{"id":401,"date":"2025-03-18T12:21:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T06:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=401"},"modified":"2025-10-28T16:24:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:54:04","slug":"total-papers-in-upsc-mains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/total-papers-in-upsc-mains\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Papers in UPSC Mains List 2025? Qualifying &#038; Merit-Based Papers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<label class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/label>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #127abf;color:#127abf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #127abf;color:#127abf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/total-papers-in-upsc-mains\/#How_Many_Papers_in_UPSC_Mains_2025_Overview\" >How Many Papers in UPSC Mains 2025 Overview\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/total-papers-in-upsc-mains\/#UPSC_Mains_Exam_2025_Date\" >UPSC Mains Exam 2025 Date<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/total-papers-in-upsc-mains\/#How_Many_Papers_in_UPSC_Mains_List\" >How Many Papers in UPSC Mains List<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/total-papers-in-upsc-mains\/#UPSC_Mains_Papers_Exam_Pattern_and_Mark_Distribution\" >UPSC Mains Papers Exam Pattern and Mark Distribution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/total-papers-in-upsc-mains\/#How_Many_Papers_in_UPSC_Mains_FAQs\" >How Many Papers in UPSC Mains FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UPSC Mains Examination is a crucial stage of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-full-form\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)<\/a><\/strong>. Candidates aspiring for esteemed services like the IAS, IPS, and IFS must excel in this stage. A common query among aspirants is, <\/span><b>\u201cHow many papers are there in UPSC Mains?\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The examination includes <\/span><b>nine papers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which comprehensively assess a candidate\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=294&amp;preview=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Checkout the UPSC Mains Exam Pattern here!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Many_Papers_in_UPSC_Mains_2025_Overview\"><\/span><b>How Many Papers in UPSC Mains 2025 Overview\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>UPSC Mains Examination<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination, following the Prelims. It is designed to evaluate not just a candidate&#8217;s knowledge but also their ability to present ideas effectively and critically analyze complex issues. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Mains comprises 9 descriptive papers which consists of 4 GS Papers, 1 Essay Paper, 2 Language Papers, 2 Optional Subjects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Also Read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-exam-2025-date\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UPSC Exam 2025 Date<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Mains_Exam_2025_Date\"><\/span><b>UPSC Mains Exam 2025 Date<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UPSC Calendar provides critical dates for aspirants to plan their preparation effectively. For the 2025 examination cycle, the key dates are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Event<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Important Date<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Notification 2025 Release Date<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22 January 2025<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Prelims Exam Registration<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22 January 2025<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Prelims Exam Date<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25 May 2025<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Mains Exam Date 2025<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22 August 2025<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Interview\/IAS Interview Date<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet to be announced<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=289&amp;preview=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Check out the article UPSC Mains Syllabus.<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Many_Papers_in_UPSC_Mains_List\"><\/span><b>How Many Papers in UPSC Mains List<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>UPSC Mains Examination comprises nine papers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Paper<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Subject<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Duration<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Marks<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-A<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the Indian Languages (Qualifying Paper)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">300<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-B<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">English (Qualifying Paper)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">300<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-I<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Essay<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-II<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Studies I<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-III<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Studies II<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-IV<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Studies III<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-V<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Studies IV<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-VI<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optional Subject Paper I<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paper-VII<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Optional Subject Paper II<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Total<\/b><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><b>1750<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"40\"><strong data-start=\"4\" data-end=\"38\">Number of Papers in UPSC Mains<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"42\" data-end=\"203\">The\u00a0UPSC Mains Examination\u00a0consists of a total of\u00a0nine descriptive papers, categorized into\u00a0two qualifying papers\u00a0and\u00a0seven merit-based papers.