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IAS Exam Overview

The Indian Civil Services examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year. The Civil Services examination schedule is announced during January - February after which the selection is done in 3 stages. Candidates are filtered at every stage through a process of elimination.

Part A—Preliminary Examination

	Subject	Marks	Duration	Counted?
Paper 1	General Studies	200	2	counted
Paper2	CSAT	200	2	Qualifying

Part B—Main Examination

	Subject	Marks	Duration	Counted?
1	Indian Language	300	3 Hours	Qualifying
2	English	300	3 Hours	Qualifying
3.	Essay	250	3 Hours	counted
4	General Studies- I	250	3 Hours	counted
5	General Studies- II	250	3 Hours	counted
6	General Studies- III	250	3 Hours	counted
7	General Studies- IV	250	3 Hours	counted
8	Optional Paper 1	250	3 Hours	counted
9	Optional Paper 2	250	3 Hours	counted
10	Personality Test (Interview)	275
	Total Marks	2025

Interview / Personality Test

The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).
Marks thus obtained by the candidates (in the Main Examination as well as interview) would determine their final ranking.
Candidates will be posted to various services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and the preferences expressed by them for the various Services and Posts.