UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025: Notification, Admit Card, Results, Exam Calendar and Important Dates

February 27, 2024

8 Minutes

 Are you aspiring to join India's esteemed civil services? The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 could be your gateway to a rewarding career in public service. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential details of the UPSC CSE 2025, including the notification release, exam dates, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and application process. Stay tuned for updates on the UPSC CSE 2025 as they are released.

UPSC Notification 2025

The official notification for the UPSC CSE 2025 is yet to be released. This notification will contain crucial information such as exam dates, syllabus, eligibility criteria, and instructions on how to apply. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official UPSC website for updates on the notification release.

UPSC Exam Dates for 2025

While the official exam dates for UPSC CSE 2025 have not been announced, based on the previous year's schedule, we can estimate the tentative dates for the different stages of the exam:

Please note that these dates are tentative and subject to change. Candidates are advised to refer to the official notification for the most up-to-date information. 

Find these updates in the UPSC Exam Calendar 2025 (official) here. 

UPSC Vacancies and Posts

The number of vacancies and the specific posts available under UPSC CSE 2025 will be detailed in the official notification but looking at the trends, the UPSC will advertise over 1000 posts for services in 2025. Generally, the UPSC CSE offers a range of prestigious positions, including:

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
• Indian Postal Service (IPoS)
• Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
• Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)
• Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
• Indian Information Service (IIS)
• Indian Trade Service (ITS)
• Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
• Indian Railway Protection Force (IRPF)
• Indian Forest Service (IFS)

Eligibility Criteria for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 (Expected)

1. Nationality:

• For the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Foreign Service, and the Indian Police Service, candidates must be citizens of India.
• For other services, candidates must be either:
  • Citizens of India
  • Subjects of Nepal, Bhutan
  • Tibetan refugees who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling
  • Persons of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
• Candidates belonging to categories (b), (c), (d), and (e) must have a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

2. Age Limits

• Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years old as of August 1, 2024.
• Age relaxations are available for:
  • Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes (up to 5 years)
  • Other Backward Classes (up to 3 years)
  • Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations (up to 3 years)
  • Ex-servicemen (up to 5 years)
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (up to 10 years)
• Candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PwBD categories are eligible for cumulative age-relaxation.

3. Minimum Educational Qualification

• Candidates must hold a graduate degree from a recognized university or institution.
• Candidates appearing in a qualifying examination are also eligible, but they must produce proof of passing the examination before the Main Examination.

4. Number of Attempts:

• General category candidates can attempt the exam six times.
• SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts within the age limit.
• OBC candidates can attempt the exam nine times.
• PwBD candidates have nine attempts for GL/EWS/OBC categories and unlimited attempts for SC/ST categories.

5. Restrictions on Applying

• Candidates already appointed to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, or Indian Police Service based on earlier examination results are not eligible to apply.
• Candidates appointed to the Indian Police Service based on earlier examination results cannot opt for the Indian Police Service based on the CSE-2024 results.

6. Medical and Physical Standards

• Candidates must be physically fit according to the physical standards for admission to the Civil Services Examination, 2024, as per guidelines provided.

7. Fee

• Female candidates, SC/ST candidates, and Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates are exempt from the fee.
• OBC/EWS candidates must pay the prescribed fee in full.
• Candidates must pay the fee either by remitting the money in any branch of the State Bank of India by cash or by using Net Banking facility of any bank or by using Visa/Master/RuPay/Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment.

Note: Candidates are encouraged to refer to the official notification for detailed eligibility criteria and guidelines.

UPSC Exam Pattern

The exam pattern for UPSC CSE 2025 is expected to follow a similar structure to previous years, consisting of three stages:

• Preliminary Exam: This stage comprises two papers - General Studies and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT).
• Mains Exam: The mains exam consists of nine papers, including essay writing and general studies papers.
• Interview: The final stage of the exam is the personality test or interview, which assesses the candidate's suitability for a career in civil services.

