UPSC CSE
Union Public Service Commission — Civil Services Examination
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
India's most prestigious competitive examination, the UPSC Civil Services Examination selects candidates for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and 20+ allied Group A and Group B Central Services. The exam tests breadth of knowledge, analytical depth, and decision-making aptitude.
3
Stages
2425
Total Marks
21–32
Age Range
Exam Pattern
Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 100 | 200 |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT — qualifying) | 80 | 200 |
Main Examination (Mains)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Essay (Paper I) | 2 | 250 |
| General Studies I — History, Geography, Society | 20 | 250 |
| General Studies II — Governance, Polity, IR | 20 | 250 |
| General Studies III — Economy, Environment, Science | 20 | 250 |
| General Studies IV — Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude | 20 | 250 |
| Optional Subject Paper I | 8 | 250 |
| Optional Subject Paper II | 8 | 250 |
Personality Test (Interview)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Personality Test | — | 275 |
Syllabus
Eligibility
Education
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university
Age Limit
21–32 years
5 years for SC/ST; 3 years for OBC; 10 years for PwD; ex-servicemen get additional relaxation as per rules
Attempts
6 attempts for General; 9 for OBC; unlimited for SC/ST (within age limit)
Nationality
Indian (IAS/IPS/IFS); Indian/Nepal/Bhutan/Tibetan refugee for other services
Cutoff Trends
2024
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Prelims GS Paper I | 105 |
| OBC | Prelims GS Paper I | 98 |
| SC | Prelims GS Paper I | 87 |
| ST | Prelims GS Paper I | 84 |
2023
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Prelims GS Paper I | 107 |
| OBC | Prelims GS Paper I | 100 |
| SC | Prelims GS Paper I | 90 |
2022
| Category | Stage | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | Prelims GS Paper I | 98 |
| OBC | Prelims GS Paper I | 91 |
Important Notes
- ●CSAT (Paper II) is purely qualifying — you must score at least 33% (66 out of 200), but marks are not counted in the merit list.
- ●Choice of optional subject significantly influences final rank — select based on graduation background and available study material.
- ●Mains marks + Interview marks together determine final ranking and service/cadre allocation.