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"205\" data-end=\"249\"><strong data-start=\"209\" data-end=\"247\">1. Qualifying Papers in UPSC Mains<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"250\" data-end=\"382\">The UPSC Mains includes\u00a0<strong data-start=\"274\" data-end=\"299\">two qualifying papers<\/strong>, which are mandatory but do not contribute to the final merit. These papers are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"386\" data-end=\"614\"><strong data-start=\"386\" data-end=\"414\">Paper 1: Indian Language<\/strong>\u00a0(300 Marks)<br data-start=\"426\" data-end=\"429\" \/>Candidates must select one language from the\u00a0Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. This paper evaluates their ability to write essays and demonstrate fundamental language skills.<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"618\" data-end=\"757\"><strong data-start=\"618\" data-end=\"638\">Paper 2: English<\/strong>\u00a0(300 Marks)<br data-start=\"650\" data-end=\"653\" \/>This paper tests the candidate\u2019s comprehension, pr\u00e9cis writing, and communication skills in English.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"759\" data-end=\"804\"><strong data-start=\"763\" data-end=\"802\">2. Merit-Based Papers in UPSC Mains<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"805\" data-end=\"922\">The remaining\u00a0<strong data-start=\"819\" data-end=\"835\">seven papers<\/strong>\u00a0contribute to the final merit list. A brief overview of these papers is given below:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"924\" data-end=\"2044\">\n<li data-start=\"924\" data-end=\"1118\">\n<p data-start=\"926\" data-end=\"1118\"><strong data-start=\"926\" data-end=\"941\">Essay Paper<\/strong>\u00a0(250 Marks)<br data-start=\"953\" data-end=\"956\" \/>Candidates must write\u00a0two essays, selecting one topic from each section. This paper assesses their ability to present arguments logically and effectively.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1120\" data-end=\"1265\">\n<p data-start=\"1122\" data-end=\"1265\"><strong data-start=\"1122\" data-end=\"1149\">General Studies Paper I<\/strong>\u00a0(250 Marks)<br data-start=\"1161\" data-end=\"1164\" \/>Covers topics such as\u00a0Indian Heritage &amp; Culture, History, Geography of the World and Society.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1267\" data-end=\"1409\">\n<p data-start=\"1269\" data-end=\"1409\"><strong data-start=\"1269\" data-end=\"1297\">General Studies Paper II<\/strong>\u00a0(250 Marks)<br data-start=\"1309\" data-end=\"1312\" \/>Focuses on\u00a0Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1411\" data-end=\"1583\">\n<p data-start=\"1413\" data-end=\"1583\"><strong data-start=\"1413\" data-end=\"1442\">General Studies Paper III<\/strong>\u00a0(250 Marks)<br data-start=\"1454\" data-end=\"1457\" \/>Includes subjects like\u00a0Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1585\" data-end=\"1727\">\n<p data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1727\"><strong data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1615\">General Studies Paper IV<\/strong>\u00a0(250 Marks)<br data-start=\"1627\" data-end=\"1630\" \/>Tests\u00a0Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude, assessing candidates&#8217; moral and ethical reasoning.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1729\" data-end=\"1890\">\n<p data-start=\"1731\" data-end=\"1890\"><strong data-start=\"1731\" data-end=\"1759\">Optional Subject Paper I<\/strong>\u00a0(250 Marks)<br data-start=\"1771\" data-end=\"1774\" \/>Candidates select an\u00a0optional subject\u00a0from the UPSC list, demonstrating their expertise in the chosen field.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1892\" data-end=\"2044\">\n<p data-start=\"1894\" data-end=\"2044\"><strong data-start=\"1894\" data-end=\"1923\">Optional Subject Paper II<\/strong>\u00a0(250 Marks)<br data-start=\"1935\" data-end=\"1938\" \/>The second paper of the chosen\u00a0optional subject\u00a0focuses on deeper analysis and conceptual clarity.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2046\" data-end=\"2143\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">These seven merit-based papers determine the\u00a0final ranking in the Civil Services Examination.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2046\" data-end=\"2143\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"><strong>Also check out <a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/?p=404&amp;preview=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the UPSC Mains Answer Writting article for the 2025 Exam.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2046\" data-end=\"2143\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-5575\" style=\"width: 100%;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-107-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-5575 ml-slider has-dots-nav ms-theme-default-base\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"New Slideshow\" data-height=\"300\" data-width=\"700\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_5575\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_5575\">\n            <ul aria-live='off' class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-5579 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-10-11 11:47:58\" data-filename=\"400-X-180cdr-scaled-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/courses\/mains\/upsc-qep-2026-batch-5-english\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/400-X-180cdr-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-5575 slide-5579 msDefaultImage\" title=\"400 X 180cdr\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-5580 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-10-11 11:47:58\" data-filename=\"pocket-notes-website-400x180-1-scaled-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/courses\/upsc-cse-books\/qep-pocket-notes-2.0\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pocket-notes-website-400x180-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-5575 slide-5580 msDefaultImage\" title=\"pocket-notes-website-400x180\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-5581 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-10-11 11:47:58\" data-filename=\"web-site-banner-toppers-book.-400x180-1-scaled-700x300.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/courses\/upsc-cse-books\/toppers-handwritten-upsc-pyq-4-books\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/web-site-banner-toppers-book.