UPSC IAS Exam 2025 - Mains Exam Result (Soon), Cutoff, Question papers, Answer key

The Union Public Service Commission will soon declare the UPSC IAS Mains exam on the official website at upsc.gov.in. The Commission releases the Civil Services exam result in three phases – preliminary, main and final. The CSE exam result for all three stages is declared in online mode in PDF format. The IAS exam result is announced in two ways - first with roll numbers and second with name of all the qualified candidates. Civil Services exam result is declared in the following order: 

IAS Preliminary Examination result 2025
The IAS result 2025 for prelims will be announced at upsc.gov.in. The IAS exam prelims result will be released in PDF format in online mode with the name and roll number of selected applicants who are eligible to appear for the IAS exam.

IAS mains result 2025
The  IAS result 2025 for mains is declared in 40 to 50 days from the date of conclusion of the Civil Services exam. The CSE exam result for mains is released online in PDF format with the names and roll numbers of selected candidates who are eligible to appear for the IAS personality test.

Final IAS result 2025
The final IAS result 2025 is based on the marks obtained by candidates in the IAS mains exam and the personality test. Those who clear the final IAS cutoff will be eligible to be inducted in different services under the Civil Services Exam.

Steps to check IAS result: 

• Visit the official website - upsc.gov.in

• Search for the IAS exam result link and click on it

• The  IAS result 2025 PDF file will appear on the screen, containing the roll numbers and names of selected candidates

• Using Ctrl+F, to search for your roll number or name in the IAS result PDF file

• Download and save the  IAS result 2025 for future reference

Candidates must check the IAS exam eligibility criteria before filling out the online CSE application form. The eligibility criteria for the CSE exam comprises of age limit, educational qualification, nationality and number of attempts.
Nationality
Candidates applying for IAS exam must be either -
• A citizen of India (or)
• Nepal / Bhutan/a Tibetan refugee (who came to India before January 1, 1962 with the intention of settling down permanently) (or)
• Those migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam to settle in India. These candidates must have an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India.
Note: Candidates belonging to Nepal, Bhutan or Tibetan refugee are not eligible for appointment to the Indian Foreign Service.

IAS exam age limit
According to the UPSC IAS age limit eligibility criteria, those between 21 to 32 years, can apply for the CSE exam. While applicants belonging to reserved categories are eligible for relaxation in the UPSC age limit as per the rules.
IAS exam age relaxation in upper age limit

Academic qualification for IAS exam
Candidate must have a bachelor's degree (BA, B.Com, B.Sc, BBA, BCA, B.Tech etc.) from recognised university. Those who have appeared in their final year degree examination and whose results is awaited are also eligible for the Civil Service exam.

IAS Exam attempt limit

The commission will soon release the UPSC IAS Mains DAF on its official website - upsc.gov.in. The UPSC CSE application form 2025 was closed on February 21, 2025. The commission released the UPSC CSE application form 2025 on January 22, 2025.  Candidates who meet the IAS eligibility criteria can fill out the IAS exam form in online mode only. 

The IAS application form has two parts. The instructions to fill out the application form must be followed carefully to avoid the rejection of the IAS form at a later stage of the recruitment process.

Documents required to fill the application form for IAS exam

• Valid email ID and mobile number.

• Scanned photograph and signature mentioned by the UPSC.

• Valid photo ID card details.

• Other documents (if applicable).

• Personal and academic details

• Fee payment details debit/ credit card/ internet banking/ UPI, etc.

Steps to fill CSE Application Form

• Open the official website - upsc.gov.in.

• Click on the ‘Apply Online link’ available on the web page.

• Online One-Time Registration (OTR)- If the applicants are not completed the One Time Registration, They have to complete it by providing some basic details such as personal and contact details.

• Login by using valid login credentials Email ID and OTP/Password or Mobile number and  OTP/Password or OTR ID and OTP/Password.

• Candidates have to fill out the IAS exam application form in two parts which include filling in other details, fee payment, uploading of scanned documents, signature, photo identity card document and selection of preferred exam centre.

IAS exam fee

• Check all the details furnished in the application form of IAS exam thoroughly and edit the details if needed. 

• Once submitted, Applicants will not able to make changes in their IAS application form.

• After submission, a registration number will be generated. Candidates have to download it as a pdf file and take a printout for future reference.

Specification of photograph and signature to be uploaded

Specification about payment of application fee

Points to remember for filling IAS Exam Application Form

• Read the IAS notification thoroughly.
• Know the IAS eligibility before filling the application form.
• Check if the details entered in the UPSC IAS form twice before submitting.
• Check the dimensions of the images before uploading.
• Use the latest version of the browser to fill the IAS exam form.

