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UPSC Mains Exam Date 2025 is scheduled for August 22, 2025. Aspirants must regularly check the official site for updates on UPSC Mains Exam Date 2025 and paper-wise schedule.
UPSC Mains 2025: The UPSC has announced the 2025 calendar. The Mains 2025 will be conducted from August 22nd 2025, onwards. It is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. Aspirants who have now cleared the UPSC Prelims exam will only qualify for the Mains. It comprises a series of written papers on various subjects that assess the candidates’ in-depth knowledge, analytical abilities, and writing skills.
UPSC Mains 2025 is a significant step in the selection process, and candidates must prepare thoroughly to excel in this stage and secure their chance to join prestigious civil services like IAS, IPS, IFS, and more. Stay updated with the official UPSC notifications and guidelines to ensure a successful attempt in UPSC Mains 2025.
The UPSC Mains 2025 is set to begin on August 22, 2025, and will be conducted over five days, covering nine papers in total. Candidates should refer to the official UPSC Mains Timetable 2025 available at upsc.gov.in for the complete paper-wise schedule. The exam kicks off with the Essay paper, followed by General Studies and Optional Subject papers. Below is a tentative summary of the expected exam schedule:
| UPSC Mains 2025 Overview | |
|---|---|
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Level | National |
| UPSC Mains 2025 Start Date | August 22, 2025 |
| Number of Papers | 9 (7 merit + 2 qualifying) |
| Mode of Exam | Pen & Paper (Offline) |
| Medium of Exam | English / Hindi |
| Total Marks (Written Exam) | 1750 (excluding qualifying papers) |
| Personality Test Marks | 275 |
| Total Marks (Final Merit) | 2025 |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
As per the UPSC Calendar 2025, the UPSC Prelims 2025 were conducted on May 25, 2025. After the release of the preliminary results, UPSC will release the DAF-1 notification for UPSC Mains 2025, through which qualified candidates will progress to the Mains examination.
The UPSC Mains 2025 is scheduled to begin on August 22, 2025, and will be conducted over a span of five days. The official exam date is mentioned in the UPSC Annual Calendar, while the detailed schedule is released only after the UPSC Prelims 2025 results are announced. Candidates must stay updated via the official UPSC website – upsc.gov.in – to avoid any last-minute confusion. Here are the details of the UPSC Mains 2025 Exam Date:
| UPSC Mains Exam Date 2025 | |
| Events | Dates |
| UPSC Prelims 2025 | 25 May 2025 |
| UPSC Prelims Results | To be notified |
| UPSC Mains Notification 2025 | To be notified |
| DAF 1 Released | To be notified |
| Last date to fill out DAF 1 | To be notified |
| UPSC Mains Admit Card | August 2025 (Tentative) |
| UPSC Mains Exam Date 2025 | 22 August 2025 onwards |
| UPSC Mains Result | To be announced |
The UPSC Mains 2025 Schedule will be officially released after the declaration of Prelims 2025 results. As per the UPSC norms, each paper will be of 3 hours duration, conducted in two shifts per day – morning and afternoon. The exam will commence with the Essay Paper on August 22, 2025, followed by General Studies Papers and Optional Subject Papers on subsequent days. Candidates should review the timetable thoroughly to plan a structured and effective preparation strategy.
