Central exams | as of 2026-05-31
UPSC CSE eligibility, pattern, syllabus, and official sources
Graduate-level civil services recruitment through prelims, mains, and interview.
Eligibility at a glance
| Education | Graduate degree from a recognised university. |
|---|---|
| Relaxations | SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, defence, ex-servicemen and other relaxations are defined in the notice. |
Pattern and selection process
Stages
- Preliminary examination
- Main written examination
- Interview or personality test
Mode: Objective prelims, written mains, interview. Marks: Prelims has two objective papers with 400 total marks. Mains and interview are governed by the current notice.. Duration: Paper-wise duration is notice-defined.
Selection flow
- Prelims screening
- Mains written papers
- Interview or personality test
- Final merit and service allocation
Syllabus outline and cadence
Syllabus buckets
- Prelims general studies
- CSAT
- Essay
- General Studies papers
- Optional subject papers
- Language papers
Cadence
Annual. Exact notification and exam dates vary by UPSC calendar and notice.
Comparable exams and hiring routes
Sources by field
Each row links a field on this page to the official source it is drawn from. Confirm the current cycle's exact figures on the linked source before you apply.
| Field | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|
| Age eligibility | Civil Services 2025 notification PDF | 2026-05-31 |
| Education | Civil Services 2025 notification PDF | 2026-05-31 |
| Relaxations | Civil Services 2025 notification PDF | 2026-05-31 |
| Exam pattern | Civil Services 2025 notification PDF | 2026-05-31 |
| Syllabus outline | Civil Services 2025 notification PDF | 2026-05-31 |
| Selection process | Civil Services 2025 notification PDF | 2026-05-31 |
| Cadence | Official source on upsc.gov.in | 2026-05-31 |
| FAQ 1 | Civil Services 2025 notification PDF | 2026-05-31 |
| FAQ 2 | Civil Services 2025 notification PDF | 2026-05-31 |
FAQs
Can a 24-year-old B.Tech graduate apply for UPSC CSE?
Yes, if the candidate meets nationality, attempt, and category conditions in the current UPSC notice.
Does UPSC CSE have an interview?
Yes. The selection process includes an interview or personality test after the mains stage.