UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)
About the UPSC CSE
The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is one of India's most prestigious and challenging examinations. It recruits candidates for the highest echelons of the government machinery, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other central services. A career in the civil services offers a profound opportunity to shape public policy and contribute to nation-building.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
A candidate must hold a degree from any of the recognized universities.
Age Limit
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years. Relaxations apply for reserved categories.
Number of Attempts
6 attempts for General category, 9 for OBC, and unlimited attempts for SC/ST candidates until they reach the age limit.
Exam Pattern (Three Stages)
The CSE is a rigorous three-stage process. Each stage is an elimination round, leading to the final merit list.
Preliminary Exam
An objective screening test to select candidates for the Main exam.
Main Exam
A descriptive exam testing in-depth knowledge, consisting of 9 papers.
Personality Test
The final interview stage to assess a candidate's suitability for public service.
Detailed Breakdown:
Preliminary Examination (Objective)
This is a screening test consisting of two papers. Marks obtained in this stage are not counted for the final merit list.
- Paper I - General Studies (200 Marks): Covers history, geography, polity, economy, environment, and current events.
- Paper II - CSAT (200 Marks): Assesses comprehension, logical reasoning, and basic numeracy. It is qualifying in nature with a 33% cut-off.
Main Examination (Descriptive)
This stage is the core of the selection process and tests the depth of a candidate's knowledge. It consists of 9 papers.
- Qualifying Papers: Paper A (Indian Language) and Paper B (English).
- Merit Papers (250 marks each): Essay, General Studies I, II, III, IV, and Optional Subject Paper I & II.
Personality Test (Interview - 275 Marks)
The final stage is the interview, where a board of competent and unbiased observers assesses the candidate's suitability for a career in public service.
UPSC CSE Cutoff Analysis
Understanding the cutoff trends is a crucial part of a well-rounded preparation strategy. Below is a detailed look at the Prelims and Mains cutoff marks from recent years. This data helps aspirants gauge the level of competition and set realistic targets.
UPSC Prelims Cutoff Marks (Past 7 Years)
*Cutoff marks for General Studies Paper-I (out of 200). CSAT Paper-II is qualifying.
| Year | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.41 | 68.02 | 74.75 | 59.25 | 47.82 |
| 2022 | 88.22 | 82.83 | 87.54 | 74.08 | 69.35 |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 80.14 | 84.85 | 75.41 | 70.71 |
| 2020 | 92.51 | 77.55 | 89.12 | 74.84 | 68.71 |
| 2019 | 98.00 | 90.00 | 95.34 | 82.00 | 77.34 |
| 2018 | 98.00 | — | 96.66 | 84.00 | 83.34 |
| 2017 | 105.34 | — | 102.66 | 88.66 | 88.66 |
"—" indicates the EWS category was not introduced prior to 2019.
UPSC Mains Cutoff Marks (2015-2024)
*Cutoff marks are out of 1,750 marks for the written papers (excluding interview).
| Year | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 729 | 696 | 702 | 685 | 684 |
| 2023 | 741 | 706 | 712 | 694 | 692 |
| 2022 | 748 | 715 | 714 | 699 | 706 |
| 2021 | 745 | 713 | 707 | 700 | 700 |
| 2020 | 736 | 687 | 698 | 680 | 682 |
| 2019 | 751 | 696 | 718 | 706 | 699 |
| 2018 | 774 | — | 732 | 719 | 719 |
| 2017 | 809 | — | 770 | 756 | 749 |
| 2016 | 787 | — | 745 | 739 | 730 |
| 2015 | 676 | — | 630 | 622 | 617 |
"—" indicates the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) category was not introduced prior to 2019.