The UPSC Interview is the final stage of the Civil Services Examination. It is also known as the Personality Test. Candidates who qualify for the interview are called by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The interview carries 275 marks. These marks are added to the marks obtained in the Mains written examination. The combined marks are used to prepare the final merit list.
What is UPSC Interview?
The UPSC Interview, officially known as the Personality Test, is the final stage of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in Delhi.
Key Details of the UPSC Interview
- Weightage: The UPSC Interview carries 275 marks. These marks are added to the 1,750 marks of the Mains written examination to prepare the final merit list.
- Location: The interview is conducted at UPSC Bhawan (Dholpur House) in New Delhi.
- Panel Composition: The interview board usually has five members. It is generally headed by a UPSC member and includes four domain experts, such as retired bureaucrats, scientists, or academicians.
- Duration: The interview usually lasts around 20–30 minutes.
Marks in the UPSC Interview
The UPSC Personality Test carries a total of 275 marks. There are no separate papers or subjects in the interview. It is conducted as a discussion between the candidate and the interview board. The board mainly assesses the candidate's personality, awareness, judgement, communication, and approach to different issues.
UPSC Interview Marks at a Glance
| Particular | Marks |
|---|
| UPSC Interview / Personality Test | 275 |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks in Interview | No minimum marks |
| Mains Written + Interview | Used for final merit |
| Prelims Marks | Not counted in final merit |
The UPSC officially states that the Personality Test carries 275 marks with no minimum qualifying marks.
What is the Minimum Qualification for the UPSC Interview?
Candidates do not directly appear for the interview after Prelims. They first have to qualify the UPSC Mains written examination. The UPSC decides the minimum marks required in the Mains written examination for candidates to be called for the Personality Test.
The number of candidates called for the interview is generally around twice the number of vacancies. The Mains examination has two qualifying papers and seven papers that count towards ranking. The marks obtained in the seven competitive papers are considered along with the Personality Test marks.
Is There a Minimum UPSC Interview Score?
No. There is no fixed minimum qualifying mark for the UPSC Interview. This means a candidate is not required to score a particular percentage in the interview to qualify. However, the interview marks are added to the Mains marks. Therefore, the marks obtained in the Personality Test can affect the candidate's final position in the merit list.
How is the Final UPSC Merit List Prepared?
The final merit list is prepared using the marks obtained in the Mains written examination and the Personality Test. The marks of the UPSC Preliminary Examination are not added to the final score. Prelims is only a screening stage for entry into Mains.
The final score can be understood as:
| UPSC Stage | Marks | Role in Final Merit |
|---|
| Preliminary Examination | Not counted | Only a screening stage for entry into Mains |
| Mains Written Examination | 1,750 | Counted |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 | Counted |
| Total | 2,025 | Basis of final merit |
Therefore, the final merit is prepared on the basis of 2,025 marks.
1,750 + 275 = 2,025 marks
Does UPSC Interview Affect Final Rank?
Yes. The interview marks are part of the final score. Two candidates with similar Mains marks can have different final scores because of their interview marks. Similarly, a candidate's final rank depends on the total marks obtained in the Mains written examination and Personality Test.
The final allocation of services is made according to the candidate's rank and the preferences given for different services and posts.
What Marks are Not Added to Final Merit?
The marks of the UPSC Prelims examination are not counted in the final merit list. Prelims is used to select candidates for the Mains examination. Once a candidate qualifies for Mains, the Prelims marks do not contribute to the final rank.
UPSC Mains and Interview Marks
The UPSC final merit is based on the following:
| Stage | Marks Counted for Final Merit |
|---|
| Prelims | Not counted |
| Mains Written | 1,750 |
| Interview | 275 |
| Total | 2,025 |
The two qualifying papers of Mains are also not counted for ranking. The competitive Mains papers and Personality Test are used for the final ranking.
What is the Importance of Interview Marks?
The Personality Test has fewer marks than the Mains written examination, but it is still an important part of the final score. The interview allows the UPSC to assess qualities that cannot be fully judged through a written examination.
The board may assess:
- Mental alertness
- Clear thinking
- Balance of judgement
- Communication
- Leadership qualities
- Social awareness
- Interest in current affairs
- Integrity
- Suitability for public service
The interview is therefore not simply a test of factual knowledge.
What is the UPSC Final Cut-Off?
The final cut-off is the marks secured by the last candidate recommended for a particular category in that examination. It can change every year depending on factors such as the number of vacancies, performance of candidates, and the overall level of competition.
For instance, in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, the final cut-off for the General category was 963 marks, while it was 926 for EWS, 931 for OBC, 905 for SC, and 902 for ST. These were the marks of the last recommended candidates in those categories.
Therefore, candidates should not treat the previous year's cut-off as a fixed qualifying mark for the next examination.
Conclusion
The UPSC Interview carries 275 marks, and there is no minimum qualifying mark for the Personality Test. Candidates first need to qualify the Mains written examination to reach the interview stage. The final merit is prepared using 1,750 marks of Mains written papers and 275 marks of the Personality Test, making a total of 2,025 marks.
Prelims marks are not included in the final merit. The final rank and service allocation depend on the candidate's total marks, rank, and service preferences.
Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions
How many marks does the UPSC Interview carry?
The UPSC Interview, officially known as the Personality Test, carries 275 marks. These marks are added to the 1,750 marks of the Mains written examination, making the final merit total 2,025 marks.
Is there any minimum qualifying mark in the UPSC Interview?
No. UPSC has not prescribed any minimum qualifying marks for the Personality Test. However, interview marks are included in the final score and can significantly affect a candidate’s rank.
Are UPSC Prelims marks included in the final merit list?
No. The marks obtained in the UPSC Preliminary Examination are not counted in the final merit list. Prelims is only a screening stage for entry into the Mains examination.
How is the UPSC final merit list prepared?
The UPSC final merit list is prepared by adding the marks obtained in the Mains written examination (1,750 marks) and the Personality Test (275 marks), making a total of 2,025 marks.
Can UPSC Interview marks affect the final rank?
Yes. Interview marks play an important role in determining the final rank. Candidates with similar Mains scores can receive different ranks depending on their performance in the Personality Test.