UPSC CSE · The exam
The UPSC examination, explained.
Everything about the Civil Services Examination on one page — the three stages, how the marks actually add up, who can appear, what the syllabus covers, and where recent cut-offs have landed.
The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, is India's annual selection process for the IAS, IPS, IFS and some twenty other Group A and B services. Around a thousand vacancies are announced each year, and roughly ten lakh candidates apply. The exam runs in three stages across nearly a year — and only two of them count toward your rank.
Where the marks actually go
Final rank is decided out of 2,025: the seven merit papers of Mains plus the Interview. The 400 marks of Prelims are screening only — they never enter this total.
The three stages
Stage 1 · Preliminary Examination
Two objective papers on one day: GS Paper I (100 questions, 200 marks) and CSAT Paper II (80 questions, 200 marks). One-third negative marking per wrong answer.
Only GS Paper I decides the cut-off. CSAT merely needs 33% (67/200) — clearing it never improves your rank.
400
Screening only
Stage 2 · Main Examination
Nine descriptive papers: two qualifying language papers plus seven merit papers — Essay, GS I–IV, and two Optional papers. No negative marking.
This is where the exam is actually won or lost — seven papers at 250 marks each.
1,750
Decides selection
Stage 3 · Personality Test (Interview)
A board interview with no fixed syllabus — built around your Detailed Application Form: home state, education, work, hobbies, optional subject, and current affairs as opinion.
275
Decides your rank
Mains papers, paper by paper
| 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 (Ethics) | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject: Paper I | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject: Paper II | 250 |
| Written total (merit papers only) | 1,750 | |
The two language papers are qualifying — you must pass them, but their 300 marks each don't count toward merit.
Who can appear
- Age
- 21 to 32 years on 1 August of the exam year (General category). Upper-age relaxations apply for OBC, SC/ST and other reserved categories.
- Attempts
- 6 for General, 9 for OBC, unlimited for SC/ST — within the age limit in each case.
- Education
- A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Final-year students may appear for Prelims.
- Nationality
- Indian citizenship is required for the IAS, IPS and IFS; other services admit citizens of Nepal, Bhutan and certain other categories under conditions in the official notification.
The syllabus, at a glance
The official syllabus is short — one page per GS paper — and it barely changes year to year. Our study hubs follow it topic by topic, so you can read the syllabus and the material in the same place.
Prelims follows its own shorter syllabus — current events, history, geography, polity, economy, environment and general science — covered in our Prelims hub.
Where recent cut-offs landed
Cut-offs move every year with paper difficulty and vacancies — treat these as the range to expect, not a target to merely clear. Figures below are for the General category.
Prelims cut-off (GS Paper I, out of 200)
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98 | 98 | 92.51 | 87.54 | 88.22 | 75.41 | 87.98 | 92.66 |
Mains cut-off (written total, out of 1,750)
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 751 | 736 | 745 | 748 | 741 | 729 | 739 |
Questions everyone asks
Do Prelims marks count toward the final rank?
No. The Preliminary Examination is a screening test only — its 400 marks never enter the merit calculation. Your final rank is decided by the Mains written total (1,750) plus the Interview (275).
Is CSAT qualifying in nature?
Yes. CSAT (Prelims Paper II) only needs 33% — 67 out of 200 marks — to pass. It cannot improve your rank; only GS Paper I decides the Prelims cut-off.
When is an attempt counted?
The moment you appear for either Prelims paper — even just one of the two. Applying, or downloading the admit card, does not count as an attempt.
Is there negative marking in Mains?
No. Mains is descriptive, so there is no negative marking. Negative marking (one-third of the marks per question) applies only in the Prelims objective papers.
In which language can I write the exam?
Prelims is offered in English and Hindi. For Mains, answers may be written in English or in any language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution; the Interview can likewise be taken in English, Hindi, or a scheduled language.
How many vacancies are there each year?
Roughly a thousand, but the number changes every year — always check the official UPSC notification for the exact figure and the category-wise breakup.
Can final-year students apply?
Yes. Candidates in the final year of their degree can appear for Prelims; the degree itself must be in hand by the Mains / Detailed Application Form stage.
Where to start from here
Starting from zero? Read the notebook first
Our complete CSE preparation manual — the rules of the game, a phased roadmap, booklist and answer-writing technique, written for absolute beginners.
Study the Mains papers topic by topic
151 long-form articles across Polity, Governance, IR, Social Justice and Ethics — each mapped to the official syllabus.
Practice for Prelims
Concept explainers and practice questions for the screening stage — with previous-year questions being added through 2026.
About RaahUPSC
RaahUPSC is an independent UPSC Civil Services preparation publication: daily current affairs mapped to the syllabus, Prelims and Mains GS coverage, and free study material in plain English. We explain the exam the way a senior would — what it takes, what it costs, and where to begin — and we publish on a fixed editorial rhythm so aspirants can plan their preparation around it.