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UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern 2025
🏛️ UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern 2025: Complete Guide to Preliminary, Mains & Interview
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit candidates for prestigious posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Group A & B services.
This exam is considered one of the toughest competitive exams in India, attracting lakhs of aspirants each year. The UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages — Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview (Personality Test).
📋 UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern 2025 – At a Glance
| Stage | Usual Month of Exam | Subjects | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | May | General Studies Paper I & II | Paper I – 200 Paper II – 200 |
| Main Examination | September | General Studies I, II, III, IV Optional Subject Paper I & II Essay Writing | 250 each (Total = 1750) |
| Compulsory Language Papers | Along with Mains | English & Indian Language (Qualifying) | 300 each |
| Interview/Personality Test | February – April | Personality Test | 275 |
🔹 Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
The UPSC Preliminary Exam serves as the first stage of screening. It is objective type (MCQ based) and consists of two papers:
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General Studies Paper I (200 marks)
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Covers Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, and General Science.
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Marks obtained in this paper decide selection for Mains.
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General Studies Paper II (CSAT – 200 marks)
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Tests comprehension, reasoning, analytical ability, and basic numeracy.
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It is qualifying in nature, requiring a minimum of 33% marks to pass.
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📝 Note: Marks obtained in the Prelims are not added to the final merit list.
🔹 Stage 2: Main Examination (Mains)
The UPSC Mains Exam is descriptive and aims to test the candidate’s intellectual depth, analytical ability, and understanding of various issues.
It consists of 9 papers, out of which 2 are qualifying and 7 are counted for merit.
✴️ Qualifying Papers
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Paper A – Indian Language: 300 Marks (Qualifying)
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Paper B – English Language: 300 Marks (Qualifying)
(Marks of these papers are not added to the final score.)
✴️ Papers Counted for Merit (1750 Marks Total)
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Geography) | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice) | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Environment) | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject Paper I | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject Paper II | 250 |
📝 Total marks for merit-based evaluation: 1750 marks
🔹 Stage 3: Interview / Personality Test
Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for the Personality Test (Interview) conducted at the UPSC office in New Delhi.
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Total Marks: 275
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The interview assesses a candidate’s personality, communication skills, clarity of expression, judgment, and overall suitability for public service.
🧾 Final Merit Calculation
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The final selection is based on the marks obtained in the Main Examination (1750) and the Interview (275).
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The qualifying papers (English & Indian Language) and Prelims scores are not counted in the final merit list.
✅ Total Marks for Final Ranking = 1750 (Mains) + 275 (Interview) = 2025
📅 UPSC Exam Month-Wise Schedule (Tentative)
| Exam Stage | Typical Months |
|---|---|
| Prelims | May |
| Mains | September |
| Interview | February – April |
🏁 Key Highlights of UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern
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The exam is conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
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Prelims marks are only for screening; Mains + Interview decide the final rank.
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Candidates must qualify both language papers in the Mains.
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The exam tests knowledge, analytical ability, ethics, and personality comprehensively.
📚 Conclusion
The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 is a multi-stage process designed to assess not just a candidate’s knowledge but also their administrative aptitude and personality traits.
Aspirants should have a clear understanding of the UPSC Exam Pattern to plan their preparation effectively and increase their chances of success.
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