UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2025: Check IAS Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern
UPSC IAS Exam Pattern 2025 is structured into three rigorous stages to assess candidates for the prestigious civil services. The process starts with Prelims exam, which includes two objective papers of 200 marks each, serving as a screening test. Successful candidates proceed to Mains, consisting of nine descriptive papers with a total of 1750 marks, covering essay, general studies, and optional subjects. The final stage is the Interview or Personality Test, carrying 275 marks.
UPSC IAS Prelims Exam Pattern 2025
UPSC IAS Prelims Exam 2025 serves as the first screening stage, testing candidates on general knowledge, current affairs, aptitude, and comprehension through two objective papers, including the qualifying CSAT. The exam pattern for UPSC IAS 2025 Prelims is mentioned below:
| Paper | Total Marks | No. of Questions | Marks per Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: General Studies | 200 | 100 | 2 |
| Paper 2: CSAT (Qualifying only) | 200 | 80 | 2.5 |
Key Pointer:
- Both papers of Prelims exam will be of 2 hours each.
- Prelims Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature, requiring candidates to secure at least 33% out of 200 marks to be eligible for UPSC Mains examination.
- Negative Marking: 1/3 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
UPSC IAS Mains Exam Pattern 2025
UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2025 is a descriptive stage designed to assess a candidate’s analytical ability, depth of knowledge, and clarity of expression. It includes nine papers, out of which seven are merit-based and two are qualifying in nature. Detailed exam pattern for UPSC IAS 2025 Mains is given in the table below:
| Paper | Type | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A – Indian Language (qualifying) | Language paper from the 8th Schedule | 300 |
| Paper B – English (qualifying) | Language paper | 300 |
| Essay | Conventional (essay-type) | 250 |
| GS Paper I(Indian Heritage & Culture; History; Society; Geography) | Conventional | 250 |
| GS Paper II(Polity, Governance, Social Justice, International Relations) | Conventional | 250 |
| GS Paper III(Economy, Science & Tech, Environment, Security, Disaster Management) | Conventional | 250 |
| GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude | Conventional | 250 |
| Optional Subject – Paper I | Conventional | 250 |
| Optional Subject – Paper II | Conventional | 250 |
| Total Written (excluding qualifying papers) | — | 1750 |
Note: Qualifying Paper A in UPSC IAS Mains requires candidates to choose one Indian Language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The list of languages and their script is given in the table below:
| Language | Script |
|---|---|
| Assamese | Assamese |
| Bengali | Bengali |
| Gujarati | Gujarati |
| Hindi | Devanagari |
| Kannada | Kannada |
| Kashmiri | Persian |
| Konkani | Devanagari |
| Malayalam | Malayalam |
| Manipuri | Bengali |
| Marathi | Devanagari |
| Nepali | Devanagari |
| Odia | Odia |
| Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
| Sanskrit | Devanagari |
| Sindhi | Devanagari or Arabic |
| Tamil | Tamil |
| Telugu | Telugu |
| Urdu | Persian |
| Bodo | Devanagari |
| Dogri | Devanagari |
| Maithili | Devanagari |
| Santhali | Devanagari or Olchiki |
UPSC IAS Interview 2025
UPSC IAS Interview 2025, or Personality Test, is the final stage carrying 275 marks. It evaluates mental alertness, communication skills, clarity of thought, ethical standards, and suitability for civil services. Marks from this round are added to the Mains written score of 1750, making the total 2025 marks. The interview assesses leadership qualities, decision-making ability, and overall personality, ensuring candidates are fit for administrative responsibilities. Candidates are expected to demonstrate confidence, logical reasoning, and awareness of current affairs, as performance in this stage.
UPSC IAS Exam Pattern 2025 is structured to evaluate candidates’ knowledge, analysis, expression, and personality for civil services selection. Prelims carry 400 marks, while Mains written exam is worth 1750 marks excluding qualifying papers, followed by an Interview of 275 marks, making a total of 2025 marks.
UPSC IAS Exam Pattern 2025 FAQs
Ques: How many stages are included in UPSC IAS Exam Pattern 2025?
Ans: UPSC IAS Exam Pattern 2025 includes Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Prelims serve as a screening test, Mains assess analytical skills, and the Interview evaluates personality, confidence, and administrative aptitude.
Ques: How many papers are in UPSC IAS Exam 2025 Mains stage?
Ans: UPSC IAS Exam 2025 Mains has nine papers, out of which two are qualifying language papers, one essay, four general studies, and two optional subject papers.
Ques: Which subjects are covered in UPSC IAS Exam 2025 Prelims?
Ans: UPSC IAS Exam 2025 Prelims include General Studies Paper I covering history, polity, economy, geography, environment, and current affairs, along with CSAT testing comprehension, reasoning, and aptitude.
Ques: How is merit calculated in UPSC IAS Exam 2025?
Ans: In UPSC IAS 2025, merit is calculated based on Mains written papers carrying 1750 marks and the Interview carrying 275 marks, totaling 2025 marks.
Ques: Can candidates choose their writing medium in UPSC IAS 2025?
Ans: Yes, candidates in UPSC IAS 2025 can choose English or any language from the Eighth Schedule as their medium, except for the compulsory English language paper.
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