The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) officially released the notification for the Civil Services Examination 2025 on 22nd January 2025. Known for its rigorous selection process, the UPSC Civil Services Exam is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. Every year, lakhs of aspirants appear for the exam with the dream of becoming IAS, IPS, IFS, or other central civil servants. In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at the UPSC Exam Pattern 2025, covering everything from the different stages of the examination to the complete list of optional subjects.
Overview of UPSC Exam Pattern 2025
The UPSC CSE is conducted in three distinct stages:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Personality Test (Interview)
Candidates preparing for the UPSC Prelims 2025, scheduled on 25th May 2025, must thoroughly understand the structure and marking scheme of each stage. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the UPSC Exam Pattern 2025.
| Stage | Name of Exam | Type | No. of Papers | Marks |
| Stage 1 | Prelims | Objective (MCQs) | 2 Papers | 400 |
| Stage 2 | Mains | Descriptive | 9 Papers | 1750 |
| Stage 3 | Interview | Personality Test | – | 275 |
| Total | – | – | – | 2025 |
Click here for the official UPSC notification link 2025: https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-CSP-2025-Engl-220125.pdf
Stage 1: UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2025
The UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern includes two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper 1 and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), also known as GS Paper 2. While GS Paper 1 tests a candidate’s knowledge across a wide range of subjects such as History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and Environment, the CSAT is designed to assess the candidate’s aptitude, including logical reasoning, analytical ability, and comprehension skills. This stage acts as a screening test, shortlisting candidates for the Mains Examination based on their performance.
Structure of Prelims:
| Paper | Subject | Type | No. of Questions | Marks | Qualifying Criteria |
| Paper I | General Studies (GS I) | Objective | 100 | 200 | Merit based |
| Paper II | CSAT (GS II) | Objective | 80 | 200 | 33% (Qualifying) |
Important Points:
- CSAT is only qualifying in nature. You must score at least 66 marks out of 200.
- Marks of Paper I (GS) are used to determine eligibility for Mains.
- Both papers carry a negative marking of 1/3rd marks for every incorrect answer.
- Prelims marks are not counted in the final merit list.
Negative Marking Breakdown:
| Paper | Marks per Question | Penalty per Wrong Answer |
| General Studies I | 2 marks | -0.66 marks |
| CSAT (GS II) | 2.5 marks | -0.83 marks |
Stage 2: UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2025
The UPSC Mains Exam Pattern forms the most critical stage of the selection process, as it involves a combination of compulsory and optional papers. Specifically, it features papers on Indian and English languages, essay writing, four General Studies papers, and two papers based on an optional subject chosen by the candidate. Moreover, this stage is designed to evaluate a candidate’s depth of knowledge, clarity of thought, structured expression, and analytical abilities.
The written part of the Mains consists of 9 papers, out of which 2 are qualifying in nature (Language Papers). The scores from the remaining 7 papers, along with the Interview (Personality Test), are considered while preparing the final merit list.
Structure of Mains:
| Paper | Subject | Nature | Duration | Marks |
| Paper A | Indian Language (Compulsory) | Qualifying | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper B | English (Compulsory) | Qualifying | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | Merit Ranking | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I | Merit Ranking | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II | Merit Ranking | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | Merit Ranking | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | Merit Ranking | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | Merit Ranking | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | Merit Ranking | 3 hours | 250 |
Notes:
- Papers A & B are qualifying in nature (a minimum of 75 marks is required).
- Candidates from states like Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim, as well as those with hearing impairments, may be exempted from Paper A under certain conditions.
- The rest of the papers are counted for merit ranking.
- No negative marking in Mains.
- The total marks for Mains (1750) are added to the Interview marks to decide the final rank.
Also Read: https://spmiasacademy.com/upsc-application-process-2025/
List of Optional Subjects for UPSC Mains (Paper VI & VII)
The UPSC Mains Exam Pattern includes two Optional Papers—Paper VI and Paper VII—each carrying 250 marks. Candidates can choose any one optional subject from the list of 48 subjects prescribed by UPSC. The selected subject will form the basis for both optional papers, allowing candidates to demonstrate their expertise and depth of understanding in that particular discipline.
Optional Subjects include:
- To begin with, in the Humanities stream, candidates can choose from subjects such as History, Geography, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, etc.
- Moving on to the Sciences, options include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, etc.
- In addition, under Professional Courses, candidates may opt for subjects like Law, Management, Commerce & Accountancy, Medical Science, and various Engineering disciplines.
- Finally, in the field of Literature, candidates can select from languages such as Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, English, and other languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
Tip: Choose an optional subject based on your academic background, interest, and availability of resources.
Also Read: https://spmiasacademy.com/upsc-best-optional-subjects-for-upsc-ias-2025/
Stage 3: UPSC Interview (Personality Test)
The final phase of the UPSC selection process is the Interview or Personality Test, which evaluates the overall personality and suitability of a candidate for a career in the civil services. A panel of experts assesses attributes such as mental alertness, clarity of expression, critical thinking, balanced judgment, leadership qualities, social awareness, and moral and intellectual integrity.
Approximately twice the number of available vacancies are called for this stage. The objective is not just to test academic knowledge but to understand the candidate’s mindset, confidence, and readiness to take on administrative responsibilities.
The interview process generally follows a structured format:
- Duration: Typically ranges between 20 to 30 minutes.
- Panel Composition: Conducted by a board comprising senior bureaucrats, academicians, and subject experts.
- Venue: Usually held at the UPSC headquarters in New Delhi.
This stage carries 275 marks and plays a crucial role in determining the final rank in the merit list.
Key Features:
- Carries 275 marks
- No minimum qualifying marks
- Evaluates qualities such as:
- Mental alertness
- Leadership potential
- Clear thinking
- Logical reasoning
- Integrity and balance
- Awareness of current affairs and social issues
- Mental alertness
Final Thoughts: Preparing Smartly for UPSC 2025
To begin with, understanding the UPSC Exam Pattern thoroughly is the first step towards building a successful preparation strategy. Given that the exam comprises three intensive stages and a wide-ranging syllabus, it is essential to approach your preparation with both focus and structure.
Therefore, to enhance your chances of success, make sure to:
- First and foremost, plan your study schedule efficiently
- In addition, practice mock tests regularly to improve speed and accuracy
- Moreover, revise systematically to strengthen retention
- Lastly, stay updated with current affairs to remain relevant and well-informed
In summary, combining consistency with smart strategies will significantly boost your performance in UPSC 2025.
UPSC application process FAQs
What are the 9 papers in UPSC mains?
The UPSC Mains exam consists of 9 papers: two qualifying language papers (Paper A: Indian Language and Paper B: English), one Essay paper, four General Studies papers (GS I, II, III, and IV), and two papers from a chosen optional subject.
What are the 3 levels of UPSC exam?
The UPSC Civil Services exam for IAS is divided into three stages. These are: 1) Preliminary or prelims (which is an entry-level, objective-type test), 2) Mains examination (subjective, written exam), and the final stage is 3) Interview and Personality Test.
What is the salary of IAS?
IAS Salary Per Month in India, Salary Structure
Ans:- As per the 7th Pay Commission, an IAS officer’s salary starts at ₹56,100 per month at the Junior Time Scale and can go up to ₹2,25,000 for top positions.
Which subject is best for IAS?
For the IAS exam, there’s no single “best” subject, but humanities subjects like History, Political Science, Geography, Public Administration, and Sociology are popular choices for both optional subjects and general studies, as they align well with the exam’s syllabus.