About UPSC EXAM 2025
The UPSC released its 2025 annual calendar on 25 April 2024. The exam notification will be out on 22 January 2025, and the Prelims exam is set for 25 May 2025.
The notification includes important details like exam dates, posts, vacancies, eligibility criteria, age relaxation, application form, how to fill out the application, exam centres, exam pattern, UPSC syllabus, and more.
UPSC EXAM 2025 – overview
| Exam | Civil Services Examination 2025 |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission |
| Application Form | 22 January 2025 to 11 February 2025 |
| Vacancy | 1056 |
| Exam Date (Prelims) | 25 May 2025 |
| Exam Date (Mains) | From 22 August 2025 (Five days) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree, Age 21-32 years (relaxations for OBC/SC/ST categories) |
| Application Fee | INR100 (General category) No fee for Female, SC/ST, PwD, and Ex-Servicemen candidates |
| Selection Process | Prelims Mains (with descriptive papers) Interview (Personality Test) |
| Prelims Papers | GS Paper I (100 Q) GS Paper II (CSAT – 80 Q) Total Marks: 400 Duration: 2 hours each |
| Mains Papers | Compulsory Indian language, English, Essay, GS I, GS II, GS III, GS IV, Optional Subjects (2) Total Marks: 2025 Duration: 3 hours each |
| Interview Marks | 275 (Personality Test) |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
UPSC EXAM 2025 eligibility criteria
Before you start preparing for the UPSC 2025 exam, it’s important to understand if you are eligible to take it. Here’s what you need to know:
Nationality:
- You must be an Indian Citizen.
- If you are from Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, intending to stay permanently, or someone of Indian origin returning to settle here, you’re also eligible.
Qualification:
- You need at least a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- If you are in your final year of graduation, you can still apply for the preliminary exam, but you must provide proof of passing before the main exam.
Age:
- For the General category, you should be between 21 and 32 years old on August 1st of the exam year.
- There are relaxations in age for certain categories:
- OBC: 3 years
- SC/ST: 5 years
- Physically Disabled: 10 years
- Defense Services personnel: 3 years
- Ex-servicemen: 5 years
Number of Attempts:
- General: 6 attempts
- OBC: 9 attempts
- SC/ST: No restrictions
Physical Fitness:
Mandatory for certain services such as IPS and IFoS.UPSC EXAM 2025 registration
Here’s a simplified version of the guidelines for filling out the UPSC DAF form:
- Visit the official UPSC website and register before filling the Detailed Application Form (DAF).
- Click the registration link below the “login” button to create an account.
- Enter your name, roll number (in six-digit format), date of birth, and email address as they appear on your matriculation/secondary exam certificate.
- Fill in all fields and ensure you provide a valid and active email address.
- After submitting, you’ll receive a confirmation message on your screen and a password will be sent to your registered email.
- Log in using your roll number and password on the UPSC website.
- The DAF has six modules: Personal, Educational Information, Parental Information, Employment Information, Upload documents, and Final Submission.
- Complete each module and save it. You can modify any module before the final submission, but changes cannot be made after.
Here are the documents you’ll need to upload when filling out the UPSC DAF 2025:
- Matriculation Certificate (to prove your age)
- Class XII Mark sheet
- Graduation Mark sheet or a certificate showing you are in your final year of studies
- Community Certificate or Caste Certificate (if it applies to you)
- PH Certificate (if it applies to you)
UPSC EXAM 2025 exam pattern
If you are planning to prepare for the UPSC exam, it’s important to understand its pattern. The UPSC exam has three stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview round. Here’s a simple breakdown of each stage:
UPSC Prelims Exam:
- Divided into two papers: Paper I & Paper II.
- Both papers have Multiple-Choice Questions.
- There’s negative marking, deducting 0.33 marks for every wrong answer.
- Paper II (CSAT) requires scoring 33% marks to pass.
- Paper I covers topics like History, Polity, Geography, Science & Technology, Ecology, Economics, and Current Affairs.
