UPSC Mains Management Question Paper- Free PDF Download

The UPSC Mains Management question paper 2025 cycle will be held in August 2025, which should begin on the 22nd of August. More than 1 million candidates took the UPSC Prelims 2025 on May 25, 2025, whose results were announced on June 11, 2025. 14161 candidates passed the Mains examination this year. In the cycle of 2026, UPSC is likely to launch the official notification on January 14, 2026, Prelims on May 24, 2026, and Mains will commence on August 21, 2026. These management papers will benefit UPSC CSE 2025 and 2026 candidates who aim to hone optional-specific writing and analytical abilities.

The UPSC Mains Management question paper will enable the candidates to understand the optional management subject and do better in the examination. Besides the range of study materials prevalent in the market, the previous year question papers of UPSC Management are also of immense importance, where an individual gets a reasonable idea of the topic and the level of difficulty of the topic, the kind of questions one can expect, and what he needs to concentrate on for their UPSC IAS Exam..

In this article, aspirants can get detailed insights about the  UPSC Mains Management question paper. We have compiled the Previous year's papers of 13 years of UPSC Mains Management question paper, which will help candidates to crack the subject preparations successfully. Candidates can also improve their preparations by enrolling in UPSC Online IAS Coaching classes.

UPSC Mains Management Question Paper

UPSC Mains Management Question Paper is handy for a candidate who has taken Management as his optional subject. It examines conceptual clarity, ability to apply it and strategic thinking. The paper is separated into Papers I and II, which include organisational behaviour, HRM, marketing, finance and operations. As the competition in this field has started mounting and so has the popularity of this exam among engineers and MBA graduates, it is only vital that aspirants who aim to perform better and rank higher in UPSC CSE 2025 and 2026 should attempt previous year papers.

• Management is also an optional subject given by UPSC to the candidates who offer the civil services examination. It enables the candidates to select Management as one of the subjects in the mains examination.
• Management optional paper allows candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of management concepts, principles and practices that may apply in diverse administrative careers.
• Management skills and knowledge are relevant in decision-making, allocation of resources, leadership, and organisational behaviour. They are vital to civil servants in how they run government departments and policies.
• The optional paper Management supplements the general studies papers because it allows the learner a particular-minded view of management-related issues. This increases the comprehension of the candidate even more.
• Management is a common optional subject among candidates interested in management, business administration, or related areas. This will enable them to capitalise on their experience and show their skills.

Aspirants can click the links in the table below and download the Management Optional UPSC Previous Year Question Papers PDF for free.

Download UPSC Previous Year Papers and prepare well.

Benefits of Solving UPSC Mains Management Question Paper Previous Year Papers

Solving the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers is very important for every exam. UPSC has a high level of complexity and competitiveness, so it becomes mandatory for this exam to solve the previous year's papers to prepare for the near equivalent of a real shot. Look at the importance of the  UPSC Mains Management question paper below.

Provides Insights into Exam Pattern

By doing the  UPSC Mains Management question paper, one learns about the pattern of the question paper and what is in store in the exam, point-wise, which is suitable for studying and preparing for the exam.

Better Language Mastery

Using past papers makes candidates competent in Management studies, making them perform better in exams and grasp knowledge.

The trends in questions

Reading the  UPSC Mains Management question paper would enable candidates to be aware of the trend of questions being asked repeatedly, so that they can prioritise essential issues and concentrate on them.

Improve time management

The periodic practice of the  UPSC Mains Management question paper teaches the applicants to be on time during the real UPSC Management test to complete the paper on time.

Easy revision of Content

The solution to previous years' papers enhances the facts and issues covered while studying the UPSC Management syllabus to understand it fully.

Create Exam Strategy

The trend followed by previous question papers will help candidates develop an intelligent plan of cracking the exam and face the test confidently in the UPSC Management exam.

UPSC Management Optional Paper Syllabus

The UPSC Mains Management question paper syllabus comprises various topics related to management principles, theories, and practices. It covers both theoretical concepts and their practical applications in real-world scenarios.

