The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam is one of the most challenging competitive exams in India. It serves as a gateway to prestigious services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A and B posts. Every year, lakhs of aspirants prepare rigorously to crack the exam. This article provides an updated overview of the UPSC 2025 exam, including notification details, eligibility criteria, syllabus, and other important aspects.

What is the UPSC Exam?

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a national-level exam conducted annually to recruit candidates for various administrative services of the Indian government. It is conducted in three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims) – Objective-type test
2. Main Examination (Mains) – Descriptive written test
3. Personality Test (Interview) – Final assessment

UPSC Exam Latest Notification PDF Download

Here is the link for downloading UPSC Exam Notification

UPSC Exam 2025 Dates

As per the official UPSC notification (Examination Notice No. 05/2025-CSP dated 22 January 2025), the following are the key dates for UPSC 2025:

Event	Date
UPSC CSE Notification Release	22 January 2025
Start of Online Application	22 January 2025
Last Date to Apply	21 February 2025 (6:00 PM)
Correction Window for Application	22 – 28 February 2025
UPSC Prelims Exam	25 May 2025
UPSC Mains Exam	22 August 2025
UPSC Interview	Yet to be announced

UPSC Exam Eligibility Criteria 2025

The notification provides for different criterion which is needed to be fulfilled by a candidate. These are:

UPSC Exam Eligibility Criteria 2025 Nationality

If you are applying for UPSC exams for the year 2025, you should know about the nationality criteria for UPSC CSE Exam 2025;

Service	Nationality Criteria
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)	Must be a citizen of India.
Indian Foreign Service (IFS)	Must be a citizen of India.
Indian Police Service (IPS)	Must be a citizen of India.
Other Services	Must be one of the following: (a) A citizen of India (b) A subject of Nepal (c) A subject of Bhutan (d) A Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling (e) A person of Indian origin who migrated from specific countries (e.g., Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya) with the intention of permanently settling in India.

UPSC Exam Age Limit 2025

To apply UPSC Exam 2025 a candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August, 2025, It means the candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1993 and not later than 1st August, 2004. 

Category	Age Limit	Date of Birth Range	Relaxation
General	21-32 years	Born between 2nd August 1992 and 1st August 2003	No relaxation
Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)	21-37 years	As above	5 years
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	21-35 years	As above	3 years
Defence Services Personnel (disabled)	21-35 years	As above	3 years
Ex-Servicemen (ECOs/SSCOs)	21-37 years	As above	5 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)	21-42 years	As above	10 years
Cumulative Relaxation (e.g., SC/ST + PwBD)	Varies	As applicable	Relaxation under both categories combined, wherever applicable

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2025 Educational Qualification

To apply for the UPSC exam, a candidate must meet the following qualification requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university incorporated by an Act of the central or state legislature in India, or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament, or declared to be deemed as a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.
• Final year students who have appeared for their qualifying examination and are awaiting results are eligible to apply, provided they submit proof of passing before the Mains examination.
• Technical and professional degree holders (e.g., MBBS, B.Tech, etc.) are also eligible. However, candidates from medical, dental, or veterinary backgrounds must complete their internship before the interview stage.
• In exceptional cases, candidates with alternative qualifications deemed equivalent by the UPSC may be considered eligible.
• Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications recognized by the government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees are eligible.
• Candidates who have passed the final professional MBBS or equivalent medical examination but have not completed their internship will be provisionally admitted, provided they submit a certificate from the university confirming successful completion of the final exam and proof of completion of the internship at the time of the interview.

Physical Eligibility for UPSC 2025

For most UPSC posts, physical standards are not

required. However, roles like IPS and IRPF have specific requirements:

• Height Requirements:

o   Men: 165 cm (160 cm for SC/ST/OBC)

o   Women: 150 cm (145 cm for SC/ST/OBC)

• Chest Measurement:

o   Men: Minimum 84 cm (with 5 cm expansion)

o   Women: Minimum 79 cm (with 5 cm expansion)

• Vision Requirements:

o  Corrected vision (with glasses): 6/6 or 6/9 for the better eye; 6/12 or 6/9 for the worse eye.

