UPSC CSE 2025 Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme, Sections, & Question Types

Conducted on a national level, the UPSC Civil Service Examination is known as one of the toughest exams in the country. Despite the high difficulty level and competent nature, lakhs of aspirants apply for the exam every year. Therefore, to prepare their best for an exam like the UPSC CSE, the applicants must have thorough knowledge about all the essential details related to the nature of the examination. 

One of the effective ways to do so is to familiarize oneself with the crucial aspect, i.e., the UPSC exam pattern. Knowing the exam pattern is the first step towards preparing, as it will enhance understanding of the exam structure. It also helps identify the critical topics, the weightage given to the topics from the syllabus in the papers, and the marking scheme.

What is the UPSC Exam Pattern 2025?

As the official notification for UPSC CSE 2025 will be released on 22nd January 2025, you must look at the details provided for the latest exam pattern.

The selection procedure for UPSC CSE is an elaborate process comprising three stages, which are:

Prelims

• Objective: The Prelims consist of 2 papers – General Studies and CSAT. Both papers are objective in nature.
• Total marks: Both papers are 200 marks each, totalling 400 marks.
• Time duration: 120 minutes (2 hours) are allotted to complete each paper.

Mains 

• Descriptive in nature: The main exam consists of 9 papers, all containing descriptive-based questions.
• Total marks: All the 09 papers constitute 1750 marks in the exam.
• Time duration: The duration allotted to complete each paper is 3 hours.

Interview 

• Nature of questions: The Interview consists of questions about the candidate’s personal details, educational background, current affairs, and social and political events.
• Total marks: The Interview comprises a total of 275 marks.

IAS Exam Pattern for UPSC Prelims

The preliminary stage of the IAS exam pattern 2024 consists of 2 papers, General Studies and CSAT.

General Studies or Paper 1: 

• No. of questions: The GS Paper contains 100 questions.
• Total marks: This paper comprises a total of 200 marks. 
• Marking scheme: While each correct answer is for two marks, there is a 1/3rd negative marking for each incorrect answer. 

CSAT or Paper 2: 

• No. of questions: The CSAT paper contains a total of 80 questions. 
• Total marks: This paper comprises a total of 200 marks. 
• Marking scheme: While each correct answer is for two marks, a 1/3rd negative marking is allotted for every incorrect answer. 

Both the papers are conducted on the same day. The type of questions asked in both papers is objective, with multiple choices per question. 

IAS Prelims Exam Pattern Summary

UPSC Prelims Negative Marking Scheme 2025

You must be aware that the UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern entails negative markings. It’s time to know a little more about it. I have provided an explanation of the same in the following points: 

GS Paper 

• There are a total of 100 questions. Candidates are given two marks for each correct answer; for an incorrect answer, 1/3rd marks or 0.66 marks shall be deducted.
• There are 4 options given to answer each question; if the candidate chooses more than one option, it will be treated as a wrong answer with a penalty of 0.66 marks.

UPSC CSAT 

• This paper contains 80 questions. 2.5 marks are awarded for each correct answer, and 1/3rd marks or .83 marks are deducted for an incorrect answer.
• There are 4 options given to answer each question; if candidates choose more than one option, it will be considered a wrong answer, and 0.83 marks will be deducted.

IAS Exam Pattern for UPSC Mains

The exam structure for UPSC Mains is very different from that of the Prelim’s exam. The UPSC Mains exam pattern is as follows:

• No. of Papers: The main exam comprises 9 descriptive papers, which consist of 4 GS Papers, 1 Essay Paper, 2 Language Papers, and 2 Optional Subjects.

• Total marks: The Mains exam for a total of 1750 marks. The 2 Language papers are worth 300 marks in total, whereas the rest of the papers are worth 250 marks each.

• Negative marking: Since the Mains exam is subjective in nature and candidates are required to write answers, there is no provision for negative marking. 

IAS Mains Exam Pattern Summary

Language & Optional Subjects Exam Pattern

• There are two qualifying language papers, i.e., English and any other Indian language. Both language papers are worth 300 marks each. The minimum qualifying mark for both papers is 25%.
• The language papers consist of the following: 

• 100 marks worth of essay questions 
• 60 marks worth of reading comprehension questions 
• 60 marks worth precis – writing 
• 40 worth of translation-based questions, and 
• 40 worth of grammar-based questions.

• In the UPSC Mains exam pattern for optional subjects, there are two papers, i.e., Paper 1 and Paper 2, which consist of 250 marks each.
• For optional subjects, candidates are required to choose any subject from the given list of 48 subjects. 

 UPSC Mains Paper Optional and Language Subjects

IAS Exam Pattern for UPSC Interview Round

The Interview is the third and final stage of the UPSC exams. Candidates who clear the Mains examination will be called for this round.

The Interview takes 3 – 4 months after the UPSC Mains exam.

The Personality test or the Interview is for 275 marks, which makes up a total of 2025 marks in the final merit (1750 marks in Mains + 275 marks in the Interview).

A panel of impartial and competent individuals will interview for this round to test candidates' personalities.

• Personal details such as interests, hobbies, work and education
• Current affairs issues of national and international importance 
• Socio-economic problems are currently taking place in the country or homeplace.
• Situational–based questions are asked to assess decision–making abilities 
• Opinion–based questions are asked to test analytical skills and to judge moral integrity.

FAQs Exam Pattern for UPSC