UPSC-Civil Services Examination-Mains: Exam Information

Introduction & overview

The Civil Services (Main) Examination is the second stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It is a written, descriptive examination of nine papers that tests depth of understanding and answer-writing ability. Marks of seven papers (1,750) are added to the Personality Test (275) to decide the final rank.

Scheme of papers

Paper A is not compulsory for candidates from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, and for certain PwBD candidates, as stated in the notice.

Qualifying papers (A & B)

Both papers are of Class 10 standard. The language for Paper A is chosen in the application and must be written in the script given in the notice.

Essay (Paper I)

Candidates are expected to keep close to the topic, arrange their ideas in an orderly way and write concisely. Credit is given for effective and exact expression. Topics range from philosophical and abstract themes to social, economic, political and technological issues.

General Studies I (Paper II)

Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society — 250 marks.

• Indian culture — salient aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the 18th century to the present — significant events, personalities and issues
• The freedom struggle — its stages and important contributors from different parts of the country
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country
• History of the world — events from the 18th century: industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonisation, decolonisation, and political philosophies such as communism, capitalism and socialism, and their effects on society
• Salient features of Indian society and the diversity of India
• Role of women and women’s organisations; population and associated issues; poverty and developmental issues; urbanisation, its problems and remedies
• Effects of globalisation on Indian society
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism
• Salient features of the world’s physical geography
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world, including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent; factors behind the location of primary, secondary and tertiary industries in various parts of the world, including India
• Important geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity and cyclones; geographical features and their location; changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna, and the effects of such changes

General Studies II (Paper III)

Governance, constitution, polity, social justice and international relations — 250 marks.

• Indian Constitution — historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States; issues and challenges of the federal structure; devolution of powers and finances to local levels
• Separation of powers between organs; dispute-redressal mechanisms and institutions
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
• Parliament and State legislatures — structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers and privileges
• Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; ministries and departments; pressure groups and formal / informal associations
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
• Appointment to various constitutional posts; powers, functions and responsibilities of constitutional bodies
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors, and issues arising from their design and implementation
• Development processes and the development industry — the role of NGOs, SHGs, donors, charities and other stakeholders
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies for their protection
• Issues relating to the development and management of the social sector and services relating to health, education and human resources
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger
• Governance, transparency and accountability; e-governance; citizens’ charters; the role of civil services in a democracy
• India and its neighbourhood — relations
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests; the Indian diaspora
• Important international institutions, agencies and fora — their structure and mandate

General Studies III (Paper IV)

Technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management — 250 marks.

• Indian economy — planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
• Government budgeting
• Major crops and cropping patterns; irrigation systems; storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce; e-technology in aid of farmers
• Direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; public distribution system; buffer stocks and food security; technology missions; economics of animal rearing
• Food processing and related industries — scope, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply-chain management
• Land reforms in India
• Effects of liberalisation on the economy; changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth
• Infrastructure — energy, ports, roads, airports, railways etc.
• Investment models
• Science and technology — developments and applications in everyday life; achievements of Indians in science and technology; indigenisation of technology
• Awareness in IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and intellectual property rights
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; environmental impact assessment
• Disaster and disaster management
• Linkages between development and the spread of extremism
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks; role of media and social networking; basics of cyber security; money laundering and its prevention
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organised crime with terrorism
• Various security forces and agencies and their mandate

General Studies IV (Paper V)

Ethics, integrity and aptitude — 250 marks. The paper tests attitude and approach to questions of integrity and probity in public life, and includes case studies.

• Ethics and human interface — essence, determinants and consequences of ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships; human values — lessons from the lives of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values
• Attitude — content, structure and function; its influence on thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion
• Aptitude and foundational values for civil service — integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards weaker sections
• Emotional intelligence — concepts, and its utility and application in administration and governance
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
• Public / civil service values and ethics in public administration — status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance
• Probity in governance — concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity; information sharing and transparency; Right to Information; codes of ethics and conduct; citizens’ charters; work culture; quality of service delivery; utilisation of public funds; challenges of corruption
• Case studies on the above issues

Optional subjects (Papers VI & VII)

Candidates choose one optional subject from a list of 48: 25 subjects and the literature of 23 languages. Each optional has two papers of 250 marks.

Literature of languages

Languages available: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English.

Mains cutoffs

Released by UPSC after the CSE 2025 final result (6 March 2026). The difference between the two columns shows how many marks the last selected candidates scored in the Personality Test (out of 275), on average.

Important dates

Paper-wise timetable is published by UPSC about a month before the Mains; follow upsc.gov.in.

Exam day guidelines — what to carry & what not to bring

The Mains is a written examination in Question-cum-Answer Booklets (QCAB). Read the instructions on your e-admit card and on the booklet cover.

Books & preparation

Preparation tips

• Answer writing: practise 150- and 250-word answers daily; introduction, body with sub-headings, and a balanced conclusion.
• Previous papers: UPSC publishes all Mains papers on upsc.gov.in — map each question to the syllabus.
• Current affairs: link news to syllabus topics; GS II and GS III are largely current-issue based.
• Optional: finish the optional syllabus before Prelims; it carries 500 marks.
• Ethics case studies: practise structured answers with stakeholders, options and a justified course of action.