Yes, attempting previous years' papers in an exam-like setting is a beneficial practice for various reasons:

1. Familiarity with Exam Pattern:
- Previous years' papers give you a clear idea about the format, structure, and pattern of the exam.
- By attempting these papers in a simulated exam-like setting, you become familiar with the time constraints and question types, which helps in managing time effectively during the actual exam.

2. Understanding the Difficulty Level:
- Previous years' papers give insights into the difficulty level of the questions asked in the exam.
- Attempting these papers in an exam-like setting helps you gauge your preparation level and identify areas where you need improvement.

3. Identifying Important Topics:
- By solving previous years' papers, you can identify the recurring topics and subjects that have been frequently asked in the exam.
- This helps you prioritize your preparation and focus more on the important areas.

4. Practicing Time Management:
- Solving previous years' papers under exam-like conditions allows you to practice time management skills.
- It helps you understand how much time to allocate to each question and ensures that you complete the paper within the given time frame.

5. Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Attempting previous years' papers provides an opportunity to assess your strengths and weaknesses in different subjects/topics.
- By analyzing your performance, you can work on improving weaker areas and consolidate your strengths.

6. Building Confidence:
- Simulating real exam conditions by attempting previous years' papers helps reduce exam anxiety and build confidence.
- Regular practice in an exam-like setting boosts your self-assurance and prepares you mentally for the actual exam.

In conclusion, attempting previous years' papers in an exam-like setting is a valuable practice that helps you become familiar with the exam pattern, understand the difficulty level, identify important topics, practice time management, assess strengths and weaknesses, and build confidence. It is an effective strategy to enhance your overall performance in the UPSC exam.