The UPSC, or Union Public Service Commission, conducts a Civil Services Examination (CSE) in India, often called the IAS exam, to recruit individuals for various civil services positions like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). The exam has three stages: Prelims (objective), Mains (descriptive), and the Personality Test (interview). The exam is a gateway to a career in the Indian Civil Services, which includes Group A and Group B services. 

Eligibility:

Nationality: Generally, Indian citizens are eligible for the IAS, IFS, and IPS. 

Educational Qualification: A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university is required. 

Age: The age limit is typically between 21 and 32 years, with relaxations for certain categories. 

 Attempts: The number of attempts allowed varies based on category (General/EWS – 6, OBC/PwBD – 9, SC/ST – unlimited). 

Stages of the Exam:

Preliminary Examination (Prelims): This is an objective-type test, and it’s the first stage of the exam. 

Main Examination (Mains): This is a descriptive-type exam with multiple papers, including two qualifying language papers and several general studies papers. 

 Personality Test (Interview): This is an in-person test conducted after the Mains examination.