Conquer the CSE-2025: A year of grit, a lifetime of service

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a challenging journey, and aspirants dedicate a year to rigorous preparation for it. With the application deadline now closed, lakhs of candidates have registered for the 2025 exam, aiming for prestigious government positions.

The selection process consists of three stages, with the Preliminary Examination scheduled for May 25.

Successful candidates will be chosen for 23 services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), followed by various Group A and Group B services, the last being Pondicherry Police Service, Group B.

This year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced 979 vacancies, though the final count may change based on updates from cadre-controlling authorities. Candidates are allowed six attempts, while OBC applicants get nine, and SC/ST candidates have unlimited chances.

The Preliminary Examination serves as a screening test to filter out non-serious candidates, as evaluating subjective papers for lakhs of aspirants is impractical. However, the Main Examination is the true test of knowledge, analytical skills, and awareness of national and international issues. It requires a deep understanding of concepts and the ability to critically analyze and present opinions.

Beyond academic excellence, the exam demands candidates to propose solutions rather than merely identify problems. Future bureaucrats must tackle administrative challenges effectively instead of passing them on. Hence, problem-solving ability and a positive outlook are key to success in this examination.

For a beginner, best way to start is from a newspaper as this acts as a window to the world.

General studies being the backbone of this examination, the only mantra to clear Preliminary stage is to be fully aware of the happenings around, including basics of subjects like history, geography, Constitution, economy etc.

One has to be knowledgeable enough to think out the reason and interlink various subjects. The examination can’t be cracked being in isolation and you are supposed to be smart, aware and wise enough to have something to speak/write on everything. Rote learning is no more a help here.

In the modern world of technology, one has to understand the difference between information and knowledge. Make the best use of your tools that be your source of information (mobile phones, social media) and add as much as you can to your knowledge bank.

Curiousity and a temperament to think and know the reason behind every general event occurring in his/her environment are the two key factors needed to excel in this examination.

Roadmap for aspirants

Students need to first apply for the Prelim examination only. Candidates who qualify the prelims will have to apply again for the Mains through a detailed application form.

The most common query of the aspirants is: How many students make it to the Mains out of the lakhs who take the prelims each year?

The UPSC criterion is based on the total number of seats advertised. The number of candidates to be admitted to the Mains is about 12 to 13 times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year for various services and posts.

The same criterion is followed by the UPSC when the aspirants move to the third stage. The UPSC sends interview call letters to approximately twice the number of candidates as compared to the posts advertised.

Three tiers of assessment

Preliminary stage: It consists of two papers having multiple choice questions and carry a maximum of 400 marks (General Studies and CSAT).

Of these two, the merit list is based on only the GS paper while CSAT is of merely qualifying nature. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only and the marks scored here will not be counted for determining the final order of merit.

The first exam, Paper I, comprises general studies questions from various subjects such as history, geography, polity, economics, environment and science and from current events.

A candidate has to be well-versed in the basics of these subjects. NCERT books come in handy for this.

For current affairs, one can rely on a national daily.

To clear Paper II, reasoning, comprehension and mathematical skills are required. But as Paper II is a qualifying exam, one can conveniently select and prepare topics.

Despite it being treated as a screening test, the UPSC judges the candidates on their factual knowledge, the ability to perform under exam stress and to click the right answer within the given time limit and candidate’s accuracy in various subjects as the syllabus here is general studies, which includes any and everything under the sky (sky included).

Mains: The second stage consists of nine papers in all, comprising conventional essay-type questions.

Of the nine, two language papers (English and any one from Schedule VIII languages) are qualifying, while other seven (four general studies, one essay and two of optional subject) are  of 250 marks each. Thus, the total number of marks in Mains is 1,750.

The second stage examination is a test of your writing skill, how well you pen down your thoughts and how you reflect the depth of your sea of thoughts.

Every question here has a word limit. The examiners are so experienced that they get an idea about a candidate’s hold over the subject from his expression, presentation and that too abiding by the word limit. Candidates, who obtain minimum qualifying marks in the Mains, as may be fixed by the commission, shall be summoned by the UPSC for an interview/personality test.

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.

Here the success mantra is your confidence, the way you carry yourself, your command over language and spontaneity in answering and your presence of mind and attentiveness.

You’ll find yourself amid a scanning team, where you’ll be given marks on every scale.

Keeping your calm in that situation and replying impressively with supportive knowledge will decide your place on the final list.

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.

Success mantra

Start your preparation for the Mains and Prelims will take care of itself. Start preparation for first-stage examination from February and dedicate next three months for your aim.

Give sufficient time to solving MCQs along with studying. Try to take one mock test everyday under strict time conditions, so that you are used to the stress level and know your accuracy under test conditions.

Don’t listen to anyone who becomes a hurdle in your path. Also avoid all types of distractions in the form of friends, family, social media and relatives. You need to manage them with their required respective time.

Before you go to the market to get your first book to prepare for this high-profile exam, you need to prepare your mind just like an officer.