The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025, along with the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam. The registration process for both exams commenced on January 22, 2025, and will continue until February 11, 2025. The preliminary examination is scheduled for May 25, 2025.
Vacancies and Reservations
For the Civil Services Examination 2025, there are a total of 979 vacancies. This marks the lowest number of vacancies in the past four years. In comparison, there were 1,105 vacancies in 2023, 1,011 in 2022, and 712 in 2021. Additionally, there are 150 posts for the Indian Forest Service. The number of vacancies may change based on confirmations from the Cadre Controlling Authorities. This year, 38 vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability, further categorized as follows:
- Blindness and low vision: 12
- Deaf and hard of hearing: 7
- Locomotor disability: 10
- Multiple disabilities: 9
Application Process and Important Dates
The application process is conducted online through the official website, upsc.gov.in. Candidates must first register on the One-Time Registration (OTR) portal before applying. The application fee is ₹100, with exemptions for female, SC/ST, and PwBD candidates. The application window is open from January 22, 2025, to February 11, 2025. Corrections to the online application can be made from February 12 to February 18, 2025. Changes to the OTR profile are allowed only once and within 7 days of application closure.
Candidates must ensure that their photographs are taken after January 12, 2025, and clearly mention their name and the date on the photograph, with their face occupying three-fourths of the photograph’s space. A valid photo ID is mandatory during the application process and for the examination.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Civil Services Examination, candidates must possess a degree from a recognized university. Final-year students are eligible to apply if they submit proof of passing before applying for the Mains exam. Medical students can apply after completing their final year of MBBS, provided they submit a course completion certificate.
The number of attempts varies by category: General and EWS candidates have six attempts until age 32, OBC candidates have nine attempts until 35, and SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts until age 37. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) have nine attempts until age 42.
For IAS, IPS, and IFS, candidates must be Indian citizens. For other services, citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibetan refugees who arrived before January 1, 1962, are also eligible, along with Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) from certain countries.
Exam Structure
The UPSC CSE consists of three stages: preliminary, mains, and interview. The preliminary exam serves as a screening test, and the preliminary exam marks will not count towards the final merit list. The preliminary exam will consist of two objective-type papers. Candidates need to score 33% in General Studies Paper-II and meet overall qualifying marks in General Studies Paper-I to qualify for the main exam. There will be negative marking for wrong answers in the objective-type question papers.
Candidates who clear the cut-off are eligible for the mains exam, which is a descriptive paper held over five days starting August 22nd. This is followed by an interview round.
Services and Positions
The UPSC CSE 2025 exam will fill positions in various services like the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service, and others. The UPSC conducts this exam annually to select candidates for Group A and B positions, including IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS.
Additional Information
Candidates are advised to visit the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in, for detailed information, notifications, and updates. A printed copy of the application is recommended for future reference. For any guidance, candidates can contact UPSC helpline numbers. Candidates should ensure the uploaded photograph is recent and matches their appearance during the exam stages.
Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/article/education/upsc-cse-2025-vacancies-announced-civil-services-this-year-changes-this-year-9792556/
https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/competitive-exams/upsc-cse-exam-2025-notification-live-updates-prelims-application-process-today-civil-services-vacancies-upscgovin-101737518885846.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/upsc-civil-services-prelims-2025-exam-notice-out-vacancies-down-to-979-check-official-notice-here/articleshow/117450151.cms
