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UPSC Civil Services — IAS, IPS and IFS — Step-by-Step Roadmap
Your journey, phase by phase
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Phase 1 · Class 10 – graduation School and graduation: build the base Choose any degree, and read NCERTs and the news from early on.
- There is no stream restriction; any recognised bachelor’s degree (final-year students may also apply) qualifies.
- Read NCERT books of History, Geography, Polity, Economy and Science from Class 6 to 12 for the foundation.
- Start newspaper reading and note-making in your degree years.
- Choose a degree you can score well in; a strong academic record gives you a safety net.
- Degree
- Any graduate
- Reading
- NCERT + newspaper
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Phase 2 · At application Eligibility, age and attempts Citizenship, graduation, age limits and attempt limits are fixed by UPSC.
- Age: 21 to 32 years for General; relaxation up to 35 for OBC and 37 for SC/ST (and further for some categories), with different attempt limits: 6 for General, 9 for OBC and no limit for SC/ST within the age limit.
- Nationality: Indian citizen for IAS, IPS and IFS; some services accept other categories.
- Physical standards apply for IPS and certain services.
- Check the latest UPSC notification each year for any change in age or attempt rules.
- Age (Gen)
- 21–32
- Attempts (Gen)
- 6
- Apply
- Online at the UPSC portal
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Phase 3 · Prelims (usually May–June) Stage 1: Preliminary exam Two objective papers; only General Studies counts for the cut-off.
- Notification comes out around February; Prelims is held in late May or June.
- Paper I: General Studies (100 questions, 200 marks, negative marking of one-third per wrong answer).
- Paper II: CSAT (80 questions, 200 marks) is qualifying with 33% required.
- Prelims marks do not count in the final rank; they only decide who gets to appear for Mains.
- Paper I
- 100 Qs, 200 marks
- Paper II
- CSAT, qualifying 33%
- Negative marking
- 1/3 per wrong answer
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Phase 4 · Mains (usually September) Stage 2: Mains exam Nine descriptive papers, of which seven count for merit.
- Qualifying papers: Paper A (Indian language) and Paper B (English), 300 marks each, only qualifying.
- Merit papers: Essay, General Studies I, II, III and IV, and two Optional Subject papers, totalling 1750 marks.
- Choose an optional subject by interest and syllabus overlap, not by trend.
- Practise answer writing weekly; time management inside the 3-hour paper decides marks.
- Merit papers
- 7 (Essay, GS I–IV, 2 Optional)
- Total
- 1750 marks
- Duration
- 3 hours per paper
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Phase 5 · Interview (Jan–Apr) Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview) A 275-mark interview by a UPSC board.
- Candidates who clear Mains fill in the Detailed Application Form (DAF) with their background and hobbies.
- The interview tests awareness, clarity, balance and integrity, not just facts.
- Final rank combines Mains (1750) and Interview (275) marks, total 2025.
- Mock interviews help you with confidence and structured answers.
- Interview
- 275 marks
- Final total
- 2025 marks
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Phase 6 · After final result Service allocation and training Rank and preference decide your service; training follows.
- You fill service and cadre preferences; allocation follows rank, preference and vacancies.
- IAS officers train at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, starting with the Foundation Course; IPS at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad; IFS at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, New Delhi.
- Probation includes academy training, district training and practical attachments.
- Typical first postings: Assistant Collector/SDM (IAS), ASP (IPS), Attaché or Third Secretary (IFS).
- Services
- IAS, IPS, IFS and other Group A/B
- Training
- LBSNAA, SVPNPA, SSIFS
Verify on the official source
Exam dates, fees, paper patterns and eligibility rules are revised by the regulator from time to time. Treat this roadmap as your map, and confirm the current rules on the official site before you register or pay any fee.