Exam guides › Civil services › UPSC CSE
UPSC CSE (Civil Services Examination) is the national exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit officers for the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service and a range of other Group A and Group B central services.
It runs in three stages over about a year: an objective preliminary exam, a written main exam and a personality test (interview). This guide covers UPSC CSE eligibility, attempts, exam pattern, syllabus and how to plan your preparation.
UPSC CSE at a glance
| Full name | Civil Services Examination |
| Conducted by | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam level | National |
| Held | Once a year: prelims usually in May or June, mains usually in August or September, interviews early the next year |
| Mode | Pen and paper |
| Stages | Preliminary exam, Main exam, Personality Test |
| Prelims | Two papers of 200 marks, 2 hours each |
| Final merit | Mains 1,750 marks plus interview 275 marks |
| Negative marking | One third of the question’s marks in prelims |
| Languages | Prelims in English and Hindi; mains in English or a listed Indian language |
| Leads to | IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and other central services |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CSE important dates
These dates update automatically from Kosuki’s exam calendar. “Announced” dates come from the official notice; “Expected” months are based on past years.
- Notification13 Jan 2027 Announcedin 106 days
- Last date to apply2 Feb 2027 Announcedin 126 days
- Prelims exam23 May 2027 Announcedin 236 days
- ResultExpected June 2027 Expected
- Mains exam20 Aug 2027 Announcedin 325 days
Conducted by Union Public Service Commission. Official website. Always confirm dates on the official website. Report a wrong date.
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What is UPSC CSE?
UPSC CSE is a single exam for many services. Your final rank, your category and the order of service preferences you give decide which service you are allotted.
Prelims is only a screening test. Its marks are not counted in the final merit list. Mains and the interview together decide your rank.
UPSC CSE eligibility and attempts
These rules come from the UPSC CSE notification. They are detailed, so read the notification for your year in full.
- Education: a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Final-year students can apply for prelims but must show proof of passing before mains.
- Age: 21 to 32 years on the cut-off date (1 August of the exam year), with relaxation of 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC, and 10 years for PwBD candidates, among others.
- Attempts: 6 for general and EWS, 9 for OBC and PwBD (general, EWS and OBC), and no limit for SC and ST within the age limit.
- Appearing in even one prelims paper counts as an attempt.
- Recent notifications also restrict re-appearance for candidates already appointed to certain services, such as IAS and IFS.
UPSC CSE exam pattern
The UPSC exam pattern has three stages. Prelims has two objective papers. Mains has nine descriptive papers, two of which are only qualifying.
| Stage and paper | Type | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims Paper I: General Studies | 100 objective questions, 2 hours | 200 (counted for qualifying to mains) |
| Prelims Paper II: CSAT | 80 objective questions, 2 hours | 200 (qualifying, 33% needed) |
| Mains Paper A: Indian language | Descriptive | 300 (qualifying) |
| Mains Paper B: English | Descriptive | 300 (qualifying) |
| Mains Essay | Descriptive | 250 |
| Mains GS Papers I to IV | Descriptive | 250 each |
| Mains Optional Papers I and II | Descriptive | 250 each |
| Personality Test | Interview | 275 |
UPSC marking scheme
Each prelims question carries equal marks, and every wrong answer costs one third of those marks.
- Prelims: one third of the question’s marks is deducted for each wrong answer. Blank answers get zero.
- Your prelims cutoff is decided on GS Paper I marks, provided you score at least 33 percent in CSAT.
- Mains: the two language papers are qualifying. Only the Essay, four GS papers and two optional papers count, for 1,750 marks.
- Final merit: mains marks plus interview marks, out of 2,025.
UPSC syllabus
The UPSC syllabus is published in the notification. In short:
- Prelims GS Paper I: current events, history of India and the national movement, Indian and world geography, polity and governance, economic and social development, environment and ecology, and general science.
- CSAT: comprehension, interpersonal and communication skills, logical reasoning, decision making, basic numeracy at Class 10 level, and data interpretation.
- Mains GS I: Indian heritage and culture, history, world history, society and geography.
- Mains GS II: governance, constitution, polity, social justice and international relations.
- Mains GS III: technology, economic development, environment, security and disaster management.
- Mains GS IV: ethics, integrity and aptitude, with case studies.
- Optional subject: one subject from the list in the notification, with two papers.
UPSC result and service allocation
UPSC publishes a list of roll numbers after prelims and again after mains. The final result lists candidates recommended for appointment in order of merit.
Service and cadre allocation follows from rank, category, preferences and medical standards. Detailed marks for all candidates are usually released some time after the final result.
How to prepare for UPSC CSE
Most candidates spend a year or more preparing. Plan prelims and mains together, since much of the GS syllabus overlaps.
- Start with NCERT books from Class 6 to 12 for history, geography, polity, economy and science, then move to standard reference books.
- Read one national newspaper daily and make short notes linked to syllabus topics.
- Choose your optional early, based on interest, background and available material, not on popularity.
- For prelims, practice elimination and avoid blind guesses, since each wrong answer costs a third of a question.
- Do not ignore CSAT. Take a few timed CSAT papers to make sure you clear 33 percent comfortably.
- For mains, write answers regularly within word and time limits, and practice full essays.
- Solve previous years’ papers for both stages and take test series. Kosuki can help you track preparation status and mock scores.
How to apply for UPSC CSE
- Watch for the CSE notification on the UPSC website, usually released early in the year.
- Complete one-time registration on the UPSC online application portal.
- Fill in the CSE application, choose your prelims center and upload your photograph, signature and ID proof.
- Pay the fee (exempted for some categories) and submit before the deadline.
- If you clear prelims, fill the Detailed Application Form for mains, including service preferences and optional subject.
UPSC CSE FAQs
What is the age limit for UPSC CSE?
Candidates must be 21 to 32 years old on the cut-off date, with relaxation for reserved categories, such as 5 years for SC and ST and 3 years for OBC.
How many attempts are allowed in UPSC?
General and EWS candidates get 6 attempts, OBC and PwBD candidates get 9, and SC and ST candidates have no limit within the age limit.
Is there negative marking in UPSC prelims?
Yes. One third of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer in both prelims papers.
Are UPSC prelims marks counted in the final result?
No. Prelims only decides who moves to mains. The final merit uses mains and interview marks.
Can final-year students apply for UPSC CSE?
Yes. They can take prelims but must show proof of passing their degree before the main exam.
Can I write the UPSC mains in Hindi?
Yes. Mains papers other than the language papers can be written in English or any language listed in the Eighth Schedule, subject to the rules in the notification.
Sources
Last reviewed September 2026 against the official Union Public Service Commission notice and information brochure. Exam rules can change from year to year, so always confirm details on the official website before you apply. Kosuki is independent and is not connected with any exam body. Spotted something out of date? Write to contact@kosuki.com.