UPSC CSE
Also known as: CSE
Union Public Service Commission
One of India's most competitive exams, leading to IAS, IPS, IFS and more
UPSC CSE is India's national civil services exam, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, for recruitment to the All India Services and Central Group A and B services. It has three stages: a screening Preliminary Examination, a descriptive Main Examination and a 275-mark Personality Test. Final rank is decided out of 2,025 marks, and all entry-level Group A services start at Pay Level 10.
In-Hand Salary
The approximate net pay before HRA is Rs 82,299 per month, after the 10% NPS deduction on Basic plus DA. The full month-by-month breakdown is shown in the table on this page.
Typical Vacancies
933
Frequency
Annual
Latest Updates
DAF Window for Mains Opened
Detailed Application Form submission window opened for candidates who qualified Prelims.
Preliminary Examination Conducted
Prelims (Paper I General Studies and Paper II CSAT) held for the 2026 cycle.
Application Window Closed
Online application for the Prelims stage closed.
UPSC CSE 2026 Notification Released
Notification released for 933 vacancies; the application window opened the same day.
Overview
What is CSE?
UPSC CSE (Civil Services Examination), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, recruits officers for the All India Services (IAS, IPS and IFoS) and for Central Civil Services Group A and B. Group A and B services include the IFS, IRS and over 20 other services. Candidates are allocated services based on their final rank and stated service preference, so the exam is the single gateway to these careers for those who clear all stages.
Who Can Apply?
Any candidate with a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university can apply, within the prescribed age limits. Final-year students may apply provisionally, provided they submit proof of passing before the Main Examination.
Career Opportunities
Successful candidates can be allocated to IAS, IPS, IFoS, IFS, IRS and more than 20 other Central services. Service allocation follows final rank and preference, which means the rank you achieve shapes the options available to you. A civil services career involves administrative, policing, foreign service, revenue and other public responsibilities across government, with progression through successive grades over a long service period.
How to Apply
- 1
Apply online for the Preliminary Examination
A common online application covers the Prelims stage, via a One-Time Registration (OTR) process on upsc.gov.in.
- 2
Pay the application fee
Rs 100 for the Prelims stage. SC/ST/PwBD/women candidates are exempted from this fee.
- 3
Clear Prelims, then fill the Detailed Application Form (DAF)
Only candidates who qualify Prelims fill the DAF online for Mains, with a separate Rs 200 fee (same exemptions apply). The DAF captures extensive personal, educational and service-preference details used later for the interview.
- 4
Upload supporting documents
Scanned copies of required documents are uploaded with the DAF — no physical/hard copies need to be sent to the Commission.
- 5
Appear for Mains, then the Personality Test if shortlisted
Candidates who clear Mains are called for the Personality Test (interview) based on a separate shortlist.
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
21–32 years
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | +3 years |
| SC | +5 years |
| ST | +5 years |
| PwBD_UR_EWS | +10 years |
| PwBD_OBC | +13 years |
| PwBD_SC_ST | +15 years |
Educational Qualification
A bachelor's degree from a recognized university in any discipline is required. Final-year students may apply provisionally but must submit proof of passing before the Main Examination.
Nationality
Indian citizen (with specific conditions for a few services allowing certain other nationalities under additional eligibility rules)
The general age range is 21 to 32 years as on 1 August of the exam year, with relaxations for OBC, SC/ST and PwBD candidates. General and EWS candidates get 6 attempts, OBC candidates get 9, and SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts, all subject to the age limit.
Selection Process
Preliminary Examination
Offline, OMR-based objective test · 2 hours per paper
Main Examination — Qualifying Papers
Written, descriptive/subjective · 3 hours per paper
Main Examination — Merit Papers
Written, descriptive/subjective · 3 hours per paper
Personality Test (Interview)
Board interview · Varies, typically 20-30 minutes
Final Selection
Exam Pattern
Preliminary Examination
Offline, OMR-based objective testDuration: 2 hours per paperTotal: 200 marksNegative: -1/3 mark per wrong answer on both papers| Subject / Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I — General Studies (counts for ranking in Prelims, but Prelims marks themselves do not count toward final merit) | 100 | 200 |
| Paper II — CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test, qualifying only, minimum 33% required) | 80 | 200 |
Screening stage only — Prelims marks are NOT added to the final merit score. Only candidates who clear both the Paper I cutoff and the Paper II (CSAT) 33% qualifying mark are shortlisted for Mains.
