UPSC CSE Mains 2025 GS 1 Question Paper Released (General Studies 1) – Download PDF

The UPSC CSE Mains 2025 GS 1 Paper is worth 250 marks and can make a big difference in your final rank. This guide gives you the question paper PDF and shows you how to use it effectively for both checking your performance and preparing for future exams.

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Who needs this: Students who took UPSC 2025 and want to check their performance and students preparing for UPSC 2026, that need real question papers, and anyone serious about cracking the civil services exam.

📥 Download UPSC CSE Mains 2025 GS 1 Question paper PDF

UPSC Mains GS 1 Question Paper 2025

1. Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture. (Answer in 150 words) 10
2. Examine the main aspects of Akbar’s religious syncretism. (Answer in 150 words) 10
3. ‘The sculptors filled the Chandella artform with resilient vigor and breadth of life.’ Elucidate. (Answer in 150 words) 10
4. How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10
5. What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10
6. Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10
7. What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their consequences? Explain with examples. (Answer in 150 words) 10
8. How does smart city in India, address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice? (Answer in 150 words) 10
9. The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness – Elucidate. (Answer in 150 words) 10
10. Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer. (Answer in 150 words) 10
11. Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) 15
12. Trace India’s consolidation process during early phase of independence in terms of polity, economy, education and international relations. (Answer in 250 words) 15
13. The French Revolution has enduring relevance to the contemporary world. Explain. (Answer in 250 words) 15
14. Give a geographical explanation of the distribution of off-shore oil reserves of the world. How are they different from the on-shore occurrences of oil reserves? (Answer in 250 words) 15
15. How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drones be effectively used along with GIS and RS techniques in locational and areal planning? (Answer in 250 words) 15
16. Discuss how the changes in shape and sizes of continents and ocean basins of the planet take place due to tectonic movements of the crustal masses. (Answer in 250 words) 15
17. Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources. (Answer in 250 words) 15
18. How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience. (Answer in 250 words) 15
19. Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment. (Answer in 250 words) 15
20. Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion. (Answer in 250 words) 15

UPSC GS 1 Question Paper Short Analysis & Trend

1. Thematic Trends

• Ancient & Medieval India (Art, Architecture, Culture, Religion)
  Questions on Harappan architecture, Akbar’s syncretism, Chandella sculpture, and Jotirao Phule show UPSC’s consistent emphasis on cultural history and social reformers. These require factual recall with analytical interpretation, not rote learning.
  → Trend: Balanced coverage of ancient, medieval, and modern cultural aspects, with stress on analytical appreciation (e.g., vigor in Chandella art).
• Geography & Environment
  Questions on climate change and island nations, offshore oil vs onshore, solar energy, tsunamis, tectonic movements, Ganga Basin, etc., show the integration of physical geography with contemporary issues.
  → Trend: Geography is no longer just descriptive, but linked to sustainability, technology, and human survival.
• Society & Globalisation
  Smart cities and urban poverty, globalization’s cultural effects, fast food industry vs health, and tribal development reflect how UPSC is pushing candidates to critically examine modern Indian society in the light of equity, justice, and socio-economic change.
• Polity, Governance & Ethics Overlap
  Civil service ethos, distributive justice in smart cities, sustainability vs poor people’s needs, and tribal displacement highlight the interlinking of GS I with GS IV themes (ethics, justice, equity).
  → Trend: Candidates must write beyond definitions, bringing in constitutional values and ethical reasoning.
• World History & Relevance
  The French Revolution question shows continuity of UPSC’s practice of linking historical events with contemporary democratic values.
  → Trend: Expectation is not rote chronology, but application of lessons of history to today’s context.

2. Answer Type Expectations

• 150-word answers (10 markers): Test precision, ability to bring out core features, examples, and critical observation in limited space. Example: Harappan architecture – town planning, citadel, drainage, granaries in a concise form.
• 250-word answers (15 markers): Demand multi-dimensional analysis (polity, economy, society, international context) with a mini-conclusion. Example: India’s consolidation post-independence – expected to cover Nehruvian policies, constitution-building, non-alignment, educational expansion.

