UPSC Civil Services Guide 2026
Comprehensive guide to the prestigious Indian Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS) — Prelims GS Paper 1, CSAT Paper 2, Mains structure, and personality test preparation.
1. About the Civil Services Examination (CSE)
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is India's premier nationwide competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit officers for 24 All India Services and Central Civil Services (Group A & Group B), including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
2. Examination Stages
The examination is structured across three rigorous stages:
Stage I: Preliminary Examination
Objective multiple-choice screening examination consisting of General Studies (Paper I) and CSAT (Paper II).
Stage II: Main Examination
Written descriptive examination comprising 9 papers (2 qualifying language papers + 7 merit ranking papers).
Stage III: Personality Test (Interview)
Unbiased interview conducted at Dholpur House, New Delhi by a board of competent observers assessing leadership, integrity, and analytical balance.
3. UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern
The Preliminary exam is held on a single Sunday in two shifts:
| Paper | Subject Name | No. of Qs | Max Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I (Shift 1) | General Studies I (History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Science, Environment, CA) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours | -0.66 marks per wrong |
| Paper II (Shift 2) | Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) - Comprehension, Reasoning, Basic Numeracy | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours | -0.83 marks (Min 33% required) |
4. Eligibility Criteria, Age Limits & Attempt Limits
| Category | Age Limit (as on Aug 1 of Exam Year) | Maximum Allowed Attempts | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 21 to 32 Years | 6 Attempts | Degree from a recognized Central/State University or deemed university (Final year students eligible for Prelims) |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 21 to 35 Years | 9 Attempts | |
| SC / ST | 21 to 37 Years | Unlimited (Within age limit) | |
| PwBD Candidates | 21 to 42 Years | 9 Attempts (General/OBC) / Unlimited (SC/ST) |
5. Key Syllabus Areas for Prelims
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does appearing in Prelims count as an attempt?
Yes. If a candidate appears in any one paper of the Preliminary Examination (e.g. Paper I), it is officially deemed as having made an attempt at the examination.
Can I choose Hindi medium for Mains if I wrote Prelims in English?
Yes. The language medium chosen for the Mains written examination and personality test interview can be chosen independently from the language opted for the Prelims application.