Civil Services Examination
Acronym
  • UPSC CSE
  • UPSC CSPE (Prelimnary)
  • UPSC CSME (Mains)
TypePaper-based standardized test
Developer / administratorUnion Public Service Commission
Knowledge / skills testedWriting, English, General knowledge, others
PurposeSelection of candidates to the various posts of Civil Services of India
Year started1922 (1922)
Duration2 hours/paper (Prelims)
3 hours/paper (Mains)
Score / grade range0 - 200 (Prelims)
0 - 1750 (Mains)
0 - 275 (Interview)
Total = 2025 (Mains + Interview)
OfferedOnce a year
Restrictions on attempts6 (General), 9 (OBC & PwBD- General), no limits for SC & ST candidates
Countries / regionsIndia
LanguagesQuestion paper is only given in Hindi or English. Answers can be given in any one of the scheduled languages of India
Prerequisites / eligibility criteriaMust be a graduate, and an Indian citizen.
Fee 100/- (for general male candidates). For other categories of candidates, the registration fee is exempted.
Scores / grades used byUnion Public Service Commission for the selection of the students to the various Civil Services of India
Qualification rateapproximately 0.1 %
Website
  • upsc.gov.in
  • Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2019