The UPSC Exam
IAS as a Career & Complete Examination Guide
The IAS (Indian Administrative Service) is considered as one of the most prestigious job profiles in the country. There are 24 services offered through the Civil Services Exam, such as IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), IFS (Indian Foreign Service), IRS (Indian Revenue Service), among others.
What is the UPSC?
Union Public Service Commission is a body created under the Constitution of India, which conducts Civil Services Examination (CSE). This constitutional body is entrusted with selecting the topmost bureaucrats in India.
Eligibility for UPSC CSE
The educational qualification needed to appear in UPSC Civil Services Exam is a Graduation Degree in any subject from any University recognized by UGC. Candidates in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply for the Preliminary exam.
Age Limit & Attempts
The Minimum Age to appear in UPSC Civil Services Exam is 21 years as on 1st August of that year.
- General Category:32 Years (6 Attempts)
- OBC Category:35 Years (9 Attempts)
- SC / ST Category:37 Years (Unlimited)
Check the official UPSC notification for specific age criteria & relaxations.
UPSC Exam Pattern
The UPSC exam is divided into 3 stages – Prelims, Mains Examination & Personality Test (Interview).
UPSC Exam Scheme – Preliminary Examination
| Compulsory | Topic / Subjects | No. of Questions | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies | Geography, Polity, Economy, History, Environmental Ecology, General Science and Current Affairs | 100 | 2 Hrs | 200 |
| CSAT* | Comprehension, Logical Reasoning and General Mental Ability | 80 | 2 Hrs | 200 |
Mains Examination
| Paper | Title of the Paper | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Essay Writing | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies–I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies –II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies –III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies –IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper VIII | English (Qualifying) | 3 Hrs | 300 (Qualifying) |
| Paper IX | Language (Qualifying) | 3 Hrs | 300 (Qualifying) |
Personality Test (Interview) & Final Selection
| Component | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|
| Mains Written Examination (7 Papers x 250 Marks) | 1,750 Marks |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 Marks |
| Total Marks for Final Merit Ranking | 2,025 Marks |
Important Notes on Selection:
- 25 Subjects and 23 languages are offered by UPSC as Optional Subjects.
- Final Selection is done on the basis of merit list calculated out of 2025 Marks from Mains + Personality Test.
- Marks of Qualifying Papers (Paper VIII English & Language) are not counted for final selection.
- The final rank list is prepared by adding the marks obtained in the Main Examination (1,750 marks) to the marks obtained in the Personality Test (275 marks), resulting in a total of 2,025 marks. The candidates are then ranked based on their total marks in descending order to determine their position in the final list.
Important Dates for UPSC Exam
| Prelims & Mains Timeline | Results & Interview Timeline |
|---|---|
| Notification & Form Filling:February / March | Declaration of Mains Results:January / February |
| Date of Prelims Exam:May / June | Personality Test (Interview):March / April |
| Result of Prelims Exam:August / September | Final Result:May / June |
| Commencement of Mains Exam:October | — |
The 3 Types of Civil Services
The UPSC CSE Exam is considered as the most prestigious exam in India. Successful candidates are appointed to 24 prestigious government services categorized under three distinct constitutional cadres.
Click each category below to expand and view the full list of services.
Centres for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
Total 73 Examination Venues across all States and Union Territories.
Centres for Civil Services (Mains) Examination
Total 24 Major State Capital Centres.
Free Study Material & Video Lectures
Empower your UPSC journey with our curated syllabus breakdowns, NCERT PDF downloads, standard booklists, and daily masterclasses.
Booklist for UPSC CSE
Explore recommended NCERTs and standard reference books.
Detailed Syllabus for UPSC CSE
Comprehensive micro-topic mapping for Prelims and Mains.
Download NCERT PDFs for UPSC
Direct access to subject-wise Old and New NCERT downloads.
Watch Free Classes
Daily The Hindu analysis, Yojana classes, and PIB Decoded series.