The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 notification on January 22, 2025, detailing the much-awaited recruitment for various prestigious services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and others. This year, a total of 979 vacancies are available under UPSC CSE, which is the lowest in the past 4 years.

The application process is now LIVE, and candidates can submit their applications on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in, until February 18, 2025 [Date Extended].

The last date to apply online for the UPSC CSE Exam will be 18 February 2025 [Date Extended].

In this blog, we will provide a detailed breakdown of the UPSC CSE 2025 vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and key dates to keep you informed and help you stay on track for the upcoming Civil Services Examination.

SOME IMPORTANT LINKS

How to Apply for UPSC CSE 2025

Follow the steps below to apply for the UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025:

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Create an OTR Profile: Before applying, candidates must register on the One-Time Registration (OTR) portal.
2. Log in to Apply UPSC 2025 Form: After registration, log in using your credentials to fill the application form.
3. Fill Application Form: Enter personal details, educational qualifications, and other required information.
4. Upload Documents: Upload a recent photograph, signature, and other required documents.
5. Pay the Application Fee: The application fee for General and OBC candidates is ₹100, while SC/ST and female candidates are exempt from the fee.
6. Submit the Application: Review your application and submit it. Don’t forget to download a copy for future reference.

Key Highlights of UPSC CSE Notification 2025

1. Total Vacancies Announced (No. of Seats in UPSC 2025)

The UPSC CSE 2025 has announced a total of 1129 vacancies for the year 2025, out of which:

• 979 vacancies are for Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.).
• 150 vacancies are for the Indian Forest Services (IFoS).

These vacancies are spread across various categories, with a reserved quota for persons with disabilities.

Vacancy Breakdown for Civil Services (CSE)

• Blindness and Low Vision: 12 vacancies
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 7 vacancies
• Locomotor Disability (including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, etc.): 10 vacancies
• Multiple Disabilities (from the above-mentioned categories, including deaf-blindness): 9 vacancies

2. Application Timeline

• UPSC CSE 2025 Application Start Date: January 22, 2025
• UPSC FORM 2025 Last Date to Apply: February 18, 2025 [Date Extended]
• UPSC 2025 Correction Window: February 19, 2025 to February 25, 2025
• UPSC Prelims 2025 Exam Date: May 25, 2025

Candidates must complete their application before the deadline and ensure to check for any discrepancies during the correction window.

3. Eligibility Criteria

• Age Limit: Candidates must be between 21 to 32 years (as of August 1, 2025). Relaxations in the upper age limit are available for reserved categories.
  • SC/ST candidates: 5 years
  • OBC candidates: 3 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 years
  • Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
• Educational Qualification: Applicants must possess a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification.
• Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a refugee from Tibet who settled in India before January 1, 1962.

Key Changes in UPSC CSE 2025 Compared to Previous Years

The UPSC CSE 2025 has introduced several notable changes in the process:

1. Service Preference Submission:
   • In 2024, candidates had to submit their preferences after the Mains result.
   • In 2025, service preferences will be submitted within 10 days of the Prelims result, along with a ₹200 fee for Mains application.
2. Information Sharing for Non-Recommended Candidates:
   • In 2024, scores were publicly disclosed.
   • In 2025, detailed biodata will be shared with registered organizations for employment purposes through a restricted portal.
3. Indian Railway Services:
   • The Indian Railway Management Service is now divided into three streams: Traffic, Personnel, and Accounts.
4. Application Data Modification:
   • While candidates could modify the application in the past, in 2025, there will be multiple windows to modify preferences and data after Prelims and before the Personality Test.
5. Fee for Mains Application:
   • Candidates will need to pay ₹200 to confirm eligibility for the Mains exam.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus for UPSC CSE 2025

Prelims Exam Pattern [PRELIMS 2025 Latest Syllabus]:

• Paper 1: General Studies – 200 marks
• Paper 2: CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) – 200 marks (Qualifying)

Note: There will be a negative marking of 1/3 for each wrong answer.

Mains Exam Pattern:

The Mains exam consists of 9 papers, including:

• General Studies Papers (4)
• Essay Paper
• Optional Subject Paper (2)
• Language Papers (2)

Syllabus:

The syllabus for both Prelims and Mains is extensive and covers topics ranging from General Studies to Optional Subjects. You can refer to the official UPSC syllabus to get detailed insights into each subject.

How to Download the UPSC CSE 2025 Notification PDF

To download the official UPSC CSE 2025 notification:

1. Visit the official UPSC website: www.upsc.gov.in.
2. On the homepage, click on the ‘What’s New’ section.
3. Find and click on the link for the Civil Services Prelims Exam 2025 notification.
4. The PDF of the notification will open in a new window.
5. Download and save it for your reference.

UPSC CSE 2025 FAQs

Q1. When is the UPSC CSE 2025 Prelims exam?

• The UPSC CSE 2025 Prelims exam is scheduled for May 25, 2025.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for UPSC CSE 2025?

