Exam Pattern UPSC
UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) Selection Procedure has 3 stages
Stage I – Preliminary Examination (Objective Papers. It is conducted in May/June, results by August)
Stage II – Main Examination (Subjective Papers. It is conducted around November, results by February/March)
Stage III – Interview (is conducted over March/April, final results announced a few days before the next preliminary exam)
UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Pattern
| Paper | Type | No. of questions | Marks | Duration | |
| General Studies I | Objective | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | |
| General Studies II (CSAT) | Objective | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Total marks |
| Paper A | Compulsory Indian language | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper B | English | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies I | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional I | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional II | 3 hours | 250 |
NOTE:
- All the Papers are subjective
- Paper A and B are of qualifying nature only and candidates must score at least 25% in each. Their Scores would not be calculated in the final merit list.
- Candidates may choose any optional subject from amongst the list of optional subjects for Paper VI and Paper VII (kindly refer to UPSC CSE notification for the list).
- Aspirants can write the mains paper in any of the Indian languages mentioned in Schedule 7 of the constitution of India.