The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a competitive exam in India for recruitment into various civil services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Below is an overview of the eligibility criteria and exam pattern for the UPSC CSE:

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Nationality:

   • For IAS, IPS, and IFS: Must be a citizen of India.
   • For other services:
     • A citizen of India, or
     • A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
     • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
     • A person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.

2. Educational Qualification:

   • A degree from a Central, State, or Deemed university.
   • A degree obtained through correspondence or distance education.
   • A degree from an open university.
   • A qualification recognized by the Government of India as equivalent to the above.

3. Age Limit:

   • Minimum: 21 years
   • Maximum: 32 years (as of August 1 of the exam year) for general category candidates.
   • Age relaxations apply for reserved categories:
     • OBC: Up to 35 years
     • SC/ST: Up to 37 years
     • Other specific relaxations as per government norms.

4. Number of Attempts:

   • General category: 6 attempts
   • OBC: 9 attempts
   • SC/ST: Unlimited attempts up to the age limit

Exam Pattern:

The UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims):

   • Consists of two objective-type papers:
     • General Studies Paper I: Covers subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, and Current Affairs.
     • General Studies Paper II (CSAT): Tests comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, problem-solving, basic numeracy, and data interpretation.
   • Note: CSAT is qualifying in nature; candidates must score at least 33%.
   • Marks obtained in Prelims are not counted for the final ranking but determine eligibility for the Mains.

2. Main Examination (Mains):

   • Consists of nine descriptive papers:
     • Paper A: Indian Language (qualifying)
     • Paper B: English (qualifying)
     • Paper I: Essay
     • Papers II to V: General Studies (GS I to GS IV)
     • Papers VI and VII: Optional Subject Papers I and II (candidate’s choice of subject)
   • Marks of Papers I to VII are counted for merit ranking.

3. Personality Test (Interview):

   • Candidates who clear the Mains are called for an interview assessing personality traits, communication skills, and overall suitability for a career in civil services.