UPSC Prelims 2025 Date Out: The notification for UPSC Prelims 2025 has been officially issued, with the registration process commencing on January 22, 2025. Candidates are required to submit their applications by February 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM to qualify for this examination cycle. The UPSC Prelims 2025, which encompasses both the Civil Services Examination and the Indian Forest Service Examination, is scheduled to take place on May 25, 2025.
To achieve success in the UPSC 2025 Prelims, it is imperative to grasp essential elements such as eligibility requirements, the comprehensive syllabus, and the format of the question paper. Further details regarding UPSC Prelims 2025 are provided below.
The Union Public Service Commission organizes the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) exams annually, aimed at selecting candidates for central services through a three-stage process: preliminary, mains, and interview. The UPSC Prelims serve as the initial and common stage for both examinations, consisting of two objective-type qualifying papers, each carrying a weight of 200 marks. It is important to note that the mains and interviews for the IFoS are conducted separately from those for the CSE. Below are some key highlights:
UPSC Prelims 2025 Date Out
UPSC Prelims 2025 Highlights
Particular
Detail
Exam Name
Civil Services and Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Exam 2025
Authority
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Frequency
Annual
Exam Mode
Pen and paper-based
Application Mode
Online
Exam Centres
80
Total Papers
Two, GS and CSAT
Total Marks
200/Each
Duration
2 Hours/Each
Nature of Exam
Qualifying
Negative Marking
1/3rd
Official Website
upsc.gov.in
UPSC Prelims 2025 Date Out: Notification
The official announcement for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSE) 2025 was made on January 22, 2025. Candidates have the opportunity to apply online until February 18, 2025. This year, a total of 979 vacancies have been declared for 23 services, including IAS, IPS, and IFS, reflecting a reduction from the previous year’s total of 1,056 vacancies. Among these, 38 positions are reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities (PwBD). Candidates are encouraged to download the UPSC Prelims 2025 Notification to familiarize themselves with the significant changes.
This notification encompasses vital information regarding the CSE exam dates, registration timelines, application procedures, eligibility criteria, available vacancies, examination centre, exam pattern, and syllabus abi. It is crucial for all candidates to thoroughly review the UPSC Prelims 2025 notification to comprehend the requirements and deadlines.
UPSC Prelims Exam Date
The date for the UPSC Prelims examination has been officially set for May 25, 2025, as per the annual calendar released by UPSC. This announcement serves as a reminder for candidates to commence their preparations promptly to ensure comprehensive coverage of the syllabus. As the examination date draws near, candidates are advised to concentrate on their study plans for the UPSC Prelims. The schedule for the IAS Prelims 2025 exam day is outlined as follows:
UPSC Prelims Exam 2025
Event
Information
Exam Date
25 May 2025
Gate Closing Time
09:00 AM
GS Paper 1
09:30 AM – 11:30 AM
GS Paper 2 (CSAT)
02:30 PM – 04:30 PM
Eligibility 2025
The UPSC Prelims represent the initial stage of the examination process, and only those candidates who meet the eligibility criteria may apply. Individuals who have completed their undergraduate education and are under the age of 32 are qualified to sit for the IAS preliminary exam. The eligibility requirements for the UPSC Prelims 2025 are detailed below:
UPSC Prelims Eligibility Criteria
Particular
Detail
Nationality
Indian for IAS, IPS, IRSIndian/Subject of Nepal/ Bhutan/Tibetan refugee/PIO under specified conditions for other services.
Age Limit
Candidates must be between 21 to 32 years of age as of August 1st, 2025, with age relaxations applicable for certain categories (e.g., SC/ST, OBC)
Education
A candidate must hold a degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
Attempts Limit
General category candidates have six attempts, while OBC candidates have nine attempts. There are no limits for SC/ST candidates.
UPSC Prelims Registration 2025
The application form for UPSC Prelims 2025 was made available online on January 22, 2025. Interested candidates have until February 18, 2025, to submit their applications through the website ‘https://upsconline.gov.in/’. The registration procedure is outlined for the candidates’ convenience:
1: Visit the official UPSC website at ‘upsc.gov.in’ or ‘https://upsconline.gov.in/’ to initiate the registration process.
2: Locate and click on the link for UPSC Prelim registration.
3: Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) by providing your details and other required information.
4: Fill in the UPSC Prelims application form by completing all sections, including address, identification, educational background, etc.
5: Upload your photograph, signature, and photo identification in the specified format.
6: Finalize the payment process using the available payment methods.
7: Review your UPSC Prelims application thoroughly before submitting it.
The examination pattern for the UPSC Prelims 2025 has been outlined in the official notification. The examination will consist of two pen-and-paper-based papers administered on the same day: General Studies Paper 1 and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). As the UPSC Prelims serve a qualifying purpose, candidates are required to achieve the minimum qualifying marks in both papers. The details of the UPSC Prelims 2025 exam pattern are as follows:
The format of the questions in the UPSC preliminary examination is objective.
Each paper will consist of 200 questions that candidates must attempt.
The total duration allocated for the UPSC prelims is 4 hours, divided into two sessions.
Typically, Paper 1, which covers General Studies, is conducted in the morning session, while Paper 2, the CSAT, takes place in the afternoon session.
The question papers will be available in both Hindi and English.
A minimum score of 33% is required in the CSAT; failure to meet this threshold will result in the GS 1 score being disregarded.
The syllabus for the IAS preliminary examination has also been provided by UPSC in the official notification. Candidates are advised to consult standard resources while preparing for the UPSC Prelims 2025 Syllabus. The syllabus for each question paper is as follows:
Paper I General Studies Syllabus:
Current Affairs: Significant events of national and international relevance. Geography of India and the World: Physical, economic, and social geography of both India and the global context. History: Historical events in India and the Indian National Movement. Economic and Social Development: Initiatives in the social sector, inclusion, sustainable development, poverty, demographics, etc. Indian Polity and Governance: The Constitution of India, the political system, Panchayati Raj, rights issues, public policy, etc. Environment and Science: General science, environmental ecology issues, climate change, and biodiversity.
