UPSC CSE 2025 Mains result is out! Qualified candidates must complete the DAF(Detailed Application Form)-II from November 13-27, 2025 till 6:00 P.M. Get all details on document requirements, interview schedule, and crucial steps here.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially declared the results for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2025. The notice, dated November 11, 2025, announces the list of candidates who have qualified for the coveted Personality Test (Interview) for selection to the IAS, IFS, IPS, and other Group 'A' and 'B' services.
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| UPSC MAINS RESULT 2025 |
This post breaks down the entire notice into an easy-to-follow guide, ensuring you don't miss any critical deadlines or steps in this final leg of your UPSC CSE 2025 journey.
DOWNLOAD UPSE MAINS RESULT NOTICE HERE WITH QUALIFIED CANDIDATES LIST PDF
Key Event and Highlights at a Glance
Event | Date/Period | Key Action |
CSE (Main) 2025 Exam Dates | 22nd August - 31st August 2025 | Examination Conducted |
Main Result Declaration | 11th November 2025 | Candidates qualified for Interview |
DAF-II Form Submission Window | 13th November - 27th November 2025 (till 6:00 PM) | MANDATORY for all qualified candidates |
Personality Test (Interview) | To be notified later | Office of UPSC, Dholpur House, New Delhi |
UPSC CSE 2025 Mains Result: Crucial Steps for Qualified Candidates
Qualifying the mains is a monumental achievement, but the process is not over. Follow these steps meticulously to ensure your candidature remains valid.
Step 1: Understand the Provisional Nature of Your Candidature
Your candidature is provisional. You must prove your eligibility during the interview by producing all original certificates. These include documents for:
Age
Educational Qualifications
Community (SC/ST/OBC)
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)
Person with Benchmark Disability (PwBD)
Other categories like Ex-servicemen
Important: Reservation/relaxation certificates must have been issued on or before the preliminary exam application closing date, i.e., 21st February 2025.
Step 2: The All-Important Detailed Application Form (DAF-II)
This is the most critical immediate action. You must fill, update, and submit the DAF-II online within the stipulated window.
Aspect | Details |
Portal | |
Period | 13th November to 27th November 2025 |
Deadline | 27th November 2025, till 6:00 PM |
Consequence of Missing Deadline | Candidature will be cancelled. No e-Summon letter will be issued. |
What You Need to Update/Submit in DAF-II
The requirements are categorised for clarity:
Category | Details to be Filled/Updated |
Mandatory for All | Educational qualification status and upload of proof of passing the requisite exam. |
Additional (Wherever Applicable) | Correspondence/Permanent Address, Higher Education, Employment/Service Experience, Marital Status, Parental Details, OBC/EWS Annexure, etc. |
Service & Cadre Preference | Order of preference for services and, for IAS/IPS, cadre preferences. (This is critical for final allocation) |
Verification Only | If you have already uploaded documents and have nothing to update, you must still log in, verify, and finally submit to generate your e-Summon letter. |
The interview schedule will be published on the UPSC website in due course.
No paper summon letters will be issued. You must download your e-Summon Letter from:
https://www.upsc.gov.in & https://www.upsconline.gov.in
If you cannot download the e-Summon, contact UPSC immediately at:
Phone: 011-23385271, 011-23381125
Fax: 011-23387310, 011-23384472
Email: ssm-upsc@nic.in
Note: Requests for changes in the interview date or time will not be entertained.
Step 3: Submit the Online Attestation Form
After the interviews commence, you must fill and submit an Online Attestation Form on the DoPT website: https://cseplus.nic.in.
This form will be available from the date interviews start until they conclude.
For queries on the Attestation Form, contact DoPT:
Email: doais1@nic.in, usais-dopt@nic.in
Phone: 011-23092695, 23040335, 23040332
UPSC CSE 2025 Mains Result: Important Rules and Reminders
Service Preference: Indicate your service preferences very carefully in the DAF-II. If you indicate no preference, you will not be considered for service allocation.
