UPSC-Mains Union Public Service Commission Mains
Civil services · UG · All India
Overview
Eligibility
The Civil Services Main Examination is written by candidates who have cleared the Preliminary examination in the same cycle. The eligibility conditions — degree, age, attempts and nationality — are those of the Civil Services Examination as a whole, and are tested at the Preliminary stage.
A candidate who applied for the Preliminary examination in the final year of a degree must produce proof of having passed before sitting the Main examination.
Exam Pattern
Syllabus
General Studies Paper I
12.5%Indian Heritage & Culture, History, World History, Society, Geography
General Studies Paper II
12.5%Indian Constitution, Polity, Governance, Social Justice, International Relations
General Studies Paper III
12.5%Economy, Agriculture, Science & Technology, Environment, Disaster Management, Internal Security
General Studies Paper IV
12.5%Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude, Case Studies, Moral Thinkers, Public Administration Values
Essay
12.5%Social Issues, Economic Development, Political Themes, Ethics, Philosophy, Science & Technology, Contemporary Issues
Optional Subject Paper I
18.75%Subject-specific theory and concepts (as chosen by candidate)
Optional Subject Paper II
18.75%Advanced application and analysis of optional subject
How to Apply
The application is an online form on the UPSC’s online application portal. Everything below is done in one sitting or saved and returned to; nothing is done on paper.
Register
There is no separate application for the Main examination in the ordinary sense — qualified candidates fill a Detailed Application Form on the Commission’s portal within the window announced with the Preliminary result.
Fill the form
The Detailed Application Form asks for the full record: education, employment, the optional subject, the language chosen for the papers, and the centre. It is the document the interview board reads from, so what is written here is what you will be asked about.
Choose test cities
Cities are given in order of preference and allotted on availability, so the first choice is not guaranteed. Pick somewhere you can reach the morning of the exam without an overnight journey.
Upload photograph and signature
Both have to meet the format, size and background stated in the notification. A rejected upload is the most common reason a form is left incomplete past the deadline.
Pay the fee
Online, through the official portal only. The amount is set afresh in each year’s notification and is lower for SC, ST and PwD candidates. Keep the payment receipt.
Submit, then check
Print the completed form. A correction window usually opens afterwards -- it is limited, and it rarely covers every field, so it is a repair, not a second chance.
Apply only through the official portal. No agent can register you, and nobody can change a score once it is declared.
Important Dates
Selection Process
Nine papers are written. Seven of them count.
| Paper | What it is |
|---|---|
| Paper A — Indian Language | Qualifying only. Marks do not count towards the merit list, but failing it means the rest of the papers are not evaluated. |
| Paper B — English | Qualifying only, on the same terms. |
| Essay | Counted. |
| General Studies I to IV | Counted. Four papers covering heritage and society; governance and international relations; economy, environment and security; and ethics, integrity and aptitude. |
| Optional Paper I and II | Counted. One subject chosen from the Commission’s list, written as two papers. |
The written papers are descriptive, not multiple choice. Candidates who clear the written stage are called for a Personality Test, and the final merit list is struck on the written marks and the interview together — the Preliminary marks play no part in it.
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