-400x180-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" height=\"300\" width=\"700\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-5575 slide-5581 msDefaultImage\" title=\"web site banner toppers book. 400x180\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Mains_Papers_Exam_Pattern_and_Mark_Distribution\"><\/span><b>UPSC Mains Papers Exam Pattern and Mark Distribution<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UPSC Mains Exam evaluates candidates through both the written examination and an interview process. Here is the distribution:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\"><b>UPSC Mains Mark Distribution Table<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Phase<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Marks<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Written Examination (Papers I-VII)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1750<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personality Test (Interview)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">275<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Total marks in UPSC mains and interview<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>2025<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Also Read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/upsc-mains-subjects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Optional Subjects List<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Many_Papers_in_UPSC_Mains_FAQs\"><\/span><b>How Many Papers in UPSC Mains FAQs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<style>#sp-ea-402 .spcollapsing { height: 0; overflow: hidden; transition-property: height;transition-duration: 300ms;}#sp-ea-402.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #e2e2e2; }#sp-ea-402.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a {color: #444;}#sp-ea-402.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.sp-collapse>.ea-body {background: #fff; color: #444;}#sp-ea-402.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single {background: #eee;}#sp-ea-402.sp-easy-accordion>.sp-ea-single>.ea-header a .ea-expand-icon { float: left; color: #444;font-size: 16px;}.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a {\r\n  padding: 7px;\r\n  background: #fff;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a {\r\n  font-size: 1rem;\r\n}\r\n.sp-ea-one.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a .ea-expand-icon {\r\n  font-size: 1rem;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single .ea-header a .ea-expand-icon {\r\n  margin-right: 0px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion .sp-ea-single{\r\n background: #fff;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.ea-expand a{\r\n  background: #cfe2ff !important;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.sp-easy-accordion{\r\n  margin-bottom: 1rem;\r\n  margin-top: 1rem;\r\n}<\/style><div id=\"sp_easy_accordion-1735639682\"><div id=\"sp-ea-402\" class=\"sp-ea-one sp-easy-accordion\" data-ea-active=\"ea-click\" data-ea-mode=\"vertical\" data-preloader=\"\" data-scroll-active-item=\"\" data-offset-to-scroll=\"0\"><div class=\"ea-card ea-expand sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4020\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4020\" aria-controls=\"collapse4020\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-minus\"><\/i> How many papers are there in UPSC Mains?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse collapsed show\" id=\"collapse4020\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-402\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4020\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The UPSC Mains Examination consists of nine papers. Out of these, seven are counted for the final merit ranking, and two are qualifying in nature, testing proficiency in English and one Indian language.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4021\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4021\" aria-controls=\"collapse4021\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> What are the nine papers in UPSC Mains?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4021\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-402\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4021\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4022\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4022\" aria-controls=\"collapse4022\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> What is the total marks distribution in UPSC Mains?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4022\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-402\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4022\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4023\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4023\" aria-controls=\"collapse4023\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> Are the qualifying papers important in UPSC Mains?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4023\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-402\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4023\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4024\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4024\" aria-controls=\"collapse4024\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> What is Paper 3 in UPSC Mains?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4024\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-402\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4024\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paper 3 in UPSC Mains refers to General Studies II, which focuses on topics like Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4025\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4025\" aria-controls=\"collapse4025\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> How many marks are required to qualify UPSC Mains?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4025\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-402\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4025\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ea-card sp-ea-single\"><h3 class=\"ea-header\"><a class=\"collapsed\" id=\"ea-header-4026\" role=\"button\" data-sptoggle=\"spcollapse\" data-sptarget=\"#collapse4026\" aria-controls=\"collapse4026\" href=\"#\" aria-expanded=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"ea-expand-icon eap-icon-ea-expand-plus\"><\/i> How are the UPSC Mains marks calculated for the final ranking?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"sp-collapse spcollapse \" id=\"collapse4026\" data-parent=\"#sp-ea-402\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"ea-header-4026\"> <div class=\"ea-body\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[290,289,292,291],"class_list":["post-401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-how-many-papers-in-upsc-mains-exam","tag-how-many-papers-in-upsc-mains-list","tag-list-of-papers-in-upsc-mains","tag-what-are-the-9-papers-in-upsc-mains"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=401"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6426,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401\/revisions\/6426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theiashub.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}