UPSC Civil Services candidates move through the preliminary examination, the written Main examination and an interview or personality test. Prelims marks do not count towards the final rank. The seven merit papers in the Main examination carry 1,750 marks, and the interview carries 275, producing a final merit total of 2,025 marks.
There is a terminology point behind the familiar question about three stages. In its Civil Services Examination 2026 notice, UPSC formally defines two successive stages: Preliminary and Main. The Main stage includes both the written examination and the interview. Calling them three parts is a useful description of the candidate's journey, but the notice groups the last two together.
| Part of the examination | Marks | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims General Studies I | 200 | Screening, subject to the Commission's qualifying standard |
| Prelims General Studies II | 200 | Qualifying at 33 percent |
| Main qualifying language papers | 300 each | Qualifying, subject to notified exemptions |
| Main merit papers | 1,750 | Count towards rank |
| Interview or personality test | 275 | Counts towards rank |
How does UPSC prelims qualification work?
Prelims has two objective papers, each lasting two hours. General Studies Paper II, commonly called CSAT, requires at least 33 percent. That is 66 marks out of 200. Selection for the Main examination also depends on the General Studies Paper I qualifying marks determined by UPSC.
Clearing CSAT alone therefore does not qualify a candidate for mains. A high Paper I score also does not remove the need to meet the Paper II standard. The notice makes attendance in both papers compulsory for evaluation; missing either paper leads to disqualification.
Incorrect answers attract a deduction of one third of the marks assigned to the question. Marking more than one answer is treated as a wrong response, even if one selected option is correct. Leaving a question unanswered carries no penalty. These rules affect the prelims score, but that score is used for screening rather than added to the final merit total.
How many papers are there in UPSC mains?
The written Main examination has nine conventional essay type papers. Each of these papers has a duration of three hours. Paper A is an Indian language chosen from the specified constitutional language list, and Paper B is English. Each carries 300 marks and is qualifying in nature. The notice specifies a 25 percent qualifying standard in each, with stated exemptions from Paper A for eligible candidates.
The remaining seven papers count for merit: one Essay paper, four General Studies papers and two papers in one optional subject. Each carries 250 marks. Seven multiplied by 250 gives the written merit total of 1,750. The two qualifying language paper scores are not added to that total.
A candidate should read the language paper exemption conditions in the notice before assuming an exemption applies. Equally, calling a paper qualifying does not mean it can be ignored. The notice links consideration of the merit paper marks to meeting the applicable language paper standards.
How are the interview and final rank calculated?
Candidates who meet UPSC's qualifying standard in the written Main examination are called for the interview or personality test. It carries 275 marks, and the notice does not prescribe a separate minimum qualifying mark for this part.
The final calculation is the written merit score plus the interview score. For example, a hypothetical candidate with 900 out of 1,750 in the written merit papers and 175 out of 275 in the interview would have 1,075 out of 2,025. This arithmetic illustrates the formula; it is not a selection cutoff or a prediction of rank.
The figures above come from the 2026 notice, checked on 27 October 2026. Candidates entering a later cycle should read that cycle's notification when available. An examination calendar gives dates; it does not replace the detailed rules on papers, qualification and eligibility.
For related reading, see the UPSC 2027 examination calendar, our UGC NET December application report and the guide to CTET certificate validity.
