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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination annually to select candidates for prestigious services like IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A services. The exam has three stages. After clearing the Prelims, the Mains exam 2025 will be held from 22 August 2025 for five days, covering all language, essay, optional, and GS papers, in offline mode at 24 exam centers across India. Candidates who qualify this stage will be invited for the final interview at UPSC Bhawan, where they will be interviewed by the UPSC board for final selection. Marks from both stages will be considered for the final merit list.
UPSC Exam Date 2025
Union Public Service Commission will release the UPSC 2024 Notification on 22 January 2025 for the CSE Examination. Candidates who clear UPSC Prelims will move on to the Mains Exam on 22 August 2025 for 5 days. It includes 9 descriptive papers and is crucial for the final merit list and ranking.
UPSC Mains Exam 2025 Highlights
The UPSC Mains exam dates have been announced for candidates through the UPSC exam calendar. The table below provides details for candidates to find out the Date for the CSE mains exam in 2025.
UPSC Mains Exam 2024 Highlights | |
Events | Dates |
Name of Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
Name of Exam | UPSC Mains Exam 2024 |
UPSC CSE Mains Exam Date | 22 August 2025 |
Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
UPSC Interview/ IAS interview Date | Yet to be announced |
Official website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
UPSC Mains Admit Card 2025
The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC Admit Card 2024 for the main examination. Candidates who have qualified prelims and have successfully submitted their DAF are eligible for the civil services main examination will need to have their UPSC Admit Card 2025 for the Mains Exam as important information such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam location, and times will be on the admit card, which will be out a about 2 weeks before the exam.
UPSC Civil Services Important Dates
The UPSC Calendar lists important exams like the Mains Exam. Aspirants should keep these dates in mind for better planning and preparation.
UPSC Exam 2025 Important Dates | |
Events | Important Dates |
UPSC Notification 2025 Release Date | 22 January 2025 |
UPSC Prelims Exam Registration | 22 January 2025 |
UPSC Prelims Exam Date | 25 May 2025 |
UPSC Mains Exam Date 2025 | 22 August 2025 |
UPSC Interview/ IAS interview Date | Yet to be announced |
How to Apply for the UPSC Mains Exam?
Candidates must fill out the online form on upsc.gov.in after the CSE Prelims results. Key points for the UPSC Mains 2025 Detailed Application Form include six modules:
- Personal Information
- Educational Information
- Parental Information
- Employment Information
- Upload Documents
- Final Submission
Prepopulated Fields: Details such as name, date of birth, and exam center for UPSC Mains are filled out automatically from the UPSC Preliminary application.
No Changes After Submission: After submitting the DAF, no further online changes are possible. Candidates must review all details carefully before final submission.
The DAF must be filled very carefully, as it will be a major driver for the interview after you clear the UPSC CSE Mains 2025.
Importance in Interview: The DAF serves as the foundation for interview questions in the IAS interview/ Personality test. Candidates should retain a copy for reference during this critical stage.
UPSC Exam Centers
The numerous city-wise UPSC Mains Exam Centers have been organized by the Union Public Service Commission, offering opportunities to aspiring candidates from diverse regions. UPSC exam centers are located in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna, and Jaipur, ensuring easy access for candidates. Check the full list of UPSC IAS exam centers to find your allotted venue and plan your route.
UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025
After the Prelims, the UPSC Mains exam tests candidates’ writing and analytical skills in nine papers: two compulsory (Hindi and essay), four General Studies (GS), one Essay, and two optional papers. Candidates can choose from 48 optional subjects to highlight their expertise. With each paper carrying significant weight, thorough preparation is key to success. The Mains exam is of 1750 marks.
UPSC Mains 2025 Exam Pattern
Candidates can check the UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2025 provided below in the table or they can review the infographic below:
UPSC IAS Mains Exam Pattern | ||
Qualifying Papers | Marks | |
Paper-A | One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution | 300 |
Paper-B | English | 300 |
Papers Counted for Merit | ||
Paper-I | Essay | 250 |
Paper-II | General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 |
Paper-III | General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) | 250 |
Paper-IV | Genera Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 |
Paper-V | General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) | 250 |
Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 | |
Personality Test | 275 | |
Grand Total | 2025 |
Important Articles for UPSC Exam | |
UPSC Exam Pattern | UPSC Syllabus |
UPSC Eligibility Criteria | Best Books for UPSC |
How to Prepare for UPSC | UPSC Previous Year Question Paper |