exam
- Number Of Vacancies
- Number of Candidates Appearing for the Exam
- Performance Of The Candidates
- Reservation Policy
- Previous Year’s Cut-Off Marks
- Recruitment Needs
- State-wise Vacancies
- General Awareness and Current Affairs
- Increasing Trend
- Variation In Cut-Off Marks
- Different Cut-Off Marks For Different Categories
- Cut-Off Marks For Optional Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Factors Affecting UPSC CSE Cut Off
1. Difficulty Level Of The Exam
The difficulty level of the exam is one of the most important factors that affect the cut-off marks. If the exam is easy, the cut-off marks are likely to be high, and if the exam is difficult, the cut-off marks are likely to be low.
2. Number Of Vacancies
If the number of vacancies is high, the cut-off marks are likely to be low, and if the number of vacancies is low, the cut-off marks are likely to be high.
3. Number of Candidates Appearing for the Exam
The number of candidates giving the exam also influences the cut-off marks for the exam. If the number of candidates appearing for the exam is high, the cut-off marks are likely to be high, and if the number of candidates appearing for the exam is low, the cut-off marks are likely to be low.
4. Performance Of The Candidates
The performance of the candidates also affects the cut-off marks. If the overall performance of the candidates is good, the cut-off marks are likely to be high, and if the overall performance of the candidates is poor, the cut-off marks are likely to be low.
5. Reservation Policy
The reservation policy of the government also affects the cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE. The government reserves a certain percentage of seats for candidates belonging to various categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and PwD. The candidates belonging to these categories have lower cut-off marks as compared to candidates belonging to the general category.
6. Previous Year’s Cut-Off Marks
The previous year’s cut-off marks also have an impact on the current year’s cut-off marks. If the previous year’s cut-off marks were high, the current year’s cut-off marks are likely to be high, and if the previous year’s cut-off marks were low, the current year’s UPSC CSE cut off marks are likely to be low.
7. Recruitment Needs
The cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE also depend on the recruitment needs of the government. If there is a requirement for more candidates in a particular service or department, the cut-off marks for that service or department are likely to be lower as compared to other services or departments.
8. State-wise Vacancies
The cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE also vary based on the state-wise vacancies. If there are more vacancies in a particular state, the cut-off marks for that state are likely to be lower as compared to other states.
9. General Awareness and Current Affairs
The questions related to General Awareness and Current Affairs are included in the UPSC CSE, and candidates need to score well in this section to secure a position above the cut-off marks. Therefore, the current affairs knowledge of the candidates also affects the cut-off marks.
Trends in UPSC CSE Cut Off
1. Increasing Trend
The cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE have been increasing over the years. In 2019, the cut-off score for the General category was 98, while in 2020, the cut-off marks for the General category were 95.
The increasing trend in cut-off marks can be attributed to the increasing number of candidates appearing for the exam and the increasing competition.
2. Variation In Cut-Off Marks
The cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE vary from year to year. In 2019, the cut-off marks for the General category were 98, while in 2018, the cut-off marks for the General category were 98.
The variation in cut-off marks can be attributed to the factors affecting the cut-off marks, such as the difficulty level of the exam, the performance of the candidates, the number of vacancies, and the number of candidates arriving for the exam.
3. Different Cut-Off Marks For Different Categories
The cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE vary for different categories. The cut-off marks for the General category are higher than the cut-off marks for the OBC, SC, and ST categories. In 2020, the cut-off marks for the General category were 95, while the cut-off marks for the OBC category were 93.
In 2020, the cut-off marks for the SC category were 82, and the cut-off marks for the ST category were 77.
4. Cut-Off Marks For Optional Subjects
The cut-off marks for the optional subjects also vary from year to year. In 2020, the cut-off marks for Sociology as an optional subject for the General category were 180, while the cut-off marks for Philosophy as an optional subject for the General category were 158.
The variation in cut-off marks for optional subjects can be attributed to the popularity of the subject among the candidates and the difficulty level of the paper.
Wrapping Up
The cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE are influenced by numerous factors, such as the hardship level of the exam, the number of vacancies, and the number of candidates appearing for the exam.
The cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE have been increasing over the years, and there is a variation in the cut-off marks from year to year. The cut-off marks for the UPSC CSE also vary for different categories and optional subjects. Therefore, it is important for candidates to keep these factors and trends in mind while preparing for the examination and to work hard to secure a position above the cut-off marks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is there any negative marking in the UPSC exams?
Yes, there is a negative marking in UPSC exams for objective-type questions.
- How many maximum attempts can a candidate appear for?
Candidates can appear for the UPSC exams as many times as they want until they reach the age limit.