Reading Comprehension: Skills related to interpersonal communication. Reasoning: Logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. General Mental Ability: Topics at the Class X level concerning basic numeracy (relationships between numbers, orders of magnitude, etc.). Data Interpretation: Class X level content involving charts, tables, graphs, and data sufficiency.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Date OutAdmit Card
The admit card for the UPSC Prelims 2025 will be made available online at “https://upsconline.nic.in/eadmitcard/.”. Candidates will have the opportunity to download their e-admit cards from this official portal at least one week before the examination date. Candidates need to monitor the website for updates regarding the admit card release date following the conclusion of the application process. The UPSC Prelims 2025 admit card will include vital details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, examination centre, and timings. According to the guidelines, it is compulsory to present a printed version of this admit card at the examination venue, accompanied by a valid photo identification.
UPSC Prelims Exam Centre 2025
The Union Public Service Commission has established 80 examination centres for the UPSC Prelims 2025. This information is detailed in the official UPSC notification released on January 22, 2025. During the application process, candidates may select their preferred examination centre; however, allocation will be based on availability and will follow a first-come, first-served policy. Below is the list of UPSC Prelims examination centres:
Sl. No.
Centre
Sl. No.
Centre
Sl. No.
Centre
1
Agartala
29
Gurgaon
57
Portblair
2
Agra
30
Gwalior
58
Prayagraj (Allahabad)
3
Ahmedabad
31
Hyderabad
59
Puducherry
4
Aizawl
32
Imphal
60
Pune
5
Ajmer
33
Indore
61
Raipur
6
Aligarh
34
Itanagar
62
Rajkot
7
Almora (Uttarakhand)
35
Jabalpur
63
Ranchi
8
Ananthapur
36
Jaipur
64
Sambalpur
9
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)
37
Jammu
65
Shillong
10
Bareilly
38
Jodhpur
66
Shimla
11
Bengaluru
39
Jorhat
67
Siliguri
12
Bhopal
40
Kargil
68
Srinagar
13
Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)
41
Kochi
69
Srinagar (Uttarakhand)
14
Chandigarh
42
Kohima
70
Surat
15
Chennai
43
Kolkata
71
Thane
16
Coimbatore
44
Kozhikode (Calicut)
72
Thiruvananthapuram
17
Cuttack
45
Leh
73
Tiruchirappalli
18
Dehradun
46
Lucknow
74
Tirupati
19
Delhi
47
Ludhiana
75
Udaipur
20
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh)
48
Madurai
76
Varanasi
21
Dharwar
49
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh)
77
Vellore
22
Dispur
50
Mumbai
78
Vijayawada
23
Faridabad
51
Mysuru
79
Vishakhapatnam
24
Gangtok
52
Nagpur
80
Warangal
25
Gautam Buddh Nagar
53
Nasik
26
Gaya
54
Navi Mumbai
27
Ghaziabad
55
Panaji (Goa)
28
Gorakhpur
56
Patna
UPSC Prelims Question Paper PDF
The previous years’ UPSC Prelims question paper PDFs serve as invaluable tools for candidates preparing for the civil services and Indian forest service examinations. Candidates are encouraged to utilize these PDFs to bolster their preparation and enhance their prospects of success in the UPSC Prelims 2025 examination. Those preparing for the upcoming session should download the UPSC Prelims Question Paper PDFs to identify key topics, comprehend the syllabus scope, and evaluate their preparation level.
UPSC Prelims Result 2025
The announcement of the UPSC Prelims Result 2025 is anticipated a few weeks after the examination, which is set for May 25, 2025. Candidates will be able to access their results on the official UPSC website, where the results will be published in a PDF format listing the roll numbers of successful candidates. This result is significant as it determines eligibility for the subsequent stage of the selection process, the UPSC Mains examination.
Previous Year UPSC Prelims Cut-Off
Candidates are encouraged to review the cutoff scores from previous years’ UPSC Prelims to identify trends and establish realistic expectations regarding their performance. By analyzing historical cutoffs, candidates can better understand the competitive landscape and the exam’s difficulty level. Below are the official UPSC preliminary cutoffs for the past five years:
Previous Year UPSC Prelims Cut Off
Year
General
EWS
OBC
SC
ST
2023
75.41
68.02
74.75
59.25
47.82
2022
88.22
82.83
87.54
74.08
69.35
2021
87.54
80.14
84.85
75.41
70.71
2020
92.51
77.55
89.12
74.84
68.71
2019
98
90
95.34
82
77.34
2018
98
–
96.66
84
83.34
UPSC Prelims 2025 Date Out Preparation Tips
The preliminary stage of the UPSC examination is of paramount importance, as candidates must qualify at this level to be eligible for the main exam. In recent years, this stage has increasingly served as a filter for less committed candidates, as reflected in the cutoff scores. Many candidates find it challenging to qualify at this stage, particularly in the CSAT paper. Here are several recommendations for effective preparation for the UPSC preliminary exam:
Develop a daily study schedule dedicated to the preliminary exam.
Compile a comprehensive booklist that addresses the syllabus for the CSE prelims.
Practice with the past ten years of UPSC prelims question papers to identify exam patterns and high-yield topics.
Create concise notes on recurring themes in the preliminary exam and prioritize their coverage.
Maintain a consistent study routine and engage with daily multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
Allocate adequate time for CSAT preparation.
Participate in quality UPSC prelim exam test series leading up to the exam day to enhance performance.