• The last date for submission of applications is February 18, 2025.

Q3. How many vacancies are announced for UPSC CSE 2025?

• A total of 979 vacancies are available for Civil Services, and 150 vacancies for the Indian Forest Service (IFoS).

Q4. What is the age limit for UPSC CSE 2025?

• Candidates should be between 21 to 32 years of age. Age relaxations apply for SC/ST, OBC, and other reserved categories.

Q5. What is the application fee for UPSC CSE 2025?

• The application fee is ₹100 for General and OBC candidates, while it is exempted for SC/ST and female candidates.

Q6. What is the UPSC CSE 2025 application fee?

Ans:
The application fee for the UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025 exam is ₹100. However, female candidates, SC/ST candidates, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are exempt from the application fee.

Q7. What are the eligibility criteria for UPSC CSE 2025?

Ans:
To be eligible for UPSC CSE 2025:

• Age Limit: Candidates must be between 21 to 32 years of age. Age relaxation is provided for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD).
• Educational Qualification: Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification. Final-year students are also eligible to apply.
• Nationality: Candidates must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1962 with the intention of settling permanently.

Q8. Can I make changes to my UPSC CSE application after submission?

Ans:
Yes, the UPSC will provide a correction window after the application submission. Candidates can modify their application form from February 19 to February 25, 2025. However, changes can only be made within this window, and no changes will be allowed after this period.

Q9. How can I check my UPSC CSE application status?

Ans:
Once you have submitted your application form, you can check the status by logging into your UPSC account on the official website. Candidates will also receive updates via email or SMS regarding the status of their application.

Q10. What is the exam pattern for UPSC CSE 2025?

Ans:
The UPSC Civil Services Examination consists of three stages:

1. Prelims: Objective-type questions (MCQs) in two papers (General Studies and CSAT).
2. Mains: Descriptive-type questions in 9 papers, including General Studies, Optional Subject, and the Essay Paper.
3. Personality Test: Interview round for candidates who qualify in Mains.

Q11. How many attempts can I make for the UPSC CSE?

Ans:
The maximum number of attempts for UPSC CSE is as follows:

• General Category: 6 attempts
• OBC Category: 9 attempts
• SC/ST Category: Unlimited attempts until the age limit is reached

Candidates with Disabilities (PwBD) are also eligible for relaxation in the number of attempts.

Q12. How is the UPSC CSE 2025 Prelims exam conducted?

Ans:
The UPSC CSE 2025 Prelims will consist of two papers:

1. General Studies Paper I: This is a 200-mark paper covering topics such as Indian History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Environment, etc.
2. Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper II: This paper assesses the candidate’s logical reasoning, decision-making, and comprehension skills. The CSAT is of qualifying nature, and candidates must score at least 33% to clear this paper.

Q13. What is the minimum educational qualification required for UPSC CSE 2025?

Ans:
A candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree from any recognized university or institution. Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree before the Mains exam.

Q14. What is the process to fill out the UPSC CSE application form?

Ans:
To apply for UPSC CSE 2025:

1. Register on the UPSC portal: Candidates must first create an account via the One-Time Registration (OTR) platform on the official UPSC website.
2. Fill the Application: After successful OTR registration, log in and fill out the application form.
3. Upload Documents: Upload necessary documents like photograph, signature, and photo ID details.
4. Pay the Fee: Complete the payment of the application fee (₹100 for general category).
5. Submit the Form: Once all details are filled in, submit the application before the last date, February 18, 2025.

Q15. How can I download the UPSC CSE 2025 notification PDF?

Ans:
To download the UPSC CSE 2025 notification PDF:

1. Visit the official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in
2. Look for the notification link under the “What’s New” section.
3. Click on the link to open the PDF.
4. Download and save the notification for your reference.

Q16. What is the exam date for UPSC CSE 2025?

Ans:
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSE 2025) will be conducted on May 25, 2025.

Q17. How can I contact UPSC for assistance?

Ans:
For any queries related to the UPSC CSE 2025 application process, candidates can contact the UPSC helpline at:

• Phone Numbers: 011-23385271, 011-23381125, 011-23098543
• Email: For official queries, candidates can use the contact details on the official website.
• The helpline is available from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on working days.

Q18. Will there be any relaxation in age for reserved category candidates?

Ans:
Yes, the age relaxation for reserved category candidates is as follows:

• SC/ST: 5 years
• OBC: 3 years
• Defense personnel (disabled in operations): 3 years
• Ex-servicemen: 5 years
• PwBD candidates: 10 years

Conclusion

The UPSC CSE 2025 notification is finally here, and the process is now open for applications. With a total of 979 vacancies for Civil Services, this year’s exam promises to be an exciting opportunity for candidates aspiring to serve in top government positions.

Ensure that you read the notification carefully, follow the application procedure, and stay updated with the important dates. Best of luck with your preparation and the examination ahead!