UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Civil Services Prelims Exam 2025 (CSE) and Indian Forest Service (Prelims) exam today on January 22, 2025. Eligible candidates can now register for the exam starting today, till the deadline of February 11. 2025. The CSE prelims exam is scheduled to take place on May 25, 2025.
UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025: Vacancy details
This year, the UPSC Civils Services is set to fill a total of 979 vacancies across different service cadres.
Notably, this marks a reduction of 77 posts compared to last year when 1,056 positions were advertised.
Here’s the detailed vacancy breakdown for UPSC Civil Services Exam 2025
Here’s the detailed vacancy breakdown UPSC Civil Services exam 2025-
However, aspirants should note that the final number of vacancies may change based on confirmations from the Cadre Controlling Authorities.
UPSC CSE recruitment 2025: Eligibility criteria
To sit for the Civil Services Examination, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements set by the UPSC for both the Prelims and Mains exams.
Educational Qualifications
The academic qualifications required for UPSC CSE eligibility are as follows:
- Candidates must possess a degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification.
- Final-year students or those awaiting results may apply for the UPSC Prelims, provided they submit proof of passing the exam before applying for the Mains.
- Candidates with professional or technical qualifications recognized by the government as equivalent to a degree are also eligible.
- Medical students who have completed their final year of MBBS but are yet to finish their internship can apply, but they must submit a course completion certificate from the relevant authority with their Mains application.
Number of Attempts
The number of attempts allowed in the UPSC Civil Services Examination varies by category:
- General category candidates can attempt the exam up to six times, with a maximum age of 32.
- OBC candidates are permitted nine attempts until the age of 35.
- SC/ST candidates can make unlimited attempts until the age of 37.
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are allowed nine attempts until the age of 42.
- EWS candidates can appear for the exam up to six times, with a maximum age of 32.
Nationality
The nationality criteria for UPSC exams differ depending on the service category:
- For IAS, IPS, and IFS, candidates must be Indian citizens.
- For all other services, candidates must be Indian citizens, or citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees who arrived before January 1, 1962, with the intention of settling permanently in India. Additionally, Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) from certain countries intending to settle permanently in India are eligible.
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2025: Detailed selection process
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination annually to select candidates for important positions in Group A and B across various government departments, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Revenue Service (IRS). The selection process consists of three stages: the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the personality test.
The Civil Services (Preliminary) examination consists of two objective-type papers worth a total of 400 marks and functions as a screening tool to select candidates for the next phase. The scores from the preliminary exam do not affect the final ranking, but roughly twelve to thirteen times the number of available vacancies will be chosen from those who pass the exam to appear for the Civil Services (Main) Examination. Only those candidates who meet all eligibility requirements and are deemed qualified by the Commission in the preliminary exam can proceed to the Main Examination. To be eligible for the Main exam, candidates must obtain at least 33% in General Studies Paper-II and meet the overall qualifying marks in General Studies Paper-I, as specified by the Commission.
UPSC CSE 2025: How to apply for UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025
Candidates can follow the steps mentioned here to register for the UPSC CSE exam 2025 from the official website:
Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.
Step 2: On the homepage, find and click on the UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2024 link. This link will be activated soon, and it will direct you to the application portal.
Step 3: After clicking the link, a new page will appear. Here, candidates must register themselves by providing basic personal details such as name, date of birth, email address, and mobile number. Ensure that all information is accurate before proceeding.
Step 4: Once registration is complete, log in to your account using the credentials created during the registration process. This will give you access to the application form.
Step 5: Complete the online application form with the required details, including educational qualifications, personal information, and exam preferences. Ensure all sections are filled in accurately and review the form before submitting.
Step 6: After filling out the form, proceed to pay the application fee as specified. Payment can typically be made through online modes such as debit/credit cards or net banking. Check the exact fee structure for your category (General, OBC, SC/ST, etc.).
Step 7: Once the fee is successfully paid, click on the ‘Submit’ button to finalize your application. You will be redirected to a page where you can download a PDF copy of your completed application form.
Step 8: It is highly recommended to print a copy of the filled application form for future reference. This will be useful for any future communications with UPSC and for tracking the status of your application.
Alternatively, candidates can click on the link provided here to register for the UPSC CSE recruitment exam 2025.
Check the official notice here.