UPSC Mains Question Paper 2023

The UPSC Mains Question Paper 2023 will help you understand the exam pattern being followed by UPSC in this year. The exam dates for the UPSC CSE Mains are 15th, 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th September 2023. The examination was conducted in two shifts: the first shift is from 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m., and the second shift is from 2.00 p.m. -5.00 p.m. The pattern of the UPSC Mains 2023 question paper consists of a comprehensive assessment designed to evaluate the knowledge, analytical abilities, and writing skills of aspirants for various civil services positions in India. There are 9 papers in total, and all are descriptive in nature.

Analysing the UPSC Mains 2023 paper will help you analyse the pattern of questions and fill in the gaps in your preparation for UPSC 2024. Therefore, this article will focus on providing UPSC Mains Question Papers 2023 for all 9 papers that are taking place from 15th to 24th September 2023.

UPSC Mains 2023 Question Paper PDF

The UPSC Mains Question Paper consists of a set of nine papers, out of which two are qualifying in nature, namely the English Language Paper and an Indian Language Paper (selected by the candidate). The remaining seven papers are counted for merit, covering a wide spectrum of subjects, including General Studies, Essay, and optional subjects selected by the candidates. These papers are designed to evaluate a candidate’s in-depth understanding of various subjects, critical thinking ability, analytical skills, and ability to articulate thoughts clearly.

Here, you can download the UPSC Mains Question Paper 2023 PDF of GS Paper- I, II, III and IV consisting of the General Studies subjects part of the UPSC Syllabus. Each Paper carries 250 Marks.

• General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
• General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations)
• General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
• General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)

You can download the UPSC Mains Question Paper 2023 of General Studies – I, II, III, and IV from the given link below:

• GS Paper I Mains Question Paper 2023
• GS Paper II Mains Question Paper 2023
• GS Paper III Mains Question Paper 2023
• GS Paper IV Mains Question Paper 2023

Model Answers of UPSC Mains 2023 General Studies Questions

Those who have taken the UPSC Mains 2023 exam from 15th to 24th September or those who are planning to appear next year can download the model answers of UPSC Mains question papers of GS I, II, III, and IV from the following links. These answers will help you identify the structure and important points that could be included in the answers.

GS Paper 1:

• Question 1: Explain the role of Geographical Factors towards the development of Ancient India.
• Question 2: What was the difference between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in their approach towards education and nationalism?
• Question 3: Bring about the Socio-Economic Effects of the Introduction of Railways in Different Countries of the World.
• Question 4: Discuss the Consequences of Climate Change on the Food Security in Tropical Countries.
• Question 5: Why is the world today confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources?
• Question 6: How are the fjords formed? Why do they constitute some of the most picturesque areas of the world?
• Question 8: Do you think marriage as a sacrament is losing its value in modern India?
• Question 9: Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society.

GS Paper 2:

• Question 1: “Constitutionally guaranteed judicial independence is a prerequisite of democracy”. Comment.
• Question 2: Who are entitled to receive free legal aid? Assess the role of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in rendering free legal aid in India.
• Question 3: “The states in India seem reluctant to empower urban local bodies both functionally as well as financially.” Comment.
• Question 4: Compare and Contrast the British and Indian approaches to Parliamentary Sovereignty.
• Question 5: Discuss the role of Presiding Officers of state legislatures in maintaining order and impartiality in conducting legislative work and in facilitating best democratic practices.

GS Paper 3:

• Question 1: Faster economic growth requires increased share of the manufacturing sector in GDP, particularly of MSMEs. Comment on the present policies of the Government in this regard.
• Question 2: What is the status of digitalization in the Indian economy? Examine the problems faced in this regard and suggest improvements.
• Question 3: How does e-Technology help farmers in production and marketing of agricultural produce? Explain it.
• Question 4: State the objectives and measures of land reforms in India. Discuss how land ceiling policy on landholding can be considered as an effective reform under economic criteria.
• Question 5: Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of AI in the healthcare?
• Question 6: Discuss several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current fuel shortage.

GS Paper 4:

• Differentiate ‘moral intuition’ from ‘moral reasoning with suitable examples.
• What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.
• Explain the term social capital. How does it enhance good governance?

UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2023

The UPSC Mains Essay paper 2023 consists of two sections, Section A and Section B. Each section has four essay topics. Aspirants must choose one topic from each section for a total of two essays. Each essay must be between 1,000 and 1,200 words long and is worth 125 marks. The Essay paper is not just for qualifying purposes but also counts towards the final merit ranking. Candidates are expected to stay on topic, organise their thoughts logically, and write concisely.

The UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2023 can be downloaded here.

UPSC CSE Mains 2023 Essay Question Paper PDF

UPSC Mains Question Paper 2023 Language Papers

The UPSC Mains exam has nine papers, of which Paper A is the mandatory Indian Language Paper. Candidates must select an Indian language from a list given by the UPSC in the official notification.

Paper B is the required English Language Paper. It is a qualifying paper, meaning that candidates must score at least 25% marks in order to be considered for the final merit list.

The UPSC Mains question papers for Indian language and English language can be downloaded from the following links:

• Paper A: Indian Language Mains Question Paper 2023 (Hindi)
• Paper B: English Language Question Paper 2023

UPSC Mains Optional Question Papers

The UPSC Mains Exam has a list of 48 optional subjects from which aspirants must choose one. Each optional subject is divided into two papers, each of which carries 250 marks. The choice of an optional subject is an important factor in determining the candidate’s rank in the final merit list, so it should be made carefully. The UPSC Mains 2023 question paper of optional subjects can be downloaded from the following links:

Pattern of UPSC Mains 2023 Paper

To know about the exam pattern and the release dates of UPSC Mains 2023 question papers, refer to the following table: