The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the exams held by the Union Public Service Commission to choose applicants for positions in the Indian civil service, such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and other associated services. The UPSC Mains Exam consists of nine papers and is a descriptive exam.The UPSC Civil Services Examination, or IAS Exam as it is more generally known, is technically called as the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission to choose applicants for positions in India’s civil services, such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and other associated services. The UPSC Prelims, UPSC Main, and the UPSC Personality Test or UPSC Interview are the three parts of the examination.
Highlights:
| Particulars | Paper 1 |
| Full-Form | Union Public Service Commission |
| Subject | History,Geography,Political Science / Civics,Economics,General Science – Physics, Chemistry & Biology, Environmental Science, and Sociology. |
| Mode of Conduction | Offline mode |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Total Registrants for Previous session | 24,50040 |
| Official Website | https://www.upsc.gov.in |
| Total Marks | 2025 Marks |
| Total Questions Asked | 20 questions (subject to variations) in each paper |
| Total Questions to be Answered | All |
| Marking Scheme | Marks for every correct ans. |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd of the marks |
| Medium of paper | English or Hindi |
Eligibility Criteria:
The UPSC Exam Eligibility Criteria are published in the UPSC Notification. To apply for the IAS Exam or the UPSC Civil Services Examination, you must meet the following criteria in general.
| IAS Age Limit | 21 to 32 years |
| Age relaxation | As per category (mentioned below) |
| Educational qualification for UPSC Civil Services | Graduation from any recognized university |
| Nationality | Indian |
CURRENT_YEAR Exam Dates:
| Civil Services (Main) Examination, CURRENT_YEAR | 16 September CURRENT_YEAR |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 09 October CURRENT_YEAR |
| Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, CURRENT_YEAR | 20 November CURRENT_YEAR (Sunday) |
| S.O./Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE | 10 December CURRENT_YEAR (Sunday) |
Exam Updates CURRENT_YEAR:
The inaugural NDA and NA exams, as well as the first CDS test, will take place on April 10th, CURRENT_YEAR. The combined Medical Services exam will take place on July 17, CURRENT_YEAR, and the Indian Forest Service (Main) exam will take place on November 20, CURRENT_YEAR.
Application Form CURRENT_YEAR:
- On the website upsconline.nic, candidates must apply online. in
- Applicants are encouraged to submit only one application.
- If more than one application is necessary in some circumstances, the applicant must ensure that the application with the higher RID (Registration ID) is complete in all aspects.
- Candidates who are currently employed by the government, government-owned industrial ventures, or other comparable organisations, or in private employment, should apply directly to the Commission.
- Candidates already employed by the government, whether permanent or temporary, as work-charged employees other than casual or daily rated employees, or as employees of Public Enterprises, must submit an undertaking that they have informed their Head of Office/Department in writing that they have applied for the Examination. Candidates should be aware that if the Commission receives a letter from their employer withdrawing permission to the candidates applying for/appearing at the test, their application will be denied and their candidacy will be cancelled.
Exam Application Fee CURRENT_YEAR:
Candidates must pay a fee of INR 100 to register for the IAS Exam. Fees are waived for females, SC/ST/PWD applicants, and those with disabilities.
| Category | IAS Prelims- Exam Fee | IAS Mains- Exam Fee |
| General/ EWS/ OBC Candidates (Male) | INR 100 | INR 200 |
Exam CURRENT_YEAR: What’s New?
The UPSC Civil Services Examination schedule for CURRENT_YEAR has been issued by the Union Public Service Commission. Candidates who failed to make the UPSC Cut Off by one or two marks in CURRENT_YEAR can reapply for UPSC CURRENT_YEAR.
Exam Pattern:
UPSC Civil Services Main Exam Pattern (2025 Marks)
Paper Subject Total Marks
Paper B English 300 Marks
Papers to be counted for Merit (Ranking)
Paper-I Essay – 250 Marks
Paper-II – General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) 250 Marks
Syllabus:
- General Studies Paper-I
- Events of National and International Importance are now taking place.
- India’s history and the Indian National Movement
- Geography of India and the World – Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World.
- Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, and Other Aspects of Indian Politics and Governance
- Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, and Other Aspects of Economic and Social Development
- Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – Issues that do not necessitate academic expertise Science in general
- General Studies Paper-II
- Comprehension
- Communication skills are part of interpersonal skills.
- Analytical and logical reasoning skills
- Problem-solving and decision-making
- Mental ability in general
- Numeracy fundamentals (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc., – Class X level), Interpretation of the data (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc., – Class X level)
- PAPER-II General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
- PAPER-III General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations.
- PAPER-IV General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
- PAPER-V General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
- Paper-VI and VII: Optional Paper-I and Optional Paper-II
- Optional Subject -Paper I and Paper-II (250 Marks Each )
Preparation Tips:
Because of the extensive UPSC syllabus and fierce competition, the IAS Exam is one of the most difficult tests in India. With disciplined preparation and the appropriate coaching, however, you may pass the UPSC test on the first try. We’ve charted out a step-by-step method for preparing for the UPSC Exam. This will also address the question of how to pass the UPSC test on the first go. Let’s have a look at the UPSC Exam preparation method in detail.
- Know the exam well
- Strengthen your foundation
- Upgrade Your Knowledge with standard books
- Practice Answer Writing + Revision
- Mock-Test Based Learning Approach
Exam Time Table:
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 20 February CURRENT_YEAR |
| CISF AC(EXE) LDCE-CURRENT_YEAR | 13 March CURRENT_YEAR |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 13 March CURRENT_YEAR |
| N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (I), CURRENT_YEAR | 10 April CURRENT_YEAR |
Exam Reservation:
| Scheduled Caste | 15% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 4% |
Answer Key:
Aspirants may utilize UPSC answer key CURRENT_YEAR to compute their scores. The UPSC answer key CURRENT_YEAR may be downloaded and printed using the guidelines in the section below. The applicants’ initial step should be to thoroughly fill out the response sheet, with full marks for each accurate response.
In order to get UPSC Civil Services Answer Key CURRENT_YEAR in PDF format, you must first complete the guidelines below. After obtaining the UPSC Prelims Answer Key CURRENT_YEAR, applicants will be able to easily analyze their scores.
Cut Off:
| Categories | Expected Cutoff |
| General | 95-105 |
| EWS | 85-95 |
| OBC | 93-103 |
| SC | 79-89 |
Test Comparison:
Officers in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) assist in public administration, policy formulation, and implementation. IPS officers are responsible for investigating crimes and keeping the peace in the areas where they are stationed.
The Indian Administrative Services arose from the Indian Civil Services. It became one of the arms of the All India Services when the Government of India Act 1919 was passed. The Indian Imperial Police was succeeded by the Indian Police Service. The Indian Imperial Police was established in 1861 when the British government approved the Indian Councils Act of 1861.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is there a minimum requirement to be eligible for the exam?
I completed my education after taking a year off. Is it true that I am eligible?
Is this test only held once a year? Answer: Yes Is this exam only held once a year?
How much does the examination cost?
The fee for mains is Rs. 200/. All the other categories are exempt from the fees.