Management Concepts and Principles

Introduction to management, management functions, planning, organising, leading, controlling, decision-making, and communication.

Organizational Behavior

Individual behaviour, motivation, leadership, groups and teams, power and politics, organisational culture, and change management.

Human Resource Management

Recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal, compensation management, and employee relations.

Marketing Management

Marketing concepts, market segmentation, product life cycle, pricing strategies, advertising and sales promotion, and consumer behaviour.

Financial Management

Financial analysis and planning, capital budgeting, working capital management, cost of capital, and financial markets.

How do you download UPSC Management Previous Year Question Papers?

It is easy to download the previous year's UPSC Management papers to practice for the exam. Here are the steps to download last year's exam papers for UPSC History:

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's papers section.

Step 4: Search for the "UPSC Management" exam.

Step 5: A list of last year's papers will open up. Choose the PDF you want to open.

Step 6: Download the PDF and save it for your reference.

Exam Date & Schedule Insights

The UPSC Mains 2025 will begin on August 22, with optional management papers likely scheduled for the last phase. For 2026, the Mains exam is expected to start on August 21.

UPSC Mains 2025 – Management Paper

• This will start on August 22, 2025, and last five days in General Studies, each Essay, Language, and Optional papers. 
• Management optional usually comes on the last day in two slots (Paper I & Paper II). Such a schedule framework is the best when the final revision should be planned.

UPSC 2026 Exam Calendar

• Public announcement: 14 January 2026
• Registration window: January 14th st 2026- February 3rd, 2026
• The prelims will be May 24, 2026, and the mains will commence on August 21, 2026, beginning with the essay and optional papers

Aspirant Trends & Numbers

UPSC Prelims 2025- Competition More than 13 lakh candidates had their names on the list written in Prelims 2025, and 14,161 reached the Mains. A considerable proportion of these applicants are engineering graduates, which is a factor that affects subject choice in options such as management.

Prelims Participation

• 2025 Prelims (May 25) saw approximately 10 lakh to 13.4 lakh aspirants countrywide.
• Some regional centres like Indore and Ranchi each hosted 14–22,000 examinees, with ~65–66% attendance.
   

Qualifiers to Mains

• 14,161 candidates cleared Prelims in 2025
• In 2024, 13.4 lakh appeared and only 14,627 qualified for Mains
   

Engineering Aspirants

• Although a specific breakdown isn't available, a significant portion of these aspirants come from engineering backgrounds—often those opting for the Management optional.

Last 10 Years UPSC Mains Question Papers with Answers PDF

Here are the download links for the candidates looking for the last 10 years of UPSC Mains question papers PDF. Get the past 10 years' question papers for UPSC mains exams from the table below.

Check out the Last 25 Years UPSC Mains Question Papers here.

How Can The UPSC Mains Management Question Paper Help You?

Studying  UPSC Mains Management question paper, which not only scores but also forms the basis of the most vital competence in CSE.

Subject Mastery

• Improves mastery of the subject, topic and understanding.
• Assists in making clear essays in the interviews and mains.

Effective Understanding

• Solving previous years' UPSC Mains Management question papers builds conceptual clarity and improves answer writing. It helps aspirants align preparation with actual exam patterns and expected question trends.

Confidence Booster

• Achieving a high score in the UPSC Mains Management question paper will give general confidence in the exam and eliminate the problem of test-day stress.

Conclusion

UPSC Mains Management question paper is a powerful subject in the CSE quest. In Prelims 2025, there were 9.48 lakh candidates, and only 12,000 came to Mains. Mandatory articles also improve language, understanding, and systematic writing talents, which are essential in mains and interrogations. Prelims 2026 (probably notification in January 2026) is around the corner, and as you plan, ensure you include UPSC Mains Management question paper, match your prep with your optional, background, and emerging UPSC trends. Begin early, practice well and see your confidence shoot up!

We hope these UPSC Mains Management question papers prove helpful in your exam preparation. You can also check Management Optional Coaching by Testbook for guidance from India's SuperTeachers. For more information about test series, live classes, detailed notes, and to know about several other government exam candidates, download the Testbook App.