The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) extended the deadline for registering for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSE) 2025. According to the recent notification, candidates may now apply until February 21, 2025, at 6 PM. The application window, previously targeted to end earlier, was earlier extended to February 18 before this additional extension. This move is taken after constant complaints of candidates while applying, so the Commission decided to give more time.

UPSC CSE Prelims will be held on May 25, 2025. This high-profile examination is held for the recruitment of officers in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and other civil services. With this recruitment campaign, the UPSC intends to recruit about 979 positions in various services under the Civil Services Examination. In addition to that, 150 posts in the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) will be recruited through this campaign as well. If the interested candidate wants to apply for the exam, he or she has to register on the official website, upsc.gov.in, and fill the application online at upsconline.gov.in.

To finalize the application process, candidates need to register on the One Time Registration (OTR) portal on the UPSC website. Once they have registered, they need to fill the online application form, upload the required documents, pay the application fee, and submit the filled-in form. The application fee for the examination is ₹100, but candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and female candidates are exempt from paying the application fee.

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination involves two objective type papers. One paper, namely General Studies (GS), is for 100 questions, whereas the other one, the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), comprises 80 questions. The sum of the marks of the two papers is equal to 400. Two marks are given for each correct option. But the test has a negative marking system, in which one-third of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer. No marks are deducted for leaving a question blank.

The qualified candidates of the Prelims will proceed to the Mains examination, which is a detailed written test. The last step in the selection process is the Interview or Personality Test, where the candidates are evaluated on multiple traits, such as knowledge, decision-making ability, and overall fitness for administrative positions.

Given technical issues experienced by candidates in filing their applications, the UPSC has also brought in refinements to its online application portal. These updates seek to make the registration process more streamlined and offer a more convenient experience for applicants. Additionally, the Commission has made the announcement that there will be a seven-day window for corrections from February 22 to February 28, 2025, where candidates can make necessary corrections to their filed applications.

The UPSC Civil Services Exam is one of India’s most difficult and coveted competitive exams, which draws thousands of candidates annually. Passing the exam gives them access to different administrative and leadership roles within India’s government, which makes it a very coveted chance for candidates nationwide. Candidates now have more time to finish their applications and ensure they comply with all requirements until the closing date with the new deadline extension.

For more information and to apply, applicants are requested to check the official UPSC website.