One of the most prominent and difficult competitive exams in India is the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). Candidates are chosen for a number of Group A and Group B central government jobs, including prestigious positions like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). The selection process is carried out by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

This test is renowned for evaluating a candidate’s administrative skills, knowledge, analytical aptitude, and ethical principles.

Historical Background of UPSC

India’s civil service exams have their origins in the British Empire. In order to compete for the British Indian Civil Services at that time, aspirants had to fly to London. India formed its own commission after gaining its independence.

Key historical developments:

Year	Major Development
1854	Competitive exams started for Indian Civil Services under British rule
1922	The exam began to be held in India
26 January 1950	UPSC was established as a constitutional body under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution
Present	UPSC conducts examinations for recruitment to numerous central civil services

Today, UPSC operates in accordance with laws, regulations, and hiring practices that guarantee equity and openness.

Purpose and Role of UPSC

In accordance with its mandated duties, UPSC is in charge of:

• Administering tests for Central Civil Service posts.
• Giving the government advice on hiring practices and advancements.
• Ensuring fair selection procedures and equitable opportunity.

To guarantee efficiency, openness, and public trust, the commission maintains a Citizens’ Charter and functions through a number of administrative divisions.

Eligibility and Requirements

UPSC civil services exam eligibility

A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited university is required of the candidate. Degrees from universities founded by state legislatures or by an Act of Parliament are recognized, as are degrees from other comparable establishments. Students in their last year may also apply, but they will need to later present confirmation of passing.

USPC civil services exam age limit

There are three phases to the UPSC CSE:

Category	Minimum Age	Maximum Age
General	21 years	32 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	21 years	35 years
SC/ST	21 years	37 years
PwBD	21 years	42 years

UPSC civil services exam attempts

Category	Attempt Limit
General	6 attempts
OBC	9 attempts
SC/ST	Unlimited attempts (within age limit)

Time Limit, Marks, Frequency & More

Exam Frequency

• Every year, the UPSC offers the Civil Services Examination (CSE).
• The Personality Test (Interview), Main Exam, and Preliminary Exam are all part of this one-time yearly cycle.

Stages and Time Limits

Preliminary, Main, and Interview (Personality Test) are the three main phases of the CSE.

Preliminary Examination (Prelims)

• Consists of 2 objective-type papers.
• Duration: Each paper is 2 hours long.
• Total marks = 400 (200 for each paper).
• CSAT / Paper II is only qualifying: candidates must get at least 33% in it.
• Important note: The marks from Prelims do not count toward the final merit list.

Main Examination (Mains)

• Written exam consists of 9 papers.
• Two papers are qualifying: one in a chosen Indian language (from the Eighth Schedule) and one in English.
• These two qualifying papers are each 300 marks, and candidates must score at least 25% in each.

The remaining seven papers, which are evaluated on merit, are:

• Essay-250 marks
• General Studies Paper I – IV-250 marks each
• Two Optional Subject Papers-250 marks each
• Time per paper: Each paper is 3 hours long.
• Total marks for Mains (written) = 1,750.

Personality Test / Interview

• Carries 275 marks.
• The duration of the interview is typically 20 to 40 minutes.

Overall Scoring / Grand Total

• A total of 2,025 marks are awarded for the written Mains (1,750 marks) and the Personality Test (275 marks).
• The exam’s “score range” is 0–2025.

Purpose of Each Stage

• Prelims: A screening exam that separates applicants for the Mains. The final ranking does not include marks.
• Mains: Assesses written quality. Your performance is mostly determined by your performance on the seven merit papers, optional topic papers, and essay.
• Interview: Adds to the final rating by assessing personality, decision-making skills, and fit for public service.

UPSC Civil Services exam negative marking details

Yes, there are negative marks on the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary exam; each wrong response has a penalty equal to one-third of the total score. Because the Mains and Interview stages are descriptive and personality tests, respectively, there is no negative scoring for them.

Prelims: Both the General Studies (GS) and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) exams have a 1/3rd negative marking for each wrong response.

• Accordingly, incorrect answers in GS Paper I result in a deduction of 0.66 points, while incorrect answers in CSAT Paper II result in a deduction of 0.83 marks.
• There is no punishment for not responding to a query.

Mains: The descriptive Mains test does not carry any negative marks. Since grades are determined by the calibre of your responses, it is best to respond to every question.

Interview: Neither the interview nor the personality test stages are marked negatively.

Services Recruited Through UPSC CSE

Candidates are chosen for several Government of India departments through the Civil Services Examination. Among the main services are:

All India Services:

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)

Central Civil Services (Group A):

• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• Indian Revenue Service (IRS – Income Tax)
• Indian Revenue Service (IRS – Customs & Indirect Taxes)
• Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
• Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)

Group B Services:

• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services
• DANICS, DANIPS, and other allied services

Subjects and Syllabus Overview

Prelims Syllabus Highlights:

• Indian Polity & Governance
• Economy and Social Development
• Environment and Ecology
• Current Affairs
• General Science
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability (CSAT)

Mains Syllabus Highlights:

• Essay
• Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
• General Studies (History, Geography, Economy, Polity, Security, Technology, etc.)
• Optional Subjects (choose 1 from 48 subjects)

Registration process

Candidates must first complete a universal profile registration on the UPSC online platform in order to register for UPSC exams. In the past, basic personal information was saved and then automatically filled up in test application forms through the One-Time Registration (OTR) system at upsconline.gov.in.

• However, UPSC completely replaced the outdated OTR system on May 28, 2025, with the launch of a new online application portal (upsconline.nic.in).
• Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form, and Examination Application are the four aspects of the new webpage. Candidates can complete their profile once and use it for future UPSC tests.
• During registration, applicants must upload identity (Aadhaar is recommended), educational, and community or disability certifications.
• After the first entry, name, date of birth, and contact information are locked, however candidates can edit gender, minority status, and school test roll number until the first final submission.

UPSC CSE Fee Structure

The UPSC Civil Services Examination does have a cost, however it is very small. The official notification states:

• Male candidates in the OBC, EWS, and general categories must pay ₹100.
• Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD), SC, ST, and female applicants are excluded from paying the cost.
• Candidates who qualify for the Main Examination are required to pay an additional ₹200 on top of the preliminary exam fee.
• Payment options include offline pay-in-slip through SBI or online means (net banking, credit/debit cards, UPI).
• Under no circumstances is the charge refundable once it has been paid.

Why UPSC Civil Services Are So Respected?

• Direct role in governance and policy-making
• High responsibility for public welfare
• Leadership in administration, law enforcement, diplomacy, and economic development
• Social prestige and an opportunity to create meaningful change in society

The UPSC Civil Services Examination assesses a candidate’s character, analytical skills, public ideals, and leadership abilities in addition to their education. It is one of the most prestigious and sought-after job choices in India because of its lengthy history, constitutional underpinnings, and importance in national governance.