The Union Public Service Commission, Civil Services Examination is a highly coveted and competitive examination that selects candidates for many different posts in the Indian Civil Services. UPSC CSE 2023 will be conducted in three stages – Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test/Interview. The exam is known for its rigorous evaluation process and is considered one of the toughest examinations in India. It attracts thousands of candidates every year who aspire to become administrators, police officers, foreign service officers, and other high-ranking officials in the Indian bureaucracy.
UPSC CSE 2023 will be an opportunity for aspiring candidates to showcase their knowledge and skills in various fields such as history, polity, geography, economics, science, and technology. The preliminary exam was conducted on 28th May 2023, and it was an objective type test comprising two papers – General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT). Candidates qualifying for the prelims would be eligible for the mains exam, which will be held in September 2023. The mains exam will consist of nine papers, including an essay paper, two language papers, four General Studies papers, and two optional papers chosen by the candidate. The final stage of the examination will be the personality test/interview, which will be conducted for candidates who have qualified for the mains examination.
The calendar for UPSC CSE 2023 has been released, and candidates aspiring to appear in the exam should commence their preparation without delay.
Below are the essential highlights of the UPSC CSE 2023 Recruitment examination:
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023 |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Stages | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Personality Test/Interview |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 28th May 2023 |
| Main Exam Date | 15th September 2023 |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 years (counting from 1st August 2023) |
| Nationality | Indian citizen or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 |
| Number of Vacancies | 1105 |
| Application Process | Online through the UPSC website |
| Exam Pattern | Prelims: Objective type Mains: Subjective type |
| Selection Process | Based on the combined scores of the Prelims, Main Exam, and Personality Test/Interview |
| Exam Syllabus | Includes subjects such as history, polity, geography, economics, science, and technology |
| Admit Card | To be released on the UPSC website before the exam |
| Result | To be announced on the UPSC website after the exam |
| Official Website | https://www.upsc.gov.in/ |
The examination dates for UPSC CSE 2023 have been provided below as announced:
| Events of UPSC CSE Exam 2023 | UPSC CSE Exam Dates |
| UPSC CSE Notification 2023 Release Date | 01st February 2023 |
| Application Start Date 2023 | 01st February 2023 |
| Last date to apply for UPSC Exam 2023 | 21st February 2023 |
| UPSC Prelims Admit Card Release Date 2023 | 08th May 2023 |
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2023 | 28th May 2023 |
| UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2023 | To be announced |
| UPSC Mains Exam Date 2023 | 15th September 2023 |
| UPSC CSE Mains Result 2023 | To be announced |
| UPSC CSE Interview Dates 2023 | To be announced |
| UPSC CSE Result 2023 (Final list of selected candidates) | To be announced |
Candidates appearing for the UPSC CSE exam must go through the eligibility criteria before moving on to the registration process. a candidate’s eligibility will be measured on 4 grounds i.e., educational qualifications, age limit, nationality, and the number of attempts. The candidate must pass through all these criteria in order to appear for the UPSC CSE examination.
The UPSC exam does not require applicants to possess an extensive educational qualification certificate. Candidates must have a graduation-level degree from a government-recognized or UGC-approved university, irrespective of the branch of study. Applicants who are in their last year of graduation can also apply for UPSC CSE, as long as they receive their graduation results before the final exam.
The age limit for the UPSC 2023 exam must be calculated as of August 1, 2023, and it is imperative for candidates to meet the age criteria specified in the notification.
| Category | Minimum Age for UPSC 2023 | Maximum Age |
| For General Candidate | 21 year | 32 year |
| For OBC candidates | 21 year | 35 year |
| For SC/ST | 21 year | 37 year |
Age relaxation for various categories is provided by UPSC, and it is essential for candidates to review the age relaxation details for the exam.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Defense Services Personnel | 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs | 5 years |
| Hearing problem, deaf, ex-servicemen, low vision, blindness, muscle deformity | 10 years |
The candidate must meet one of the following criteria:
The Union Public Service Commission has announced 1105 UPSC Civil Services vacancies for 2023 for the posts of IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc. The number has increased from the previously notified 816 vacancies. 37 vacancies will be reserved for the Persons with Disabilities category, the breakdown being: Deaf and Hard of Hearing – 05 vacancies, Locomotor Disability – 15 Vacancies, Multiple Disabilities – 10 vacancies, Blindness and Low Vision – 07.
