UPSC Mains Paper 2025 for GS 1 was conducted on 23rd August, 2025 between 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The PDF link for GS 1 has been shared below in the article below. Candidates can download the PDF to get an understanding of the UPSC Exam 2025 and practice these questions for future upcoming exams. The UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2025 was conducted on 22nd August 2025 in the first shift from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and its PDF is also available below. The UPSC Mains Question Paper 2025 for GS 2 will be made available as soon as the exam is conducted which is scheduled to be conducted on 23rd August, 2025 between 2:30 pm to 5:30 PM.

The UPSC Mains Exam 2025 is scheduled to be held from 22nd August to 31st August 2025. This stage is the second and most crucial part of the UPSC Exam 2025. Only candidates who qualify the UPSC Prelims 2025 are eligible to appear for the Main Examination.

1. Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture. 150 Words (10)
2. Examine the main aspects of Akbar''s religious syncretism. 150 Words (10)
3. The sculptors filled the Chandella artform with resilient vigor and breadth of life. Elucidate. 150 Words (10)
4. How are climate change and sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples. 150 Words (10)
5. What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples.150 Words (10)
6. Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples.150 Words (10)
7. What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their consequences? Explain with examples.150 Words (10)
8. How does the Smart City Mission in India address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice?. 150 Words (10)
9. The ethos of civil service in India stands for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness. Elucidate. 150 Words (10)
10. Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer. 150 Words (10)
11. Mahatma Jotirao Phule''s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss. 250 Words (15)
12. Trace India''s consolidation process during the early phase of independence in terms of polity, economy, education, and international relations. 250 Words (15)
13. The French Revolution has enduring relevance to the contemporary world. Explain. 250 Words (15)
14. Give a geographical explanation of the distribution of offshore oil reserves of the world. How are they different from the onshore occurrences of oil reserves? 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? 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. 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. 250 Words (15)
18. Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could connect with poor people''s needs in a country like India. Comment. 250 Words (15)
19. 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. 250 Words (15)
20. Does tribal development in India centre around two axes—those of displacement and rehabilitation? Give your opinion. 250 Words (15)