UPSC Mains 2023: Expert Review and Detailed Difficulty Assessment

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successfully conducted the UPSC Mains examination for 2023 from September 15, 2023, to September 24, 2023. An initial analysis conducted by experts suggests that the difficulty level of the papers ranged from easy to medium, with many candidates finding the papers manageable, especially those who had diligently covered standard sources and practiced effectively.

1. Difficulty Level

The overall difficulty level of the UPSC Mains 2023 papers was rated as easy to medium. This assessment indicates that candidates who had prepared comprehensively were well-equipped to tackle the questions posed.

2. Expected Cut-off

While the official cutoff for UPSC Mains 2023 is yet to be released, an analysis of historical trends suggests that the cutoff marks for the General category are likely to fall within the range of 740 to 760.

3. Topics Covered

The UPSC Mains 2023 examination included several topics that have been widely discussed and featured prominently in recent news. These topics encompassed issues such as youth suicides, conflicts within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), NATO expansion, Artificial Intelligence, Chandrayaan-3 landing, and more. These inclusions reflect UPSC's approach to assessing candidates' awareness of current events and their ability to connect these events with broader issues.

4. Comparison with Previous Years

In comparison to previous years, the papers in UPSC Mains 2023 were generally considered easier. Notably, the essay paper featured topics that were less abstract than in previous years. Furthermore, GS Paper-IV (Ethics) had shorter case studies, which contributed to improved time management, unlike the challenges faced in the previous year.

5. Section-wise Analysis

A. General Studies Paper I: This section featured 6 questions on History, 7 questions on Geography, and 7 questions on Indian Society.

B. General Studies Paper II: It included 11 questions on Indian Polity, 5 questions on Governance and Social Justice, and 4 questions on International Relations.

C. General Studies Paper III: This section covered 8 questions on the Indian Economy, 3 questions on Science & Technology, 5 questions on Environment & Disaster Management, and 4 questions on Internal Security.

D. General Studies Paper IV (Ethics): The Ethics paper comprised 13 questions, each carrying 10 marks, in the theoretical section, along with 6 case studies.

The UPSC Mains 2023 examination, with its moderate difficulty level and coverage of current and relevant topics, posed challenges and opportunities for candidates. As the official cutoff is yet to be announced, candidates are advised to stay updated by referring to the official UPSC website for further notifications and updates.