- Paper II includes Logical Reasoning, Basic Numeracy, Data Interpretation, and English Comprehension.
- Each paper is worth 200 marks, with a 2-hour duration.
UPSC Mains Exam:
- Consists of 9 papers, including Indian Language Paper, English Paper, Essay Paper, 4 GS Papers, and 2 Optional Papers. These are descriptive.
- Indian Language Paper and English Paper are qualifying.
- Essay paper, GS Papers, and Optional Papers are considered for merit.
- Each paper has a 3-hour duration.
- Candidates from certain states are exempt from the Indian Language Paper.
- Qualifying papers are worth up to 300 marks, while merit papers are worth up to 250 marks.
UPSC EXAM 2025 syllabus
The UPSC Prelims exam has two main papers: General Studies and CSAT.
General Studies (200 marks): Covers topics like:
- Indian Polity
- Geography
- History
- Indian Economy
- Science and Technology
- Environment and Ecology
- International Relations
CSAT (200 marks): Includes:
- Reasoning and Analytical skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Decision-Making questions
Important Topics for Prelims
General Studies (Paper 1):
- Current events (national and international)
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography (Physical, Social, Economic)
- Indian Polity and Governance (Constitution, Political System, etc.)
- Economic and Social Development (Sustainable Development, Poverty, etc.)
- Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change (general issues)
- General Science
CSAT (Paper 2):
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills (communication)
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
UPSC Mains Syllabus
The UPSC Mains exam has 9 theory papers. 7 of these papers count towards the final merit list, while the other 2 are qualifying (English and Indian Language).
Important Topics for Mains:
- Paper A: Compulsory Indian Language
- Paper B: English
- Essay
- General Studies I: Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society
- General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, Welfare Initiatives, Social Justice & International Relations
- General Studies III: Technology, Economic Development, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management
- General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
- Optional Subject – Paper I
- Optional Subject – Paper II
UPSC EXAM 2025 admit card
To get your UPSC 2025 admit card, a crucial document for the exam, follow these simple steps:
- Visit the official website https://upsc.gov.in/.
- Look for the ‘Admit Cards’ section and click on it.
- Choose the exam you’re appearing for.
- Enter your registration ID or roll number.
- Type in the Captcha code shown.
- Click on ‘Submit’ to access your admit card.
- Download and print it for the exam. Make sure to keep it safe throughout the selection process.
UPSC EXAM 2025 result
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) releases the results for the IAS exam in several stages:
UPSC Prelims Result:After the preliminary exam, UPSC announces a list of shortlisted candidates. However, they don’t reveal individual marks.
UPSC Mains Result:The Mains results come out in a PDF format containing the roll numbers of candidates who passed. These successful candidates move on to the next phase.
UPSC Final Result: Following the interview phase, UPSC compiles a final merit list based on marks from the main exam and interview.
Note: The marks from the preliminary exam aren’t included in the final merit list. Last year, 761 students were selected, including 263 from the general category, 229 from OBC, 122 from SC, 86 from EWS, and 61 from ST.
FAQ
What is the salary of an IAS officer?
The starting salary for an IAS officer is Rs. 56,100. Along with this, they receive additional benefits such as official residences, vehicles, and more.
Is there any reservation for ex-servicemen in the UPSC exam?
Ex-servicemen, particularly ECOs/SSCOs who’ve served at least 5 years in the military, can get a relaxation of up to 5 years in their age limit for certain opportunities.
Are there any age relaxations in UPSC for female candidates?
Female candidates don’t receive special age relaxations; age criteria for UPSC exams are based solely on the applicant’s category.
When will UPSC Mains 2025 be conducted?
The UPSC 2024 mains exam will begin on September 20, 2024. The commission will release the full schedule after the preliminary examination ends.
What is the eligibility to apply for the UPSC 2025?
Anyone who has graduated from a recognized university in any field can apply for the UPSC exam 2024. Even if you’re in your final year of graduation, you’re eligible to apply.
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