Main Examination — Qualifying Papers
Written, descriptive/subjectiveDuration: 3 hours per paperTotal: 600 marksNegative: Not applicable (descriptive answers)| Subject / Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A — One Indian Language (from the Eighth Schedule) | — | 300 |
| Paper B — English | — | 300 |
Qualifying only — marks from these two papers do NOT count toward the merit ranking. Candidates must simply clear the minimum qualifying mark set by UPSC each year.
Main Examination — Merit Papers
Written, descriptive/subjectiveDuration: 3 hours per paperTotal: 1750 marksNegative: Not applicable (descriptive answers)| Subject / Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | — | 250 |
| General Studies Paper I (History, Geography, Society) | — | 250 |
| General Studies Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, International Relations) | — | 250 |
| General Studies Paper III (Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, Security) | — | 250 |
| General Studies Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | — | 250 |
| Optional Subject — Paper I | — | 250 |
| Optional Subject — Paper II | — | 250 |
These 7 papers (1,750 marks total) count directly toward the final merit ranking. The optional subject is chosen by the candidate from a list of around 48 options (humanities, science, literature, and engineering subjects among others) — see the syllabus section for how that choice fits into preparation planning.
Personality Test (Interview)
Board interviewDuration: Varies, typically 20-30 minutesTotal: 275 marksNegative: Not applicable| Subject / Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Personality Test | — | 275 |
Final merit is decided out of 2,025 marks total: 1,750 from the Main Examination merit papers plus 275 from the Personality Test. Prelims marks play no role in the final rank.
Detailed Syllabus
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography
- Indian Polity and Governance (Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues)
- Economic and Social Development
- Environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change
- General science
Salary & Career Growth
Pay Scale
All entry-level Group A services obtained through CSE, including IAS and IPS, start at Pay Level 10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix with a basic pay of Rs 56,100, regardless of the specific service or cadre allocated.
In-Hand Salary
The approximate net pay before HRA is Rs 82,299 per month, after the 10% NPS deduction on Basic plus DA. The full month-by-month breakdown is shown in the table on this page.
Pay Breakdown
| Level 10 (Entry — IAS/IPS/IFS and other Group A services) | |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | Rs 56,100 |
| DA (63%) | Rs 35,343 |
| Approx. Gross (before HRA) | Rs 91,443 |
| NPS Deduction (10% of Basic+DA) | -Rs 9,144 |
| Approx. Net (before HRA) | Rs 82,299 |
Figures as of: DA 63% effective 1 Jul 2026. All entry-level Group A services obtained through CSE (IAS, IPS, IFS and others) start at the same Pay Level 10, regardless of which service or cadre you are allocated — the figure below applies uniformly at entry. Career growth from here depends on the specific service and years of service, up to Pay Level 18 (Cabinet Secretary) at the very top, decades into a career. Figures exclude minor deductions like CGHS.
Allowances & Benefits
DA is currently 63%, and NPS takes 10% from the employee with a 14% government contribution, both calculated on Basic plus DA. HRA is paid on top at 30%, 20% or 10% of basic depending on whether the city is X, Y or Z category. Gratuity is one-fourth of emoluments per completed six-month block of qualifying service, with a minimum of five years, capped at Rs 25 lakh and fully tax-exempt.
Promotion Hierarchy
Officers progress from the Junior Time Scale through the Senior Time Scale, Junior Administrative Grade and Selection Grade. The top of the service is Pay Level 18 (Rs 2,50,000, Cabinet Secretary rank), which is typically reached decades into a career and is the same structural ceiling across the All India Services pay matrix.
Job Security
These are central government posts with a defined pay matrix, structured promotions and pension rules under the CCS framework, though specific service terms vary by service.
Previous Year Cutoffs
| Year | Stage | Post / Region | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Final (out of 2025, Mains + Interview) | All services combined | 963 | 931 | 905 | 902 | 926 | 2025 |
| 2025 | Mains (out of 1750 merit marks) | All services combined | 739 | 717 | 700 | 694 | 706 | 1750 |
| 2025 | Prelims (Paper I, out of 200) | All services combined | 92.66 | 92 | 84 | 82.66 | 89.34 | 200 |
All services combined · 2025: Sourced from third-party aggregators (clearias.com, drishtiias.com and others), not yet cross-verified against the official UPSC notification/result PDF. UPSC publishes its own official cutoffs after each stage. Final cutoff determines overall selection across all services combined — cutoffs for a SPECIFIC service (IAS vs IPS vs IRS etc.) are higher/different and allocated by rank + service preference, not shown here.
All services combined · 2025: Sourced from third-party aggregators (clearias.com, drishtiias.com and others), not yet cross-verified against the official UPSC notification/result PDF. UPSC publishes its own official cutoffs after each stage.