Candidates with disabilities in hearing, speech, or locomotor functions may qualify under the PwBD category.

UPSC Exam Eligibility Criteria 2025 Number of Attempts

Category	Number of Attempts
General	6
OBC	9
SC/ST	Unlimited
PwBD	9 (General/OBC) / Unlimited (SC/ST)

UPSC Exam Pattern 2025

There are two stages of examination and one stage comprising of personality test.

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers:

• Paper 1: General Studies (GS-I) – 200 marks
• Paper 2: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) (GS-II) – 200 marks (Qualifying, 33% minimum required)

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern

The UPSC Mains Examination is a descriptive test designed to assess a candidate’s intellectual capabilities, depth of knowledge, and ability to present ideas effectively. It consists of nine papers, out of which seven are counted for merit ranking. The remaining two papers—Indian Language and English—are qualifying in nature.

Paper	Subject	Marks
Paper A	Indian Language (Qualifying)	300
Paper B	English (Qualifying)	300
Paper I	Essay	250
Paper II	General Studies I	250
Paper III	General Studies II	250
Paper IV	General Studies III	250
Paper V	General Studies IV	250
Paper VI	Optional Subject Paper 1	250
Paper VII	Optional Subject Paper 2	250

Total marks for written exam = 1750 marks

UPSC Exam Interview

The Personality Test (Interview) is worth 275 marks, making the final total 2025 marks.

UPSC Exam Syllabus 2025

The UPSC Syllabus 2025 for Prelims, Mains, is divided into two stages. The Prelims include two papers: General Studies (GS) and CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). The Mains consist of nine papers, including English, Indian Languages, Essay, General Studies (I-IV), and an Optional subject. The Essay paper does not have specific topics but requires candidates to express ideas clearly and concisely. Here below the detailed UPSC syllabus 2025 for prelims and mains exam stage:

UPSC Prelim Syllabus 2025 

Prelim exams are mainly categorized into two papers; General Study Paper and CSAT. Both exams are typically of 200 marks each. Though, Paper II is considered the qualifying paper to move ahead in the exam stage. Total marks in each paper will be 400. 

The UPSC Prelims Syllabus consists of two papers: Paper I (General Studies) and Paper II (CSAT). The syllabus for both papers is designed to assess the candidate’s understanding of a wide range of subjects. Below are the details of each paper:

UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Syllabus

Subject	Topics
Current   events	National and international importance
History   of India and Indian National Movement	Events from ancient, medieval, and modern history, and the freedom struggle
Indian   and World Geography	Physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world
Indian   Polity and Governance	Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues, etc.
Economic   and Social Development	Sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.
Environmental   ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change	General issues on ecology, biodiversity, and climate change (non-specialized)
General   Science	Basic understanding of science, including topics in physics, chemistry, and biology

UPSC Prelims CSAT Syllabus

Subject	Topics
Comprehension	Reading and understanding comprehension passages
Interpersonal   skills	Communication skills, including verbal and non-verbal forms
Logical   reasoning and analytical ability	Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning abilities
Decision-making   and problem-solving	Evaluating situations, formulating strategies, and finding solutions
General   mental ability	Basic mental abilities, including logical thinking and pattern recognition
Basic   numeracy	Number relations, orders of magnitude, simple calculations, and data interpretation (Class X level)

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025

The UPSC Mains Examination is designed to evaluate candidates’ intellectual depth, critical thinking skills, and overall grasp of various subjects. The syllabus emphasizes general awareness, analytical reasoning, and the ability to assess complex socio-economic and governance issues. The exam measures both conceptual clarity and problem-solving aptitude.

Among the nine papers in the Mains examination, only seven contribute to the final merit ranking. Candidates must also select one optional subject from a prescribed list, allowing them to demonstrate expertise in a specific domain. The total marks allocated for the UPSC Mains exam are 1750, with each of the seven merit-based papers carrying 250 marks.

