What's the UPSC exam success rate?

The UPSC exam has a very low success rate, typically less than 0.1% to 0.3%, with about 1 million applicants competing for around 1,000 vacancies, meaning only a tiny fraction successfully clears the rigorous multi-stage process to become civil servants. While millions apply, only a few hundred ultimately qualify, making it one of the world's toughest exams, with most successful candidates needing multiple attempts, notes this Quora post and this BBC article.

What is the passing rate for UPSC exam?

In 2023, a total of 13,35,697 students applied for the UPSC exam. Usually, around 1 million students attempt the exam every year. However, only 0.2% of all candidates pass the exam.

Is UPSC the toughest exam in India?

1. What is considered the toughest exam in India? UPSC Civil Services Exam is widely regarded as the toughest due to its vast syllabus and low success rate.

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).

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.

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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 to rank 1 in UPSC?

How to Score All India Rank 1 in UPSC Exam?

1. Understanding the UPSC Exam Structure. ...
2. Setting a Clear Study Plan. ...
3. Choosing the Right Study Materials. ...
4. Mastering Current Affairs. ...
5. Answer Writing Practice for Mains. ...
6. Effective Prelims Strategy. ...
7. Excelling in the Interview Round. ...
8. Maintaining Consistency and Motivation.

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 many marks do you need to clear an UPSC?

What are the pass marks for the UPSC Mains? The pass marks for UPSC Mains cut-off is usually 710+ out of 1750 marks.

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.

Which is toughest, NEET or UPSC?

UPSC CSE Exam 2025 is considered to be the Toughest Exams in India which is conducted by the UPSC to recruit eligible candidates for the various government positions including Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).

Which is the no. 1 toughest exam?

There isn't one single "first toughest exam," as difficulty is subjective, but the Gaokao (China's college entrance exam), India's UPSC Civil Services Exam, and India's IIT-JEE are consistently ranked among the world's most challenging due to immense competition, vast syllabi, and low success rates, often determining life paths for millions. Other famously tough tests include the Master Sommelier Diploma, USMLE (Medical Licensing), and CFA (Finance).
 

How many attempts do you get for UPSC?

Candidates belonging to the General category can appear for a maximum of 6 attempts. The maximum number of attempts for candidates from OBC category is 9, For candidates from SC/ST/ PWD category there is no limit on the number of attempts till their respective upper age limits.

What kind of jobs require the civil service exam?

Jobs That Require the Civil Service Exam

• Air traffic controllers.
• Border patrol officers.
• CIA & FBI employees.
• Firefighters.
• Government computer specialists.
• Government stenographers.
• Government transcribers.
• IRS employees.

How many books to crack UPSC?

In this scenario, books are your major companions in the UPSC journey. Be mentally prepared to invest in at least 15-20 standard textbooks for different subjects, apart from NCERT books. This is because UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains mention at least 15 subjects/topics.

Can I write a 5 page paper in 2 hours?

With all the materials and citations already at hand, you can write the rough draft in 3 hours, maybe a bit more. About 2 hours should be left to proofread, edit, and touch up your paper before you hand it in. This is a crucial stage, and you should not skip it, except for the extremely dire lack of time.

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.

What is the score of Srushti Deshmukh?

With a total score of 1068 marks, including outstanding performances in subjects like the Essay paper and Optional-1 (Sociology), Srushti's achievement underscored her remarkable intellect and dedication to excellence.

Who is rank 1 in UPSC 2025?

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.

Who is the rank 1 girl in UPSC?

About UPSC Topper 2024 Shakti Dubey AIR 1

Shakti Dubey has secured the All India Rank 1 in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024. A graduate in Biochemistry from the University of Allahabad, she achieved this remarkable feat with Political Science and International Relations as her optional subject.

How many seats are there in UPSC?

As per the official UPSC Notification 2025, the UPSC Vacancy 2025 is approximately 1129 vacancies, out of which 979 are for UPSC CSE 2025 and the remaining 150 for Indian Forest Service.

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.