Aspiring civil servants across India brace themselves for one of the most competitive and prestigious examinations in the country – the UPSC Prelims. With the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) setting the stage for the nation’s future bureaucrats, the anticipation surrounding the examination reaches a crescendo every year. As we delve into the year 2025, prospective candidates find themselves at a pivotal juncture, preparing to navigate through the labyrinth of syllabi, strategies, and expectations.
UPSC Exam Dates for 2025
While the official exam dates for UPSC CSE 2025 have not been announced, based on the previous year’s schedule, we can estimate the tentative dates for the different stages of the exam:
Stages Important Dates
Official Announcement February mid week 2025 (Tentative)
Application Period February – March 2025 (Tentative)
Preliminary Exam May 2025 end week/ June starting (Tentative)
Mains Exam September 2025 (Tentative)
Interview To be announced as per mains results
Final Results To be announced
Please be aware that the dates provided are not final and may be subject to alteration. It is recommended that candidates consult the official notification for the most current information.
Eligibility Criteria for UPSC Examination 2025
- Nationality:
- Candidates must be citizens of India for some services like IAS, IFS, and IPS.
- For other services, candidates can be citizens of India, subjects of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who came to India before January 1, 1962, or persons of Indian origin who migrated from certain countries with the intention of settling permanently in India.
- Those in categories (b), (c), (d), and (e) need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
- Age Limits:
- Candidates should be between 21 and 32 years old as of August 1, 2024.
- Relaxations in age limits are available for certain categories like SC/ST, OBC, Defence Services Personnel, Ex-servicemen, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.
- Minimum Educational Qualification:
- Candidates need to have a graduate degree from a recognized university or institution.
- Those appearing in the final year of their degree can also apply but need to provide proof of passing before the Main Examination.
- Number of Attempts:
- General category candidates can attempt the exam six times.
- SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts within the age limit.
- OBC candidates can attempt the exam nine times.
- There are specific attempts allowed for PwBD candidates based on their category.
- Restrictions on Applying:
- Candidates already appointed to certain services based on previous exams are not eligible to apply.
- Some candidates appointed to the Indian Police Service based on earlier results cannot opt for it again based on the CSE-2024 results.
- Medical and Physical Standards:
- Candidates must meet the physical standards set for the Civil Services Examination 2024.
- Fee:
- Female candidates, SC/ST candidates, and Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates are exempt from the fee.
- OBC/EWS candidates need to pay the prescribed fee.
- The fee can be paid through various modes like cash, net banking, or card payment.
Also read UPSC Syllabus 2025.