3. Observed Shifts

1. Interdisciplinary Nature – AI & drones in planning links science & tech (GS 3) with geography (GS 1). Similarly, sustainability vs poverty bridges GS 1 with economy.
2. Contemporary Relevance – Climate change, globalization, fast food culture: all link directly with ongoing debates.
3. Ethical-Philosophical Angle – Civil service ethos, distributive justice, and subaltern reforms show an underlying expectation of value-based reflection.
4. Regional Specificity – Ganga Basin, Indian solar energy, Indian fast food growth: UPSC is stressing Indian examples over generic global narratives.

4. Critical Takeaways for Preparation

• Culture: Focus on analytical appreciation of art forms, not just features. Relate reformers (Phule, Ambedkar, etc.) to contemporary subaltern movements.
• Geography: Integrate physical geography with human geography and current issues like energy transition, disasters, sustainability.
• Society: Prepare topics like urbanization, globalization, poverty, inequality, food culture, and tribal issues with Indian case studies.
• Polity & Governance overlap: Think of GS I as partly an ethics and justice paper too.
• Writing practice: Develop skill to synthesize broad topics within 150/250 words sharply.

The paper shows UPSC’s design to test not just memory but the ability to connect historical, cultural, geographical, and societal knowledge to modern challenges. The real trend is towards interdisciplinary, analytical, and ethically grounded answers with an India-specific lens.

Strategic Practice Plan for Students preparing for UPSC 2026 :

Before diving into the question analysis below, here's how to maximize your learning from this paper:

• Set a Timer: Try the whole paper in exactly 3 hours like the real exam
• Get Feedback: Show your answers to friends or teachers for honest opinions
• Check Your Structure: Compare how you wrote answers with the frameworks we'll discuss in Section 5 and VisionIAS discussion video
• Find Your Weak Areas: Use the topic breakdown in Section 4 to see what you need to study more

Understanding how to use this paper correctly will help you get the most out of the detailed analysis that follows.

Expert Point of View

Paper Structure at a Glance

You need to understand the basic format. The UPSC GS 1 question paper has a fixed pattern that tests both what you know and how well you can write under pressure.

Use this table as a quick reference during planning and mocks.

This structure directly impacts how you should approach the topics covered in the next section. The word limits and time constraints mean you need to be precise and well-prepared for each subject area.

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How to Approach Each Topic (Connected to Answer Writing)

Understanding these topics is just the first step. Here's how each topic works and what kind of answer structure works best:

Indian Culture

• Common Mistake: Just memorizing facts without understanding
• Answer Strategy: Use timelines and give specific examples; draw simple diagrams of temples
• Connection to Answer Writing: This topic needs the "comparison and contrast" framework we'll discuss in the next section

Modern History

• Common Mistake: Writing too many dates and facts without explaining why they matter
• Answer Strategy: Show cause and effect, explain why events were important
• Connection to Answer Writing: Perfect for "chronological/timeline" structure detailed below

Indian Society

• Common Mistake: Writing general answers like newspaper articles
• Answer Strategy: Define terms clearly → Analyze different aspects → Use government data → Suggest solutions
• Connection to Answer Writing: Requires "cause-effect-solution" framework for maximum marks

Geography

• Common Mistake: Not drawing maps and diagrams
• Answer Strategy: Define → Explain the process → Draw clear diagrams → Connect to human life
• Connection to Answer Writing: Must use visual elements as discussed in the framework section

These topic insights directly feed into the answer writing strategies we'll explore next.

Answer Writing Frameworks That Score

Based on the topic analysis above, here are proven structures that work for each type of question. These frameworks address the specific challenges identified in each subject area.

