The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the date sheet for the Civil Services Main Examination (CSE) 2025. The exams will be held over nine days starting from August 22 and ending on August 31, 2025. The complete schedule has been uploaded on the official website — upsc.gov.in — and includes timings and paper codes for all subjects. Candidates who have cleared the preliminary exam can now prepare for the next stage with a clear time frame in mind.
I’m writing this because the UPSC exam calendar is a vital piece of information for thousands of aspirants across the country. Every serious candidate shapes their preparation strategy around these dates. Knowing the exact timeline not only helps in planning subject-wise revision but also reduces the uncertainty that often affects mental focus. The CSE Mains is not just another exam; it’s a gateway to India’s top civil services like IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS. This update will give aspirants a timely heads-up and help them get into exam mode with better clarity and confidence.
Detailed UPSC CSE Mains 2025 Schedule
The Mains exam will be conducted over two sessions — Forenoon (9:00 am to 12:00 pm) and Afternoon (2:00 pm to 5:00 pm). Here’s a quick overview of the schedule:
| Date | Session | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, Fri | Forenoon (9:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon) | Paper-I (Essay) |
| August 23, Sat | Forenoon (9:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon) | Paper-II (General Studies-I) |
| Afternoon (2:30 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.) | Paper-III (General Studies-II) | |
| August 24, Sun | Forenoon (9:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon) | Paper-IV (General Studies-III) |
| Afternoon (2:30 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.) | Paper-V (General Studies-IV) | |
| August 30, Sat | Forenoon (9:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon) | Paper-A (Indian Language) |
| Afternoon (2:30 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.) | Paper-B (English) | |
| August 31, Sun | Forenoon (9:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon) | Paper-VI (Optional Subject – Paper 1) |
| Afternoon (2:30 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.) | Paper-VII (Optional Subject – Paper 2) |
All candidates should note that there will be a break between August 25 to 29, giving some room for revision before the optional papers.
What to Do Now: Key Preparation Tips
If you’re a serious aspirant, this is what you should focus on right away:
- Finish Core GS Topics by August 10 so you can revise in the remaining days
- Practice full-length Essay and Optional paper mock tests every weekend
- Allocate more time to Ethics and Essay since they can significantly boost your score
- Time your answer writing — three hours per paper is tight, so practising under exam conditions is key
- Go through toppers’ answers and previous year papers to understand the demand of the paper
Also, don’t ignore compulsory papers like English and Indian Language. While they are qualifying in nature, poor performance can still get your candidature disqualified.
Where to Download the Time Table
Here’s how you can download the UPSC CSE Mains 2025 time table from the official website:
- Visit upsc.gov.in
- Click on the ‘What’s New’ section
- Find the link titled “Time Table – Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2025”
- Click to download the PDF schedule
