UPSC

What is UPSC?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India's premier central recruiting agency for Group A and Group B gazetted posts in the All India Services and Central Services. It is a constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India, and functions independently of the central government. UPSC is headquartered at Dholpur House, New Delhi, and has been conducting examinations since 1926 - first as the Federal Public Service Commission and in its current form since 1950.

UPSC's most prestigious examination - the Civil Services Examination (CSE) - selects candidates for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and over 20 other civil services. UPSC also conducts examinations for the armed forces, engineering services, medical services, and other specialised government roles.

UPSC at a Glance

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted annually in three stages: Preliminary (Prelims), Main (Mains), and Personality Test (Interview). It is widely regarded as one of the most competitive examinations in the world, with over 10 lakh applicants each year and approximately 1,000 final selections across all services.

CSE Exam Structure

• Prelims GS Paper I covers History, Geography, Economy, Polity, Environment, Science, and Current Affairs
• CSAT (Paper II) is qualifying only - a minimum of 33% is required
• Mains includes an Essay paper, four GS papers, two Optional subject papers, and two language qualifying papers
• Final merit is based on Mains + Interview marks (total 2025)
• Minimum educational qualification: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university
• Age limit: 21-32 years for General; relaxation for OBC, SC/ST, PwBD, and other categories

Other UPSC Examinations

• NDA & NA Exam: For entry into Army, Navy, and Air Force after Class 12
• CDS Exam: Combined Defence Services - for commission as officer in Army, Navy, and Air Force after graduation
• CAPF (AC) Exam: Assistant Commandant in Central Armed Police Forces (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB)
• IES/ISS: Indian Economic Service / Indian Statistical Service
• IFS (Forestry): Indian Forest Service - separate from the foreign service; for forest officers
• CMS Exam: Combined Medical Services - for MBBS graduates to join central health services
• EPFO: Enforcement Officers and Accounts Officers for EPFO
• SCRA: Special Class Railway Apprentice (currently suspended)

UPSC Exam Calendar

• January - March: UPSC releases its Annual Calendar; CSE Notification released (February)
• February - March: CSE Personality Test (Interview) for the previous cycle
• April: CSE Final Result (previous cycle); NDA I exam
• May - June: CSE Prelims
• June - July: NDA II Notification; CDS II Notification
• September - October: CSE Mains
• November: NDA II exam
• December: CSE Mains Result declared

Resources for UPSC Aspirants on AglaSem

• Syllabus: Official UPSC CSE, NDA, CDS, and CAPF syllabi
• Previous Year Question Papers: UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains papers from multiple years
• Free Mock Tests: Topic-wise and full-length UPSC Prelims mock tests
• Cut-off Marks: Year-wise CSE Prelims and Mains cut-off data
• Exam Notifications: All UPSC exam date, notification, and result updates

Frequently Asked Questions about UPSC

How many attempts are allowed for UPSC CSE?

General category candidates can attempt the UPSC Civil Services Examination up to 6 times between the ages of 21 and 32. OBC candidates get 9 attempts up to age 35. SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts up to age 37. PwBD candidates get 9 attempts with the age limit relaxed by 10 years.

What services can I get through UPSC CSE?

Based on your rank and preference, you may be allotted IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), IFS (Indian Foreign Service), IRS (Indian Revenue Service), IPoS (Indian Postal Service), and over 20 other central and All India Services.

Is there negative marking in UPSC Prelims?

Yes. For each wrong answer in both GS Paper I and CSAT (Paper II), one-third of the marks assigned to that question are deducted. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.

When is the UPSC CSE Prelims result declared?

UPSC typically declares the Prelims result within 3 to 4 weeks of the examination date, usually in July. The result is published on upsc.gov.in.