UPSC Civil Services 2025 Exam Pattern - Check Marking Scheme, Total Marks, Chapter Wise Weightage, Duration

UPSC CSE 2025 Exam Pattern

UPSC CSE 2025 exam pattern is different for the Prelims and Mains exams. The UPSC CSE 2025 prelims exam will be held on May 25, 2025, and the UPSC CSE Mains exam is to be conducted on August 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, 2025, by the concerned authorities. The UPSC 2025 Prelim exam consists of two papers and both papers will have multiple-choice questions. The Preliminary exam is conducted to filter out the deserving candidates and then those candidates are called to give the main exam. You can check out the major information about the UPSC CSE 2025 exam pattern for Prelims, Mains, and also the interview procedure given below.

UPSC CSE 2025 Exam Highlights

All the latest highlights regarding the UPSC CSE 2025 exam are as follows - 

UPSC CSE 2025 Prelims Exam Pattern

Candidates preparing for the UPSC CSE exam must go through the exam pattern to understand the nature of the questions asked in the exam. This helps them in preparing for the exam.

UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination Pattern

• Prelims exam is divided into Paper 1 and Paper 2 
• It includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

• Paper 1 focuses on various topics from different subjects, such as:
  • History 
  • Geography 
  • Current Affairs
  • Economics
  • Science and technology

• Paper 2 includes questions related to:
• Comprehension 
• Logical reasoning
• Data interpretation 
• Basic numeracy 

Candidates must note that there is a negative marking for wrong answers in Paper 1 and Paper 2. One-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to the question will be deducted for each of the wrong answers. 

In GS Paper II (CSAT), candidates need to score a minimum of 33% marks. The paper is qualifying in nature.

UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam Pattern

Also Read: UPSC CSE Prelims Passing Marks 2025

UPSC CSE 2025 Mains Exam Pattern

As part of the Mains exam, candidates shortlisted after qualifying for the Preliminary examination have to take another written examination and a Personality Test. There are a total of 9 papers in the written test of the Mains exam. Marks secured by candidates in the qualifying papers of the Mains exam and marks obtained in the Interview round are considered for preparing the final UPSC Civil Services Rank List. 

The candidates can check out the information about the overall exam pattern for the main exam from the table given below:

UPSC CSE 2025 Mains Exam Pattern (Section Wise)

The section-wise exam pattern for UPSC CSE Mains 2025 has been given below:

UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2025: Indian Language

• The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration. 
• The total marks for the paper will be 300.
• Students will have to select any one Indian language as per the available options.
• It will be a qualifying paper for which the students will have to score at least 33% marks to pass.
• The topics which will be asked in the Indian Language paper include comprehension of given passages, Precis Writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Short Essays, and Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2025: English Language

• The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration. 
• The total marks for the paper will be 300.
• It will be a qualifying paper for which the students will have to score at least 33% marks to pass.
• The topics which will be asked in the English Language paper include comprehension of given passages, Precis Writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Short Essays, etc.

UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2025: Essay

• The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration. 
• The total marks for the paper will be 250.
• The students will have to write 2 essays for the given topics.
• Some of the common topics for essay papers include Ethics, Indian Society, Women, Technology, Economy, etc.

UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2025: GS1

• The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration. 
• The total marks for the paper will be 250.
• Topics that are asked in the GS1 paper include General Studies I – Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society.

UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2025: GS2

• The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration. 
• The total marks for the paper will be 250.
• Topics that are asked in the GS2 paper include General Studies II – Governance, Constitution, Welfare Initiatives, Social Justice & International Relations.

UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2025: GS3

• The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration. 
• The total marks for the paper will be 250.
• General Studies III – Technology, Economic Development, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management.

UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2025: GS4

• The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration. 
• The total marks for the paper will be 250.
• Topics that are asked in the GS4 paper include General Studies IV – Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude.

UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2025: Optional Paper

• The paper will be conducted for a total of 3 hours duration. 
• The total marks for Paper I and Paper II each will be 250. That means the overall marks for 2 optional papers will be 500.
• The students will have to choose one subject for the optional paper. The students will have to attempt two papers for one optional subject (Paper I and Paper II).

Also Read: UPSC CSE Mains Passing Marks 2025

UPSC CSE 2025 Mains Exam Optional Subjects

There are two optional papers that are available in the main exams. Each paper will carry 250 marks and the candidates have the opportunity to choose their preferred optional subject for papers VI & Paper VII of the main exam. You can check out the list of optional subjects available from the table given below:

UPSC CSE 2025 Interview

• The personal interview round is the last stage of the selection procedure and it will be conducted only for the people who will pass the main exam.
• Interviews are conducted based on the mental and social traits of the candidates.
• The applicant will be asked questions on general interest and some qualities like alertness, critical thinking, and logical reasoning.
• The candidates will be selected for UPSC CSE recruitment 2025 based on the main exam and interview score.
• The total weightage of the interview procedure is 275 marks.

After the interview round, UPSC releases a final list of shortlisted candidates. In June 2025, The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will announce the final result of UPSC CSE 2025 in the form of a PDF that will consist of the names of shortlisted candidates who qualify for the interview round of the third phase of the UPSC 2025 exam. Aspirants who are planning to appear for the UPSC exam this year are advised to stay well-versed with the UPSC CSE exam pattern 2025. 

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