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Qualifying Papers on Indian Languages and English

The aim of these papers is to assess candidates’ abilities to read and understand discursive prose, express ideas clearly, and demonstrate proficiency in both English and Indian languages. These are qualifying papers only, and the marks obtained will not be considered for the final ranking.

Subject	Topics
Indian Languages	Comprehension of passages, Precis Writing, Usage & Vocabulary, Short Essays, Translation (English to Indian Language and vice-versa)
English	Comprehension of passages, Precis Writing, Usage & Vocabulary, Short Essays

Note: These papers are of matriculation standard and are qualifying in nature.

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Paper-I Essay

The UPSC Mains Paper-I (Essay) tests a candidate’s ability to express ideas clearly and coherently. The paper consists of two sections, each with four topics. Candidates must write one essay from each section, making a total of two essays. Topics cover a wide range, including philosophical, social, political, economic, and environmental issues. The focus is on logical structuring, critical analysis, and balanced arguments. There is no fixed syllabus, but a strong understanding of current affairs, history, and general knowledge helps in writing well-structured essays.

Candidates will be required to write essays on multiple topics. They are expected to organize their ideas coherently and express them effectively and concisely. Credit will be given for clarity and precision in expression.

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Paper-II General Studies-I

Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

Subject	Topics
Indian Culture	Art Forms, Literature, Architecture from ancient to modern times
Modern Indian   History	Significant events, personalities, freedom struggle, post-independence consolidation
World History	Events from the 18th century, industrial revolution, world wars, colonization, political philosophies
Indian Society	Diversity of India, role of women, social issues like poverty, development, urbanization, globalization
Geography	Physical Geography, Distribution of natural resources, key geophysical phenomena like earthquakes, cyclones

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Paper-III General Studies-II

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations

Subject	Topics
Indian Constitution	Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, and basic structure
Polity	Union and State legislatures, separation of powers, issues in federal structure and governance
Social Justice	Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections, issues related to poverty, hunger, development, and empowerment
International   Relations	India’s relations with its neighbors, global groupings, international institutions, India’s foreign policies

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Paper-IV General Studies-III

Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management

Subject	Topics
Indian Economy	Planning, resource mobilization, economic development, inclusive growth, government budgeting
Science and Technology	Developments and their applications, achievements in science & technology, IT, space, biotechnology
Environment and Ecology	Environmental conservation, pollution, climate change, disaster management, biodiversity
Security	Internal security, cyber threats, terrorism, organized crime, disaster management

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Paper-V General Studies-IV

Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

Subject	Topics
Ethics and Human Interface	Determinants and consequences of ethics in human actions, ethics in private and public relationships
Aptitude	Integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, emotional intelligence, empathy, dedication to public service
Governance and Probity	Transparency, accountability, corruption, ethical governance, ethical issues in international relations

UPSC Interview 2024 Overview

The UPSC interview assesses a candidate’s mental acuity, general awareness, social etiquette, and personality, focusing on soft skills rather than theoretical knowledge. Conducted by a Board, it aims to evaluate the candidate’s suitability for a career in public service. The interview tests qualities such as critical thinking, intellectual integrity, social traits, and interest in current affairs.

The interview takes place 3–4 months after the UPSC Mains exam. The Personality Test, or interview, is worth 275 marks, contributing to a total of 2025 marks in the final merit (1750 marks in Mains + 275 marks in the interview).

UPSC Interview 2024 Date

The UPSC Interview 2024 commenced on January 7, 2025, and will continue until April 17, 2025. This year’s interview process will adhere to the established pattern, with candidates being assessed in two daily sessions: the forenoon session at 9:00 AM and the afternoon session at 1:00 PM. The interview aims to evaluate candidates’ personality traits, decision-making skills, and suitability for administrative roles.

UPSC Exam 2025 FAQs