UPSC Selection Process 2025, Know About All 3 Stages
UPSC selection process for 2025 will begin with the prelims on May 25th. Stage wise UPSC Selection Process 2025 is discussed below.
Deeksha Dixit17 Feb, 2025
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UPSC Selection Process 2025: The Union Public Service Commission is authorized to select officers in the Indian government. To select suitable candidates for Civil Services, it conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year. The UPSC selection process through CSE is a 3 stage procedure that lasts for around one year.
The stages of the UPSC selection process include the prelims, mains, interviews, document verification, and a medical examination. The application process for UPSC Selection 2025 officially began on January 22nd, and it will conclude with the release of the final merit list in 2026. To secure coveted positions, candidates must successfully clear each stage individually.What is the UPSC Selection Procedure?
The UPSC selection process is a transparent merit-based process designed to recruit candidates for approximately 24 civil services. There are three main steps in the UPSC selection procedure, which are followed by document verification and a medical exam. Each stage has a specific requirement that must be met by the candidate in order to be recommended. Here is the stage-wise selection process for the UPSC exam:| UPSC Selection Procedure | ||||
| Stage | Stage Name | Nature | Total Marks | Purpose |
| Stage 1 | Preliminary Examination | Qualifying in nature | 400 | To screen candidates for the Main Examination |
| Stage 2 | Mains Examination | Marks included in the merit list | 1750 | Comprehensive assessment of candidates' knowledge and understanding of various subjects |
| Stage 3 | Personality Test | Scores considered for merit list | 275 | Evaluation of candidates' personality traits, communication skills, and suitability for administrative roles |
Also Read: Documents Required for UPSC Prelims Exam
UPSC Selection Process 2025 Overview
The UPSC Selection Process involves three stages to select candidates for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other services. The process for the UPSC CSE 2025 exam started with the application form and notification release. Here is an overview of the UPSC Selection Process 2025 for reference:| UPSC Selection Process 2025 Overview | |||
| Name | No. of Papers | Name of Papers | Nature of Papers |
| UPSC Prelims | 2 Papers |
|
Objective |
| UPSC Mains | 9 Papers |
|
Descriptive |
| UPSC Interview | – | Oral Exam | Personality Test |
| Final Selection | UPSC Mains + Interview Marks = 2025 Marks | ||
UPSC Selection Process 2025 Prelims
In 2025, the first stage of the UPSC Selection Process is the Prelims Exam , which has two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I and the General Studies Paper II also known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). The UPSC Prelims serve as a screening test to narrow down the candidate pool from lakhs to a few thousand for the next stage.| UPSC Prelims Process 2025 | |
| Particular | Detail |
| Mode of Exam | Offline OMR Based |
| Language of Exam | Hindi & English |
| Types of Questions | MCQ type |
| Total Papers | Two |
| Paper I General Studies | 100 Questions |
| Paper II CSAT | 80 Questions |
| Shift | GS: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM |
| CSAT: 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM | |
| Total Marks | 400 Marks |
| Negative Marking | GS: 0.66 Marks |
| CSAT: 0.83 Marks | |
| Passing Marks | GS: UPSC Cut off |
| CSAT: 66.67 Marks | |
| Time Allotted | 2 Hours/Paper |
UPSC Selection Process 2025 Mains
After clearing the Prelims exam, candidates will need to gear up for the next big challenge: the Mains Examination. UPSC Mains 2025 is the second stage that will begin August, 22nd, 2025. At this stage, candidates will need to appear on nine papers, each lasting 3 hours.| UPSC Mains Process 2025 | |||
| Paper | Name of Paper | Time Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Qualifying Papers | |||
| Paper A | Indian Language | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Paper B | English | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Merit Papers | |||
| Paper I | Essay | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies-I | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies -II | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies -III | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies -IV | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Paper 1 | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Paper 2 | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Total | 1750 Marks | ||
UPSC Selection Process 2025 Interview
The third and final stage of the UPSC selection process is the Personality Test. It is also known as the UPSC Interview which evaluates candidates' personality traits, leadership skills, and qualities required for civil service officers. Those candidates who make it to the UPSC Mains cut off are invited for the IAS interview where a panel of experts assesses their problem-solving capacity, decision-making skills, ethical values, etc.| UPSC Interview Process 2025 | |
| Particular | Details |
| Reporting Time | Forenoon Session: 9:00 AM |
| Afternoon Session: 1:00 PM | |
| Dress Code | Formals |
| Duration | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Total Marks | 275 |
| Candidates Called | Twice the number of vacancies |
| Venue | Union Public Service Commission Officer, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069 |
UPSC Selection Process 2025 DV & Medical Exam
Document Verification (DV) and Medical Examination are integral parts of the UPSC selection process. The DV process is conducted simultaneously with the UPSC interview where original documents that were uploaded in UPSC DAF are thoroughly checked to ensure accuracy and authenticity.- Document Verification (DV): This stage involves verifying candidates' original documents to ensure their eligibility for UPSC based on age, educational qualifications, and other criteria.
- Medical Examination: Candidates who clear the UPSC CSE interview and DV undergo a comprehensive medical examination the next day at a designated hospital to ensure they meet the medical standards set by the commission.
UPSC Selection Process 2025 FAQs
What is the selection structure of UPSC IAS?
The selection structure of the UPSC IAS exam includes Prelims, Mains, Interview, document verification, and medical exam.
How many stages does it take to clear the UPSC exam?
It takes three stages to clear the UPSC exam: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
What are the three stages of UPSC?
The three stages of UPSC are the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test.
What is the process of the UPSC exam?
Candidates appear for the prelims exam which is qualifying in nature. Selected candidates need to take UPSC Mains which is followed by the interview for shortlisted candidates.
How long does it take to qualify the UPSC exam?
The duration to qualify the UPSC exam varies, but typically, it takes around one year.
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