One can start the preparation from the first year of graduation itself. But, it is advisable to start the preparation from the end of second year (if it is three-year degree) or third year (if it is a four-year degree). First, concentrate on the graduation degree and try to clear it with good grades.

Not necessarily. Candidates who have attended their final year graduation exams and are awaiting results can attend the preliminary examination. Also, candidates who are in their final year and are yet to write their final exams are also eligible for writing prelims. But, they need to submit their documents at the time of applying for Civil Services Main Examination.

Candidates are required to have a graduation degree of any university.

It depends on the category one belongs to.

Category                   No. Of Attempts

General                                6

OBC                                     9

SC                              Till reaching of upper age limit

ST                              Till reaching of upper age limit

21 years is the starting age when one can attempt the exam. The upper age limit is 32 years. Though there are some exemptions/relaxations for upper age limit.
i. Candidates from SC or ST category – up to a maximum of 5 years
ii. Candidates from Other Backward Classes (OBC) – up to a maximum of 3 years
iii.Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof – up to a maximum of 3 years
iv. Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1st August 2018 and have been released - up to a maximum of five years.

Candidates can write the examination only in the following language and script.

Note : For Santhali language, question paper will be printed in Devanagari script; but candidates will be free to answer either in Devanagari script or in Olchiki.

A detailed pattern and syllabus of the examination is given in our Syllabus section.

The examination is held annually by the UPSC. The Commission releases a notification usually in the month of February.

The Civil Services Examination is held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Indian Foreign Service; Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service, Group ‘A’; Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’; Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), Group ‘A’; Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’; Indian Revenue Service (I.T.), Group ‘A’; Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Group ‘A’ (Assistant Works Manager, Administration); Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’; Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’; Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group ‘A’; Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group 'A'; Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group ‘A’;  Post of Assistant Security Commissioner in Railway Protection Force, Group ‘A’;  Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’; Indian Information Service (Junior Grade), Group ‘A’; Indian Trade Service, Group 'A'; Indian Corporate Law Service, Group "A"; Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade); Delhi,  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands,  Lakshadweep,  Daman  &  Diu  and  Dadra  &  Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Group 'B'; Delhi,  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands,  Lakshadweep,  Daman  &  Diu  and  Dadra  &  Nagar Haveli Police Service, Group 'B'; Pondicherry Civil Service, Group 'B'; Pondicherry Police Service, Group ‘B’.

Three Civil Services Post of the country are considered as the All India Services. They are: Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).

The Civil Services Examination is an all India level examination to recruit best talent for All India Services of the Central Government.