UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 PDF, Marking Scheme, Prelims, Mains

UPSC has released the UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 which is crucial for candidates aiming to clear the UPSC CSE Exam 2025 as it provides a structured framework that helps aspirants manage their preparation time effectively while prioritising topics based on their weightage.

The exam is conducted in three distinct stages, the Prelims, Mains and the Personality Test (Interview). Each stage is designed to evaluate different aspects of a candidate’s capabilities, from analytical thinking to subject knowledge and personality traits.

UPSC Exam Pattern 2025

UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 consists of multiple stages which determine the selection process for various posts in the government sector. The exam is divided into three stages, Prelims Exam, Mains Exam, and the Personality Test (Interview). According to the official UPSC Notification 2025, the exam pattern is broadly categorised into two core stages:

• Stage I – Civil Services (Prelims) Exam: This is the first level of screening, consisting of two objective-type papers. It tests a candidate’s general awareness and aptitude for civil services. The scores in the Prelim Exam are not counted in the final merit list but are essential to qualify for the next stage.

• Stage II – Civil Services (Main) Exam: Candidates who qualify the Prelims appear in the Mains, which includes nine descriptive papers designed to evaluate a candidate’s depth of knowledge, critical thinking, and writing skills. This stage plays a crucial role in determining a candidate’s rank in the final selection.

UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 Overview

As per the official UPSC Selection Process 2025, only those candidates who clear the Prelims stage are eligible to proceed to the next stage, the Mains Exam. Further, candidates who qualify in the mains are shortlisted for the Personality Test, commonly referred to as the Interview round. Below is a stage-wise breakdown of the UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 for the reference of aspiring candidates:

UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 for Prelims

The UPSC Prelims Exam 2025 serves as the first stage of the UPSC Selection Process 2025. It comprises two compulsory papers, General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Both papers are of objective type and carry 200 marks each. While General Studies Paper I is merit-based and plays a crucial role in determining eligibility for the Mains, Paper II is qualifying in nature. Candidates must score a minimum of 33% marks in CSAT to be considered for shortlisting. One-third of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every incorrect response.

UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 for Mains

The UPSC Mains Exam 2025 is the second and most comprehensive stage of the UPSC CSE Exam 2025. It assesses a candidate’s academic knowledge, analytical ability, and overall understanding of a wide range of subjects relevant to governance and public administration. This stage comprises a total of 9 essay papers, each carrying significant weight in the final merit ranking, except for two qualifying papers.

UPSC Optional Exam Pattern 2025

According to the UPSC Exam Pattern 2025, candidates are required to select one optional subject from a list of 48 subjects provided by the Union Public Service Commission in its official UPSC Notification 2025. This optional subject plays a crucial role in the final merit ranking, as it accounts for a total of 500 marks, divided between Paper VI and Paper VII, each carrying 250 marks. Below is the pattern for the UPSC Mains Optional Papers

UPSC Exam Pattern 2025 for Interview

As per the UPSC Selection Process 2025, the final stage of qualifying the UPSC CSE Exam 2025 is the Interview or Personality Test which assesses the sustainability of the candidate according to the requirement of the position. It is conducted by a panel of experienced board members, who are provided with a detailed summary of the candidate’s academic background, achievements, and career history. 

The Interview is not limited to the information provided in the Detailed Application Form (DAF); candidates may be questioned on current affairs, situational judgment, administrative challenges, and their views on socio-economic issues. The Personality Test carries a weightage of 275 marks, and the final merit list is prepared by combining marks obtained in the Main Examination (1750 marks) and the Interview (275 marks), totalling 2025 marks.

UPSC Marking Scheme 2025

The UPSC Marking Scheme 2025 for the UPSC CSE Exam 2025 is to ensure fair evaluation. Candidates should be aware of the negative marking policy while attempting the objective-type questions in both General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Below are the key highlights of the UPSC Prelims marking scheme:

1. Correct Answer: Full marks allotted to the question are awarded.
2. Incorrect Answer: One-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to the question are deducted as a penalty.
3. Multiple Answers: If a candidate selects more than one option for a single question, even if one of them is correct, it is treated as an incorrect response, and 1/3rd mark is deducted.
4. Unattempted Questions: No marks are deducted, and there is no penalty.

UPSC Previous Year Trends

To help aspirants understand the trends and prioritise their preparation effectively, a topic-wise analysis of the UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern from the years 2022 to 2024 has been discussed below.