UPSC Exam Pattern

UPSC Exam Pattern

UPSC conducts the IAS exam in three different stages IAS prelims, IAS mains, and IAS interview. Of course, a candidate has to clear all the stages to achieve their dream of civil service. Also, UPSC has designed IAS exam pattern in such a way that all stages are unique and assess different qualities of an IAS aspirant. But, the right approach in IAS preparation can guarantee your success in IAS.

UPSC Prelims/IAS Prelims Exam Pattern

Union public service commission (UPSC) conducts all the stages of IAS exam process offline.
In UPSC prelims the questions are of objective type or MCQs in nature, which you have to answer in OMR sheet.
However, candidates have to be careful while attempting the IAS prelims question due to negative marking.
UPSC prelims negative marking scheme: For every wrong answer, the commission will deduct 1/3rd of the allotted marks.
The commission conducts both papers of IAS prelims in a single day (Usually Sunday).

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

Papers	Subjects	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper 1	General Studies	100 (2 marks each)	200	2Hrs
Paper 2	Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT)	80 (2.5 marks each)	200	2Hrs
Total (Prelims stage) 400 Marks

UPSC mains/IAS Mains Exam Pattern

In UPSC mains exam pattern the questions are descriptive/ narrative in nature. So, writing skills are equally important as covering the IAS syllabus.
IAS mains divided into compulsory and qualification papers. Qualifying papers consists of language paper and compulsory paper include essay, general studies and optional. Only when the candidates qualify in the language papers, their compulsory paper marks are valid. Choice of the IAS optional subject plays a crucial role in civil service preparation.
UPSC conducts all the IAS mains paper in five days. Further, two papers of mains are held in forenoon and afternoon sessions and Essay in a single day. The complete UPSC mains timetable will be available on the UPSC website (www.upsc.gov).

A.Qualifying Paper

Lang. Paper	Subject	Marks	Duration
Paper A	Anyone Indian Language	300 Marks	3Hrs
Paper B	English	300 Marks	3Hrs

B.Compulsory Paper

Paper	Subject	Marks	Duration
Paper 1	Essay (2Nos. 125 each)	250	3Hrs
Paper 2	General studies 1 (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society)	250	3Hrs
Paper 3	General studies 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)	250	3Hrs
Paper 4	General studies 3 (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)	250	3Hrs
Paper 5	General studies 4 (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)	250	3Hrs
Paper 6	Optional subject paper1	250	3Hrs
Paper 7	Optional subject paper2	250	3Hrs
Total 1750 marks (Excluding language paper)

UPSC mains exam timetable pdf download

(Mains time table pdf)

UPSC Interview

Personality Test	The interview is of 275 marks
Grand Total (Mains + Interview) 2025 Marks

UPSC Exams

UPSC Prelims/IAS Prelims Exam Pattern

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

UPSC mains/IAS Mains Exam Pattern

UPSC mains exam timetable pdf download

UPSC Interview

Get access to question papers!