UPSC IAS Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025 – Complete Guide for Prelims & Mains

Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2025? The first step to success is understanding the complete and updated IAS syllabus and exam pattern. The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is one of the most competitive exams in India. It is conducted in three stages:

1.  Preliminary Examination (Objective type)
2. Mains Examination (Descriptive type)
3. Personality Test (Interview)

Each stage evaluates different skill sets and requires a unique preparation strategy.

Stage 1: UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

Paper          Subject                            Marks              Duration        Qualifying

Paper I       General Studies (GS)       200                 2 Hours         No

Paper II      CSAT (Aptitude Test)        200                2 Hours         Yes (33%)

Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the marks per wrong answer

Note: Only Paper I counts toward Prelims cutoff. CSAT is qualifying in nature.

Stage 2: UPSC Mains Exam Pattern

Candidates who qualify the Prelims are eligible for the Mains exam, which is descriptive:

Paper              Subject                                                  Marks

Paper A          Indian Language (Qualifying)               300

Paper B          English (Qualifying)                             300

Paper I           Essay                                                250

Paper II–V      General Studies I–IV                             250 each

Total Marks (Mains): 1750 (excluding qualifying papers)

Answer Medium: English or any language in 8th Schedule of the Constitution

Stage 3: Interview / Personality Test

Marks: 275

Total (Mains + Interview): 2025 marks

Purpose: To assess personality traits like judgment, leadership, integrity, and awareness

UPSC 2025 Syllabus Highlights:

General Studies includes History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science & Tech, and Environment

Essay tests clarity of thought and coherence

Optional Subject allows specialization (choose wisely)

Official PDFs and syllabus documents can be downloaded from the UPSC website

By understanding this structured breakdown of the UPSC 2025 exam, aspirants can plan smarter, revise better, and avoid unnecessary confusion. Bookmark this syllabus page and stay updated with notifications from UPSC for any syllabus changes.