The UPSC Selection Process 2025 is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) which includes three stages: Prelims, Mains and Interview. UPSC has released 979 vacancies for UPSC CSE (Civil Services Examination) and 150 vacancies for IFoS (Indian forest Services) to recruit candidates for the most prestigious Posts. The selection process itself is very vast and it takes approximately one year for its competition.
UPSC Selection Process 2025
UPSC Selection Process 2025 is conducted in three stages. Stage 1 Prelims exam is qualifying in nature and its marks are not included in the final merit list. Prelims GS 1 Paper cut off decides the candidates appearance in the next stage of the selection process whereas for Prelims GS 2 (CSAT) Paper, a candidate needs to score 1/3rd of the total marks (i.e. 66.67 marks) to qualify for the Mains exam. Both the conditions are necessary for the next stage of the selection process.
UPSC Selection Process 2025 Overview
The UPSC Selection Process 2025 overview table mentions all the three stages of the selection process. For more detail read the article discussed below about the selection process for UPSC Exam 2025.
| UPSC Selection Process 2025 Overview | ||||
| Stage | Name | Nature | Marks | Qualifying Criteria |
| Stage 1 | Prelims Exam | Objective (MCQ) | 400 | Qualifying for Mains |
| Stage 2 | Mains Exam | Descriptive | 1750 | Qualifying for Interview |
| Stage 3 | Personality Test | Interview | 275 | Final Merit List Preparation |
UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Prelims
UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Prelims includes two papers. To qualify in GS Paper 1, the cut off is decided by the UPSC based on various factors and for GS 2 scoring a minimum mark of 66.67 is compulsory. The candidate who fulfills both criteria is shortlisted for the UPSC Mains Exam 2025. Each paper has a duration of two hours. The UPSC Prelims Exam 2025 is scheduled to be conducted on 25th May, 2025.
| UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Prelims | |
| Particular | Detail |
| Mode of Exam | Offline OMR Based |
| Language of Exam | Hindi and English |
| Types of Questions | MCQ type |
| Total Papers | Two |
| Paper I General Studies | 100 Questions |
| Paper II CSAT | 80 Questions |
| Shift | GS: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM CSAT: 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM |
| Total Marks | 200 Marks for each Paper |
| Negative Marking | GS: 0.66 Marks (1/3rd) CSAT: 0.83 Marks (1/3rd) |
| Passing Marks | GS: UPSC Cut off CSAT: 66.67 Marks |
| Time Allotted | 2 Hours for each Paper |
UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Mains
UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Mains includes 9 Papers. Paper A and Paper B is a language paper qualifying in nature and carries 300 marks for each. To qualify in Paper A and Paper B candidates need to score a minimum of 25% marks. The merit list for UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Mains exam is based on 7 Papers each carrying 250 marks with a total marks of 1750.
| UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Mains | |||
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Nature |
| Qualifying Papers | |||
| Paper A | Indian Language (Qualifying) | 300 | Descriptive |
| Paper B | English (Qualifying) | 300 | Descriptive |
| Papers for Merit | |||
| Paper I | Essay | 250 | Descriptive |
| Paper II | General Studies I (History, Culture, Society) | 250 | Descriptive |
| Paper III | General Studies II (Polity, Governance) | 250 | Descriptive |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (Economy, Science, Tech) | 250 | Descriptive |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity) | 250 | Descriptive |
| Paper VI | Optional Paper I | 250 | Descriptive |
| Paper VII | Optional Paper II | 250 | Descriptive |
| Total | 1750 Marks | ||
UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Interview
UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Interview is the final stage of the exam. The candidates who qualify the Mains exam are shortlisted for the Interview (Personality Test). This stage evaluates the candidate’s personality traits, communication skills, presence of mind, leadership qualities, and overall suitability for a career in civil services. The merit list is decided based on Mains and Interview marks with a total 2025 marks which includes 1750 marks for Mains and 275 marks for the Interview.
| UPSC Selection Process 2025 for Interview | |
| Aspect | Details |
| Stage | Stage 3 – Personality Test (Interview) |
| Conducted By | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Maximum Marks | 275 marks |
| Eligibility | Candidates who qualify the UPSC Mains Exam 2025 |
| Location | Union Public Service Commission Officer, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi- 110069 |
| Duration | 25 to 30 minutes |
| Nature of Test | Face-to-face interview with a panel of experts |
| Language Option | English or any language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution |
| Qualifying Criteria | No minimum qualifying marks (but it affects final merit ranking) |
| Final Merit Basis | Mains (1750 marks) + Interview (275 marks) = Total 2025 marks |
UPSC Selection Process 2025 FAQs
Q1. How many stages are there in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2025?+
Q2. What is the Exam Pattern of UPSC 2025?+
Q3. How many seats for UPSC 2025?+
Q4. When will the UPSC Prelims Exam 2025 be conducted?+
Q5. Is the CSAT paper compulsory?+
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