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The UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025 was conducted on 23rd August 2025 in the second shift from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. This paper tested aspirants on topics related to Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations. As soon as the exam concluded, the official PDF link of GS Paper 2 was made available for candidates, which has been shared below for easy access and practice.
UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025
The UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 (2025) is one of the most important ranking papers in the Civil Services Examination. This paper primarily focuses on Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations. It is descriptive in nature and carries 250 marks. The paper tests not only subject knowledge but also the candidate’s ability to analyze governance and policy issues, interpret constitutional principles, and suggest practical solutions.
UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services (Mains) 2025 |
| Paper Name | General Studies Paper 2 |
| Syllabus Coverage | Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations |
| Mode of Examination | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
| Type of Questions | Descriptive/Essay type |
| Total Marks | 250 |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Nature | Ranking – contributes to final merit |
| Medium | English / Hindi & other listed languages |
UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025 PDF Link
The official UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 question paper PDF for 2025 has been released as the exam has been conducted on 23rd August, 2025 in second shift. Candidates can download it from the UPSC official website under the “Previous Question Papers” section. The PDF version is crucial for aspirants as it helps in analyzing the type of questions asked, practicing answer writing, and evaluating preparation levels. Keeping the paper handy is a must for serious aspirants.
Click here to download UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025 PDF
Questions Asked in UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025
- Discuss the ‘corrupt practices’ for the purpose of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Analyze whether the increase in the assets of the legislators and/or their associates, disproportionate to their known sources of income, would constitute ‘undue influence’ and consequently a corrupt practice.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - Comment on the need of administrative tribunals as compared to the court system. Assess the impact of the recent tribunal reforms through rationalization of tribunals made in 2021.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - Compare and contrast the President’s power to pardon in India and in the USA. Are there any limits to it in both the countries? What are ‘preemptive pardons’?
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - Discuss the nature of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Briefly describe the powers and functions of the Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - “The Attorney General of India plays a crucial role in guiding the legal framework of the Union Government and ensuring sound governance through legal counsel.” Discuss his responsibilities, rights and limitations in this regard.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - Women’s social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - e-governance projects have a built-in bias towards technology and back-end integration than user-centric designs. Examine.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - Civil Society Organizations are often perceived as being anti-State actors than non-State actors. Do you agree? Justify.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - India-Africa digital partnership is achieving mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional partnerships. Elaborate.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - “With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism.” Elucidate.
(Answer in 150 words) 10 - “Constitutional morality is the fulcrum which acts as an essential check upon the high functionaries and citizens alike…”
In view of the above observation of the Supreme Court, explain the concept of constitutional morality and its application to ensure balance between judicial independence and judicial accountability in India.
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - Discuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system of appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - Examine the evolving pattern of Centre-State financial relations in the context of planned development in India. How far have the recent reforms impacted the fiscal federalism in India?
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - What are environmental pressure groups? Discuss their role in raising awareness, influencing policies and advocating for environmental protection in India.
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - Inequality in the ownership pattern of resources is one of the major causes of poverty. Discuss in the context of ‘paradox of poverty’.
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - “In contemporary development models, decision-making and problem-solving responsibilities are not located close to the source of information and execution defeating the objectives of development.” Critically evaluate.
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the issue.
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - “Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India’s foreign policy, and is linked with India’s overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries.” How would you integrate energy security with India’s foreign policy trajectories in the coming years?
(Answer in 250 words) 15 - “The reform process in the United Nations remains unresolved, because of the delicate imbalance of East and West and entanglement of the USA vs. Russo-Chinese alliance.” Examine and critically evaluate the East-West policy confrontations in this regard.
(Answer in 250 words) 15
Steps to Download UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025
UPSC provides the GS Paper 2 PDF officially. Follow these steps to download the paper safely:
Go to the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in).
Click on the “Examination” tab.
Select “Previous Question Papers.”
Choose Civil Services (Main) Examination.
Select the year 2025 and look for General Studies Paper 2.
Download the PDF file and save it for practice and revision.
Also Read: UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 2025 PDF
Type of Questions Asked in UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025
The UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025 questions were designed to check a candidate’s understanding of governance, policymaking, and international affairs. They were mostly analytical and demand critical evaluation of issues.
Constitutional principles and their practical application in governance.
Polity-based issues like separation of powers, federalism, and constitutional amendments.
Governance-related topics such as government policies, e-governance, and accountability.
Social justice issues like poverty, health, education, and welfare schemes.
International relations questions linked to India’s foreign policy, global organizations, and current affairs.
Also Read: UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2025 PDF
UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025: Difficulty Level
The GS Paper 2 is considered moderately difficult to tough depending on the year’s questions. Since it deals with contemporary governance and global relations, candidates must keep up with current affairs and policy changes.
UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 2025 FAQs
Q1. What does GS Paper 2 cover in UPSC Mains?
It covers Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
Q2. How many marks is GS Paper 2 worth?
It carries 250 marks and is descriptive in nature.
Q3. Where can I download the official GS Paper 2 2025 PDF?
The paper will be available on the official UPSC website under the Previous Question Papers section.
Q4. What is the difficulty level of GS Paper 2?
It is generally moderate to tough, requiring both conceptual clarity and current affairs knowledge.
Q5. Is GS Paper 2 important for UPSC ranking?
Yes, GS Paper 2 is a ranking paper and directly contributes to the final merit list.
