The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the admit cards for the Civil Services IAS Mains Examination 2025. Candidates who cleared the Prelims exam and applied for the Mains can now download their hall tickets. The Mains examination will take place on August 22, 2025 . The admit card became available on August 14, 2025 , on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in.
How to Download Your Mains Admit Card
To get your admit card for the UPSC Civil Services IAS Mains 2025 exam, follow these simple steps:
- Go to the official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in .
- Look for the link that says “UPSC Civil Services IAS Mains Admit Card 2025” or “Hall Ticket Download”.
- Click on the download link.
- Enter your details, such as your Application Number and Date of Birth .
- Click the ‘Submit’ button.
- Your admit card will appear on the screen.
- Download and print a copy of your admit card. You must carry this printout to the exam center along with a valid photo ID.
Important Dates for Civil Services Exam 2025
Here are the key dates for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | January 20, 2025 |
| Online Application Starts | January 22, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | February 21, 2025 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | February 21, 2025 |
| Application Correction Window | February 22 to 28, 2025 |
| Prelims Admit Card Release | May 13, 2025 |
| Prelims Exam Date | May 25, 2025 |
| Prelims Result Date | June 11, 2025 |
| Mains Admit Card Release | August 14, 2025 |
| Mains Exam Date | August 22, 2025 |
| Mains Result Date | To be announced soon |
About the Civil Services Exam (CSE)
The Civil Services Exam (CSE) is a national-level competitive examination in India. UPSC conducts it to select candidates for various top government jobs like Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). This year, there are a total of 1129 posts .
Total Posts and Eligibility
The exam offers posts in different services. Here are the details:
| Post Name | Number of Posts | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Services (IAS) | 979 | Bachelor’s Degree in any field from a recognized university. |
| Indian Forest Services (IFS) | 150 | Bachelor’s Degree in subjects like Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, or Agriculture from a recognized university. |
| Total | 1129 |
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 21 Years
- Maximum Age: 32 Years
Candidates should read the full official notification for details on age relaxation for different categories.
Application Fee
The application fees for the Civil Services Exam are:
- General / OBC / EWS candidates: ₹100/-
- SC / ST / PH (Persons with Disabilities) / Female candidates: ₹00/- (No Fee)
You can pay the fee using Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or through an E-Challan.
Selection Process
The selection for Civil Services posts happens in three main stages:
- Prelims Examination: This is the first stage, which is objective (multiple-choice questions).
- Mains Examination: Candidates who clear Prelims appear for Mains. This stage involves descriptive (written) papers.
- Interview: Those who pass Mains are called for a Personality Test (Interview).
Mains Exam Pattern
The Mains examination has 9 papers. Two papers are qualifying, and marks from seven papers count towards the final merit list.
| Paper Type | Name of Paper | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Papers | Paper A: Indian Language | 300 |
| Paper B: English | 300 | |
| Merit Papers | Paper I: Essay | 250 |
| Paper II: General Studies-I | 250 | |
| Paper III: General Studies-II | 250 | |
| Paper IV: General Studies-III | 250 | |
| Paper V: General Studies-IV | 250 | |
| Paper VI: Optional Paper 1 | 250 | |
| Paper VII: Optional Paper 2 | 250 |
Salary Details
Selected candidates for IAS and IFS posts receive a good salary. The basic pay ranges from ₹56,100/- to ₹2,50,000/- per month . Other allowances are also given as per government rules.