The UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination and the Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination for the year 2025 are fast approaching, with the last date for application being today, February 18, 2025. Candidates who have yet to apply are urged to visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in or upsconline.gov.in to submit their applications online. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had originally set the deadline for February 11 but later extended it to February 18. This year, the civil services examination aims to fill 979 positions across various government departments.
Important Application Updates for UPSC 2025
According to an official notification released by the UPSC, “The last date for submitting applications for the UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025 and the Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination 2025 has been extended to February 18, 2025, at 6 PM. In addition, the application correction window will be open for 7 days, starting from the day after the application window closes, i.e., from February 19 to February 25, 2025.”
Pre-Requisites for Applying to UPSC CSE 2025
Before applying, candidates must create a One-Time Registration (OTR) profile, which remains valid for a lifetime. Candidates who have already created their profile can directly fill in the application form. As per the UPSC calendar, the preliminary examination is scheduled for May 25, 2025, with candidates selected through three stages: preliminary examination, main examination, and interview.
Available Services for Recruitment
| Service Type | Group |
|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service | A |
| Indian Foreign Service | A |
| Indian Police Service | A |
| Indian Audit and Accounts Service | A |
| Indian Civil Accounts Service | A |
| Indian Corporate Law Service | A |
| Indian Defence Accounts Service | A |
| Indian Defence Estates Service | A |
| Indian Information Service | A |
| Indian Postal Service | A |
| Indian Postal and Telegraph Accounts and Finance Service | A |
| Indian Railway Management Service (Traffic) | A |
| Indian Railway Management Service (Personnel) | A |
| Indian Railway Management Service (Accounts) | A |
| Indian Railway Protection Force Service | A |
| Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) | A |
| Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) | A |
| Indian Trade Service | A (Grade III) |
| Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service | B |
| DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu) | B |
| DANIPS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu) | B |
| Puducherry Civil Service | B |
| Puducherry Police Service | B |
Eligibility Criteria for UPSC CSE 2025
Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a graduation degree or equivalent qualification. Those who have completed their final semester examinations and are waiting for results can also apply, but they must provide proof of passing afterward.
Age Limit: Candidates must be at least 21 years old and no older than 32 years as of August 1, 2025. However, reserved category candidates are given relaxation in the upper age limit.
Application Fees for UPSC CSE 2025
Candidates applying for UPSC CSE 2025 are required to pay an application fee of ₹100. However, women, SC/ST, and benchmark disability category candidates are exempt from paying the application fee.
Attempt Limits for UPSC CSE
General category candidates can attempt the UPSC Civil Services Examination a maximum of six times, while OBC candidates are allowed up to nine attempts. There are no limits on the number of attempts for SC and ST candidates.