UPSC Mains GS Question Papers: GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4 Previous Year Papers PDF

Mains UPSC Question Papers are an essential resource for every UPSC aspirant. Practicing the UPSC GS Paper 1 previous year question paper, along with GS Paper 2, 3, and 4, helps candidates understand the exam pattern, the type of questions asked, and the level of difficulty. These UPSC General Studies previous year papers cover subjects like history, geography, polity, economy, environment, and current affairs, making them a crucial tool for effective mains preparation and improving answer-writing skills.

Enrol in Testbook’s Flagship UPSC Online Coaching program to boost your exam preparation.

Download the Last 10 Years UPSC Question Papers with Answers PDF!

Mains UPSC Question Papers

The UPSC Mains Exam consists of 4 General Studies (GS) papers, each carrying 250 marks and contributing to the final merit list. In the official sequence, GS Paper 1 is Mains Paper 2, GS Paper 2 is Mains Paper 3, GS Paper 3 is Mains Paper 4, and GS Paper 4 is Mains Paper 5. To help aspirants prepare better, we have compiled the UPSC GS Paper 1 previous year question papers, UPSC GS Paper 2 previous year question papers, GS Paper 3 previous year questions, and UPSC GS Paper 4 previous year question papers from 2013 to 2025, along with the 2012 GS papers, when the format included two separate GS papers.

UPSC GS Paper 1 Previous Year Question Paper

The UPSC GS Paper 1 (Mains Paper 2) focuses on History, Art & Culture, Geography, and Indian Society. Practicing UPSC GS Paper 1 previous year question papers helps candidates understand recurring topics and the descriptive pattern of the exam.

Download UPSC GS 1 Question Paper 2025 PDF

Check out UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus here.

UPSC GS Paper 2 Previous Year Question Paper

GS Paper 2 (Mains Paper 3) includes Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, and International Relations. Solving UPSC GS Paper 2 previous year question papers improves your answer-writing skills for analytical and current affairs-based questions.

Download UPSC GS 2 Question Paper 2025 PDF

Check out UPSC GS Paper 2 Syllabus here.

UPSC GS Paper 3 Previous Year Questions

GS Paper 3 (Mains Paper 4) covers Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, Disaster Management, Security, and Internal Relations. Referring to GS Paper 3 previous year questions helps aspirants identify high-weightage topics and improve time management during the exam.

Download UPSC GS 3 Question Paper 2025 PDF

Check out the UPSC GS Paper 3 Syllabus here.

UPSC GS Paper 4 Previous Year Question Paper

The GS Paper 4 (Mains Paper 5) tests Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. Attempting UPSC GS Paper 4 previous year question papers is crucial to understand the case study pattern and how to write concise, value-based answers.

Download UPSC GS 4 Question Paper 2025 PDF

Check out the UPSC GS Paper 4 Syllabus here.

You can download the General Studies Previous Year papers from the below tables.

Download UPSC Mains 2025 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2024 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2023 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2022 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2021 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2020 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2019 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2018 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2017 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2016 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2015 Question Paper

UPSC Mains 2014 Question Paper

Have a look below to understand the importance of solving the UPSC Civil Services Previous Year Papers.

Helps in Understanding Exam Pattern

Solving UPSC Mains GS previous year papers provides insights into the exam pattern, including the distribution of marks, question types, and weight given to different topics.

Lets You Assess the Preparation Level

Practicing with the UPSC IAS GS Previous Year Papers helps candidates evaluate their preparation level and identify areas that require further focus and improvement.

You Become Familiar to Mains GS Question Pattern

By solving the UPSC GS Mains Question Papers, aspirants become familiar with the types of questions asked in the UPSC Mains GS paper, enabling them to develop effective answering strategies.

Improves Time Management Skills

The main GS papers are descriptive. So, solving these previous year papers within the allotted time frame enhances time management skills, a critical factor in maximizing performance during the actual exam.

Helps in Identifying Important Topics

Analysis of previous year papers helps in identifying recurring themes, important topics, and areas from which questions are frequently asked, allowing candidates to prioritize their preparation accordingly.

Enhances Your Answer Writing Skills

Regular practice of writing answers to UPSC IAS GS Previous Year Questions improves answer structuring, presentation, and the ability to provide concise and relevant responses.

Builds Your Confidence

Solving previous year papers boosts candidates' confidence as they become familiar with the level of difficulty and gain a sense of accomplishment by successfully tackling challenging questions.

Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Working on previous year papers helps candidates recognize their strengths and weaknesses in different subject areas, enabling them to focus their efforts on areas that need more attention.

Helps in Revision and Consolidation

Revisiting and solving the IAS Mains GS Previous Year Papers during the revision phase reinforces the understanding of key concepts and facts, consolidating knowledge for better retention.

Download the UPSC Statistics Previous Year Question Papers!

Steps to Download Mains UPSC Question Paper 

UPSC GS Question Papers are essential for improving your exam preparation for the recruitment exam. These papers will assist you in efficiently planning your study approach and will provide valuable practice. You may easily get the UPSC General Studies Previous Year Papers and use them to supplement your test preparation by following these steps:

• Step 1: Go to the official Testbook website or download the Testbook app.
• Step 2: Sign in or create your account.
• Step 3: Go to the previous year papers section.
• Step 4: Search for the "UPSC Civil Services Mains" exam.
• Step 5: A list of the previous year papers will open up. Choose the PDF you want to open.
• Step 6: Download the PDF and save it for your reference.

We hope this article on UPSC General Studies Previous Year Question Papers will help you in the IAS exam preparation for the mains stage. You can install our Testbook App and get free access to Mock Tests, Live Classes, Study Materials, and much more!