UPSC Full Form: Know UPSC Exam, Meaning, History, Functions, Members, Eligibility Criteria 2026

UPSC full form—Union Public Service Commission—its history, functions, and role in recruiting for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services. Learn about exam stages, eligibility, and how UPSC governs India’s civil services selection process for aspirants.

UPSC Full Form
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UPSC Full Form

 

Lakhs of aspirants aim to clear the IAS Examination so that they get their dream Indian Administrative Service. Largely, the candidates know about the examination but in this article, we will discuss the sole authority responsible to conduct this exam — UPSC. Full Form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission.

UPSC full form is Union Public Service Commission, and it is a Constitutional Body under Article 315-323 Part XIV Chapter II of the Constitution of India to discharge its duties, functions, and obligations assigned under Article 320. The UPSC full form includes its functions and it conducts various examinations in accordance with the Rules of examination as notified by the Government of India in a just, fair, and impartial manner for making a merit-based selection and recommendation of candidates for various Group A and Group B Services of the Government of India.

UPSC Full Form and UPSC Meaning Explained

The full form of the UPSC is Union Public Service Commission.

UPSC conducts a National Level Exam for 24 services under the Central & State Government of India.

The UPSC is mandated by the Indian Constitution to make appointments to the All India Services and Central Services Group A and B, as well as to develop and update testing methodologies for these recruitments with input from various departments.

Apart from this, UPSC is also consulted on matters related to promotion and transfer of personnel as well as any disciplinary matters involving a civil servant serving in a civil capacity.

The headquarters of the commission is located in New Delhi. The contact details of the UPSC are as follows:

Postal Address: UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi – 110069
Facilitation Counter: 011-23098543/23385271/23381125/23098591
Email: feedback-upsc@gov.in

Also Read: UPSC Toppers List 2024

UPSC Full Form History

As a reputed organization, UPSC has an interesting history, let me take you back into the year of 1923, when under the chairmanship of Lord Lee of Fareham, the Royal Commission on superior civil services was set up in India.      

Based on the recommendation of the report submitted by the Commission, a Public service Commission having equal number of Indian and British members was established in 1924.   

The key suggestions made by the Lee Commission included 40% of the future entrants to be British, direct recruitment of 40% Indians and promotion from provincial services for 20% Indians.   

The first Public Service Commission, under the chairmanship of Sir Ross Barker, was finally instituted in the year of 1926.  But being a mere advisory role body, it faced pressure from leaders of the Indian Independence movement.   

This resulted in the establishment of Federal Public Service Commission under Government of India Act 1935, which later became what we know as the Union Public Service Commission after getting constitutional status on 26 January 1950 post-independence.     

Coming back to the present times, UPSC CSE is one of the popular exams in the country as lakhs of aspirants apply for it each year.

UPSC Full Form Functions of UPSC

UPSC Full Form includes its functions. Under Article 320 of the Constitution of India, the Commission is, inter-alia, required to be consulted on all matters relating to recruitment to civil services and posts. The functions of the Commission under Article 320 of the Constitution are:

  1. Conduct examinations for appointment to the services of the Union.
  2. Direct recruitment by selection through interviews.
  3. Appointment of officers on promotion / deputation / absorption.
  4. Framing and amendment of Recruitment Rules for various services and posts under the Government.
  5. Disciplinary cases relating to different Civil Services.
  6. Advising the Government on any matter referred to the Commission by the President of India.

Also Read: How to Prepare for UPSC

UPSC Full Form Headquarters Of UPSC

  • Location: New Delhi
  • Address: Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi – 110069
  • Facilitation Numbers: 011-23098543, 23385271, 23381125, 23098591
  • Email: feedback-upsc@gov.in
  • Working Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM on central government working days

Note: Contact specific helplines only if relevant information is not available online.

UPSC Full Form Composition of UPSC Chairperson and Members

UPSC Full Form includes its composition. Here is the list of Chairperson and Members along with their designations:

Position Name Term Start
Chairperson Dr. Ajay Kumar, IAS 15 May 2025
Member Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.) 18 July 2022
Member Ms. Suman Sharma 25 May 2023
Member Shri Bidyut Bihari Swain 1 June 2023
Member Dr. Dinesh Dasa 29 September 2023
Member Shri Sheel Vardhan Singh 15 January 2024
Member Shri Sanjay Verma 1 February 2024
Member Sujata Chaturvedi, IAS 1 May 2025
Member Anuradha Prasad, IDAS 2 May 2025

Also Read: Indian Revenue Service

UPSC Full Form List of Exams Conducted by UPSC

Here is a list of major exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC):

