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In UPSC's Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2025 After General Studies Paper I, which ran from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, and the CSAT Paper, which began at 2:30 PM and ended at 4:30 PM.
With UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025 having been conducted on May 25, 2025, countless aspirants across the nation are now in a period of intense anticipation. While the Prelims results are expected in the second week of June, successful candidates will be thrust into the rigorous subsequent stages of the examination: the Mains and the Personality Test (Interview), the ultimate hurdles to securing a coveted position in the Indian civil services.
A. UPSC CSE 2025 Mains Examination (August 2025)
For those who clear the Prelims cut-off, the next monumental step is the Civil Services Mains Examination 2025. This highly descriptive stage is scheduled to commence on August 22, 2025, and will run until August 31, 2025.
- Structure: The Mains exam comprises nine papers, of which two are qualifying language papers (one Indian language and English). The remaining seven papers contribute to the final merit list: an essay paper, four General Studies (GS) papers (GS I, II, III, IV), and two papers on an optional subject chosen by the candidate. Each of these merit-contributing papers carries 250 marks, totaling 1750 marks.
- How to Qualify: Success in the Mains hinges on a deep understanding of the vast syllabus, exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills, and, crucially, strong answer-writing abilities. Candidates must not only possess knowledge but also be able to articulate their thoughts clearly, concisely, and comprehensively within strict word and time limits. For the qualifying language papers (Paper A and Paper B), candidates must secure at least 25% marks. For the merit papers, a minimum of 10% in each paper is generally required, in addition to clearing the overall cut-off decided by UPSC.
B. The Decisive Personality Test (Interview)
Candidates who successfully navigate the Mains examination will be called for the Personality Test, or Interview. This stage carries 275 marks and assesses a candidate's mental calibre, suitability for public service, and overall personality beyond mere academic knowledge.
- How to Qualify: The interview is less about factual recall and more about evaluating one's integrity, leadership potential, communication skills, and ability to remain composed under pressure. Aspirants are expected to be well-versed in current affairs, their own Detailed Application Form (DAF) - including their hobbies, educational background, and work experience - and possess a balanced, thoughtful perspective on various national and international issues. While there are no specific "qualifying marks" for the interview, a strong performance here can significantly influence a candidate's final rank.
Numbers from Last Year: A Glimpse into the Competition (UPSC CSE 2024)
UPSC Civil Services Examination is renowned for its intense competition, with a remarkably low success rate. Looking at the UPSC CSE 2024 data provides a clear picture of the challenge:
- Total Applicants (Prelims): Approximately 9,92,599 candidates applied for the UPSC CSE 2024.
- Appeared in Prelims: Out of the total applicants, 5,83,213 candidates actually appeared for the Prelims examination (conducted on June 16, 2024).
- Qualified for Mains: A total of 14,627 candidates successfully qualified for the Written (Main) Examination 2024 (held in September 2024).
- Qualified for Interview: From those who appeared for Mains, 2,845 candidates were shortlisted for the Personality Test (Interviews conducted from January 7, 2025, to April 17, 2025).
- Finally Recommended: Out of the vast pool of initial applicants, a total of 1,009 candidates were finally recommended for appointment to various civil services in the UPSC CSE 2024.
Read More:
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: The official cut-off marks for the preliminary exam, along with individual scores, are typically released after the final UPSC CSE result is declared (following Mains and Interview).
Ans: To qualify, candidates must score a minimum of 33% (66.67 marks) in General Studies Paper-II (CSAT).
Ans: Qualified applicants for the Mains exam will then complete the Detailed Application Form-I (DAF-I).
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