All services combined · 2025: Sourced from third-party aggregators (clearias.com, drishtiias.com and others), not yet cross-verified against the official UPSC notification/result PDF. UPSC publishes its own official cutoffs after each stage.
Preparation Strategy
For Beginners
Start by confirming your eligibility and getting familiar with the three-stage structure and the syllabus for each paper. Build foundations in Indian Polity using M. Laxmikanth's Indian Polity and in modern history using Bipan Chandra's India's Struggle for Independence. Begin CSAT practice early with Arihant Experts' CSAT Paper 2, since it is a qualifying paper that needs at least 33%.
Intermediate Level
Inconsistent mock scores usually come from two different failures, and they need separate fixes, so classify every wrong answer in your Prelims mocks as either a knowledge gap, a misread question, or a guess that should not have been attempted. Since Paper I carries a one-third penalty on 100 questions, fix your attempt discipline first: set a rule for how many options you must eliminate before marking, and track whether your guessed attempts are net positive or net negative across three or four papers. Check CSAT separately, because a Paper I score that clears the cutoff is worthless if Paper II falls below the 33% qualifying mark, so run full 80-question CSAT papers under time pressure if comprehension and basic numeracy sections are where you lose pace. For the Main Examination, score a few answers against the syllabus wording itself, since inconsistency there is typically a structure problem, not a content problem, and the same gap will cost you across all four General Studies papers and both optional papers.
Advanced (Final Stage)
Plan around the three stages: the Preliminary Examination is pure screening with negative marking, while the Main Examination and Personality Test decide the actual rank. Prelims marks do not count toward merit, so shift your focus to the seven merit papers totalling 1,750 marks and the 275-mark interview. Practise timed descriptive answer writing for GS papers and build depth in your Optional Subject, since both optional papers carry 250 marks each.
3-Month Study Plan
Month 1: Read the full syllabus and exam pattern, then start Indian Polity with M. Laxmikanth and Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong. Month 2: Build depth in history and economy using Bipan Chandra's book and Ramesh Singh's Indian Economy, while starting regular CSAT Paper 2 practice from Arihant Experts. Month 3: Begin short daily notes on current affairs and introduce ethics using Niraj Kumar's Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude, treating this as the first phase of a multi-year preparation.
6-Month Study Plan
Month 1: Map the full syllabus against the four General Studies merit papers and the Essay, then settle your optional subject choice and collect its detailed syllabus, since both optional papers carry 250 marks each. Start Indian Polity with M. Laxmikanth and physical geography with Goh Cheng Leong. Month 2: Complete polity and link constitutional topics to the governance, separation of powers and dispute redressal themes of General Studies Paper II. Work through modern Indian history and the freedom struggle with Bipan Chandra, and begin weekly CSAT sets from Arihant Experts. Month 3: Cover the economy portion of General Studies Paper III using Ramesh Singh, alongside agriculture, budgeting and infrastructure. Begin the optional subject's core syllabus and keep a daily current affairs note tied to specific syllabus headings. Month 4: Add environment, biodiversity, disaster management, science and technology, and internal security. Start ethics with Niraj Kumar's text, practising case studies on ethical dilemmas rather than reading theory alone. Month 5: Shift to output. Write two General Studies answers daily under timed conditions, one Essay a week, and continue the optional subject with past-paper style questions. Take sectional Prelims tests and track your attempt-to-accuracy ratio against the one-third negative marking. Month 6: Run full-length Prelims mocks of 100 and 80 questions back to back, review each paper by error type, and keep CSAT practice regular so the 33% qualifying mark is never at risk. Revise polity, economy and ethics notes on a fixed weekly cycle.
