IAS Exam Pattern 2025 - Check UPSC Prelims & Mains Pattern Here

UPSC IAS exam pattern is very important from the preparation perspective because it outlines the layout of the exam and the candidates can plan better for the UPSC IAS exam. Understanding the UPSC IAS exam pattern is very important from the viewpoint of UPSC IAS preparation. The UPSC IAS selection process consists of three stages:

• UPSC IAS Preliminary Exam
• UPSC IAS Main Exam (written)
• UPSC IAS Main Exam (Personality Test)

UPSC IAS exam pattern is designed to filter a large number of candidates in the prelims exam and test the in-depth knowledge of the candidates in the main exam. UPSC IAS Exam is conducted by UPSC every year to recruit candidates for the prestigious All India Services and Central Civil Services in India. A clear understanding of the UPSC IAS exam pattern is essential for UPSC IAS preparation.

UPSC IAS Preliminary Exam 2025 will consist of two papers of 200 marks each, containing objective-type multiple-choice questions. Candidates need to mandatorily appear for both papers and complete them in a two-hour duration each.   

Note: The questions in both papers (I and II) will be set in English and Hindi. Paper-II of UPSC IAS prelims exam will be a qualifying paper with 33% is minimum qualifying marks.

There is a negative marking in the UPSC IAS prelims exam. The candidates need to be very careful while answering the questions because negative marking can reduce their score sharply. There is a negative marking of (1/3). It means (1/3) marks, of the assigned marks to the questions, will be deducted for the wrong answer. No marks will be deducted for the questions left blank by the candidates.

It can be further explained that the three wrong answers will eat up the marks of one right answer. In the second (qualifying) paper, each question carries 2.5 marks and the negative marking is also increased in the same proportion.

The Main exam will consist of a total of two qualifying papers, seven merit-based papers and a personality test (interview round). Each paper will be of three hours duration. Details regarding all the papers are mentioned below:

Qualifying Papers

There will be two qualifying papers mentioned below. It may be noted that marks for the below two papers will not be counted at the time of preparation of the rank list.

Note: Paper A is not mandatory for Persons with Benchmark Disability (only Hearing Impairment sub-category) and candidates hailing from the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.

Note: IAS Question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English languages only. However, candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers (except the qualifying language papers, Paper-A and Paper-B) in either English or any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, which informs the official website.

The candidates will conduct the UPSC IAS main exam 2025 in August 2025.

The candidates can see below the list of UPSC Optional subjects as mentioned in the official notification.

Literature Optional Subjects

The candidates can see below the list of Literature subjects available for UPSC Optional choice

There is no set pattern of the UPSC IAS personality test/interview. It differs from candidate to candidate and Board to Board. The IAS interview is conducted at the UPSC officer premises in New Delhi. After candidates clear all the written tests, they will be interviewed by a board of competent observers. In the IAS interview test, candidates will be judged on different skills mentioned below:

• Mental Alertness
• Critical Powers of Assimilation
• Clear and Logical Exposition
• Balance of Judgement
• Variety and Depth of Interest
• Ability for Social Cohesion and Leadership
• Intellectual and Moral Integrity

Also Read: UPSC IAS Eligibility

The candidates can see here important questions related to UPSC IAS exam pattern.