The Mains General Studies Paper 1 holds significant importance within the UPSC Civil Services Examination. In contrast to other papers, the first paper places specific emphasis on a range of crucial domains including History, Art and Culture, Post-Independence History, Geography, and Society.
In this context, we have conducted an analysis of UPSC Mains 2023 GS Paper 1, aiming to provide candidates with insights into the question patterns seen in recent years. This UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 2023 Analysis serves as a valuable resource for gauging the difficulty level and the types of questions posed in the UPSC Mains examination. This comprehensive article encompasses an exhaustive examination of UPSC Mains GS Paper 1, accompanied by previous year’s questions for your reference.
The UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 for the year 2023 is now accessible to candidates. This examination was conducted successfully by UPSC during the forenoon session on September 16, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The paper carries a total weightage of 250 marks. You can access the PDF link for UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 2023 below for your reference.
| UPSC Mains 2023 GS Paper 1 PDF | |
| General Studies Paper | Download PDF |
Aspirants appearing for the UPSC Mains Exam in 2023 can review a comprehensive, question-by-question discussion of UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 2023 once the questions become available.
Compared to the other general studies papers, GS Paper 1 has a different nature. It mainly consists of subjects where questions are straightforward and don’t change much over time. For instance, the History section of GS Paper 1 includes questions about ancient, medieval, modern, and world history, and these questions are typically factual and unchanging.
However, in sections like Indian Society and Geography, candidates are expected to bridge the gap between the static content in GS Paper 1 and current events. This means they should be able to relate what they’ve learned to current affairs. Candidates can find a detailed analysis of UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 from 2018 to 2022 in the table below for further insights.
History plays a crucial role in both the UPSC Prelims and Mains examinations. After covering the entire UPSC history syllabus, candidates should take a look at how different topics are weighted in the UPSC Mains 2023 GS Paper 1. Questions related to History in GS Paper 1 are derived from the following areas:
For a more straightforward explanation, you can refer to the table below, which provides an analysis of History questions in UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 from 2018 to 2022
| UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 Previous Year Questions – History | |||||
| Year of Exam | Freedom Struggle | Post Independence | World History | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| 2023 | |||||
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 35 Marks |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 65 Marks |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25 Marks |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 65 Marks |
| 2018 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 25 Marks |
The Art and Culture section encompasses questions covering various subtopics, including diverse art forms and literature in India, as well as ancient to modern architecture. Below, you will find an analysis of Art and Culture in UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 from 2018 to 2022.
| UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 Analysis – Art and Culture | ||
| Year of Exam | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| 2023 | ||
| 2022 | 3 | 40 Marks |
| 2021 | 1 | 10 Marks |
| 2020 | 4 | 50 Marks |
| 2019 | 1 | 10 Marks |
| 2018 | 3 | 35 Marks. |
The Geography section of GS Paper 1 encompasses topics such as Industrialization and Urbanization, Climate, Physical Geography, Natural resources, Indian and World Geography, among others. Typically, GS Paper 1 features 5-8 questions related to Geography. You can review the Geography analysis for UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 in the table provided below.
| UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 Analysis – Geography | ||
| Year of Exam | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| 2023 | ||
| 2022 | 9 | 115 Marks |
| 2021 | 8 | 95 Marks |
| 2020 | 8 | 85 Marks |
| 2019 | 8 | 75 Marks |
| 2018 | 4 | 70 Marks |
In GS Paper 1, the Indian Society section encompasses a wide array of topics, including the role of women in society, the challenges they encounter, the diversity within Indian society, poverty, globalization, communalism, secularism, and more. The table provided below presents an analysis of the Indian Society component in the UPSC Mains GS Paper 1.
| UPSC Main GS Paper 1 Previous Year Questions – Indian Society | ||
| Year of Exam | Total Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| 2023 | ||
| 2022 | 4 | 60 Marks |
| 2021 | 6 | 80 Marks |
| 2020 | 6 | 90 Marks |
| 2019 | 10 | 95 Marks |
| 2018 | 11 | 125 Marks. |
Candidates can download the year-wise GS Paper 1 previous year question From 2018-2023, in the table provided below:
| UPSC Main GS Paper 1 previous year questions PDF (2023-2018) | |
| Year of Mains Exam | GS Paper 1 Previous Year Questions PDF Link |
| UPSC Mains Exam 2023 | GS Paper 1 Question Paper PDF |
| UPSC Mains Exam 2022 | |
| UPSC Mains Exam 2021 | |
| UPSC Mains Exam 2020 | |
| UPSC Mains Exam 2019 | |
| UPSC Mains Exam 2018 | |
Watch More:
UPSC GS Paper 1 is titled “Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society”.
Candidates have to score a minimum of 10% of Total marks.
The paper is of a total of 250 marks.
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