12-Month Study Plan
Month 1: Break the syllabus of every paper into a written topic checklist, and begin Indian Polity with M. Laxmikanth at a steady pace of a few chapters a week. Keep a single notes file per paper from the start. Month 2: Finish the constitutional framework, Union and State functions and separation of powers sections of polity, and start modern Indian history from the 18th century with Bipan Chandra's India's Struggle for Independence. Month 3: Complete the freedom struggle portion of history and draw up a shortlist of three possible optional subjects, reading their syllabi and past question papers before deciding. Month 4: Confirm the optional subject and begin its Paper I syllabus at two to three hours a week. Start physical geography with Goh Cheng Leong's Certificate Physical and Human Geography. Month 5: Complete physical and Indian geography, then open Ramesh Singh's Indian Economy with planning, growth and government budgeting only. Add one weekly CSAT set from Arihant Experts' CSAT Paper 2. Month 6: Cover agriculture, land reforms, industrial policy and infrastructure in economy, and begin a short daily current affairs note filed under the GS paper it belongs to rather than by date. Month 7: Work through General Studies Paper II topics: government policies, development processes, the role of civil society, neighbourhood relations and global groupings. Continue optional Paper I alongside. Month 8: Start ethics with Niraj Kumar's Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude, covering attitude, emotional intelligence and probity, and write two case study answers a week. Month 9: Move to optional Paper II and begin timed descriptive answer writing for General Studies Papers I and II, starting with short answers before attempting full-length sets. Month 10: Cover post-independence consolidation, Indian society, environment and biodiversity, disaster management, science and technology, and internal security. Run a first full revision of polity and history notes. Month 11: Shift the weight to Prelims with weekly full-length General Studies Paper I mocks scored with the one third mark deduction per wrong answer, plus one CSAT paper a week to stay clear of the 33% qualifying requirement. Month 12: Revise static notes and the current affairs file twice, alternate prelims mocks with mains answer writing so descriptive speed does not decay, and set aside short slots for the Indian language and English qualifying papers.
Recommended Books
General Studies
Indian Polity
M. Laxmikanth · McGraw Hill
Standard reference for GS Paper II (Constitution, governance)
India's Struggle for Independence
Bipan Chandra · Penguin
Core reference for the Indian freedom struggle (GS Paper I)
Certificate Physical and Human Geography
Goh Cheng Leong · Oxford University Press
Foundational geography concepts for Prelims and GS Paper I
Economy
Indian Economy
Ramesh Singh · McGraw Hill
Standard reference for GS Paper III economy topics
CSAT
CSAT Paper 2
Arihant Experts · Arihant Publications
Practice for the qualifying CSAT paper
Ethics
Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
Niraj Kumar · Chronicle Publications
Reference material for GS Paper IV
Results
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
UPSC CSE (Civil Services Examination) is the national recruitment exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, India. It selects candidates for All India Services and Central Civil Services Group A and B posts. Selection happens in three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test.
Candidates can be allocated to IAS, IPS and IFoS under the All India Services, and to Central Civil Services Group A and B, including IFS, IRS and over 20 other services. Final allocation is based on final rank and service preference.
Candidates need a bachelor's degree from a recognized university in any discipline. Final-year students may apply provisionally but must submit proof of passing before the Main Examination.
The general age range is 21 to 32 years as on 1 August of the exam year, with relaxations of 3 years for OBC (ceiling 35), 5 years for SC/ST (ceiling 37) and 10 years for PwBD general (ceiling 42). General and EWS candidates get 6 attempts, OBC candidates get 9, and SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts, all subject to the age limit.
The Preliminary Examination has two objective OMR papers: General Studies Paper I and CSAT Paper II, each of 200 marks over 2 hours. The Main Examination has nine descriptive papers, of which two are qualifying language papers and seven are merit papers totalling 1,750 marks. The Personality Test carries 275 marks.
No. The Preliminary Examination is a screening stage only, and its marks play no role in the final merit rank. Only candidates who qualify move on to the Main Examination.
Candidates choose one Optional Subject from around 48 options spanning humanities, science, literature and engineering subjects. It is covered in two Mains papers of 250 marks each, and these marks count toward the final rank.
Yes, in the Preliminary Examination. Both Paper I and Paper II deduct 1/3 mark for each wrong answer. Negative marking does not apply to the descriptive Main Examination.
CSAT is Paper II of the Preliminary Examination, with 80 questions for 200 marks over 2 hours. It is qualifying only, so its marks do not count toward rank, but candidates must score at least 33% to qualify.
Yes, the Personality Test is the final stage and carries 275 marks. Candidates are called for it based on a separate shortlist after clearing the Main Examination.
Final merit rank is decided out of 2,025 marks, made up of 1,750 marks from the seven Main Examination merit papers and 275 marks from the Personality Test. Prelims marks play no role, and the two qualifying language papers in Mains do not count toward rank.
All entry-level Group A services obtained through CSE, including IAS and IPS, start at Pay Level 10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix with a basic pay of Rs 56,100. The approximate net pay before HRA is Rs 82,299 per month after NPS deduction, and the full breakdown is shown on this page.
There is no physical test (PET/PST) in the written exam or interview process for most services. A few specific services may apply separate physical or medical standards after final selection.
The 2026 cycle was notified on 4 February 2026 for 933 vacancies. Vacancy numbers change from cycle to cycle, so the official notification for each year is the reliable source.
The Prelims application fee is Rs 100, and the DAF fee for the Mains stage is Rs 200. SC, ST, PwBD and women candidates are exempt from both fees.