The UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2025 has been officially announced by the Union Public Service Commission. As per the UPSC calendar, the Preliminary Examination for Civil Services will be conducted on 25th May 2025. This marks the first stage of the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination, which is a screening test to shortlist candidates for the Mains. The Prelims consist of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper-I and CSAT (Paper-II). Aspirants must begin their preparation well in advance to cover the vast syllabus and stay updated with current affairs. Early planning ensures better chances of clearing the cutoff. Also, in this article, you can find the UPSC prelims admit card date and the process to download it.
UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2025: Complete Guide
The UPSC IAS 2025 Notification is available on the UPSC website from 22nd January, 2025. The notification contains important details such as UPSC 2025 exam date, application dates, eligibility, as well as exam pattern for the UPSC Civil Services Exam. Below are quick highlights of the UPSC Civil Services Notification that you should be aware of –
| UPSC Civil Services 2025 Notification: Highlights | |
| Exam Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Exam |
| Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Cycle | UPSC Civil Services 2025 |
| Vacancy | 979 |
| Application Start Date | 22nd January 2025 |
| Application End Date | 21st February 2025 |
| Last date of Modification of OTR | 21st February 2025 |
| Modification in Application form | 22nd February 2025 to 28th February 2025 |
| Level of Exam | National |
| Frequency of exam | Annual |
| Exam Stages | Prelims, Mains and Interview cum Personality Test |
| Purpose | To recruit candidates in central government services, including the IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS etc. |
| Language of Exam | English & Hindi |
| Test Centres | 80+ exam centers |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2025
Understanding the timeline of the UPSC Prelims Exam and subsequent stages is crucial for candidates aiming to clear the Civil Services Examination. According to the latest UPSC Notification 2025, the UPSC Prelims date is scheduled for 25th May 2025. Staying informed about these key dates helps aspirants create a well-structured preparation plan. Below is a breakdown of the important stage-wise dates for the UPSC IAS Exam 2025.
| Event | Dates (2025) |
| UPSC Notification 2025 Release Date | 22nd January, 2025 |
| UPSC Registration Start Date | 22nd January, 2025 |
| Last Date to Fill Online Application Form | 21st February, 2025 |
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date | 25th May 2025 |
| Mains Exam Date | 22nd August 2025 |
| Personality Test | TBA |
UPSC Prelims 2024 Exam Date
The UPSC Prelims exam for 2024 was held on June 16, 2024. The exam was originally scheduled for May 26, 2024, but was postponed due to the Lok Sabha elections.
Click here for UPSC result 2024: UPSC CSE Final Result 2024 OUT
UPSC Hall Ticket 2025 to Be Released Soon!
The Union Public Service Commission is all set to release the e-Admit Card UPSC 2025 for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. As per the expected schedule, the hall ticket will be available for download in the first week of May 2025, ahead of the UPSC Prelims exam on 25th May 2025. The admit card is a mandatory document for candidates appearing in the Prelims, Mains, or Interview stages of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Moreover, it contains crucial details such as the exam date, reporting time, venue, and important exam day instructions. Candidates must download and print their hall ticket in advance, as entry to the exam centre will not be permitted without a valid UPSC prelims Admit Card.
UPSC Civil Services Vacancies 2025
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced 979 vacancies for recruitment through the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025. These openings are spread across several high-ranking posts and services, including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and others. Compared to last year’s notification, which listed 1,056 vacancies for CSE 2024, there has been a slight reduction in the number of posts for 2025.
UPSC Online Registration Date 2025
The UPSC online registration process for CSE 2025 commenced on 22nd January 2025, along with the release of the official notification. Interested candidates can access and fill out the UPSC Application Form 2025 via the official website @upsc.gov.in. The last date to complete the application process, including payment of the fee, is 21st February 2025. Aspirants are advised to complete their registration well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical issues or delays.
