The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a three-stage, national-level process consisting of Prelims, Mains, and a Personality Test (Interview) to select candidates for top-tier civil services.
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Screening Stage)
This consists of two objective (MCQ) papers on one day, used only to qualify for the Mains.
- Paper I: General Studies (GS): 200 marks, 100 questions, focuses on Indian history, polity, geography, economy, environment, and current events.
- Paper II: CSAT (Aptitude): 200 marks, 80 questions. It is qualifying in nature, requiring a minimum of 33% (66 marks) to pass.
- Note: Negative marking (1/3rd) applies to both papers.
Stage 2: Main Examination (Written)
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descriptive (subjective) exam with 9 papers taken over several days.
- Qualifying Papers: Two language papers (English and one Indian language), requiring 25% to pass, with marks not counted in the final merit.
- Merit Papers (1750 Total Marks):
- Essay: One paper.
- General Studies (I–IV): Four papers covering Indian heritage, history, geography, governance, constitution, polity, social justice, international relations, technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security, disaster management, and ethics.
- Optional Subjects (VI & VII): Two papers based on one chosen subject.
Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview)
- Marks: 275.
- Focus: Assesses character, mental alertness, and personality by a board.
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Final Selection
Final rankings are based on the combined score of the Main Exam (1750) and the Interview (275), totaling 2025 marks.