| UPSC Mains 2025 Schedule | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Day | Date | Paper | Session |
| Day 1 | August 22, 2025 | Essay | Morning |
| Day 2 | August 23, 2025 | General Studies Paper I | Morning |
| General Studies Paper II | Afternoon | ||
| Day 3 | August 24, 2025 | General Studies Paper III | Morning |
| General Studies Paper IV | Afternoon | ||
| Day 4 | August 25, 2025 | Optional Subject Paper I | Morning |
| Optional Subject Paper II | Afternoon | ||
| Day 5 | August 26, 2025 | Indian Language Paper (Qualifying) | Morning |
| English Paper (Qualifying) | Afternoon | ||
UPSC Mains comprises nine papers, of which two are qualifying and seven are considered for the ranking. Each paper carries a specific weightage of marks, and the main examination spans a period of five to seven days. Here is the latest exam pattern for the UPSC Mains 2025 exam:
| UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2025 | ||
| Paper | Subject | Total Marks |
| Paper A | Compulsory Indian Language of 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution | 300 Marks |
| Paper B | English Language | 300 Marks |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 Marks |
| Paper II | General Studies I | 250 Marks |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 250 Marks |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 250 Marks |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 250 Marks |
| Paper VI | Optional Paper I | 250 Marks |
| Paper VII | Optional Paper II | 250 Marks |
| Total | 1750 Marks + 275 Marks of Interview = 2025 | |
Choosing the right optional subject is a crucial step in UPSC Mains preparation. The UPSC offers a diverse list of 48 optional subjects, ranging from literature to science and humanities. Candidates must select one subject that includes two papers, each carrying 250 marks. A wise selection aligned with your academic background and interests can significantly impact your final score. Here candidates can find comprehensive list:
The UPSC Mains Syllabus is a comprehensive framework that outlines the key topics and subject areas aspirants must prepare for the Civil Services Mains Examination. A strong understanding of the UPSC Mains 2025 Syllabus is essential for effective preparation and strategic answer writing. Below is a detailed subject-wise breakdown of all the papers included:
| UPSC Mains 2025 Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| Paper | Description |
| Paper-A (Indian Language) | Choose one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This paper tests comprehension, expression, and translation skills. |
| Paper-B (English) | Tests basic English language skills, including comprehension, précis writing, grammar, and essay-type responses. |
| Essay | Candidates must write essays on multiple topics, reflecting clarity of thought, structured argumentation, and a balanced perspective. |
| General Studies Paper I | Covers Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society. |
| General Studies Paper II | Focuses on Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations. |
| General Studies Paper III | Includes Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management. |
| General Studies Paper IV | Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude—assesses moral philosophy, public administration ethics, and case study analysis. |
| Optional Subject Paper I | Based on one optional subject chosen from the official list; the syllabus varies by subject. |
| Optional Subject Paper II | Continuation of the chosen optional subject, focusing on advanced concepts and in-depth understanding. |
UPSC Mains 2025 Result will be released along with the UPSC Final Result. After appearing for the Mains exam, candidates eagerly await the results, which determine their performance and eligibility for the next stage of the selection process, the “Interview/Personality Test”. UPSC declares the Mains result on its official website, providing a list of successful candidates who have qualified for the final round, which is the UPSC Personality Test or Interview. Aspirants can check the UPSC Mains Result 2025 directly by clicking on the link given below.
The UPSC Mains question paper for PDF 2025 will be available here soon after the exam. To do well, candidates should solve the last 10 years of UPSC Mains question papers in PDF. The previous year’s UPSC Mains question papers in PDF are provided here:
| Previous Year UPSC Mains Question Papers | |
| UPSC Mains Exam | Question Paper PDF Download Link |
| Essay | UPSC Mains Essay Question Paper |
| General Studies 1 | UPSC Mains GS 1 Question Paper |
| General Studies 2 | UPSC Mains GS 2 Question Paper |
| General Studies 3 | UPSC Mains GS 3 Question Paper |
| General Studies 4 | UPSC Mains GS 4 Question Paper |
Ready to boost your UPSC 2025 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!
| UPSC Mains 2025 Related Articles | |
| UPSC CSE Mains 2025 | UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2025 |
| UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025 | UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers |
| UPSC Mains Admit Card 2025 | UPSC Mains Previous Year Cutoff |
UPSC Mains 2025 will begin on 22nd August 2025 as per the official UPSC notification.
To be eligible for the Civil Services Examination, candidates must be at least 21 years old and should not exceed 32 years of age.
UPSC Mains consists of 9 papers – 2 qualifying papers (Indian Language & English) and 7 papers that count for the final ranking.
Three months can be sufficient for UPSC Mains preparation if you have a strong foundation from your preliminary studies and can dedicate focused, intensive study hours daily. However, it requires a well-structured plan and disciplined execution.
No, UPSC Mains is a descriptive exam, so there is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
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