Latest Update: The Union Public Service Commission has released the official UPSC CSE 2025 syllabus on 10 April 2024. Candidates can refer to the complete syllabus below for Prelims, Mains, and Interview preparation.
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Civil Services Examination (CSE) |
| Exam Stages | Preliminary, Mains, and Interview |
| Syllabus Status | Released |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CSE 2025 Important Dates
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| UPSC CSE Notification Release Date | February 2025 (Expected) |
| Online Application Start Date | February 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | March 2025 |
| UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Date | May 2025 (Tentative) |
| UPSC CSE Mains Exam Date | September 2025 (Tentative) |
| UPSC CSE Interview Date | January-February 2026 (Tentative) |
UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination Syllabus 2025
The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers of objective type (multiple choice questions) carrying a maximum of 400 marks.
Paper I – General Studies (200 marks)
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, 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.
- General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change
- General Science
Paper II – CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) (200 marks)
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level)
- Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level)
Note: Paper-II is of qualifying nature with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
UPSC CSE Main Examination Syllabus 2025
The Main Examination consists of written papers and an interview/personality test. The written examination consists of 9 papers of conventional essay type.
Qualifying Papers (Paper A and B)
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A | Indian Language (Any language listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution) | 300 (Qualifying) |
| Paper B | English | 300 (Qualifying) |
Merit Ranking Papers (Paper I to VII)
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
Optional Subjects for UPSC Mains
| List of Optional Subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science | Anthropology |
| Botany | Chemistry | Civil Engineering |
| Commerce & Accountancy | Economics | Electrical Engineering |
| Geography | Geology | History |
| Law | Management | Mathematics |
| Mechanical Engineering | Medical Science | Philosophy |
| Physics | Political Science & International Relations | Psychology |
| Public Administration | Sociology | Statistics |
| Zoology | Literature of any language | |
UPSC CSE Interview/Personality Test
The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his/her career. The interview is intended to judge the mental caliber of the candidate. The interview carries 275 marks with no minimum qualifying marks.
Areas tested in the interview:
- Mental alertness
- Critical powers of assimilation
- Clear and logical exposition
- Balance of judgment
- Variety and depth of interest
- Ability for social cohesion and leadership
- Intellectual and moral integrity
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2025
| Stage | Papers | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Exam | 2 (Objective) | 400 (Paper II is qualifying) |
| Main Exam | 9 (7 Merit + 2 Qualifying) | 1750 |
| Interview | – | 275 |
| Grand Total | 2025 |
UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 200 | 2 hours |
| Paper II | CSAT (Qualifying – 33%) | 200 | 2 hours |
UPSC CSE Main Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper A | Indian Language (Qualifying) | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper B | English (Qualifying) | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | General Studies I | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 | 3 hours |
Download UPSC CSE 2025 Syllabus PDF: Official Syllabus
Preparation Strategy for UPSC CSE 2025
Prelims Preparation Tips
- Focus on conceptual clarity: Understand concepts thoroughly rather than rote learning.
- Practice MCQs: Regular practice of multiple-choice questions will improve speed and accuracy.
- Current Affairs: Read newspapers daily and maintain notes on important events.
- Previous Year Question Papers: Solve at least the last 5 years’ papers to understand the pattern.
- NCERTs: Focus on NCERT textbooks from classes 6 to 12 for building a strong foundation.
Mains Preparation Tips
- Answer Writing Practice: Regular practice of writing answers within time limits.
- Develop Analytical Skills: Focus on analyzing issues from multiple perspectives.
- Make Notes: Prepare comprehensive notes for each subject with diagrams and examples.
- Current Affairs Application: Learn to apply current affairs to various GS papers.
- Optional Subject: Choose an optional subject based on your interest and background.
Interview Preparation Tips
- Self-awareness: Reflect on your personality, strengths, weaknesses, achievements, and failures.
- Mock Interviews: Participate in mock interviews with experienced panels.
- Current Affairs: Be updated with the latest national and international events.
- Review DAF: Thoroughly prepare all details mentioned in your Detailed Application Form.
- Develop Opinion: Form balanced opinions on various social, economic, and political issues.
FAQs about UPSC CSE Syllabus 2025
What is the pattern of UPSC Civil Services Examination?
UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages: (1) Preliminary Examination (objective type) – used for screening candidates, (2) Main Examination (written) – for merit ranking, and (3) Personality Test/Interview – to assess the candidate’s suitability for a career in civil services.
Is CSAT qualifying or counted in the final ranking?
CSAT (Paper II of Preliminary Examination) is qualifying in nature with a minimum qualifying mark of 33%. It is not counted in the final ranking. Only the marks obtained in Paper I of the Preliminary Examination are considered for shortlisting candidates for the Main Examination.
What is the language paper requirement in UPSC CSE?
In the Main Examination, candidates must take two language papers – Paper A (Indian Language) and Paper B (English). Both are of qualifying nature and the marks obtained in these papers are not counted for ranking. These papers are designed to assess the candidate’s ability to read and write the respective languages.
How should I choose my optional subject for UPSC Mains?
Choose an optional subject based on your interest, background, availability of study materials, previous performance of the subject, and overlap with General Studies syllabus. Ideally, it should be a subject you are comfortable with, have a good understanding of, and can score well in. Avoid choosing a subject simply because others are opting for it.
How many attempts are allowed for UPSC CSE?
The number of attempts allowed in UPSC CSE varies by category: General Category – 6 attempts, OBC – 9 attempts, SC/ST – unlimited attempts (up to the age limit). The age limit for appearing in UPSC CSE is: General Category – 21 to 32 years, OBC – 21 to 35 years, SC/ST – 21 to 37 years.
