The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is India’s most prestigious competitive exam, selecting candidates for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and 22 other Group A and B services.
UPSC CSE Eligibility
Age: 21-32 years (General). OBC: +3 years, SC/ST: +5 years, PwD: +10 years.
Number of Attempts: 6 (General), 9 (OBC), Unlimited till age limit (SC/ST).
Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Final year students may also appear.
Nationality: Indian (IAS/IPS); some services open to citizens of Nepal/Bhutan.
Exam Stages
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective)
- Paper 1 (GS): 100 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours - General Studies
- Paper 2 (CSAT): 80 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours - Aptitude (qualifying, minimum 33%)
- Negative marking: -1/3
Prelims score is not counted in final merit - it is only a screening test.
Stage 2: Main Examination (Descriptive)
9 papers over 5-7 days:
- Paper A: Indian Language (qualifying)
- Paper B: English (qualifying)
- Essay (250 marks)
- GS Papers I-IV (250 marks each)
- Optional Subject Paper I & II (250 marks each)
Total marks counted for merit: 1750 marks
Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview)
- 275 marks
- Tests personality, communication, decision-making, awareness
Total marks: 2025 (Mains 1750 + Interview 275)
UPSC Optional Subjects
Choose one optional from 48 subjects. Popular choices:
- Public Administration, Sociology, Geography, History, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology, PSIR
Choose based on: Interest, overlap with GS syllabus, availability of good coaching/material, success rate.
Salary After UPSC
IAS officers start at ₹56,100 (Pay Level 10) and can progress to ₹2,50,000 (Cabinet Secretary). Additional perks include government bungalow, vehicle, staff, and travel allowance.
Read our 7th Pay Commission salary guide for detailed pay matrix.
Preparation Timeline
- 2 years: Ideal for first-time aspirants working full time
- 1 year: Possible with 10-12 hours daily study and existing subject knowledge
- Less than 1 year: Only if you have strong GS and clear optional
Follow our government exam preparation guide for structured study planning.
See also: How to Prepare for Govt Exam | UPSC Notification 2026 | Government Job Salary Guide