The UPSC Civil Services Examination consists of three stages: the Preliminary examination, the Main examination, and the Personality Test (Interview).

Preliminary Examination:

The Preliminary examination consists of two papers, both of which are objective type (multiple choice questions). The marking scheme is as follows:

• For every correct answer, candidates are awarded 2 marks.
• For every incorrect answer, one-third (0.66) of the marks assigned to that question are deducted as negative marking.
• No marks are awarded or deducted for unanswered questions.

Main Examination:

The Main examination consists of 9 papers, out of which 7 are counted for merit ranking. The marking scheme for each paper is as follows:

• Essay paper: 250 marks
• General Studies papers (4 papers): 250 marks each
• Optional paper 1: 250 marks
• Optional paper 2: 250 marks
• Indian Language paper: 300 marks
• English Language paper: 300 marks

Personality Test (Interview):

The Personality Test carries 275 marks. The interview panel assesses the candidate's personality traits, communication skills, and knowledge of current affairs.

The final merit list is prepared by adding up the marks obtained by the candidates in the Main examination (out of 1750) and the Personality Test (out of 275).