Table of Contents
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is divided into three stages: the Prelims, the Mains, and the Interview. The Prelims consist of two objective papers: General Studies Paper I and the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). The Mains is a more comprehensive stage, featuring nine descriptive papers, including an Essay, General Studies (I-IV), Optional Subjects (Papers I and II), and Language papers.
In 2023, around 13 lakhs of candidates registered for the Prelims, but only 14,624 applicants made it through to the Mains. The UPSC Prelims include two papers: General Studies and CSAT. Both are objective-type and carry 200 marks each, making a total of 400 marks. The Mains exam has nine papers, all featuring descriptive questions. Together, these nine papers account for 1750 marks.
The stage-wise exam pattern for UPSC CSE 2025 is given below:
| Stages | Name | No. of Papers | Type of Question | Marks |
| Stage 1 | UPSC Prelims | 2 Papers | Objective | 400 |
| Stage 2 | UPSC Mains | 9 Papers | Descriptive | 1750 |
| Stage 3 | UPSC Interview | - | Personality Test | 275 |
| Final Merit List | UPSC Mains + Interview Marks = 2025 Marks | |||
Marking scheme for UPSC CSE Prelims, Mains and Interview are discussed below:
| Papers | Subjects | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | General Studies (GS) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | CSAT | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Total | 180 | 400 | 4 hours | |
| Papers | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
| Paper A | Any Indian language (compulsory) - [Qualifying paper] | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper B | English - [Qualifying paper] | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper I | Essay (you have the option to write it in the language of your preference) | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | General Studies 1 (Indian and World History, Culture, Heritage, Geography) | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | General Studies 2 (Polity, Constitution, Governance, International Relations & Social Justice) | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV | General Studies 3 (Economic Development, Technology, Disaster Management & Security, Biodiversity) | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper V | General Studies 4 (Aptitude, Ethics, & Integrity) | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject: Paper 1 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject: Paper 2 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Total | - | 1750 | - |
| Particulars | Description | Marks |
| Duration | The interview usually lasts for about 20-30 minutes. | 275 |
| Panel | Conducted by a panel of experts, including experienced bureaucrats, academics, and subject-matter specialists. | |
| Venue | Typically held at the UPSC office in New Delhi. |
Negative marking plays an important role in the UPSC Prelims exam and should not be overlooked by aspirants. Unlike the Prelims, the UPSC Mains exam does not have negative marking, as it is a subjective paper evaluated based on the quality of your written responses.
In the UPSC Prelims, there are two objective papers: General Studies (GS) Paper 1 and CSAT. The negative marking rule for both papers is as follows:
As the Prelims and Mains paper patterns are different, the art of answering questions is also different. Scroll down to know the stage-wise answering technique:
The Prelims exam is the first step, consisting of two objective papers:
The Mains exam has nine descriptive papers, including two qualifying language papers and seven that affect the final merit:
After clearing the Mains, candidates are called for an Interview, which assesses mental alertness, critical thinking, social skills, and leadership qualities.
The UPSC CSE 2025 official brochure is now released. You can view all the exam details in the brochure. Simply click the direct link provided in the table below to access it.
Some important instructions for UPSC CSE 2025 are given below:
Ans: No, the UPSC exam pattern will not undergo any major changes in 2025. The 9 papers in the UPSC Mains exam are: Essay, General Studies I, II, III, IV, two Optional Papers (I & II), and two qualifying language papers.
According to the official UPSC Notification 2025, there are around 1,129 vacancies, with 979 vacancies allocated for UPSC CSE 2025 and the remaining 150 for the Indian Foreign Service.
Ans: The UPSC Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) Exam is a technical recruitment test for those who have completed their 10+2 education in science and mathematics. Candidates who qualify can join the Indian Railways through this exam.
Ans: For the UPSC exam in 2025, candidates in the General category must be between 21 and 32 years old, as of August 1, 2025, to meet the age eligibility criteria.
Ans: The final cut off is based on the total score from the Mains and Interview. For UPSC Cut Off 2025, candidates should aim for at least 90-98 marks in Prelims and 750 marks in Mains to increase their chances of success.
Ans: CSAT stands for the Civil Services Aptitude Test. It was introduced in 2011 as part of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam to assess the analytical skills, reasoning ability, and aptitude of IAS aspirants.
Ans: The UPSC Civil Services Examination is regarded as one of the toughest exams in India and worldwide. This is due to its vast syllabus, subjective evaluation, unpredictable question patterns, intense competition, and the requirement for a thorough understanding of various subjects, including current affairs.
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