New
Hindi Medium: (Delhi) - GS Foundation (P+M) : 14th Oct. 2026, 06:00 PM Hindi Medium: (Prayagraj) - GS Foundation (P+M) : 22nd Sept. 2026, 8:00 AM English Medium: (Delhi) - GS Foundation (P+M) : 26th Sept. 2026 English Medium: (Prayagraj) - GS Foundation (P+M) : 19th Aug 2026, 11:00 AM Hindi Medium: (Delhi) - GS Foundation (P+M) : 14th Oct. 2026, 06:00 PM Hindi Medium: (Prayagraj) - GS Foundation (P+M) : 22nd Sept. 2026, 8:00 AM English Medium: (Delhi) - GS Foundation (P+M) : 26th Sept. 2026 English Medium: (Prayagraj) - GS Foundation (P+M) : 19th Aug 2026, 11:00 AM

Previous Year Optional Question Papers- UPSC

Importance of previous year question paper- UPSC Optional Download PDF

UPSC Main Examination consists of two question papers of any one optional subject, which are of total 500 marks.  Information about previous year questions guides the candidates in their overall preparation. The syllabus gives information about the sections of the subject, but information about which section should be studied in what depth is obtained from the previous year questions. These questions help the candidates to practice according to the exam. Candidates are advised to keep looking at the previous year questions along with the syllabus during the complete preparation of the optional subject.

Year - 2024

Sociology Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Sociology Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

Political Science Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Political Science Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

Public Administration Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Public Administration Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

Economics Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Economics Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

Anthropology Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Anthropology Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

Philosophy Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Philosophy Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

Hindi Literature Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Hindi Literature Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

Geography Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Geography Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

History Optional (Paper I) Download PDF

History Optional (Paper II) Download PDF

Year - 2023

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2022

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2021

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2020

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2019

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2018

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2017

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2016

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2015

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

Year - 2014

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Sociology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Political Science Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Public Administration Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Economics Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Anthropology Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Philosophy Paper - I Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - II Download PDF

Optional Subject - Hindi Literature Question Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - Geography Paper - I Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - II Download PDF

Elective Subject - History Paper - I Download PDF

FAQs

1. Where can I download UPSC Optional PYQs?

You can download Optional Subject PYQs from the Sanskriti IAS website.

2. Why are Optional Subject PYQs important?

They help identify repeated themes, important topics, and question trends.

3. How should I analyse Optional PYQs?

Analyse questions topic-wise and syllabus-wise to identify important areas.

4. How many years of Optional PYQs should I solve?

Candidates should practise multiple years of PYQs, with greater focus on recent papers.

5. Can PYQs help in Optional answer writing?

Yes. They help candidates understand the expected depth, question framing, and answer-writing approach.

upsc english
« »
  • SUN
  • MON
  • TUE
  • WED
  • THU
  • FRI
  • SAT
Have any Query?

Our support team will be happy to assist you!

OR