The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the toughest exams in the country, and every mark counts. Many aspirants wonder about the minimum marks required to secure a position in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). In this article, we discuss the lowest marks needed and how they fluctuate each year.

1. Understanding the Cut-off Marks

The minimum marks required to become an IAS officer depend on the overall performance of candidates in that particular year. These marks are set by the UPSC after the completion of the exam and vary based on several factors, including the difficulty level of the paper and the number of vacancies.

2. Cut-off for Prelims

The UPSC Prelims is the first stage of the examination. To qualify for the Mains, candidates must clear the cut-off for the Prelims, which is decided by the UPSC. For the General category, the cut-off in recent years has ranged between 90 to 105 marks out of 200 in the GS Paper I. Clearing the Prelims does not guarantee selection but allows candidates to move to the next stage.

3. Mains Cut-off Marks

The Mains exam carries more weight, with a total of 1750 marks. The cut-off for the Mains is crucial as it determines who will be called for the interview round. Typically, the Mains cut-off for General category candidates is between 700 to 750 marks. It is higher for other categories like OBC, SC, and ST.

4. Final Selection: Lowest Marks for IAS

Once the Interview or Personality Test is completed, the final selection is made based on the combined marks of the Mains (written) and the Interview, totaling 2025 marks. In recent years, the lowest total marks required to become an IAS officer have been around 950 to 1050, depending on the category of the candidate.

5. Factors Influencing Cut-offs

Several factors influence the cut-off marks for IAS each year. These include the number of candidates, difficulty level of the papers, vacancies available, and overall performance. The cut-offs also differ based on the reservation category—General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS.

6. Conclusion

There is no fixed lowest mark to become an IAS, as it changes yearly based on multiple factors. However, on average, candidates securing around 950 to 1050 marks out of 2025 can expect to be selected for the IAS cadre, depending on the category they belong to.