Know this. Just filling the form does not use an attempt, but sitting even one Prelims paper does; and the CSAT paper, though only qualifying, fails a surprising number of well-read candidates.
- Run by
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Admits you to
- Recruitment to the IAS, IFS (foreign service), IPS and the other Group A and B central services such as IRS, IA&AS and the railway and postal services.
- Who can sit
- A graduate degree in any subject from a recognised university; final-year students may apply and show proof before the Main exam. Age 21 to 32 on 1 August of the exam year, with relaxation of up to 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, and other relaxations for PwBD and ex-servicemen.
- Pattern
- Three stages. (1) Preliminary: two objective papers of 200 marks and 2 hours each — General Studies Paper I decides the ranking; Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying at 33%. (2) Main: nine written essay-type papers — two qualifying language papers (an Indian language and English, 300 marks each) and seven counted papers of 250 marks each (Essay, GS I–IV, two optional subject papers). (3) Personality Test (interview) of 275 marks. Final rank is Main written plus interview.
- When
- Notification around January–February; Preliminary usually in late May or June; Main around August–September; interviews from about January to April; final result around April–May.
- Limits
- Six attempts for General and EWS candidates, nine for OBC and PwBD (General/EWS/OBC), unlimited for SC/ST, all within the age limit. Appearing in even one Prelims paper counts as an attempt.
Courses it leads to
Sources, checked 2026-09-28: www.upsc.gov.in · www.upsc.gov.in