UPSC Notification 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has broken from tradition by releasing its Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 notification in January instead of the usual February timeline. The notification, released on January 22, 2025, marks the beginning of the application process for one of India’s most prestigious administrative examinations.
Key Highlights
- Preliminary examination scheduled for May 25, 2025
- Application deadline: February 11, 2025
- Main examination to commence from August 22, 2025
Vacancy Trends and Expectations
- 2024: 1,056 positions (CSE) + 150 (IFoS)
- 2023: 1,105 positions
- 2022: 1,011 positions
- 2021: 712 positions
Eligibility Criteria
- Minimum age: 21 years
- Maximum age: 32 years (General Category)
- Age calculated as of August 1, 2025
- Category-wise attempt limits:
- General: 6 attempts
- OBC/PwBD: 9 attempts
- SC/ST: Relaxation in attempts
Examination Pattern
The selection process comprises three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Objective Format)
- Main Examination (Descriptive format)
- Personal Interview/Personality Test
Changing Demographics: A notable trend highlighted in recent parliamentary reports shows that over 70% of successful candidates now come from technical backgrounds, marking a significant shift from humanities-based recruits. This transformation has raised concerns about the declining representation from non-technical streams in civil services.
Important Dates
- Application Start: January 22, 2025
- Application Deadline: February 11, 2025
- Preliminary Exam: May 25, 2025
- Main Examination: August 22-26, 2025
