UPSC CSE 2025 Notification Out: Check Prelims Date, Eligibility, Syllabus & Application Details

UPSC CSE Notification 2025 Out: UPSC released the official notification for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025. The UPSC aspirants are eligible for the post of Indian Administrative Services(IAS), India Foreign Services(IFS), Indian Revenue Services (IRS), Indian Police Services. (IPS). The candidates who will register on the official UPSC website successfully will be issued Admit Cards for IAS exam (Prelims) in about three weeks before the date of the exam. Candidates have to download the same from the UPSC official website. The admit cards will not be sent by post. In this blog we will discuss the complete exam pattern, important dates, eligibility criteria, and how can you apply for UPSC CSE 2025.

The most awaited UPSC Prelims Notification 2025 has been released on 22 January 2025 for the aspirants across India as per the official exam calendar. As per the official UPSC Notification 2025, the UPSC Vacancy 2025 is approximately 1129 vacancies, out of which 979 are for UPSC CSE 2025 and the remaining 150 for Indian Foreign Service. 

UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Notification: Important Dates

Eligibility Criteria for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025:

1. Nationality:

• For Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS):
  • Candidate must be a citizen of India.
• For other services, the candidate must be either:
  • A citizen of India, or
  • A subject of Nepal, or
  • A subject of Bhutan, or
  • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 intending to settle permanently in India, or
  • A person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries (Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, etc.) with the intention of permanently settling in India.

(Candidates under the last four categories must have a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.)

2. Age Limits (as of 1st August 2025):

• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Maximum Age: 32 years
  • The candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 1993 and not later than 1st August 2004.

Age Relaxation:

• SC/ST: Up to 5 years (maximum age: 37 years)
• OBC: Up to 3 years (maximum age: 35 years)
• Defense personnel disabled during hostilities: Up to 3 years
• Ex-servicemen (with at least 5 years of service): Up to 5 years
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Up to 10 years
• ECOs/SSCOs in the military: Up to 5 years (subject to certain conditions)

3. Educational Qualification:

• The candidate must hold a graduate degree from:
  • A recognized university incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature in India,
  • Any other recognized equivalent qualification.

Note:

• Candidates appearing for their final year of graduation can apply, but they must provide proof of passing the examination before the deadline specified by UPSC.
• Candidates with professional and technical qualifications recognized by the government are also eligible.

4. Number of Attempts:

• General category (UR/EWS): 6 attempts
• OBC: 9 attempts
• SC/ST: Unlimited attempts (until the maximum age limit)
• PwBD: 9 attempts for General/OBC and unlimited for SC/ST

(An attempt is counted if the candidate appears for any paper of the Preliminary Examination.)

5. Physical Standards:

• Candidates must meet the prescribed physical and medical standards set by the UPSC for specific services such as IAS, IPS, etc.

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UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 – Vacancy Details:

• Total Expected Vacancies: Approximately 979
• Reserved Vacancies for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 38

Breakdown of PwBD Vacancies:

• Blindness and Low Vision (B & LV): 12 vacancies
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D & HH): 7 vacancies
• Locomotor Disability (including Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims, and Muscular Dystrophy): 10 vacancies
• Multiple Disabilities (from amongst the above three categories, including Deaf-Blindness): 9 vacancies

Note:

• The final number of vacancies may change depending on confirmation from the Cadre Controlling Authorities.
• Reservation is applicable for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD categories as per government rules.

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UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Notification: How to fill the form?

• I would request the applicant to go to www.upsconline.nic.in
• Select online application for various examinations.
• Enter the details such as Name, Date of Birth, Email Address and Mobile Number.
• Click on the Submit button and you will receive your login credentials over registered email id.
• Now once you are done with the login credentials, enter your user id and password and login.
• Fill your personal details, educational details & employment details.
• Enter all the details and click on save and continue.
• The Applicants are requested to check all the details they have filled, as the information once filled cannot be changed later after final submission.
•   At this step candidates are required to upload a passport size photograph &  Scanned image of the signature

Important Note- The digital size of each file should not exceed 300 KB each and must not be less than 20 KB and resolution 350 pixels (Width) X 350 pixels (Height) minimum, 1000 pixels (Width) X 1000 pixels (Height) maximum and Bit Depth of image file should be 24 bit.

• This is the Final Stage of filling for the Payment Stage.
• Candidates can choose the payment method to be either Online & Offline
• 100/- INR is applicable for General while (females, SC, ST, EWS & OBC certified candidates are exempted from the fee payment
•  For online payment, you can choose either of Visa/Master/Rupay – credit card/debit card or Internet Banking Services of SBI.
• For offline payment, download the e-challan and submit the cash in SBI bank branches on the next day itself.

UPSC CSE Prelims Examination 2025 – Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The examination consists of three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
2. Main Examination (Descriptive/Written Test)
3. Interview/Personality Test

1. Preliminary Examination:

• Purpose: Screening test for the Main Examination.
• Type: Objective (MCQs)
• Total Papers: 2
• Total Marks: 400
• Duration: 2 hours for each paper
• Negative Marking: 1/3rd for each wrong answer

Prelims Exam Structure:

Note:

• CSAT (Paper-II) is qualifying in nature (33% minimum marks required).
• Marks obtained in Prelims are not counted for final ranking.

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Prelims Syllabus:

Paper 1 – General Studies (GS-I):

• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and the Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography (Physical, Social, Economic Geography)
• Indian Polity and Governance (Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, etc.)
• Economic and Social Development (Sustainable Development, Poverty, etc.)
• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change
• General Science

Paper 2 – CSAT (Aptitude Test):

• Comprehension
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (up to Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables)

2. Main Examination:

• Purpose: Evaluates candidates’ knowledge in-depth
• Type: Descriptive (Essay/Conventional)
• Total Papers: 9 (7 counted for merit)
• Total Marks: 1750
• Duration: 3 hours per paper

Main Exam Structure:

Qualifying Papers:

• Indian Language (Paper A) – Candidates must secure at least 25% marks
• English (Paper B) – Candidates must secure at least 25% marks

Papers Counted for Merit:

• Essay, General Studies (I-IV), Optional Subject (Papers I & II)

Main Exam Syllabus:

Paper-I: Essay

• Topics of general interest (current affairs, philosophy, governance, etc.)

Paper-II: General Studies-I (History & Geography)

• Indian Heritage and Culture
• Modern Indian History and Freedom Struggle
• World History (Industrial Revolution, World Wars, etc.)
• Society (Social Issues, Diversity, Globalization)
• Geography (Indian and World)

Paper-III: General Studies-II (Polity & Governance)

• Indian Constitution
• Governance and Political Structure
• Social Justice and Welfare Schemes
• International Relations

Paper-IV: General Studies-III (Economy & Technology)

• Economic Development and Planning
• Science & Technology
• Environment and Ecology
• Internal Security and Disaster Management

Paper-V: General Studies-IV (Ethics & Integrity)

• Ethics and Human Interface
• Emotional Intelligence
• Moral Thinkers
• Public Administration and Integrity

Optional Subjects (Paper VI & VII):
Candidates can choose one optional subject from the following list:

• Agriculture, Anthropology, Geography, History, Law, Literature, Political Science, Sociology, etc.

3. Personality Test (Interview):

• Marks: 275
• Total Marks (Mains + Interview): 2025
• Objective: Assessing candidate’s personality, leadership skills, and suitability for public service.
• Questions on general awareness, social issues, current affairs, and ethical dilemmas.

Final Ranking:

• Based on marks obtained in the Main Examination (1750 marks) and Interview (275 marks).