Civil Services Examination
Acronym | UPSC CSE UPSC CSPE (Prelimnary) UPSC CSME (Mains)
Type | Paper-based standardized test
Developer / administrator | Union Public Service Commission
Knowledge / skills tested | Writing, English, General knowledge, others
Purpose | Selection of candidates to the various posts of Civil Services of India
Year started | 1922 (1922)
Duration | 2 hours/paper (Prelims) 3 hours/paper (Mains)
Score / grade range | 0 - 200 (Prelims) 0 - 1750 (Mains) 0 - 275 (Interview) Total = 2025 (Mains + Interview)
Offered | Once a year
Restrictions on attempts | 6 (General), 9 (OBC & PwBD- General), no limits for SC & ST candidates
Countries / regions | India
Languages | Question paper is only given in Hindi or English. Answers can be given in any one of the scheduled languages of India
Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | Must 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 by | Union Public Service Commission for the selection of the students to the various Civil Services of India
Qualification rate | approximately 0.1 %
Website | upsc.gov.in Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2019