Exam pattern
The IAS exams are conducted in two stages:
1. UPSC Prelims:
| Paper | Subject | No of questions | Marks for each questions | Total marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 100 | 2 | 200 |
| Paper II | CSAT | 80 | 2.5 | 200 |
The prelims exam consists of two papers – General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper II. You can find more information about the papers on the website. Good luck!
- General Studies Paper-I
For Paper-I, the minimum marks required to qualify i.e the cut-off mark will be revealed only at the time of publishing the results.
- General Studies Paper-II
It is also known as CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). Candidates must score a minimum of 33 per cent to qualify for UPSC Mains.
2) Two hours are allotted for answering each paper.
3) In General studies I there are a total of 100 questions and in General studies II (CSAT) there are 80 questions.
4) ⅓rd Negative marking is given for incorrect answers.
5) Both question papers follow the multiple-choice format and carry 200 marks each.
2. UPSC Mains
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Essay(Two essays) | 250 |
| Paper 2 | General Studies Paper I(History, Geography, Society) | 250 |
| Paper 3 | General Studies Paper II(Polity, Governance & IR) | 250 |
| Paper 4 | General Studies Paper III(Economy, Science-Environment & Security issues) | 250 |
| Paper 5 | General Studies Paper IV(Ethics & decision making) | 250 |
| Paper 6 | Optional subject paper I | 250 |
| Paper 7 | Optional subject paper II | 250 |
| Paper A | Compulsory Indian language | 300 |
| Paper B | English | 300 |
1) Those who clear the UPSC Prelims must file applications for writing the UPSC Mains examination.
2) This exam consists written test
The written test comprises nine question papers, which are in a subjective format.
TABLE
All of the main
3. UPSC Interview:
- Those who clear the written test are called for the Interview/Personality test.
- A panel of eminent personalities, including the Chairperson of the UPSC, conducts the interview.(weightage 275 marks).
The collective marks obtained in the Mains and interview i.e. 2025 determine the final ranking of the candidate.
Prelims syllabus
General Studies Paper-I: This includes topics on
Current Affairs
Indian History
Indian and World Geography
Indian Politics and Governance
Government Policies
Economics and Social Development
General Science
Environment and Bio-diversity
General Studies Paper-II: This includes topics on
Comprehension
Communication Skills
Mental Ability
Decision-making and Logical Reasoning
Numbers and Data Interpretation
Mains Syllabus
The papers in the UPSC Mains are divided into two parts:
Paper A: One of the languages mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Constitution preferred by the candidate (weightage 300 marks)
Paper B: English (weightage 300 marks)