How Many Papers in UPSC Mains, Understand the structure of the UPSC Mains Exam, including the nine papers, marks distribution, and their role in the final merit ranking.
theIAShub | 18 Mar, 2025 | 1019 | 0
The UPSC Mains Examination is a crucial stage of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates aspiring for esteemed services like the IAS, IPS, and IFS must excel in this stage. A common query among aspirants is, “How many papers are there in UPSC Mains?” The examination includes nine papers, which comprehensively assess a candidate’s knowledge, analytical abilities, and communication skills. While two of these papers are qualifying in nature, the remaining seven are considered for the final merit calculation.
Checkout the UPSC Mains Exam Pattern here!
The UPSC Mains Examination is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination, following the Prelims. It is designed to evaluate not just a candidate’s knowledge but also their ability to present ideas effectively and critically analyze complex issues. UPSC Mains comprises 9 descriptive papers which consists of 4 GS Papers, 1 Essay Paper, 2 Language Papers, 2 Optional Subjects.
Also Read: UPSC Exam 2025 Date
The UPSC Calendar provides critical dates for aspirants to plan their preparation effectively. For the 2025 examination cycle, the key dates are as follows:
| Event | Important Date |
| UPSC Notification 2025 Release Date | 22 January 2025 |
| UPSC Prelims Exam Registration | 22 January 2025 |
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date | 25 May 2025 |
| UPSC Mains Exam Date 2025 | 22 August 2025 |
| UPSC Interview/IAS Interview Date | Yet to be announced |
Check out the article UPSC Mains Syllabus.
The UPSC Mains Examination comprises nine papers in total. Out of these, seven papers are considered for the final merit ranking, while two are qualifying in nature. Each paper is three hours long, and the total marks for the Mains written examination are 1750.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
| Paper-A | One of the Indian Languages (Qualifying Paper) | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper-B | English (Qualifying Paper) | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper-I | Essay | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies I | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies II | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies III | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies IV | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject Paper I | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject Paper II | 3 hours | 250 |
| Total | 1750 |
The UPSC Mains Examination consists of a total of nine descriptive papers, categorized into two qualifying papers and seven merit-based papers.
The UPSC Mains includes two qualifying papers, which are mandatory but do not contribute to the final merit. These papers are:
The remaining seven papers contribute to the final merit list. A brief overview of these papers is given below:
Essay Paper (250 Marks)
Candidates must write two essays, selecting one topic from each section. This paper assesses their ability to present arguments logically and effectively.
General Studies Paper I (250 Marks)
Covers topics such as Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Geography of the World and Society.
General Studies Paper II (250 Marks)
Focuses on Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
General Studies Paper III (250 Marks)
Includes subjects like Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.
General Studies Paper IV (250 Marks)
Tests Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude, assessing candidates’ moral and ethical reasoning.
Optional Subject Paper I (250 Marks)
Candidates select an optional subject from the UPSC list, demonstrating their expertise in the chosen field.
Optional Subject Paper II (250 Marks)
The second paper of the chosen optional subject focuses on deeper analysis and conceptual clarity.
These seven merit-based papers determine the final ranking in the Civil Services Examination.
Also check out the UPSC Mains Answer Writting article for the 2025 Exam.
The UPSC Mains Exam evaluates candidates through both the written examination and an interview process. Here is the distribution:
| UPSC Mains Mark Distribution Table | |
| Phase | Marks |
| Written Examination (Papers I-VII) | 1750 |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 |
| Total marks in UPSC mains and interview | 2025 |
Also Read: Optional Subjects List
The nine papers include two qualifying papers (Paper A: Indian Language and Paper B: English), one Essay paper, four General Studies papers, and two papers from the chosen Optional Subject.
The total marks for the written examination in UPSC Mains are 1750. These include 250 marks for each of the seven merit-ranking papers. The qualifying papers (300 marks each) are not included in the merit calculation.
Yes, the qualifying papers are crucial as candidates must secure the minimum required marks to proceed in the examination process. However, their scores are not counted for the final merit list.
Paper 3 in UPSC Mains refers to General Studies II, which focuses on topics like Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
To qualify, candidates must secure the minimum cutoff marks set by the UPSC in the seven merit-based papers, which contribute to the total of 1750 marks. Additionally, they must pass the two qualifying papers.
The final ranking is based on the cumulative scores of the seven merit papers (1750 marks) and the Interview (275 marks), bringing the total to 2025 marks.
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