No Changes Allowed: No requests for changes in the information submitted in the Online Application Form (OAF) will be entertained, except for the updates allowed in the DAF-II window. Only contact details can be updated separately via email at csmupsc@nic.in.
Mark sheets: Mark sheets for all candidates will be available on the UPSC website for 30 days, starting 15 days after the declaration of the final result.
Action Plan for the Next Few Days
Immediately: Gather all your original documents (educational, community, etc.).
From Nov 13: Log in to https://upsconline.gov.in and meticulously fill out the DAF-II.
Before Nov 27, 6 PM: Review and finally submit the DAF-II. You will receive a unique reference number via email/SMS upon successful submission.
Regularly: Keep checking the UPSC and DoPT websites for updates on the interview schedule and attestation form.
Congratulations to all who have cleared the Mains! Your hard work has paid off. Now, focus on preparing for the Personality Test and completing these administrative formalities with precision.
Best of Luck!
UPSC Exam Pattern 2025: A Complete Guide to Prelims and Mains Structure
Master the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2025 with our definitive guide. Break down the Prelims and Mains pattern, marks, papers, and strategy with clear tables and expert insights.
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| UPSC (UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION) |
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most challenging competitive exams in India. The selection process is meticulously designed across three distinct stages to identify candidates with the right knowledge, analytical ability, and personality traits for a career in civil services.
The three stages are:
Preliminary Examination (Prelims): An objective-type screening test.
Main Examination (Mains): A descriptive-type written examination.
Personality Test (Interview): The final stage assessing personal suitability.
Understanding the exam pattern is the first step toward crafting a successful preparation strategy. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the UPSC Exam Pattern for 2025.
UPSC CSE 2025: Prelims vs. Mains at a Glance
The following table summarises the key differences between the two written stages of the examination.
Parameter | Preliminary Examination | Main Examination |
Purpose | Screening Test (Marks don't count for final rank) | Merit Ranking (Marks are crucial for final selection) |
Type of Questions | Objective (Multiple Choice Questions) | Descriptive (Essay and Long-Answer type) |
Number of Papers | 2 (200+200) | 9 (7 for merit + 2 qualifying) |
Total Marks | 400 | 1750 (for merit calculation) |
Exam Duration | 2 hours per paper | 3 hours per paper |
Medium of Exam | English & Hindi | English & Hindi (Except language papers) |
Negative Marking | Yes (1/3rd of marks assigned) | No |
UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2025
The Prelims stage is your first hurdle. It comprises two compulsory papers, both held on the same day. The sole purpose of this stage is to screen candidates for the Mains examination; its marks are not added to the final total.
Key Features of the Prelims Stage:
Paper-I (General Studies): This paper determines your cut-off. It covers a wide range of subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science, and Current Affairs.
Paper-II (CSAT): The Civil Services Aptitude Test is qualifying in nature. You need to score a minimum of 33% (66 marks) to clear it. The marks in CSAT are not added to the Prelims scorecard.
Negative Marking: For every incorrect answer, one-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Paper-wise Structure
Paper | Subject | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
Paper I | General Studies (GS) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Paper II | Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Total |
| 180 | 400 | 4 Hours |
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2025
Candidates who clear the Prelims cut-off proceed to the Mains stage. This is a written, descriptive examination where your performance directly impacts your final All India Rank.
Key Features of the Mains Stage:
Nine Papers: The Mains comprises nine papers, but only seven are counted for merit ranking.
Qualifying Papers: Paper A (Language) and Paper B (English are compulsory but qualifying. You need to score at least 25% in each (i.e., 75 marks) for your other papers to be evaluated.
Merit-Based Papers: Papers I through VII are evaluated for your final score.
Optional Subject: Papers VI and VII are from one optional subject chosen by the candidate from a list provided by UPSC.
