UPSC Exam Pattern

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most prestigious and competitive examinations in India. It is the gateway to top civil services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and others. For every aspirant embarking on this journey, a clear understanding of the UPSC exam pattern is essential.

This blog provides a detailed breakdown of the structure of the UPSC exam, including the UPSC preliminary exam pattern, Mains examination, and the final personality test stage, along with strategies to approach each phase effectively.

Services Under UPSC CSE

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Information Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Railway Management Services (Traffic, Personnel, Accounts), Group ‘A’
• Indian Railway Protection Force Service, Group ‘A’
• Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes), Group ‘A’
• Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax), Group ‘A’
• Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Grade III)
• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’
• Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS), Group ‘B’
• Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS), Group ‘B’
• Pondicherry Civil and Police Service, Group ‘B’

Understanding the Structure of UPSC Exam

The UPSC civils exam pattern consists of three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
2. Mains Examination
3. Personality Test (Interview)

Each stage evaluates different skill sets and acts as a qualifying filter for the next stage.

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Number of Attempts

Eligible candidates are allowed 6 attempts at the CSE. However, relaxations are provided for reserved categories:

• SC/ST: Unlimited attempts (up to age limit)
• OBC: 9 attempts
• PwBD: Additional attempts as per category

Note I: The categories of candidates availing the opportunity of appearing in the examination are categorized as follows—General as GEN, Economically Weaker Section as EWS, Scheduled Caste as SC, Scheduled Tribe as ST, Other Backward Classes as OBC, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as PwBD.

Note II: Appearance at any one of the papers in the Preliminary Examination will be deemed to be an attempt at the Civil Services Examination.

Note III: Even if a candidate is disqualified or their candidature is later cancelled, the fact of their appearance in the examination will be counted as an attempt.

UPSC Preliminary Exam Pattern

The UPSC preliminary exam pattern includes two objective-type multiple-choice papers, each carrying 200 marks. It is only a screening test and marks are not counted in the final merit.

Paper Structure:

Key Points:

• Both papers are conducted on the same day.
• 1/3rd negative marking for each incorrect answer.
• CSAT is qualifying in nature: Minimum 33% (66.67 marks) required.
• Only marks in Paper I (General Studies) are considered for selection to Mains.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus (as per UPSC notification)

Paper I: General Studies

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science

Paper II: CSAT (Aptitude Test)

• Comprehension;
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
• Decision making and problem solving;
• General mental ability;
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level); 

Note: Paper II of the UPSC preliminary exam pattern is qualifying with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern

Candidates who clear Prelims proceed to the Mains, which is descriptive in nature and evaluates intellectual depth and analytical ability.

Mains Paper Structure:

Total (Written): 1750 Marks Personality Test: 275 Marks Grand Total: 2025 Marks

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Optional Subjects in UPSC Mains

Candidates can choose any one of the following optional subjects:

• Agriculture
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
• Anthropology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Commerce and Accountancy
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Geography
• Geology
• History
• Law
• Management
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Science
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science and International Relations
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology
• Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and English.

Language & Qualifying Papers Structure

Qualifying Papers in Indian Languages and English: The objective of these papers is to assess the candidate’s ability to read and understand discursive prose, and to express ideas clearly and correctly in English and the concerned Indian language.

English:

• Comprehension of given passages
• Precis Writing
• Usage and Vocabulary
• Short Essays

Indian Languages:

• Comprehension of given passages
• Precis Writing
• Usage and Vocabulary
• Short Essays
• Translation from English to the Indian language and vice versa

(Note: These papers are of qualifying nature only. A minimum of 25% marks (i.e., 75 out of 300) is required to qualify. Marks obtained in these papers are not counted in the final merit list.)

GS Mains and Optional Paper Structure

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VisionIAS Ethics Case Studies Classes

Personality Test (Interview)

The final stage of the examination pattern of UPSC is the Personality Test, carrying 275 marks.

Key Highlights:

• Conducted at UPSC headquarters, New Delhi
• Tests communication skills, leadership, integrity, decision-making, and overall personality
• Marks are counted in the final merit

Also Read Blog: UPSC CSE 2025 Notification: Important Changes and Application Do’s & Don’ts

Strategic UPSC Preparation Tips

For UPSC Prelims:

• Build conceptual clarity and factual accuracy
• Read newspapers and current affairs magazines regularly
• Practice mock tests and UPSC last year question papers
• Don’t neglect CSAT exam – daily practice of comprehension and reasoning is essential
• Strengthen basics using NCERTs
• Focus on topic-wise revision and time management

Also Refer,

VisionIAS Digital Current Affairs: One Stop Solution including News Today, Monthly Magazines, PT365 & other resources 

VisionIAS Prelims GS with Sandhan and CSAT Test Series

Download VisionIAS Subject-wise 10 year UPSC PYQ Analysis

For UPSC Mains:

• Master structured answer writing (Intro–Body–Conclusion)
• Use diagrams, flowcharts, and examples
• Link current affairs with GS topics
• Practice optionals, essays and Ethics answer writing regularly

Also Refer, 

Mains365

VisionIAS All India GS Mains, Ethics and Essay Test Series

VisionIAS All India Interactive Optional Test Series

Lakshya Mentoring Programs

For Interview:

• Work on communication and confidence
• Know your DAF (Detailed Application Form) thoroughly
• Stay updated with national and international developments
• Attend mock interviews and VisionIAS Elocutions for realistic preparation

VisionIAS Optional Classroom Programs

Important Statistics:

Generally, 

• Over 10 lakh candidates apply annually
• Around 10,000 qualify for Mains
• Nearly 2,000 reach the interview stage
• Only 800–1000 are finally selected

For instance, UPSC 2024 Statistics as follow: 

These numbers highlight why understanding the structure of the UPSC exam and targeted preparation are non-negotiable for success.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Ignoring CSAT preparation
• Focusing only on Prelims
• Inadequate answer writing practice
• No preparation for Interview stage

Conclusion

A deep understanding of the UPSC exam pattern serves as a roadmap for aspirants. From Prelims to Personality Test, each stage is designed to assess diverse traits—awareness, knowledge, expression, and personality.

If aspirants prepare systematically by aligning their study plans with the UPSC civils exam pattern and follow consistent self-evaluation and smart strategies, cracking the CSE becomes an achievable goal.

Let the clarity of the UPSC preliminary exam pattern and beyond be your first step toward success in India’s most coveted public service journey.