In order to complete the application process, candidates must visit the official website of UPSC and carefully read the instructions provided. The following steps should be followed to successfully fill out the UPSC application form:
The application fee for UPSC CSE can be paid through both online and offline channels. Candidates can pay the fees by Credit Card/Debit Card or Net Banking portals or download the e-challan and pay the fee in cash at the nearest SBI Branch within a day. Given below is the fee structure for online applications.
| Category | Application Fee |
| General Category and Other Backward Category | Rs. 100/- |
| Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Persons with Disabilities and Females | Exempted from fees |
The UPSC exam admit card will be made available for download on the official UPSC portal. On the official website, candidates who have successfully applied for the UPSC CSE exam can download the admit cards using their login credentials. The following steps should be followed to download the UPSC admit card:
After downloading the admit card, the candidates must make sure that all the details are correctly mentioned in the admit card. If not, candidates must get them rectified by the latest. The Admit Card will contain:
Please find below the exam pattern for UPSC CSE. Additionally, you can refer to the Indian Administrative Services Exam Pattern.
The detailed exam pattern is outlined below:
| Paper | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| General Studies Paper I | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
The written exam is comprised of the following papers:
| Paper | Subjects | Marks |
| Paper A | One Indian language to be selected by the candidate. | 300 marks |
| Paper B | English | 300 marks |
| Paper – 1 | Essay | 250 marks |
| Paper – 2 | General Studies – 1 | 250 marks |
| Paper – 3 | General Studies – 2 | 250 marks |
| Paper – 4 | General Studies – 3 | 250 marks |
| Paper – 5 | General Studies – 4 | 250 marks |
| Paper – 6 | Optional Subject – paper 1 | 250 marks |
| Paper – 7 | Optional subject – paper 2 | 250 marks |
The Personality test is comprised of the following papers:
| Exam | Marks |
| Personality test | 275 marks |
The Preliminary examination for the Civil Services comprises of two papers commonly referred to as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). These papers are categorized as general studies and cover a range of topics.
The UPSC CSE Prelims syllabus is as follows:
| Paper 1 | ● General Science ● Current events of national and international importance ● Indian and World Geography- Physical, Social, Economic ● Indian Polity and Governance- Constitution, Public Policy, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Rights Issues, etc. ● General issues on Ecology, Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change (no subject specialization required) ● Economic and Social Development- Social Sector Initiatives, Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, etc. History of India and Indian National Movement |
| Paper 2 | ● Comprehension ● General mental ability ● Logical reasoning and analytical ability ● Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, etc. — Class X level) ● Data interpretation ● Tables, charts, graphs, data sufficiency etc. — (Class X ● level) ● Decision making and problem-solving Interpersonal skills including communication skills |
The UPSC CSE 2023 Mains syllabus is as follows:
| Paper | Subjects |
| Paper A | One Indian language to be selected by the candidate. |
| Paper B | English |
| Paper – 1 | Essay |
| Paper – 2 | General Studies – 1 (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and geography of the world.) |
| Paper – 3 | General Studies – 2 (Governance, International Relations, Constitution, etc.) |
| Paper – 4 | General Studies – 3 (Environment, Technology, Disaster Management, etc.) |
| Paper – 5 | General Studies – 4 (Aptitude, Integrity, and Ethics.) |
| Paper – 6 | Optional Subject – paper 1 |
| Paper – 7 | Optional subject – paper 2 |
| English | Indian Language |
● Comprehension of Given Passages ● Short Essays ● Usage and Vocabulary ● Precis Writing | ● Comprehension of Given Passages ● Short Essays ● Usage and Vocabulary ● Precis Writing & Translation from the Indian language to English and English to the Indian Language |