IAS Application Form: Correction Process

In case there is any mistake in the UPSC IAS application form, the Commission gives candidates the facility of making the required corrections. As per the UPSC IAS exam date 2025, the IAS application form correction facility will usually be open for 7 days. Candidates can follow the steps below to make corrections to the UPSC CSE 2025 application form. 

IAS Application Correction Process

• Visit the official website - upsc.gov.in

• Now click on the Login link

• Enter the login credentials

• Read the correction instructions carefully and click on the "yes" button.

• Make the necessary corrections to the IAS exam application form

• Submit the corrected application form.

• Candidates have to first register themselves for filling the CSE DAF form.
• For registration, candidates have to fill their name, roll number and date of birth.
• On successful registration, candidates will receive a password.
• Login using candidate roll number and password to fill the DAF.
• The DAF comprises six steps – personal, employment information, educational information, parental information, uploading documents and final submission.
• Candidates are required to upload documents like proof of Age, Educational Qualification, Community Certificate, PH Certificate, etc.
• After uploading documents, submit the IAS Exam DAF.

Note - In case of any difficulty while filling the IAS application form, applicants can contact the UPSC’s Facilitation Counter near gate C of its campus in person or over telephone number 011-23385271/ 011-23381125/ 011-23098543.

The IAS exam pattern is prescribed by the UPSC through the official notification. The CSE exam is conducted in three stages - prelims, mains and personality tests. The UPSC exam pattern for preliminary and mains exams is prescribed by the UPSC. The exam pattern is mentioned in the IAS exam notification.

IAS Prelims Exam Pattern
• The Preliminary examination of Civil Services consists of two papers – General Studies Paper I and II.
• Multiple choice questions are asked in the IAS exam.
• The General Studies Paper I carries a total of 100 questions while there are 80 questions in Paper II.
• Total marks of the preliminary exam is 400. Each paper will carry 200 marks.
• Negative marks in IAS exam for wrong answer is 0.33 in Paper 1 and .83 in Paper 2.
• The language of the question paper of the Civil Services preliminary exam will be Hindi and English.
• Each paper will be held for two hours.

IAS Exam Pattern for Mains 
• The main exam of Civil Services consists of 9 conventional type papers.
• Two papers – A (Indian Language) and B (English) will be qualifying in nature.
• IAS Papers I to VII are compulsory papers in the IAS exam.
• The test carries a total of 1750 marks.
• There will be 26 optional subjects in the main examination as per Civil Services
• Each paper of Civil Services mains will be of 3 hours
• The main IAS exam assesses the overall intellectual traits of candidates.
• The questions of General Studies (Paper II to V) tests candidate’s general awareness about relevant issues.
• Questions of optional papers (Paper VI to VII) will be degree level.
• The standard of papers A and B will be of matriculation level.

Candidates who wish to appear for the Civil Services exam must go through the UPSC syllabus and exam pattern for better preparation. This competition exam is quite tough so one has to prepare well in advance to develop good command and understanding of the fundamentals of all subjects asked in the IAS exam. 

IAS Exam Preparation Tips

Some important tips for preparation of the IAS exam are:

1. Go through the UPSC syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly

2. Check UPSC IAS syllabus and accordingly choose your optional subject

3. Make short notes for faster revision

4. Keep revising from time to time

5. Solve previous year UPSC exam question papers for a better understanding of the exam

6. Take IAS mock test to check your performance and preparation level

The Union Public Service Commission will issue the UPSC CSE admit card on the official website. The hard copy of the IAS exam admit card will not be sent to the candidates by post, therefore, they are required to download the same online. The UPSC CSE 2025 admit card of all the stages will be issued by the commission

Steps to download IAS admit card 2025

• Visit the official website - upsc.gov.in.
• Click on the IAS exam admit card link.
• Click on the tab 'Click here' for IAS 2025 admit card login page
• Read the instructions carefully and click on the checkbox.
• There are two options to download the admit card of IAS exam via registration number or roll number. Choose one of them for the same.
• Enter the registration number or roll number and date of birth along with the security code.
• The IAS exam admit card will be displayed on the screen.
• Check the details printed on the hall ticket
• Take a printout of the CSE admit card and download the same for future reference.

The admit card of IAS exam carries details like name, roll number, photograph, signature, details of exam centre, date and time of the exam. After downloading the Civil Services admit card, candidates should check the details carefully. Along with the IAS exam admit card, candidates are required to carry photo-identity proof and two passport-size photographs to the examination centre. No candidates are allowed to appear for the exam without the admit card.

What documents to carry with the IAS Exam Admit Card?

