The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to recruit candidates for various prestigious roles in the Indian government, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other civil services positions. This article provides an in-depth look at the eligibility criteria, application process, and important details for the upcoming UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2025.
Important Dates
| Notification Published on | 22/01/2025 |
| Deadlines | 11-02-2025 |
Eligibility
Before applying for the UPSC CSE 2025, candidates must ensure they meet the prescribed eligibility criteria in terms of nationality, age, and educational qualifications.
1. Nationality
The nationality requirements for candidates are divided based on the service they are applying for:
- For IAS, IFS, and IPS: A candidate must be a citizen of India.
- For other services: A candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, and other specific nations intending to permanently settle in India.
2. Age Limits
- The candidate must be at least 21 years old and not older than 32 years by 1st August 2025. This means that candidates must have been born between 2nd August 1993 and 1st August 2004.
- Age relaxations are provided for specific categories, such as:
- Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST): Up to 5 years of relaxation.
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): Up to 3 years of relaxation.
- Defense Services Personnel: Up to 3 years of relaxation for those disabled in military operations.
- Ex-Servicemen: Relaxation up to 5 years, depending on their service tenure.
Educational Qualifications
Candidates must possess a graduate degree from any university recognized by the Government of India. This includes universities established by an Act of the Central or State Legislature, or any other educational institution that is deemed to be a university under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.
Examination Pattern
- Preliminary Examination: This is screening test made up of two objective-type papers.
- General Studies Paper I: Covers topics like current affairs, history, geography, and general knowledge.
- Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT): Tests reasoning, analytical ability, and basic numerical skills.
- Main Examination: This is the second stage and consists of nine papers, including:
- Essay writing, General Studies papers, and an optional subject paper chosen by the candidate.
- Interview/Personality Test: After successfully clearing the main exam, candidates will be called for a personality test/interview. This test evaluates the candidate’s suitability for a career in civil services based on their personality traits and communication skills.
Penalty for Wrong Answers
It’s important for candidates to be cautious while answering multiple-choice questions in the objective-type exams. There is a negative marking for incorrect answers, with a penalty of 1/3rd of the marks assigned to the question. Candidates should attempt questions carefully to minimize the risk of negative marking.
Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep)
After the exam, candidates will have a limited window of 7 days (from the next day of the exam) to raise objections to the questions asked in the examination. All objections must be submitted through the Online Question Paper Representation Portal (QPRep), available on the UPSC website. Representations through email, post, or other modes will not be entertained.
