UPSC Civil Services Mains Marks Disclosure CIC Recommendation

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended restoring the practice of publishing paper-wise marks of candidates recommended in the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination. The detailed marks were publicly available until the 2017 Civil Services Examination, while only aggregate marks have been made public from 2018 onwards.

The matter came up after an RTI application sought comparative data on marks scored by selected candidates in individual General Studies papers, optional papers and the Personality Test. The request covered the period from 2018 to 2023.

Why has CIC asked for UPSC paper-wise marks?

The CIC examined why the earlier practice of publishing detailed marks was stopped. According to reports on the order, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) could not produce a file noting, office memorandum or other formal record explaining the change from 2018.

The Commission has recommended bringing back the earlier system. It has also asked for detailed marks of recommended candidates from 2018 to 2023 to be provided in response to the RTI request.

The requested information includes marks in individual General Studies papers, optional subject papers, and the Personality Test.

What marks did the RTI applicant seek?

The RTI request was aimed at getting a clearer picture of how selected candidates performed across different papers and optional subjects.

The main information sought was:

Such data could allow UPSC aspirants to compare marks across individual papers instead of looking only at the final aggregate score.

When did UPSC stop publishing paper-wise marks?

Paper-wise marks of recommended candidates were publicly available up to the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017. From CSE 2018, the public information shifted to aggregate marks rather than the detailed paper-wise break-up.

The CIC's latest recommendation is linked to this change. The Commission noted that the DoPT could not show an official record for a formal policy decision behind stopping the earlier practice.

This does not mean that UPSC has already changed its website or result process. The recommendation calls for the earlier disclosure practice to be restored.

What did UPSC and DoPT say about the marks data?

The proceedings also brought out different positions from UPSC and DoPT about where the detailed marks are maintained.

According to the reported CIC proceedings:

• UPSC said detailed marks are shared with DoPT and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration after the final result.
• UPSC also maintained that subject-wise marks are treated as personal information and are not publicly disclosed in the same manner.
• DoPT said the detailed marks are generated and maintained by UPSC.
• The difference between the two positions was considered during the RTI proceedings.

How could paper-wise UPSC marks help aspirants?

The CIC linked detailed marks with transparency in the Civil Services selection process. Paper-wise data could give UPSC aspirants a better view of performance in General Studies and optional subjects.

The information may also help those studying past UPSC Mains trends. In particular, optional-subject marks could give students more data when they compare different subjects.

However, marks from past years do not by themselves show which optional subject a future aspirant should select. Subject choice also depends on the syllabus, preparation level and other factors.

What is the latest status of UPSC Civil Services Mains 2026?

The UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2026 is listed on the official UPSC website. The commission's examination page includes the 2026 timetable, e-admit card information, question papers and other notices. The question papers were uploaded on September 1, 2026.

The current CIC development is separate from the conduct of the 2026 Mains examination. It concerns the public disclosure of detailed marks for recommended candidates and the availability of older marks data.

There is no separate fee or payment in INR involved for checking the publicly available UPSC marks information. The issue is related to disclosure of examination data under the RTI process.

Will UPSC start publishing paper-wise marks again?

The CIC has recommended restoring the earlier practice, but the recommendation should not be treated as an immediate announcement that UPSC has already changed its marks disclosure system.

The next step will depend on the action taken by the concerned authorities. UPSC's current website has a separate section for marks of recommended candidates, where marks information for various examinations is published.

For now, aspirants should rely on official UPSC notices for any new decision about paper-wise marks.

UPSC Civil Services Mains Marks Disclosure FAQs