The Civil Services Examination comprises two successive stages:
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Civil Services (Main) Examination; and
- Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview/Personality Test) for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts.
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination:
The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type 200 marks each;- Both the question papers will be of the objective type and each will be of two hours duration.
- The General Studies Paper-II will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
Civil Services (Main) Examination
The Written Examination will consist of the following papers:—Qualifying Papers:
| Paper-A (One of the Indian Language from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution). | 300 Marks |
| Paper-B English | 300 Marks |
Papers to be counted for merit:
| Paper-I | |
| Essay | 250 Marks |
| Paper-II | |
| General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) |
250 Marks |
| Paper-III | |
| General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) |
250 Marks |
| Paper-IV | |
| General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) |
250 Marks |
| Paper-V | |
| General Studies -IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) |
250 Marks |
| Paper-VI | |
| Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 Marks |
| Paper-VII | |
| Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 Marks |
| Sub Total (Written test) | 1750 Marks |