New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit candidates for top government services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and several other Group A and Group B services. The UPSC CSE is considered one of the toughest and most competitive examinations in India. The selection process consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test (Interview).
The Civil Services Examination is a national-level recruitment examination conducted by UPSC to select officers for various central government services. Every year, lakhs of candidates apply for the examination, while only a few thousand qualify for the final merit list.
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification.
Final-year graduation students can also apply for the Preliminary Examination, provided they produce proof of passing the degree examination before the Main Examination.
For IAS, IPS, and IFS:
Candidate must be a citizen of India.
For other services:
Citizens of India and certain categories of foreign nationals specified by UPSC may be eligible.
Candidates must be at least 21 years old and not have attained the age of 32 years as of the prescribed date mentioned in the notification.
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General/EWS | 32 Years |
| OBC | 35 Years |
| SC/ST | 37 Years |
| PwBD | Up to 42 Years (as per applicable relaxation) |
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 Years |
| SC/ST | 5 Years |
| PwBD | 10 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Government Rules |
| Category | Attempts |
|---|---|
| General/EWS | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC/ST | Unlimited (within age limit) |
| PwBD | As per UPSC Rules |
The selection process consists of three stages:
The Preliminary Examination serves as a screening test.
Questions: 100
Marks: 200
Duration: 2 Hours
Questions: 80
Marks: 200
Duration: 2 Hours
Qualifying Nature (33% Minimum Required)
Negative marking applies in the Preliminary Examination.
Candidates who qualify Prelims appear for the Main Examination.
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-A | Indian Language (Qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper-B | English (Qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper-I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies-I | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies-II | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-III | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies-IV | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject Paper-I | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject Paper-II | 250 |
Total Merit Marks: 1750
Marks: 275
Purpose: Assessment of personality, leadership, communication skills, decision-making ability, and overall suitability for public service.
Final Merit = Mains Marks + Interview Marks = 2025 Marks.
Current Events of National and International Importance
Indian History and Freedom Movement
Indian and World Geography
Indian Polity and Governance
Economic and Social Development
Environment and Ecology
General Science
Biodiversity and Climate Change
Comprehension
Logical Reasoning
Analytical Ability
Decision Making
Basic Numeracy
Data Interpretation
Multiple essays on national, social, economic, and international topics.
Indian Heritage and Culture
History
Geography
Society
Constitution
Governance
Social Justice
International Relations
Economy
Agriculture
Science & Technology
Environment
Internal Security
Disaster Management
Ethics
Integrity
Aptitude
Case Studies
Some popular optional subjects include:
Geography
History
Political Science & International Relations
Sociology
Public Administration
Anthropology
Psychology
Economics
Law
Mathematics
Literature Subjects
Candidates choose one optional subject consisting of two papers.
Successful candidates may be appointed to:
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Indian Police Service (IPS)
Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS)
Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS)
Other Central Civil Services
These services offer excellent career growth, job security, authority, and opportunities to contribute to nation-building.