UPSC Civil Services Examination

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is India's most prestigious and competitive civil services entrance examination, conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission. The examination is a three-stage process consisting of the Preliminary Examination (Prelims) conducted as a qualifying test with 200 questions, followed by the Main Examination (Mains) comprising nine papers testing candidates' knowledge across diverse subjects, general studies, and optional subjects. The final stage is the Interview/Personality Test conducted by the UPSC where selected candidates are assessed on their suitability for civil services. Approximately 10-12 lakh candidates appear for the Prelims annually, with only about 10,000 shortlisted for Mains, and around 1,500-2,000 for the interview. The examination selects officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFS), and other All-India and Central Services, with approximately 1,000 total positions available. The selection rate is below 0.1%, making it one of the world's most competitive civil service examinations. Selected candidates serve in prestigious government positions with responsibility for policy formulation and administration at national and state levels.