• Passport
• Driving license
• Voter id card
• Pan card
• Aadhar card, etc.

IAS Exam Day Guidelines

• Electronic devices, gadget and accessories are not permitted inside the IAS exam centre
• Applicants need to carry a valid original photo ID proof on the CSE exam day
• Candidates appearing for the IAS exam must follow all the instructions mentioned in the hall ticket
• Candidates are advised to reach the CSE exam centre early to avoid being late for the IAS exam
• Candidates must keep the printout of the IAS Admit Card safe till the recruitment process is not over.

Many eminent IAS/ Civil Services coaching institutes will release the unofficial IAS answer key on the same day after the exam along with the expected CSE prelims exam 2025 cut off and IAS exam analysis.

As per the UPSC IAS exam date 2025, Union Public Service Commission is expected to release the official answer key of CSE prelims exam 2025 after the IAS recruitment process concludes. The UPSC IAS answer key is released for both the General Studies Paper 1 and 2. The CSE exam answer key will be available on the official website - upsc.gov.in for candidates to download. The IAS answer key is available online in PDF format for all sets of test booklets provided to candidates during IAS exam. 

The IAS answer key released by the UPSC is final and it can not be challenged. The CSE prelims exam 2025 result is based on the IAS answer key. It helps the candidates to know how they preformed in the Civil Services exam and where they need to improve. Candidates can calculate their probable score based on the number of answers marked correctly and incorrectly with the help of the CSE prelims exam 2025 answer key.

Many eminent IAS/ Civil Services coaching institutes release the unofficial IAS answer key on the same day after the exam is over or a day or two after it along with the expected CSE prelims exam 2025 cutoff marks and IAS exam analysis.

The UPSC IAS 2025 cutoff marks refers to the minimum qualifying marks needed to be secured by candidates as per his/her category in different stages of the CSE exam to clear that stage. The UPSC IAS 2025 cutoff marks will be released by the Union Public Service Commission after the announcement of the final IAS exam result. The Commission decides cutoff scores for Preliminary, Mains and Final allotment based on different parameters. The UPSC IAS 2025 cutoff marks is released for all three stages.

IAS Prelims Cutoff 2025
The UPSC IAS 2025 cutoff marks of the preliminary exam is decided based on the General Studies Paper I. The GS Paper II is qualifying in nature and applicants have to secure 33% passing marks in the IAS exam.

IAS Mains Cutoff 2025
The UPSC IAS 2025 cutoff marks for mains is calculated based on the seven compulsory papers as two papers are qualifying in nature. Candidates will be required to secure 25% each in two qualifying papers to pass the IAS exam. However, there will be a sectional cut-off of 10% in the compulsory papers too. Based on the Civil Services cutoff of main exam, candidates will be selected for the Personality Test.

IAS Final Cutoff
The final UPSC IAS 2025 cutoff marks will be determined based on mains exam and Personality Test. On the basis of final Civil Services cutoff, allotment of candidates will be done for various services.

Factors affecting IAS cut off

• Number of candidates appearing for the IAS exam

• The difficulty level of the IAS exam question paper

• Number of IAS vacancies and more

• Past years IAS exam cut off trends

Steps to check IAS cutoff 2025

• Visit the official website - upsc.gov.in

• Search for the IAS cutoff link and click on it

• The Civil Services cutoff PDF file will be displayed on the screen

• Check the category-wise IAS cut-off in the PDF

• Download and save the UPSC IAS 2025 cutoff marks PDF for future reference

Previous Year's IAS exam cutoff

The IAS exam selection procedure has three stages, which are as follows -

IAS Preliminary Exam – Civil Services preliminary examination is held for all candidates who have successfully registered for the IAS exam. The IAS prelims exam is conducted to screen candidates for the IAS mains exam. The marks obtained in the preliminary stage are not considered while preparing the final IAS merit list.

IAS Mains Exam – The mains of IAS exam is conducted for shortlisted candidates who have cleared the IAS prelims cutoff marks. Candidates 12 to 13 times the number of vacancies are selected for the IAS mains exam. There a total of 9 descriptive papers in the mains exam. 

The papers on Indian Languages and English (Paper A and B) of Civil Services mains examination is qualifying in nature. The marks of these papers are also not counted for preparing the merit list. Marks obtained by candidates in all the other IAS mains papers are taken into consideration for making the final IAS exam merit list.

IAS Personality Test – In this stage, candidates twice the number of vacancies are called for the personal interview based on their performance in the mains exam. Marks obtained by candidates in the Main exam and Personality Test are together considered for preparation of All India Merit List for the IAS exam. Allocation of services will be done as per the candidate’s rank in the merit list and preferences of services and posts.