UPSC Mains 2025: Exam Dates, Syllabus, Schedule, Paper Pattern and Admit Card

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released its calendar for the year 2025, UPSC Mains 2025 exam date is scheduled from 22nd August 2025. The Mains exam is written on paper and consists of nine papers of 1750 marks. As noted, it is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination, which is sequentially organised by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. The only candidates eligible for the UPSC Mains are those who will have passed the UPSC Preliminary exam which was held on 25 May 2025. The UPSC Mains consists of multiple written papers with a detailed syllabus meant to evaluate candidates’ profound mastery, analytical insight, and writing skills.

In addition to these, UPSC Mains 2025 is an important milestone in the selection pathway and one of the most competitive examinations. UPSC civil services exam has a wide range of civil services on offer like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), etc. The candidates strive to clear this Examination and join the ranks of esteemed bureaucrats.

UPSC Mains 2025: An Overview

The expected date of UPSC Mains Exam 2025 is set to start on 22nd August 2025 and will be conducted over five days, during which nine papers will be attempted. For the detailed and updated timetable, candidates must check the UPSC mains timetable 2025 on upsc.gov.in because it includes the specific schedule for each paper. As with previous years, the examination will begin with the Essay paper and will move on to the General Studies and Optional subjects thereafter.

Listed below is an approximate overview of the UPSC Mains Exam 2025:

UPSC Mains 2025 Exam Date

According to the UPSC 2025 Calendar, the UPSC Prelims examination was held on May 25, 2025. Following the declaration of preliminary results, the DAF-1 notification for the UPSC Mains exam will be published, and eligible candidates will be able to appear for the Mains exam.

The UPSC Mains exam date will be 22nd August 2025 and held over two sessions each day for five consecutive days. However, the detailed UPSC Mains timetable for the examination will only be provided after the results for the Prelims are published. To ensure there are no surprises, candidates are advised to regularly visit the official website of UPSC.

Below are the details of UPSC Exam Dates 2025:

UPSC Mains 2025 Schedule

As per the instructions provided by UPSC, all UPSC mains paper will have a duration of 3 hours, and there will be 2 sittings a day: morning and afternoon. The examination will commence with the Essay Paper on August 22, 2025, followed by other General Studies Papers, and then the Optional Subject Papers will be done on subsequent days. It is important that the candidates go through the timetable carefully so as to prepare an orderly and coherent structured preparation plan.

Following is the table giving the details of the UPSC Mains 2025 schedule:

UPSC Mains 2025 Exam Pattern

According to the latest UPSC mains pattern, the UPSC Mains has a total of 9 papers and two of them are of a qualifying nature while the rest 7 are counted for ranking. The weightage of each paper is different and the main examination is held over a period of 5 to 7 days.

Given below is the latest UPSC mains exam pattern which has been published for the UPSC Mains 2025:

UPSC Mains Optional Subjects

As with any exam, selecting the right optional subject is one of the first steps in preparing for the Mains examination with the UPSC. With a selection of no less than 48 UPSC Mains optional subjects like Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Commerce and Accountancy, Literature, Political Science, History, Geography, and so forth, there is something for everyone. Candidates need to choose one subject that will then be divided into two papers, and each of these papers is worth 250 marks. Having a well-informed decision considering one’s academic background and hobbies can surely be of great help.

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025 and Paper Pattern

According to the Latest UPSC Mains syllabus 2025, UPSC mains paper include one essay paper, two language papers (An Indian language and English), four General Studies papers (GS I-IV), and two optional subject papers. The UPSC Mains optional subject papers are based on a chosen subject from a list of 48.

The subject-wise division of the UPSC Mains paper is given in the table below:

How to Prepare for UPSC Mains 2025?

For a candidate to succeed at the UPSC Mains exam, it is necessary for him/her to figure out the personal best way to prepare for the UPSC CSE mains exam. While each student is different in their own individual way of studying, most students follow these common pointers that can add value to the preparation strategy.

Vajirao and Reddy IAS Institute shared some of the key tips to prepare for UPSC mains exam 2025.

Understanding of UPSC Mains Syllabus

The definition of every subject and every topic that needs to be done is given in the syllabus. These are the main building blocks from which all questions stem and hence have to be done in complete detail. With the syllabus at hand, students will be able to plan their exam preparation with greater precision.

Intensive Study and Time Management

The student needs to prepare effectively, especially when it comes to the Mains. Each subject should be given an appropriate amount of time depending on the student’s grasp of the subject. With so many topics to cover, maintaining a timetable becomes so essential in terms of ensuring maximum benefit in minimum time.

