02 – Analysis of UPSC Prelims Subject Wise Weightage

Last Updated on January 24, 2025 by Admin

Introduction

In the last article, we discussed the ‘strategy and time table one can follow for the Prelims exam’. While we outlined the broad approach we should have in Prelims preparation, we will consider the finer aspects of preparation in this, and upcoming articles.

Subject Wise Weightage in Prelims

There are two most important infographics when it comes to UPSC Prelims strategy. The first is the table as given below. It indicates the breakdown of entire UPSC Prelims subject wise weightage over years. 

The second infographics is the graph, which sums up the above table into two major phases i.e. weightage of different subjects from 2011-2024 (12 years) and from 2022 to 2024 (last 3 years). We’ve given the  graph later in the article. For now, let’s focus on the above table. 

Please note that the UPSC Prelims pattern changed drastically in 2011. Hence we’ve considered the analysis of 2011 onwards questions only.

Extremities in the Table

First, let’s take care of anomalies or extremities from the table. For the sake of this discussion, we’ll call extremity in case UPSC has deviated from the regular trend only once. We find only 2 such instances. 

• In Art & Culture – 10 questions were asked in 2014, which can be attributed to the fact that in 2013, UPSC combined Civil Services and IFoS Prelims and probably the pattern for exam was not yet set. Except 2014 however, UPSC has not asked many questions from the subject. 
• In Environment, 24 questions were asked in 2014. Again, it can be attributed to the same reason as above.

Apart from these two, we will not call other instances as anomalies, rather a normal feature of the exam. And we should be ready to expect any number of questions from a particular subject within maximum and minimum number of questions UPSC has asked on that subject (with exception of above two extremes)

Overall Pattern of Subject Wise Weightage

While UPSC experimented a lot with subject wise weightage, we can observe that, in recent years i.e. 2022, 2023 and 2024, UPSC has kind of settled on the number of questions from each subject. Little variation is of course there, given the variety of questions it asks and the way question paper is designed.

To better understand this, the graph given below should be more helpful.

How to Use Prelims Subject Wise Weightage in Preparation

The above graph will be more helpful from a study perspective. Please take your time to analyze it before returning to this article. 

Now, from the above graph, it is evident that Economy, Environment, Polity and Geography are the most important subjects in Prelims preparation, in the given sequence. As said before, together, 60-65% questions get asked from these 4 subjects only.

This is the reason we advised in our previous article that one should start their studies with these four subjects. For further simplicity, Economy and Polity are related and so are Environment and Geography, and accordingly you may  study two subjects at a time.

However, the subject wise weightage is not the only reason we should give importance to these 4 subjects. There is another factor that needs to be considered.

If you know, Economics and Polity are highly conceptual subjects contrasted with history, which is mostly factual. As experience suggests, with a good amount of study and understanding, one can have up to 90% accuracy in Economy and Polity. Exactly opposite is true for History, Art & Culture and Current Affairs, where despite studying in depth, it’s difficult to have accuracy more than 60-70% 

Remaining subjects i.e. Environment, Geography and S&T figure in between on these criterias where some questions are conceptual while some are factual.

Considering the above factor in the equation, the topic wise weightage becomes further skewed. From the final 120 marks you’re targeting (which you should), around 75-80% are going to come from first four subjects i.e. Economy, Polity, Environment and Geography.

Conclusion

What we have discussed above is secret # 1 when it comes to UPSC Prelims preparation. It is a truth hidden in plain sight. We will strongly recommend considering this while you’re crafting a strategy for Prelims.

This is also the reason that some students clear Prelims repeatedly since they’ve done these conceptual subjects nicely, and can revise them with little revision, every year. 

We hope that the above discussion has added little value to your preparation. Feel free to let us know what you feel, and ask any queries if you have.