How to Start Your Answers (Connecting Back to Topics)

Choose your introduction type based on the topic:

1. Definition Start: Best for society and geography questions where concepts need clarity
2. Data-Driven Start: Perfect for society questions that need government statistics
3. Current Context Start: Works well for geography and some history questions
4. Constitutional Start: Ideal for society questions about rights and duties

Answer Structure Templates

For 10-Mark Questions (150 words) - Addressing Time Constraints from Section 2:

• Start: 25 words - define or give context
• Main Part: 100 words - 4-5 main points with examples
• End: 25 words - suggest what should be done next

For 15-Mark Questions (250 words) - Working Within Paper Structure:

• Start: 35 words - set up the topic
• Main Part: 180 words - 2-3 sections with detailed explanation
• Visual: Add a simple diagram or map if needed (especially for geography topics)
• End: 35 words - summarize and suggest solutions

Visual Elements Strategy (Topic-Specific Application)

Based on our topic analysis, here's when visuals are essential:

• Geography Questions: Always draw maps for weather, disasters, resources (addressing the high-marks potential)
• History Questions: Use timelines for modern history's cause-effect relationships
• Society Questions: Draw flowcharts for complex social issues
• Culture Questions: Sketch temple styles to show architectural differences

These frameworks become more powerful when you understand the changing patterns in UPSC papers, which we'll analyze next.

2025 vs 2024: What Changed (Building on Topic Trends)

This comparison helps you understand if the trends identified in the topic analysis are continuing or changing:

Key Insight for Future Preparation: The trends show UPSC rewards complete preparation over selective studying. This directly impacts how you should use the 2025 paper for your preparation, which we'll discuss next.

How to Use GS 1 2025 for UPSC 2026 Prep (Applying Everything Above)

Now that you understand the paper structure, topic trends, and answer frameworks, here's how to combine everything for your 2026 preparation:

Weekly Practice Plan (Using the Framework from Section 5)

What to Do: Spend 45 minutes every week practicing with 2025 questions

• Pick Questions: Choose 2 short questions + 1 long question from different topics identified in Section 4
• Time Yourself: Follow the 7-minute and 10-minute limits from the paper structure
• Apply Frameworks: Use the answer structures from Section 5 based on question type
• Get Feedback: Check your work on weekends, focusing on topic coverage and structure

Topic-wise Integration Strategy (Building on Section 4 Analysis)

Smart Method: Group questions by topic across 5 years (2021-2025)

• Why This Works: You can see how the trends identified in Section 4 developed over time
• How to Do It: Make separate files for each high-weightage area: Society (50-80 marks), Geography (75-100 marks), Culture (25-40 marks)
• Apply Frameworks: Practice the specific answer structures for each topic area
• Track Changes: Use the 2025 vs 2024 comparison to adjust your focus

Connect with Other Papers and Current Affairs

• Essay Paper Connection: Use society questions (the rising trend) to practice essay themes
• GS2 and GS3 Links: Geography and post-independence topics connect with governance and development
• Current Affairs Integration: Apply the current affairs connection strategy identified in the topic analysis

This integrated approach ensures you're not just practicing randomly but building on the strategic insights from our analysis.

Optional Classroom Program 2026

Resources and References (Supporting Your Complete Strategy)

These resources support the integrated preparation strategy outlined above:

Study Materials (Topic-wise as per Section 4)

• UPSC Syllabus: Know exactly what topics to cover for each high-weightage area
• Past Papers (2019-2024): Use for the topic-wise integration strategy discussed above
• Answer Writing Guide: Templates for the frameworks detailed in Section 5
• Maps and Visual Practice: Support the visual strategy for geography and culture

Official UPSC Links

• UPSC Previous Papers - Get all papers for topic-wise analysis
• UPSC Exam Calendar - Plan your preparation timeline
• UPSC Syllabus - Understand complete syllabus coverage

Frequently Asked Questions for Mains GS paper 1

1. Where can I download the UPSC CSE Mains 2025 GS 1 Question Paper PDF?

Use the download link in above. This paper will be crucial for the topic-wise analysis and practice strategy discussed throughout this guide.

2. How should I use the paper structure information?

Use the 7-minute and 10-minute guidelines when practicing with this paper.

4. Should I draw diagrams in all questions?

No, use the topic-specific guidance from give above. Geography questions need maps, culture questions benefit from architectural sketches, but not every question requires visuals.

5. How do I connect this with current affairs?

Identify that Geography and Society have strong current affairs links. Use recent events to practice the answer writing frameworks , especially for these topics.