Emphasis on Current Affairs

Every candidate has to understand that they are often integrated into the GS papers, thus making them the centre of interest for most of the exams. All the latest advancements in politics, economy, politics, environment and even international relations news should be monitored.

Writing Practice

There is no substitute for a rigorous writing discipline when it comes to preparing for Mains. All students need to work hard on their writing ability and learn how to express their answers with clarity and logic.

Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers

Attempting mock tests and past year’s papers enables candidates to understand the examination pattern and the nature of questions as well as improve their time management skills.

Revise Regularly

Revisions are very essential and fundamental for recalling and strengthening what has already been learned. Periodic revision needs to be done by candidates across all subjects to ensure they remember and understand important concepts.

How to Apply for UPSC Mains 2025?

Candidates must pass the Preliminary Examination before applying for the UPSC Mains Exam. The Mains examination is the second part of the Civil Services Examination and is only available to candidates who successfully clear the UPSC Prelims. Listed below are the steps to follow to apply for the UPSC Mains.

Fill DAF 1

After the Preliminary examination, candidates who pass the exam are required to fill out the Detailed Application Form (DAF) on the official website of the UPSC. The DAF is an application form of Tier III type, requiring candidates to list personal, academic, and other pertinent information.

Upload Documents

Candidates must upload scanned documents as instructed, including educational and other relevant documents, category certificates, photographs, and signatures as specified under the DAF instructions.

Pay the Examination Fee

After completing the DAF and uploading the required documents, the candidate has to pay the prescribed examination fee, which can be paid through the means stated on the website.

Submit the Application Form

In order to complete the application process, all steps mentioned above must be completed. This includes final verification and submission of the online form. Payment of form fees is an irreversible step requiring meticulous examination of the form beforehand.

Print the Application Form

Once you have submitted the DAF, download the printout for future reference.

UPSC Mains 2025 Admit Card

The UPSC Mains Admit Card is an essential document that allows candidates who have qualified for the Preliminary Examination to appear for the UPSC Mains Exam.UPSC Mains 2025 Admit Card is to be released soon.

How to Download UPSC Mains Admit Card?

In order to download the UPSC Mains Admit Card, Candidates have to follow the described steps sequentially:

(1) Navigate directly to the UPSC website at www.upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in.

(2) On the homepage of the UPSC website, search for the ‘Admit Card’ or ‘E-Admit Card’ slot. Usually, it is found under the Examination tab.

(3) In the Section Of Admit Card, you will find a comprehensive list of examinations that are ongoing or being conducted by UPSC. You need to select the link regarding the Civil Services (Main) Examination Hall Ticket.

(4) Select the link with the provided access for downloading the Mains Admit Card. Enter your Registration ID/Roll Number and Date of Birth/Password to gain access. Ensure the details that were entered are correct.

(5) Post logging in, you will be able to view your UPSC Mains Admit Card on your screen. Click on the Download Admit Card button and the admit card will be saved in a PDF format.

(6) Besides the admit card, UPSC provides crucial policies or protocols. So Make sure you follow the instructions. Deviating from the exam instructions is highly discouraged.

UPSC Mains 2025 Exam Centre

Every year, the Union Public Service Commission conducts the Civil Services Mains Examination at specific locations throughout the country. Depending on the available candidates and operational arrangements, the UPSC Mains Exam centres tend to shift each year.

UPSC Mains Previous Years Question Paper

Candidates should ideally attempt the previous 10 years of UPSC Mains question papers. We have provided the previous year's UPSC Mains question papers in PDF here.

All India GS Mains Test Series by Vajirao and Reddy

At Vajirao and Reddy IAS, the Mains test series is unrivalled. Every year thousands of students utilise the Vajirao & Reddy test series based on the Innovative Assessment System to improve the scores of aspirants. There is tremendous demand from the students which surges with every passing year, this clearly attests to the institute's commitment to offering quality. All India GS Mains Test Series offered by Vajirao and Reddy have become a necessity for every serious candidate willing to appear for the CSE.

Students are offered, possibly for the first time in the country, the option to download question-and-answer book cum folders for self-revision through the Vajirao and Reddy platforms along with multiple other materials enabling easier access to mock test analysis.

UPSC Mains 2025 Result

UPSC Mains 2025 Result will be published together with the UPSC Final Result. Candidates aspiring for the “Interview/Personality Test” stage of selection are particularly anxious about the result that comes after the Mains exam as it decides their advancement for the subsequent steps in the selection process. The results are declared by the Commission on their website wherein they publish the list of candidates who have successfully cleared the Mains and are now eligible to face the final test, i.e., the UPSC Interview or Personality Test.

Frequently Asked Question- FAQ’s