Forget a single benchmark: women, men, ESM, departmental; and even different reserved categories; each have their own qualifying line. For example, a male UR candidate needed 79.21 to qualify, while a female UR candidate needed only 70.57. That’s a 8.6-point difference. And for ESM males? Just 45.07. Why such jumps? It’s not random. It’s calculated based on vacancies, exam difficulty, and how everyone else performed. If you’re preparing for the next cycle, this isn’t just data; it’s a map. It shows where the real competition lies, and where the system gives you space to breathe. Don’t just aim for “80.” Aim for your category’s number. Because in government exams, the right number for you might be much lower than you think.