UPSC Full Form Examination Purpose / Recruitment Eligibility Age Limit (General)
Civil Services Examination (CSE) Recruitment to IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services Graduation in any discipline 21 – 32 years
Indian Forest Service Examination (IFS) Recruitment to Indian Forest Service Graduation in Forestry, Botany, or related fields 21 – 32 years
Engineering Services Examination (ESE) Recruitment of engineers in various government departments Engineering degree 21 – 30 years
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) Recruitment to Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy Graduation in any discipline 19 – 25 years
National Defence Academy Examination (NDA) Recruitment to Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force 12th Standard with Physics & Mathematics (for Navy and Air Force) 16.5 – 19.5 years
Combined Medical Services Examination (CMS) Recruitment of medical officers in government services MBBS degree Up to 32 years
Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination (CAPF AC) Recruitment of Assistant Commandants in CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB Graduation in any discipline 20 – 25 years
Indian Statistical Service Examination (ISS) Recruitment of statisticians in government departments Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Statistics 21 – 30 years
Indian Economic Service Examination (IES) Recruitment of economists in government departments Postgraduate degree in Economics or related fields 21 – 30 years
Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE) Recruitment of Geo-Scientists in government departments Master’s degree in Geology, Hydrology, or related disciplines 21 – 32 years
CISF AC (EXE) LDCE Recruitment of Assistant Commandants in CISF Graduation in any discipline 20 – 25 years

Also Read: Indian Foreign Service

UPSC Full Form Difference between UPSC and IAS

The UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year. As CSE recruits candidates also in IAS, it is often called as IAS Exam. To know the full form of IAS and learn how to become an IAS officer, check the linked article.

The UPSC CSE consists of three stages:

  1. Civil Services Preliminary Examination: Civil Service Prelims or the Preliminary Examination is the first level of examination. It comprises two papers containing objective questions.
    • GS Paper – Learn about UPSC Prelims in-depth in the linked article.
    •  CSAT Paper or GS Paper -2 – Learn about CSAT in the linked article.
  2. Civil Services Mains Examination: Learn about respective GS papers asked in UPSC Mains from the links below:
    • UPSC Mains GS 1
    • UPSC Mains GS 2
    • UPSC Mains GS 3
    • UPSC Mains GS 4
  3. Civil Services Personality Test: The UPSC Personality Test is the final level of examination. Only those candidates who have managed to clear the mains examination surpassing the cut-off determined by the UPSC will be summoned for the interview.

The UPSC then prepares the final merit list, cumulating the scores of the candidates in the mains examination and the personality test. The candidates are then allocated the services, based on their preferences, the merit list as well as the category of the candidate and the vacancies in each category.

UPSC Full Form IAS Exam Date 2026

UPSC Full Form important dates for the UPSC CSE 2025 exams are listed below:

Event Date (2026)
UPSC Exam Calendar Release 15 May 2025
UPSC Notification Release 14 January 2026
Application Submission Period 14 January – 3 February 2026
Prelims Exam Date 24 May 2026
Prelims Admit Card Release To Be Announced
Prelims Result Declaration To Be Announced
Mains Exam Dates From 21 August 2026
Mains Admit Card Release To Be Announced
Final (Personality Test & Result) To Be Announced

Also Read: Youngest IAS Officers in India

UPSC Full form of IAS Civil Services Exam Stages

The UPSC Full Form for UPSC Civil Services exam is divided into three stages. These are:

  • Preliminary or prelims (which is an entry-level, objective-type test),
  • Mains examination (subjective, written exam), and
  • Interview and Personality Test (final stage)

UPSC Full Form How Many Papers in UPSC Prelims and Mains Explained

The UPSC examination consists of two main stages: Prelims and Mains. Here’s a breakdown of the number of papers in each stage:

UPSC Full Form Prelims Exam

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam consists of two papers:

Paper Total Marks Duration Subjects Purpose / Nature
General Studies Paper I (GS-I) 200 2 hours Current Events, History of India, Geography, Indian Politics, Economics, Environment, General Science, etc. Used for shortlisting candidates for the Mains exam
Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) – Paper II 200 2 hours Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability, Decision-Making, General Mental Ability, etc. Qualifying in nature; minimum 33% required to qualify for the Mains

UPSC Full Form Mains Exam

The UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of 9 papers in total:

Paper Total Marks Subjects / Details Purpose / Nature
Paper A: Indian Language 300 Candidate can choose any language from the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution Qualifying paper
Paper B: English 300 Compulsory English language paper Qualifying paper
Paper I: Essay 250 Candidates write an essay on a given topic Marks counted for ranking
Paper II: General Studies-I 250 Indian Heritage and Culture, History, Geography of the World and Society Marks counted for ranking
Paper III: General Studies-II 250 Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations Marks counted for ranking
Paper IV: General Studies-III 250 Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, Disaster Management Marks counted for ranking
Paper V: General Studies-IV 250 Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude Marks counted for ranking
Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper-I 250 Related to the optional subject chosen by the candidate Marks counted for ranking
Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper-II 250 Related to the same optional subject as Paper VI Marks counted for ranking

UPSC Full Form Total Marks in UPSC Mains Exam

  • 1750 marks (out of which 500 marks are for the qualifying papers – Paper A and Paper B).
  • The final merit list is based on the total marks obtained in the Mains exam and the Interview (Personality Test).

