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What are the qualifying marks for CSAT Paper-II in UPSC Civil Services Preliminary examination?

Asked by ExamCare Editorial Team • November 8, 2026 • 👁 290 views

What is the exact passing percentage and mark requirement for General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) in UPSC Prelims? Do CSAT marks get added to the final merit list?

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ExamCare UPSC Advisory Panel
Nov 8, 2026 3:34 PM

General Studies Paper-II (popularly known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test or CSAT) in the UPSC Preliminary Examination is purely qualifying in nature:

Key Rules & Requirements:

  • Total Questions: 80 Questions
  • Total Marks: 200 Marks (2.5 marks per question)
  • Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes)
  • Qualifying Criterion: Minimum 33% marks (i.e. 66.00 marks out of 200).
  • Negative Marking: 1/3rd (0.833 marks) is deducted for each incorrect answer.
  • Merit List Impact: CSAT marks are NOT counted for ranking or determining who qualifies for Mains. Only GS Paper-I marks determine the Prelims cutoff, provided the candidate scores at least 66.00 marks in CSAT.

Strategic Advice:

To safely clear the 66-mark barrier, candidates should target attempting at least 45 to 50 high-confidence questions across Reading Comprehension, Basic Numeracy, and Reasoning.

Practice with UPSC CSAT Mock Tests & Study Materials on ExamCare.

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