UPSC Mains 2025 Paper-wise Structure
Paper | Subject | Nature | Marks | Duration |
Paper A | Indian Language (from prescribed list) | Qualifying | 300 | 3 Hours |
Paper B | English | Qualifying | 300 | 3 Hours |
Paper I | Essay | Merit-Based | 250 | 3 Hours |
Paper II | General Studies I (Heritage, History, Geography) | Merit-Based | 250 | 3 Hours |
Paper III | General Studies II (Governance, Polity, Social Justice) | Merit-Based | 250 | 3 Hours |
Paper IV | General Studies III (Technology, Economy, Security) | Merit-Based | 250 | 3 Hours |
Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) | Merit-Based | 250 | 3 Hours |
Paper VI | Optional Subject Paper 1 | Merit-Based | 250 | 3 Hours |
Paper VII | Optional Subject Paper 2 | Merit-Based | 250 | 3 Hours |
Total (for Merit) |
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| 1750 |
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Strategic Takeaways for Aspirants
Prelims is a Game of Elimination: Focus on high-yield topics for GS Paper I and ensure consistent practice for the CSAT to safely qualify.
Mains Demands Depth: Shift your focus from objective fact-checking to developing analytical depth and articulate writing skills.
Choose Your Optional Wisely: Your optional subject can be a significant scorer. Choose based on interest, availability of resources, and background.
Practice Answer Writing: For Mains, there is no substitute for regular, timed answer writing practice.
By thoroughly understanding this exam pattern, you can allocate your time and resources effectively, creating a robust roadmap to conquer the UPSC CSE.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - UPSC Exam Pattern 2025
Q1: How many stages are there in the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) 2025?
There are three sequential stages:
Preliminary Examination (Prelims): An objective-type screening test.
Main Examination (Mains): A descriptive-type written examination.
Personality Test (Interview): The final stage involving a personal interview.
Q2: Is the UPSC Prelims exam just a screening test?
Yes, exactly. The marks you score in the Prelims are used only to qualify for the Mains stage. These marks are not added to your final total for the All India Rank.
Q3: What is the structure of the UPSC Prelims exam?
The Prelims consists of two compulsory papers:
Paper-I: General Studies (GS) - 100 questions, 200 marks.
Paper-II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) - 80 questions, 200 marks.
Both papers are objective-type (MCQs) and conducted offline for 2 hours each.
Q4: Is there negative marking in the UPSC Prelims?
Yes. For every incorrect answer, one-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. No marks are deducted for questions left unanswered.
Q5: Is the CSAT paper in Prelims compulsory?
Yes, the CSAT paper is mandatory. It is qualifying in nature, meaning you must score at least 33% (66 marks out of 200) to pass. Your score in this paper does not count toward the Prelims cutoff, but failing to qualify will disqualify you, regardless of your GS score.
Q6: How many papers are in the UPSC Mains exam?
There are 9 papers in total. However, only 7 of them are counted for the final merit ranking. The other 2 are qualifying language papers.
Q7: Which are the qualifying papers in the UPSC Mains?
Paper A: An Indian Language (chosen from the UPSC's prescribed list).
Paper B: English.
You need to score a minimum of 25% (75 marks out of 300) in each of these papers for your other Mains papers to be evaluated.
Q8: What are the merit-based papers in the UPSC Mains?
The following seven papers are considered for your final score:
Paper-I: Essay
Paper-II: General Studies I
Paper-III: General Studies II
Paper-IV: General Studies III
Paper-V: General Studies IV
Paper-VI: Optional Subject Paper 1
Paper-VII: Optional Subject Paper 2
Q9: What is the total mark count for the UPSC CSE final merit?
The total marks considered for the final ranking are 1750. This is the sum of the Mains (1750 marks) and the Personality Test (275 marks, though not detailed in the pattern above). The Prelims marks are not included.
Q10: Is there negative marking in the UPSC Mains exam?
No. The Mains exam consists of descriptive answers, so there is no negative marking.