UPSC Full Form Interview Marks

  • Total Marks: 275
  • After the Mains exam, candidates who clear the Mains are called for the Interview, which is the final stage of the selection process.

Also Read: UPSC Toppers 2025

UPSC Full Form Eligibility Criteria

To apply for UPSC, candidates must meet the following criteria:

Criteria as per UPSC Full Form  Details
Age Limit 21 to 32 years
Age Relaxation OBC – 3 years, SC/ST – 5 years, PwBD – 10 years
Number of Attempts General – 6, OBC & PwBD – 9, SC/ST – Unlimited
Educational Qualification Graduation
Nationality for UPSC Exam Must be a citizen of India, a person of Indian origin or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan or Tibet settled in India before 1st January 1962.

Are you preparing for UPSC 2026? Join IAShub’s UPSC coaching batches to boost your preparation. Enroll now!

UPSC Full Form FAQs

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The UPSC full form shows it is a Union Public Service Commission, highlighting its role in conducting exams like IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services.

Knowing the UPSC full form helps aspirants understand that the Union Public Service Commission governs eligibility, selection, and recruitment for top government positions.

Understanding the UPSC full form clarifies that the Union Public Service Commission conducts exams, sets criteria, and manages the civil services selection process.

Yes, the UPSC full form—Union Public Service Commission—indicates its authority to organize competitive exams, interviews, and recruitment for central services.


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Best IAS Coaching In Delhi, UPSC Online & Offline Classes by IAShub

Are you dreaming of becoming an IAS officer? Then, IAShub can be your best guide. It is one of the Best IAS Coaching in Delhi. Many students who want to clear the UPSC exam join IAShub for learning. The institute gives both online and offline classes. Their teachers are experienced and helpful. They easily explain every topic. Students also get notes, tests, and tips to do well in the exam.

UPSC Online Classes by IAShub

IAShub is in Delhi and is trusted by many UPSC students. It offers coaching for every part of the UPSC exam – Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The classes are simple and easy to understand. The teachers are experts and guide students in the right way. IAShub is also known for its helpful notes, test series, and answer-writing practice. IAShub is the best coaching in Delhi and also gives UPSC Online Classes. This helps students from any place in India to learn. The online classes are live and also recorded. So, students can watch them anytime. These classes cover the full UPSC syllabus.

Key Offerings Provided by IAShub

Here are some important services provided by IAShub:

  • UPSC Prelims: IAShub teaches for Prelims with a focus on basics. It also gives daily current affairs and monthly magazines.
  • Classroom Courses: IAShub has classroom learning for students in Delhi. The environment is good and peaceful for study.
  • Live Classes: Students who live far can join live UPSC online classes. These classes are just like real classes.
  • QEP for Mains: The Quality Enrichment Program (QEP) is special for Mains preparation. It helps students write better and faster.
  • Answer Writing: Regular answer writing practice is given. Teachers also check answers and give tips to improve.
  • Free Resource: IAShub gives free notes by toppers and helpful Main Booster material.
  • Test Series: Test series are available for every subject. These help students know their weak points and improve.
  • Interview Guidance Session: IAShub also gives interview practice sessions with experts. These help students feel confident.

UPSC Exam Overview

The UPSC Civil Services Exam has three parts:

  • Prelims: It has two papers: General Studies and CSAT.
  • Mains: It has nine papers, including essays and optional subjects.
  • Interview: It tests the personality and confidence of the student.

This exam is tough, but with the right guidance, it becomes easy to manage. Students must study smart and stay regular.

How IAShub Helps in the UPSC Journey

IAShub supports students from the beginning to the end. It gives the right books, tests, and notes. The classes are easy to follow, and the teachers are always ready to help. Students get personal doubt sessions too. The test series and answer checking help students learn where they need to do better. Also, free study materials save time and money.
IAShub also guides students during the final stage – the interview. Experts take mock interviews and give useful tips. This full support makes IAShub one of the best IAS coaching in Delhi.

Best IAS Coaching In Delhi FAQs

Yes, IAShub offers live and recorded online classes. Students can attend from any part of India.

Classes are available in both English and Hindi, so students can choose the language they are comfortable with.

The classroom centre is located in Delhi. Students can visit and join offline batches there.

IAShub gives interview guidance sessions to help students prepare for the final round of UPSC.
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