How to Score 120+ in UPSC GS Paper 2

UPSCPrepNotes — Updated June 2026

GS Paper 2 covers Polity, Governance, Social Justice, and International Relations, and carries 250 marks in UPSC Mains. Based on topper data from 2022-2023, only 11 of 50 analyzed candidates crossed 120 in GS2, making it one of the harder papers to score high in. Here's how those toppers did it — with real marks data, topic prioritization, and answer frameworks.

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What Score Do You Need in GS2?

GS Paper 2 carries 250 marks. Based on a sample of 50 topper profiles from UPSCPrepNotes' database (2022-2023 batch):

Score Band	Candidates	Share
120+	11	22%
110-119	19	38%
90-109	8	16%
Below 90	12	24%

A score of 120+ places a candidate in the top 22% of this sample. Most selected candidates settle in the 110-119 band, which means crossing 120 typically requires a deliberate edge in Polity and IR answers rather than general governance awareness.

Topic Prioritization for GS2

GS2 syllabus splits into four broad zones. Based on topper strategy compilations, here's where effort pays off most:

High weightage (focus here)

Indian Constitution & Polity (basic structure, amendments, judiciary) — 50-60 marks
Governance (e-governance, transparency, citizen-centric administration) — 30-40 marks
International Relations (India's bilateral and multilateral engagements) — 30-40 marks

Medium weightage

Social Justice (welfare schemes, vulnerable sections) — 20-30 marks
Centre-State relations and federalism issues — 15-20 marks

Low weightage (revise, don't deep-dive)

Comparison of Indian polity with other constitutions
Statutory, regulatory, and quasi-judicial bodies (factual recall only)

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Topper Marks Data — GS2

Real GS2 marks of toppers who crossed 120, drawn from UPSCPrepNotes' verified topper database:

Topper	Rank	Year	Optional	GS2 Marks	Total
Vaishali Chopra	23	2022	Mathematics	135	1028
Kunal Rastogi	15	2023	PSIR	134	1033
Garima Lohia	2	2022	Commerce	131	657
Ishita Kishore	1	2022	PSIR	130	644
Smriti Mishra	4	2022	Zoology	130	629
Swati Sharma	17	2023	PSIR	123	1031
Siddharth Shukla	18	2022	History	123	1033

Key insight: Toppers crossing 130+ in GS2 are not limited to PSIR or Public Administration optionals. Vaishali Chopra (Mathematics) and Smriti Mishra (Zoology) scored 135 and 130 respectively, showing GS2 performance depends more on Polity and IR preparation than optional subject overlap.

Does Optional Subject Choice Matter for GS2?

Among the 11 toppers scoring 120+ in GS2, optional subjects varied widely — PSIR, Mathematics, Commerce, and Zoology all appear in this group. This indicates GS2 marks are driven by dedicated Polity, Governance, and IR preparation rather than optional subject overlap alone.

Candidates with PSIR as their optional do carry a natural advantage in the IR and Polity sections, since the optional syllabus overlaps directly with GS2 themes. However, the presence of science-background candidates like Smriti Mishra (Zoology) at 130 marks shows this advantage is not decisive on its own.

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Answer Writing Strategy for GS2

Constitutional anchoring: Cite specific Articles, Schedules, or landmark judgments wherever relevant — this distinguishes 120+ scorers from average ones.
Governance answers need examples: Reference specific schemes or committees (e.g., 2nd ARC recommendations) rather than generic statements.
IR answers need current events: Link India's bilateral relations to recent developments — dated examples score higher than textbook positions.
Structure for social justice questions: State the issue, cite a scheme or data point, then suggest a way forward in 2-3 lines.
Word count discipline: Don't exceed 200 words per 15-mark question; use the extra time saved for the IR section, which tends to need more detail.

Monthly Preparation Plan for GS2

Months 1-2: Read Laxmikanth (Indian Polity) cover to cover. Make a static-facts notebook for Articles and Schedules.
Months 3-4: Read 2nd ARC reports for Governance; build a running IR current affairs file.
Months 5-6: Start daily answer writing — 2 GS2 answers/day, focused on Polity and Governance.
Month 7: Full-length GS2 mocks (3 papers); review against topper-level answers.
Month 8: Final revision of static Polity content + recent IR developments from the preceding 6 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 120 a good score in UPSC GS Paper 2?

Yes. Based on topper data from 2022-2023, only 22% of analyzed candidates (11 of 50) scored 120 or above in GS2, making it one of the harder 250-mark papers to score high in.

Does PSIR optional help score higher in GS2?

PSIR overlaps with GS2's Polity and IR sections, but it is not required to score 120+. Toppers with Mathematics, Commerce, and Zoology optionals have also crossed 130 in GS2.

What is the average GS2 score among UPSC toppers?

Across a sample of 50 topper profiles, the average GS2 score is approximately 88 marks, with scores ranging from below 90 to 135.

Which topics should I prioritize for 120+ in GS2?

Constitution and Polity (50-60 marks), Governance (30-40 marks), and International Relations (30-40 marks) carry the highest weightage and should be prioritized over comparative polity and statutory bodies.