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August 29, 2024 07:09
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How Many Papers in UPSC Exam? Know how many papers you have to undergo to become to IAS.
How Many Papers in UPSC Exam: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most challenging exams in India, and it consists of multiple papers that test a candidate’s knowledge, analytical skills, and aptitude. The UPSC exam is divided into three stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Personality Test (Interview). Each stage has a specific number of papers that candidates must attempt to progress further in the selection process.
The UPSC Civil Services Exam comprises a total of 11 papers across its three stages—Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. The first stage, Prelims, includes two papers, while the UPSC Mains stage consists of nine papers. The Interview stage is an oral examination that does not involve written papers. Before knowing how many papers in UPSC exam, let’s go through the overview of UPSC CSE.
| UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 Overview | ||||
| Stages | Name | No. of Papers | Type of Exam | Marks |
| Stage 1 | UPSC Prelims | 2 Papers | Objective | 400 |
| Stage 2 | UPSC Mains | 9 Papers | Descriptive | 1750 |
| Stage 3 | UPSC Interview | – | Personality Test | 275 |
| Final Merit Total Marks | UPSC Mains + Interview Marks = 2025 Marks | |||
The UPSC Prelims exam is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination, and it includes two papers, Paper I and Paper II. Candidates have to score the minimum qualifying in General Studies Paper I and a minimum of 33% marks in General Studies Paper II (CSAT) to qualify for the passing marks.
| UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2025 | |||
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
| General Studies Paper 1 | 100 Questions | 200 | 1/3rd for every wrong answer & Zero for no answer |
| (CSAT) General Studies Paper 2 | 80 Questions | 200 | 1/3rd for every wrong answer & Zero for no answer |
The UPSC Mains exam is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination, and it includes nine papers. These papers are designed to test the in-depth knowledge and analytical ability of the candidates. The Mains papers are descriptive in nature. The nine papers in the UPSC Mains are categorized into Qualifying Papers and Merit-Based Papers.
1. Qualifying Papers
These papers are qualifying and do not count towards the final ranking, but they are mandatory to pass:
2. Merit-Based Papers
These papers are evaluated for the final ranking:
The UPSC Mains examination is a crucial stage in the Civil Services Examination process, consisting of nine papers. Candidates who qualify Mains exam have to appear for the next stage which is the Interview stage. Check out the below list to understand what are the 9 papers in UPSC Mains:
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
| Paper A | Indian Language (Qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper B | English (Qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, Geography | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, Disaster Management | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject Paper I | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject Paper II | 250 |
The final stage of the UPSC exam is the Personality Test, also known as the Interview. It carries 275 marks and evaluates the candidate’s overall personality, including their intellectual capabilities, social traits, and suitability for a career in public service.
Knowing how many papers in UPSC exam can help candidates understand the exam pattern, and help in plan preparation accordingly.
If you are planning to prepare for UPSC 2025, you can consider enrolling in PW UPSC online courses.
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