| Optional subjects | · Agriculture · Animal husbandry and Veterinary Science · Anthropology · Botany · Chemistry · Civil Engineering · Commerce and Accountancy · Economics · Electrical Engineering · Geography · History · Law · Management · Mathematics · Mechanical Engineering · Medical Science · Philosophy · Political Science · Psychology · Political Administration · Sociology · Statistics & Zoology |
After conducting the UPSC Exam 2023, the UPSC will publish the answer key and candidates’ scores on its website. The minimum scores required to qualify for the exam will also be announced after the final results are declared. To access the UPSC Answer Key 2023, candidates should follow these steps:
The cut-off marks for the year 2023 have not yet been made available. However, the cut-off marks for the year 2021 are provided below:
| Exam | General | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwBD-1 | PwBD-2 | PwBD-3 | PwBD-4 |
| Prelims | 87.54 | 80.14 | 84.85 | 75.41 | 70.71 | 68.02 | 67.33 | 43.09 | 45.80 |
| Mains | 745 | 713 | 707 | 700 | 700 | 668 | 712 | 388 | 560 |
| Final | 953 | 916 | 910 | 886 | 883 | 892 | 932 | 689 | 701 |
Upon the conclusion of the UPSC Exam 2023, the UPSC will publish the exam results, including candidates’ scores and the minimum scores required to pass the exam in different categories, on its website.
To check the UPSC Result 2023, follow the steps below:
In 2023, the UPSC offers a starting basic salary of 55,000 (excluding DA, TA, HRA, etc.) that can go up to 2,50,000. Additionally, the candidates are entitled to various allowances and benefits, listed as follows.
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If you are planning to take the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) in 2023, then be aware that it is one of the most highly competitive exams in India. Achieving success in this exam demands a methodical approach and unwavering commitment. To assist you in preparing for the UPSC CSE 2023, here are a few tips:
Stay motivated: Preparing for UPSC CSE can be overwhelming, so it’s important to stay motivated. Surround yourself with positive people, take breaks when needed, and remember why you started preparing for the exam in the first place
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India administers the Civil Services Examination (CSE), a highly competitive national-level test that is held in 2023. The exam is designed to select qualified candidates for a range of civil services, including but not limited to the Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
The exact dates for the UPSC CSE 2023 examination have not been declared, but it is anticipated to take place in June 2023.
The eligibility criteria for the position are as follows:
The applicant should hold Indian citizenship.
The applicant should possess a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
The applicant’s age should fall between 21 to 32 years as of August 1, 2023. However, the government provides age relaxation for specific categories as per their norms.
The application process for UPSC CSE 2023 is conducted online on the official website of UPSC. Candidates will have to register themselves on the website and fill in the application form with all the necessary details. The application fee can be paid online.
The UPSC CSE 2023 exam consists of three stages:
Preliminary examination (objective type questions)
Main examination (written exam)
Personality Test (interview)
The syllabus for UPSC CSE 2023 includes topics like Indian Polity and Governance, Indian Economy, Indian History and Culture, Geography of India, Environment and Ecology, General Science, etc.
The selection process for UPSC CSE 2023 includes three stages – Preliminary examination, Main examination, and Personality Test. In order to qualify for the main examination, candidates must pass the preliminary examination. Candidates who qualify in the main examination will be called for the Personality Test (interview). The final selection will be based on the candidate’s performance in all the three stages.
To prepare for UPSC CSE 2023, candidates should follow a structured study plan, refer to standard textbooks and study materials, solve previous years’ question papers and mock tests, current affairs, and practice answer writing. Coaching institutes can also be helpful, but they are not mandatory.