The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official cut-off marks for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024, encompassing all three crucial stages: Preliminary, Main, and Final selection. These cut-off marks indicate the minimum scores required by candidates to qualify for the next phase of the exam or to secure a position in the final merit list. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the UPSC Cut Off 2024, comparing it with previous years, explaining the factors that influenced it, and offering insights into what aspirants can expect in the future.

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The UPSC Cut Off 2024 has been officially released by the Union Public Service Commission following the announcement of the final results. These cut-off marks are essential indicators of the minimum scores required to qualify at each stage of the Civil Services Examination Preliminary, Mains, and Final. The determination of cut-offs depends on multiple factors such as the overall difficulty level of the examination, the number of candidates appearing, the number of vacancies announced by the Commission, and the general performance trends observed in a given year. For transparency and fairness, UPSC releases separate cut-off marks for each category including General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) across subcategories like PwBD-1 to PwBD-5.

UPSC Prelims Cut Off 2024 (Out of 200 marks)

The UPSC Prelims Cut-Off 2024 for the General category saw a notable drop from previous years, indicating a tougher paper that required deeper understanding and analytical skills. The EWS and OBC cut-offs were very close to the General cut-off, showing strong competition and comparable performance levels among these groups. For SC and ST categories, the cut-offs, though still lower, have slightly increased, pointing to improved preparation or growing competition within these categories. 

The Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the Civil Services selection process. It consists of two papers, but only Paper I (General Studies) is considered for the cut-off. Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature and requires a minimum of 33% to proceed to the next stage. 

Also Read: UPSC Prelims 2024 Cut off

UPSC Mains Cut Off 2024 (Out of 1750 marks)

The UPSC Mains cut off 2024 for the General category remained relatively stable, indicating consistency in candidate performance and evaluation standards. The OBC and EWS category cut-offs were closely aligned with the General category, reflecting competitive performance levels. However, the noticeable drop in the PwBD-3 cut-off suggests lower overall scores in that category, possibly due to fewer candidates or varied performance trends.

The Mains Examination is the second and most comprehensive phase of the selection process. Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks in each paper and meet the overall cut-off to be eligible for the Personality Test (Interview).

Also Read: UPSC Mains 2024 Cut Off 

UPSC Final Cut Off 2024 

The UPSC Final Cut-Off 2024 is based on the combined score of the Mains written exam (1750 marks) and the Personality Test or Interview (275 marks). This cut-off determines whether a candidate is selected for a position in the Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.).

The UPSC Final Cut-Off 2024 for General category candidates in 2024 remains consistent with previous years, indicating steady performance among top-ranking aspirants. Notably, candidates in the PwBD-2 and PwBD-1 categories performed well, as reflected in their relatively higher final cut-offs. Additionally, the difference between the Mains and Final cut-offs underscores the crucial role of the interview stage, where strong performance can substantially impact the final ranking.

UPSC Cut Off Trend Comparison (Last 5 Years)

This trend illustrates how the UPSC cut off 2024 varies each year depending on exam difficulty, performance levels, and other dynamic factors. The notable dip in 2024 Prelims marks the lowest cut-off in recent years.

Factors That Influence UPSC Cut Off 2024

Several key elements impact the UPSC cut-off scores each year:

1. Difficulty level of the question paper – Tougher papers tend to reduce the cut-off. 
2. Number of vacancies – More vacancies can lead to lower cut-offs, and fewer vacancies increase competition. 
3. Number of candidates appearing – A higher number of aspirants can raise the overall competition. 
4. Overall candidate performance – If the average score of top candidates is high, cut-offs may increase. 
5. Normalization of marks – In case of varying paper sets or subjective evaluation, moderation may apply.
   

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