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What is the qualifying nature of the language papers in UPSC Mains?

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  • The Language Papers in UPSC Mains, designated as Paper A (Indian Language) and Paper B (English), serve as mandatory qualifying hurdles.
  • Each paper is worth 300 marks, and candidates must secure a minimum of 25% (75 marks) to pass.
    Their primary purpose is to ensure that future civil servants possess a functional command of English and at least one Indian language.
  • The standard of these exams is equivalent to Class X (Matriculation), covering tasks like essay writing, précis writing, reading comprehension, and basic grammar.
  • While the marks from these papers are not counted toward the final merit list, they are of critical importance.
  • The UPSC evaluates the language papers first; if a candidate fails to meet the 25% threshold in either, their remaining seven merit papers (Essay, General Studies, and Optional) will not be evaluated at all. This results in immediate disqualification from the race.
  • Notably, certain exemptions apply: candidates from North-Eastern states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim are not required to take the Indian Language paper.