Check out a detailed overview of UPSC CSAT syllabus here.

How to Apply for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025

Candidates are required to apply online through the official website www.upsconline.nic.in you'll find an online registration link  and you must first register at the One Time Registration (OTR) platform on the Commission’s website.

OTR registration needs to be done only once in a lifetime and can be completed at any time during the year. If a candidate is already registered, they can proceed directly to fill out the online application for the examination.

• Modification in OTR Profile: Any changes to the OTR profile can be made only once in a lifetime after the OTR registration. The modification in OTR profile data will be allowed until 7 days after the closure of the application window for the candidate's first final application for any Commission examination. For candidates applying for the first time in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, the last date for modification of the OTR profile would be mentioned in the UPSC Official Notification of 2025.
• Modification in Application Form (Other than OTR Profile): The Commission will also allow candidates to make corrections in any field(s) of the application form for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 from the day after the closure of the application window until [Date]. Any changes to the OTR profile during this period should be made by logging into the OTR platform; changes cannot be made through the application form modification window.
• Withdrawal of Applications: Candidates will not be allowed to withdraw their applications after submission.

All candidates, including those already in Government Service, Government-owned industrial undertakings, or other similar organizations, as well as those in private employment, should submit their applications directly to the Commission. Candidates already in Government Service, except for casual or daily rated employees, are required to submit an undertaking that they have informed their Head of Office/Department in writing about their application for the examination. If the Commission receives communication from their employer withholding permission for the candidate to apply for or appear in the examination, the application will be liable to be rejected/candidature will be liable to be cancelled.

Note: The information regarding choice of examination centre, scribe facility for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, and other details must be carefully filled in the online application form as no request for changes will be entertained after the form is submitted.

Disqualification

Candidates applying for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 should ensure that they fulfill all the eligibility conditions. Their admission to all stages of the examination will be provisional, subject to verification of eligibility conditions. If at any time before or after the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination (Written), or Interview/Personality Test, it is found that they do not fulfill any eligibility conditions, their candidature will be cancelled.

Candidates found guilty of any misconduct, as specified in the Rules for the Civil Services Examination 2025, will be disqualified by the Commission from the examination and may face further disciplinary action if already in government service.

Note: This information is based on the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 notification. The official notification for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 is yet to be released, and candidates are advised to refer to the official notification for precise details and dates.

UPSC Admit Card 2025

The admit card for UPSC CSE 2025 will be available for download from the official UPSC website. Candidates must enter their registration number or roll number to download the admit card. It is mandatory to carry the admit card to the exam center for verification.

UPSC Syllabus

The syllabus for UPSC CSE 2024, which is included in the official notification, covers a broad range of topics across different subjects. Here's a simple breakdown of what you need to focus on for both Prelims and Mains:

Prelims Syllabus: This part includes General Studies (GS) and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) topics. You'll need to study subjects like history, geography, polity, economy, science, current affairs, comprehension, logical reasoning, and basic numeracy.

Mains Syllabus: For the Mains exam, you'll need to be prepared in Indian languages, English, essay writing, and general studies (I, II, III, IV). Additionally, you'll have the option to choose optional subjects based on your preferences. 

If you're finding it difficult to select your optional subject, please check out our comprehensive blog: How to Pick the Right Optional Subject for UPSC?

It's important to refer to the detailed syllabus provided by UPSC and study each subject diligently to do well in the exams. Make sure you understand the topics thoroughly and practice regularly to excel in the UPSC CSE 2024.

To know the best way to start your preparation and take it forward in the most efficient way, check out our detailed blog on How to Prepare for UPSC?

Conclusion

Aspiring candidates for UPSC CSE 2025 are advised to start their preparation early and stay updated with the official UPSC website for the latest information. With dedication, hard work, and strategic preparation, you can enhance your chances of success in this prestigious examination. Best of luck!