UPSC is India's most prestigious exam for recruitment to IAS, IPS, IFS, and other civil services. Here's everything you need to know about eligibility, attempts, subjects, exam stages, and salary.
🔹 What is UPSC?
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit candidates for top-level government positions like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and others. It's one of the toughest and most respected exams in India.
🔸 Stages of the UPSC Exam
- Preliminary Exam (Prelims): Objective type — qualifying in nature
- Main Exam (Mains): Descriptive written test — total 9 papers
- Personality Test (Interview): Final stage — face-to-face interview
🔸 Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen
- Educational Qualification: A graduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university
- Age Limit:
- General: 21 to 32 years
- OBC: 21 to 35 years
- SC/ST: 21 to 37 years
🔸 Number of Attempts
- General Category: 6 attempts
- OBC: 9 attempts
- SC/ST: Unlimited attempts till age limit
- PwD: 9 attempts (General/OBC), unlimited for SC/ST
🔸 Subjects in UPSC
Prelims: 2 Papers
- General Studies (GS Paper I)
- CSAT (Paper II) – qualifying only
Mains: 9 Papers
- Essay
- GS Paper I – History, Geography, Indian Society
- GS Paper II – Polity, Governance, IR
- GS Paper III – Economy, Science & Tech, Environment
- GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity
- 2 Optional Papers – subject of your choice (e.g., Sociology, Geography, PSIR)
- Language Papers – English & Regional (qualifying only)
📈 UPSC Salary Structure
- Basic Pay (Entry Level): ₹56,100/month
- Allowances: HRA, DA, TA, etc.
- In-hand Salary (approx): ₹80,000 to ₹1,20,000 per month (based on location)
- Postings: District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, etc.
🔸 Why Choose UPSC?
- Powerful administrative roles
- Opportunity to serve the nation
- Job security and social respect
- Wide scope for impact and leadership
📝 Pro Tip for Beginners
- Start reading NCERTs (6th–12th) for basics
- Regularly follow current affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB)
- Practice answer writing and mock tests
- Use standard books like Laxmikanth (Polity), Spectrum (History), NCERTs, etc.
🔚 Conclusion
UPSC is not just an exam — it's a journey of discipline, knowledge, and purpose. With the right strategy, mindset, and consistency, anyone can crack it. If you're passionate about public service, this is your golden opportunity.