UPSC Prelims 2025 Date, Notification, Syllabus, Exam Pattern

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most prestigious exams in India, serving as the gateway to key positions such as IAS, IFS, and IPS. The journey to these esteemed services begins with the UPSC Prelims, which is the first step in the selection process.Aspirants must thoroughly prepare for the exam by understanding its structure, syllabus, and the pattern of questions.

UPSC Prelims 2025 is a crucial milestone for candidates, and clearing it is essential for advancing to the next stages of the CSE.

What is UPSC Prelims 2025

UPSC Prelims 2025 refers to the first stage of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) for the year 2025. It is a crucial screening test for aspirants who wish to join prestigious civil services in India such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other services under the Government of India.

UPSC Prelims 2025 will test candidates on two key papers:

• General Studies Paper-I: This paper covers subjects like current affairs, history, geography, economy, environment, and general knowledge.

• CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Paper-II: This paper assesses candidates’ analytical skills, logical reasoning, decision-making ability, and basic arithmetic and English comprehension.

While the General Studies Paper-I is considered for final ranking, CSAT Paper-II is a qualifying paper, where candidates must score at least 33% to be eligible for the next stage, which is the Main Exam. UPSC Prelims 2025 serves as the first filter in the selection process, and only those who clear the prelims will move on to the UPSC Mains and subsequent stages of the exam.

UPSC Prelims Notification 2025

UPSC Prelims exam is conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission. UPSC 2025 exam notifications give a detailed view on the exam including its pattern, syllabus and the important dates. These notifications give all the rules and guidelines regarding the exam. They include key details regarding Group A and Group B posts in the Indian government. Though, candidates are advised to check for any updates on the official websites.

UPSC Prelims Date 2025

With the release of its annual calendar, UPSC has announced the dates for UPSC prelims 2025. The annual calendar is considered an official document released annually by the UPSC board. This calendar includes the list of all the exams that are conducted by UPSC. All aspirants can easily download the 2025 calendar from the official website of UPSC. As per the official calendar updated on the website of UPSC, UPSC prelim date 2025 is 25 May 2025.

UPSC Prelims 2025 Eligibility Criteria

To become eligible for the UPSC prelims 2025 examination, a certain criteria laid by UPSC must be followed.

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2025

UPSC Prelims Exam 2025 consists of two papers: General Studies Paper-I and CSAT Paper-II. Paper-I, worth 200 marks, evaluates knowledge on current affairs, history, geography, economics, environment, and general knowledge. It is used for ranking purposes, while CSAT Paper-II is a qualifying paper. Both papers are objective-type with multiple-choice questions and have a duration of 2 hours each. Candidates must clear both papers to move on to the UPSC Mains Exam.

Understanding the exam pattern is key to success, as it helps candidates strategize their preparation effectively. A clear grasp of the pattern enables better planning and focused study. Here’s a quick overview:

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025 is divided into two papers: General Studies Paper-I and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper-II. Here’s a detailed look at the syllabus for each:

General Studies Paper-I

GS Paper 1 covers a wide variety of topics designed to evaluate candidates’ general knowledge and comprehension across various subjects. The paper consists of 100 questions, with a total of 200 marks, and candidates are given two hours to complete the exam. The main focus areas include:

• Current Events: National and international importance, current affairs, and updates from different fields such as politics, economy, science, technology, etc.

• History: Indian history, ancient, medieval, and modern, including significant events, personalities, and movements.

• Geography: Physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world, including natural resources, climate, and development.

• Economy: Indian economy, economic development, planning, poverty, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.

• Polity and Governance: Indian Constitution, political system, rights issues, public policies, and government institutions.

• Environment and Ecology: Biodiversity, environmental issues, climate change, and sustainable development.

• Science and Technology: Basics of science, technology, space, nuclear energy, and innovations.

• General Knowledge and Decision Making: Logical reasoning, data interpretation, and problem-solving ability.

CSAT Paper-II

This paper is designed to test the candidate’s aptitude and reasoning abilities. The syllabus includes:

1. Comprehension: Understanding and interpreting passages.
2. Logical Reasoning: Analytical reasoning, puzzles, and relationships.
3. Mathematical Aptitude: Basic arithmetic, algebra, and number system.
4. Decision Making and Problem-Solving: Critical thinking and scenario-based decision-making skills.

While Paper-I contributes to the ranking, Paper-II is qualifying, with a minimum of 33% required to move forward.

UPSC Exam 2025 Marking Scheme

It’s important for every candidate to understand the marking scheme of the UPSC CSE 2025, as it helps in gaining a clearer insight into the exam structure. Knowing how marks are allotted in both the prelims and mains will allow candidates to approach the exam with a better strategy and preparation plan.

The marking scheme for UPSC 2025 is anticipated to closely follow the trends of past years. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you get a better grasp of how the scoring system works:

• Preliminary Exam (GS Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2):

1. 1. • General Studies (GS Paper 1):
        • 100 questions, 200 marks in total.
        • Each correct answer generally gets +2 marks.
        • Wrong answers typically have a penalty of -0.66 marks (one-third of the marks allotted for the question).
      • Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT Paper 2):
        • 80 questions, 200 marks in total.
        • This paper is qualifying in nature, and candidates need to score at least 33% (66 marks) to qualify.
        • No negative marking for this paper.

• Mains Exam:

1. 1. • There are 9 papers in total, including 2 qualifying language papers (English and one Indian language).
      • The remaining 7 papers are scored, including General Studies, Essay, and optional subject papers.
      • Each paper is usually out of 250 marks.
      • There is negative marking in the General Studies papers and optional subjects for wrong answers (usually 1/3 of the marks allotted).

• Interview:

1. • The interview or personality test is worth 275 marks.
   • This is the final stage of the selection process.

The overall score from the Mains (including interview marks) is used to prepare the final ranking. The total marks for the UPSC Exam, combining the Mains and Interview, are typically 2025 marks.

Here’s the marking scheme for the UPSC CSE 2025 presented in a table format:

UPSC Prelims 2025 FAQs