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 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

UPSC Full Form is Union Public Service Commission recruiting officers for All India Services and the Central Civil Services (Group A and B), Engineering Services, Defence Services, and Indian Forest Services, among others.

Functions of UPSC

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.

UPSC Headquarters

• 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 Chairperson and Members

Here is the list of Chairperson and Members along with their designations:

1. Chairperson:
   • Mrs. Preeti Sudan
2. Members:
   • Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.)
   • Ms. Suman Sharma
   • Sh. Bidyut Behari Swain
   • Dr. Dinesh Dasa
   • Shri Sheel Vardhan Singh
   • Shri Sanjay Verma

List of Exams Conducted by UPSC

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

1. Civil Services Examination (CSE)

• For recruitment to services like IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services.
• Eligibility: Graduation.
• Age Limit: 21-32 years.

2. Indian Forest Service Examination (IFS)

• For recruitment to the Indian Forest Service.
• Eligibility: Graduation in Forestry, Botany, or related fields.
• Age Limit: 21-32 years.

3. Engineering Services Examination (ESE)

• For recruitment of engineers in various government departments.
• Eligibility: Engineering degree.
• Age Limit: 21-30 years.

4. Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE)

• For recruitment to the Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers’ Training Academy.
• Eligibility: Graduation.
• Age Limit: 19-25 years.

5. National Defence Academy Examination (NDA)

• For recruitment to the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Eligibility: 12th standard with Physics and Mathematics (for Navy and Air Force).
• Age Limit: 16.5-19.5 years.

6. Combined Medical Services Examination (CMS)

• For recruitment of medical officers in various government services.
• Eligibility: MBBS degree.
• Age Limit: 32 years.

7. Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination (CAPF AC)

• For recruitment of Assistant Commandants in paramilitary forces like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB.
• Eligibility: Graduation.
• Age Limit: 20-25 years.

8. Indian Statistical Service Examination (ISS)

• For recruitment of statisticians in various government departments.
• Eligibility: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Statistics.
• Age Limit: 21-30 years.

9. Indian Economic Service Examination (IES)

• For recruitment of economists in various government departments.
• Eligibility: Postgraduate degree in Economics or related fields.
• Age Limit: 21-30 years.

10. Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE)

• For recruitment of Geo-Scientists in various government departments.
• Eligibility: Master’s degree in Geology, Hydrology, or related disciplines.
• Age Limit: 21-32 years.

11. Central Industrial Security Force (Assistant Commandants) Examination (CISF AC EXE LDCE)

• For recruitment of Assistant Commandants in CISF.
• Eligibility: Graduation.
• Age Limit: 20-25 years.

UPSC Civil Services Exam Stages

The 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)

How Many Papers in UPSC Prelims and Mains

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

1. UPSC Prelims Exam:

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam consists of two papers:

a. General Studies Paper I (GS-I)

• Total Marks: 200
• Duration: 2 hours
• Subjects: Current events, History of India, Geography, Indian Politics, Economics, Environment, General Science, etc.
• This paper is used for shortlisting candidates for the Mains exam.

b. Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) – Paper II

• Total Marks: 200
• Duration: 2 hours
• Subjects: Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability, Decision-Making, General Mental Ability, etc.
• This paper is qualifying in nature, i.e., you need to score a minimum of 33% to qualify for the Mains.

2. UPSC Mains Exam:

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

a. Paper A: Indian Language

• Total Marks: 300
• This is a qualifying paper, and the candidate can choose any language from the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

b. Paper B: English

• Total Marks: 300
• This is also a qualifying paper.

c. Paper I: Essay

• Total Marks: 250
• Candidates are required to write an essay on a given topic.

d. Paper II: General Studies-I

• Total Marks: 250
• Subjects: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.

e. Paper III: General Studies-II

• Total Marks: 250
• Subjects: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations.

f. Paper IV: General Studies-III

• Total Marks: 250
• Subjects: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.

g. Paper V: General Studies-IV

• Total Marks: 250
• Subjects: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.

h. Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper-I

• Total Marks: 250
• This paper is related to one of the subjects chosen by the candidate for their optional paper.

i. Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper-II

• Total Marks: 250
• This paper is related to the same optional subject as Paper VI.

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 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.

UPSC Exam Patterns

The exam structure includes two stages: Prelims and Mains, followed by an interview.

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern:

This is the first screening stage with multiple-choice questions.

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern

The UPSC Mains stage involves detailed written papers.

UPSC Eligibility Criteria

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

UPSC Exam Dates 2025

Important dates for the UPSC 2025 exams are listed below:

UPSC Important Books for 2025

Here are some highly recommended books for UPSC preparation:

By following this guide, you can better understand the UPSC exam structure, syllabus, eligibility, and preparation strategy.

UPSC Full Form FAQs