- The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of India’s most prestigious and competitive exams, conducted annually to recruit candidates for top government positions in services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and others. It tests a candidate’s knowledge, aptitude, and personality roles in civil administration, diplomacy, law enforcement, and more. The exam is held in three stages:
- Preliminary (screening)
- Main (written)
- Interview/Personality Test.
The CSE is known for its rigor, with success rates typically below 1%. It’s open to graduates and attracts lakhs of aspirants each year. Below is a step-by-step guide covering eligibility, application, exam pattern, syllabus, and tips for beginners.
Prelims Exam:
Core Syllabus Topics
- Paper-I (GS): Current events, History of India, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and Governance, Economic and Social Development, General Science, and Environmental Ecology.
- Paper-II (CSAT): Comprehension, Interpersonal skills, Logical reasoning, Analytical ability, Decision-making, General mental ability, and Basic numeracy (Class X level).
Key Rules to Remember
- Attendance Policy: If you appear in Paper-I, it is officially counted as an Attempt, even if you skip Paper-II.
- CSAT Importance: You must score at least 66 marks out of 200 in Paper-II. If you fail to do so, your Paper I will not even be evaluated.
- Medium: Question papers are provided in both English and Hindi.
| Feature | Paper-I: General Studies (GS) | Paper-II: CSAT (Aptitude) |
| Total Marks | 200 | 200 |
| No. of Questions | 100 | 80 |
| Duration | 2 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Emphasis | Merit-ranking | Qualifying only (Min. 33% required) |
| Timing | 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM | 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM |
- The One-Third Rule: For every incorrect answer, one-third (1/3) of the marks assigned to that question are deducted. Specifically, you lose 0.66 marks in General Studies (Paper I) and 0.83 marks in CSAT (Paper II) for each wrong response.
- No Penalty for Unanswered Questions: If you leave a question blank or unattempted, no marks are deducted. However, selecting more than one option for a single question is treated as a wrong answer and will incur the standard penalty.
Mains:
The UPSC Civil Services Main Examination is a descriptive written test designed to assess a candidate’s intellectual depth and ability to articulate complex issues. Unlike the Prelims, the marks obtained here are crucial for your final merit ranking.
Here is the complete marks division and key details for the Mains:
1. Qualifying Papers (Not counted for merit)
These two papers are of a qualifying nature. You must score at least 25% (75 marks) in each to have your other papers evaluated.
- Paper A: One Indian Language (from the 8th Schedule) — 300 Marks
- Paper B: English Language — 300 Marks
Papers Counted for Merit (Total: 1750 Marks)
Your final ranking is based on the total score of these seven papers plus the Interview.
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
| Paper I | Essay (Two essays on various topics) | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I (History, Geography, Society) | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II (Polity, Governance, Social Justice, IR) | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (Economy, Science, Environment, Security) | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
| Total | Written Examination Sub-Total | 1750 |
The Personality Test (Interview)
Candidates who clear the Mains cutoff are called for the final stage.
- Marks: 275
- Grand Total (Mains + Interview): 2025 Marks
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Nationality:
- For IAS, IFS, and IPS: Must be a citizen of India.
- For other services: Citizen of India, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee (arrived before Jan 1, 1962), or person of Indian origin from specified countries (Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African nations, Vietnam) with intent to settle permanently. A certificate of eligibility from the Government of India is required for non-citizens.
- Age Limit (Every year from August 1st age cut off is considered)
- Minimum: 21 years (born not later than August 1, 2005).
- Maximum: 32 years (born not earlier than August 2, 1994).
- Relaxations:
- SC/ST: Up to 5 years.
- OBC: Up to 3 years.
- Defence Services Personnel (disabled in operations): Up to 3 years.
- Ex-Servicemen: Up to 5 years.
- PwBD(Person with Benchmark Disabilities): Up to 10 years (cumulative with other categories).
- Note: Date of birth proof must be from Matriculation/Secondary certificate; no changes allowed post-submission.
- Educational Qualification:
- A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Final-year students can apply provisionally but must submit proof before the Main Exam.
- Professional degrees (e.g., MBBS) are accepted; internship completion required for medical qualifications.
- Number of Attempts:
| Category | Attempts Allowed |
| General/EWS | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC/ST | Unlimited |
| PwBD (General/EWS/OBC) | 9 |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | Unlimited |
- Attempts count from appearing in Prelims Paper-I.
- Restrictions: Serving IAS/IFS officers cannot reapply; certain service allocations limit future options.
- Physical Standards: For some services (e.g., IPS), candidates must meet medical/physical criteria post-qualification.
Candidates must ensure eligibility; admission is provisional until verified.
Application Process
- How to Apply: Online only via https://upsconline.nic.in. Create a Universal Registration Number (URN) once (lifetime unique), then fill the Common Application Form and exam-specific module.
- Upload: Photo (live capture + uploaded), signature (3 times on white paper), Photo ID (Aadhaar preferred for verification).
- No withdrawals or modifications post-submission.
- Fee: ₹100 (via net banking/Visa/Master/RuPay/UPI). Exempt for Female/SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
- Helpline: 011-24041001 or upscsoap@nic.in
- Documents: Keep educational, residential, and birth proof ready.
FAQ’s
- What is the UPSC CSE Exam?
It is a national-level competitive exam conducted in India to recruit officers for top government positions, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
- What is the educational qualification required for this exam?
A candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree (graduation) from any recognized university. Even Open University Graduates can apply only; it should be kept in mind that the University must be recognized by UGC.
- What is the age limit for the UPSC exam?
The age limit is 21 to 32 years for the General category, with age relaxations provided for reserved categories as per government rules.
- How many times can a candidate attempt this exam?
General/EWS candidates are allowed 6 attempts, OBC candidates 9, and SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts until their age limit.
- In how many stages is the exam conducted?
The exam is conducted in three stages: Preliminary (Screening), Main (Written), and Interview (Personality Test).
- When will the 2026 UPSC Preliminary Exam be held?
The 2026 Preliminary Exam is scheduled to be held on May 24, 2026.
- What documents should be kept ready for the application?
Educational certificates, proof of residence, and proof of date of birth (such as a matriculation certificate) must be kept ready.
- What is the application fee for the exam?
The fee is ₹100 for General and OBC male candidates, while female and reserved category (SC/ST/PwBD) candidates are exempt from payment.