Also Read: UPSC Application Process 2025
UPSC CSE application process: Application Fee
The application fees that the candidates must pay for UPSC 2025 is as follows:
1. General category: – The application fees for candidates to pay 100 INR/-
2. SC/ST/PwBD/ Females: The application fee that the candidates are liable to pay is 0 INR/- i.e., they are exempted from paying the fee.
| Category | Prelims Fee | Mains Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | Rs. 100 | Rs. 200 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Female (All) | Exempted | Exempted |
Payment Modes:
• Net banking portal of the State Bank of India
• RuPay Credit
• Debit Card
• MasterCard
• Visa.
UPSC CSE e-Admit Card 2025
The UPSC prelims admit card is a mandatory document to be carried to the exam hall. It’s typically released 2–3 weeks before the exam date.
| Event | Date |
| Prelims Exam | 25th May 2025 |
| Prelims Admit Card | TBA |
| Mains Exam | 22nd August 2025 |
| Mains Admit Card | TBA |
Steps to Download UPSC Prelims Admit Card
1. Visit upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in
2. Click on “E-Admit Cards for various examinations.”
3. Select “Civil Services Examination 2025.”
4. Enter Registration ID or Roll Number.
5. Download and print the PDF copy of your admit card.
Important: Only hard copies of the admit card are allowed in the exam hall. Soft copies on mobile phones are not accepted.
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern
The UPSC CSE is conducted in three distinct stages:
1. Preliminary Examination
2. Main Examination
3. Personality Test (Interview)
Candidates must thoroughly understand the structure and marking scheme of each stage of UPSC CSE exam 2025 scheduled on 25th May 2025. 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 |
For a detailed preparation strategy, read our UPSC Civil Services Exam Prelims Syllabus
UPSC Prelims Exam Date FAQs
Q 1. When to apply for UPSC prelims 2025?
Ans:- The application process for UPSC Prelims 2025 started on January 22, 2025. The last date to apply was February 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
The deadline was originally February 11, but it was extended twice—first to February 18 and then finally to February 21.
The UPSC Prelims Exam 2025 will be held on May 25, 2025, as per the official UPSC calendar.
Q 2. Will UPSC Give Extra Attempts in 2025?
Ans:- As of now, UPSC has not announced any extra attempts for 2025. Candidates will have to follow the standard attempt limits based on their category.
UPSC Attempt Limits by Category:
• General Category: 6 attempts up to 32 years
• OBC Category: 9 attempts up to 35 years
• SC/ST Category: Unlimited attempts up to 37 years
• PwBD (Persons with Disabilities): 9 attempts up to 42 years
If UPSC announces any changes or exceptions, it will be updated on the official website.
Q 3. What is the syllabus of prelims 2025?
Ans:- UPSC Prelims 2025 Syllabus: Paper I & Paper II (CSAT)
The UPSC Prelims 2025 consists of two papers –
1. General Studies (Paper I)
2. CSAT – Civil Services Aptitude Test (Paper II)
Here’s a subject-wise breakdown of both papers:
General Studies Paper I – Topics Covered
1. History
• Indian History and the Freedom Movement
2. Geography
• India and World Geography (Physical, Social & Economic)
3. Polity
• Indian Constitution, Governance, Public Policy, Panchayati Raj
4. Economy
• Indian Economy, Poverty, Demographics, Economic Reforms
5. Environment & Ecology
• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change
6. Science
• Basic General Science (up to Class 10 level)
7. Current Affairs
• National and International Current Events
CSAT Paper II – Topics Covered
Reading Comprehension
• Understanding passages and answering questions
Interpersonal Skills
• Communication and Relationship Management
Logical Reasoning
• Problem-solving, Puzzles, and Analytical Thinking
Decision-Making
• Making ethical and practical decisions
General Mental Ability
• Reasoning and Thinking Skills
Basic Numeracy
• Numbers, Data Interpretation, Tables, Graphs (Class 10 level)
Note: CSAT is a qualifying paper. You must score at least 33% to pass it.
Q 4. Will UPSC reduce the age limit in 2025?
Ans. No, the Government will not reduce the UPSC age limit.
Q 5. When will the UPSC admit card 2025 be released?
Ans:- The UPSC admit card is a mandatory document to be carried to the exam hall. It’s typically released 2–3 weeks before the exam date