The UPSC Mains Examination, the second stage of the Civil Services Examination (CSE), is a crucial phase conducted over 5-7 days and comprises nine descriptive papers. Only candidates meeting the cut-off in General Studies I and securing at least 33% in General Studies II in the Prelims are eligible for the Mains.

The Mains exam is designed to assess candidates’ academic proficiency, analytical skills, and ability to present ideas clearly. It plays a significant role in determining final scores, making it an exhaustive yet critical step in the selection process. Success in this stage paves the way for the Personality Test, a decisive factor in achieving a civil services career. Understanding the exam pattern is vital for effective preparation and achieving success.

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2025

The UPSC Mains Examination is the second phase of the Civil Services Examination, evaluating candidates’ knowledge, analytical abilities, and writing skills. It comprises nine descriptive papers: two qualifying papers and seven that contribute to the final merit. These papers encompass essays, general studies, and an optional subject, assessing a candidate’s grasp of governance, ethics, and socio-economic matters. Success in the Mains leads to the Personality Test, making it a pivotal step toward a career in civil services.

The Mains exam is a written, descriptive test comprising nine papers, of which two are qualifying in nature and seven contribute to the final merit. Covering a wide range of subjects, the exam includes essays, general studies, and optional subjects, allowing candidates to showcase their expertise in specific areas. It aims to evaluate a candidate’s understanding of governance, ethics, and socio-economic issues along with their capacity to tackle complex problems.

Overview of UPSC Exam

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a highly competitive exam designed to select candidates for prestigious administrative roles such as IAS, IPS, and IFS. It consists of three stages: the Preliminary Exam, which is a screening test with objective-type questions in General Studies and CSAT; the Mains Exam, a written exam with nine papers that assess knowledge, writing skills, and analytical abilities; and the Personality Test (Interview), which evaluates a candidate’s personality, decision-making skills, and overall suitability for civil services. The exam is known for its extensive syllabus and rigorous preparation requirements.

UPSC Exam Date 2025

The UPSC Calendar highlights crucial dates for exams such as the Mains Exam. Aspirants should stay updated with these dates for effective planning and preparation.

UPSC Mains Exam Result 2024

The UPSC has officially declared the results for the Mains 2024 examination. Candidates who appeared for the Civil Services Mains Exam can check their results on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in.

According to the official notice, the marksheets for all candidates will be available within 15 days after the final result, following the Personality Test (Interview). These marksheets will remain accessible for 30 days.

UPSC Mains Examination Structure

The written examination for the Main Examination consists of the following components:

List of UPSC Mains Optional Subjects

Candidates may choose any one subject from the following:

• Agriculture
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
• Anthropology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Commerce and Accountancy
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Geography
• Geology
• History
• Law
• Management
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Science
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science and International Relations
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology

Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and English.

Medium of Examination

• Candidates may write the examination in any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or in English (except for the Qualifying Language Papers, Paper-A and Paper-B).
• The question papers, other than the literature of language papers, will be set in Hindi and English.
• Candidates opting for regional languages may provide the English version of technical terms in brackets.

Notes: The question papers will be of conventional (essay) type, each lasting three hours.

Syllabus details are provided in Part B of Section III.

Misuse of the language rule (e.g., unauthorized mediums) will result in deductions or non-evaluation of scripts.

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern FAQs