What is the first stage of UPSC exam?

The first stage of the UPSC Civil Services Exam is the Preliminary Examination (Prelims), an objective-type screening test with two papers: General Studies (GS Paper-I) and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT/GS Paper-II). It's designed to filter candidates for the Mains stage, with marks from Prelims not counting towards the final merit list, though CSAT is qualifying, requiring a minimum score.

What is the first stage of UPSC?

Preliminary Examination: The Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It consists of two objective-type papers - General Studies Paper 1 and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper 2.

What are the steps of UPSC exam?

The IAS Exam pattern is: Stage I: Preliminary Examination (IAS Prelims) Stage II: Mains Examination (IAS Mains) Stage III: UPSC Personality Test (IAS Interview)

Which is the hardest stage of UPSC exam?

Many candidates find the UPSC Prelims tougher than the Mains. It is due to the challenging objective questions and the negative marking, which heightens the pressure.

Who is rank 1 in UPSC?

UPSC Topper 2025 AIR 1 Shakti Dubey

Shakti Dubey secured Rank 1 in the Civil Services Examination becoming the candidate who has obtained the highest marks in the Civil Services Examination 2024, i.e, 1043 marks.

First stage of UPSC Exam.

Which is the highest post in UPSC?

The highest post in UPSC Civil Services is the Cabinet Secretary for IAS officers. For other services: IPS: Director General of Police (DGP) IFS: Foreign Secretary / Ambassador.

What is the 7 5 3 rule in UPSC?

The 7-5-3 technique is a simple framework that helps UPSC aspirants structure their answers in a logical and impactful way. 7 – Write 7 points in the body of your answer. 5 – Finish your answer in 5 paragraphs (Intro, Body – 3 Paras, Conclusion).

What is the salary after passing UPSC?

UPSC Salary IAS Salary in India Per Month

An IAS officer starts at ₹56,100 basic pay per month (Pay Level 10). Adding Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance (TA), and other perks, the IAS salary per month can reach about ₹80,000–₹1,00,000 gross initially.

Who is the Air 1 girl in UPSC?

Shakti Dubey emerged as the All India Rank 1 holder for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024. She is the top-ranked candidate among the 1009 successful aspirants. In fact, she is the top female candidate to secure All India Rank 1 in UPSC in the past few years.

What is the 80 20 rule for UPSC?

The 80/20 UPSC principle, inspired by the Pareto Principle, suggests that roughly 20% of the syllabus fetches nearly 80% of the marks. Understanding this distribution is the real secret behind efficient, innovative, and strategic preparation.

How many subjects are in UPSC?

The UPSC allows you to choose one optional subject from out of a total of 26 different subjects. There'll be 2 papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2 of 250 marks each pertaining to the subject that you choose.

How to clear UPSC in 1st attempt?

Important Tips to Remember – 1st Attempt at UPSC Civil Service Exam

1. Know the UPSC exam pattern and syllabus.
2. Learn the UPSC syllabus thoroughly.
3. Get the right books and material.
4. Get the current affairs notes up-to-date.
5. Practice mock tests.
6. Practice answer writing for the mains.

What is the passing marks for UPSC exam?

Candidates have to score at least 25% marks in each qualifying paper in order to clear the main examination. If candidates are unable to clear the qualifying papers, they will not be eligible for the personality test, even if they qualify Papers I-VII.

Is 800 a good score in UPSC?

Generally, a score of 800 may be considered good if it falls within or above the cutoff range for the UPSC Civil Services Exam for that year. Subject and Paper Weightage: Different papers and optional subjects have different weightages.

How many attempts for the UPSC exam?

For candidates belonging to different categories, the provision for number of attempts to sit for UPSC exam is as follows: General category – Maximum 6 attempts are provided. OBC category – Maximum 9 attempts are given. ST/SC category – Unlimited number of attempts are granted.

Who is the youngest UPSC topper?

Ansar Shaikh emerges as India's youngest IAS officer, a distinction he earned by successfully navigating the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2016, an impressive feat considering he was just 21 at the time.

Who is the No. 1 IAS officer?

The IAS Rank 1 for the most recent UPSC Civil Services Examination (2024 cycle) is Shakti Dubey, who secured the top position in the results announced in 2025, becoming an inspiring figure from Prayagraj, UP, with Political Science & International Relations as her optional subject. IAS Rank 1 holders are toppers of the UPSC CSE, which selects candidates for prestigious services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). 

How many hours did Shakti Dubey study?

Consistency Over Intensity: Studied 6–8 hours daily (no overnight cramming). Adaptive Revision: Adjusted plan weekly based on weak areas.

Which is the most powerful post in UPSC?

Which is the most powerful post in civil services? The most powerful post in Civil Services is Cabinet Secreatary. CabSec is a very senior (mostly Senior most) IAS Officer of the country.

Is civil service a federal job?

Our nation's career civil servants—federal employees who serve the public regardless of the president's political affiliation or partisan divides in Congress—are foundational to American democracy and prosperity.

Is it better to be an IAS or IFS officer?

A salient divergence between IAS and IFS lies in the fact that those aspiring to positively impact the lives of individuals within India would find the IAS an optimal choice. Conversely, those seeking a life marked by exploration, diverse locales, and cultural immersion would be better suited for the IFS.

Who got 175 marks in essay UPSC?

Apurva Pandey is a ForumIAS Academy Student. She has secured Rank 39 and is the Topper from Uttarakhand. She has secured 175 marks in Essay which is the highest score this year among selected candidates.

How much is 250 words in UPSC?

Generally, 250 words mean that you must write around 2.5 pages in UPSC Mains. Use the space wisely, leaving room for neat margins and clear headings. Keeping your answer structured will help examiners quickly grasp your main arguments.

How to write a good answer in UPSC?

You should approach the answer from 360 degrees and start writing. Use keywords: Always use keywords to highlight important and scoring points in your answers. Try to underline the keywords. Substantiate your answers: Don't forget to substantiate what you claim in your answers.