What is UPSC Mains exam?

UPSC Prelims is the screening stage of the UPSC exam, and those who clear the UPSC Mains is the second stage of the UPSC CSE Exam after the Prelims Exam. The UPSC Mains is a descriptive exam that consists of 9 papers and so on.

What is the UPSC Mains exam date 2022?

As per the notification released by UPSC on its official website, the UPSC Mains 2022 will be conducted from 16th September onwards through offline mode. There will be nine papers, and the time duration given to each paper will be 3 hours. Those who crack the UPSC Mains will be eligible for the Interview round.

How many papers are there in the UPSC Mains?

There is a total of nine papers namely Indian Language, English Language, Essay, General Studies-1, General Studies-2, General Studies-3, General Studies-4, Optional Paper-I, and Optional Paper-II. The Indian Language Paper and English Language paper are qualifying in nature, and the merit list will be prepared on the basis of scores obtained in the rest seven papers. The time duration for each paper will be 3 hours.

What is the UPSC Mains Syllabus?

The UPSC Mains Syllabus covers a wide range of topics. There is no particular syllabus for the essay paper. The four general studies papers include history, geography, governance, constitution, technology, agriculture, economics, ethics, etc. Candidates can choose any optional subject he/she likes. We have covered the detailed syllabus for UPSC Mains above in this post.

How to download UPSC Mains Question Papers?

We have given the direct link to download the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers. Candidates can download the UPSC Mains question paper for the years 2021 and 2020 above in this post. It would help the candidates to gear up for the preparation for the Mains exam.

When the UPSC Mains Result will be declared?

The UPSC Mains 2022 exam will start from 16th September onwards. A few weeks after completion of the UPSC Mains exam, the results will be published on the official website. Those who clear the Mains round will get an e-summon letter for the Personality test stage.

What is the mode of the UPSC Mains exam?

The UPSC Mains 2022 will be conducted via offline mode or pen and paper mode. Candidates will get a chance to choose the exam center as per their choice.

How to crack UPSC Mains 2022?

To clear the UPSC Mains exam, candidates need to have a rock-solid preparation strategy. Candidates need to allocate their time properly to each paper, follow the right books, attempt mock tests, and practice the previous year’s question papers. Additionally, they need to complete their preparation as soon as possible so that they get enough time to revise.

Which is the best pen for UPSC Mains?

The best pen for UPSC Mains is a black ballpoint pen and it is also mentioned in the instructions of UPSC. make sure you use lightweight sleek pens, rubber grip pens, and soft tip pens. However, you should hold the pen at the right point. Don’t press your fingers hard while holding the pen.

Is there any negative marking in UPSC Mains?

The UPSC Mains examination is a subjective type exam where candidates need to write essay-type answers so there is no negative marking. However, the Prelims exam is objective in nature and that’s why negative marks are allocated in this exam.

What to do after UPSC Mains?

UPSC Mains is the second stage of the UPSC exam, and the third stage is the personality round. So the candidates who crack the Mains exam will be eligible for the Personality test round. The shortlisted candidates will receive an e-summon letter for the interview which will be held in the Union Public Service Commission office housed at Dholpur House in Delhi.

What are the optional subjects in the UPSC Mains exam?

There are a total of 48 optional subjects in the UPSC Mains and out of these 23 are literature languages. Some of the optional subjects are sociology, law, agriculture, history, medical science, psychology, public administration, Bodo, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Nepali, Odia, etc. We have covered the complete list of all the optional subjects for UPSC Mains above.

Who checks the UPSC Mains Paper?

First, the head examiner evaluates a random UPSC Mains answer sheet, and then an examiner’s meeting is conducted, in the meeting, all the examiners discuss the papers and set a standard to evaluate these papers.

Is current affairs important for UPSC Mains?

Yes, current affairs play a significant role in the UPSC Mains preparation. However, the syllabus of current affairs is defined in the Mains syllabus. That is why candidates need to read major newspapers every day and make notes of trending topics around the world to deal with the current affairs portion.

Is UPSC Mains MCQ based?

No, UPSC Mains is not MCQ-based. Unlike the UPSC Prelims exam, the questions in the Mains exam are subjective type, and candidates are expected to give detailed and comprehensive answers. Here structural accuracy plays an important role.

What is the time limit of UPSC Mains Paper?

Candidates get 3 hour of time limit for the UPSC Mains papers. Candidates need to enhance time management and practice answer writing every day to complete the paper on time.

UPSC Mains - Complete Information about UPSC Mains Exam

UPSC Mains 2022

UPSC Mains is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination which is after UPSC Prelims and before the Personality Test. Candidates who score above the UPSC Cutoff in the Prelims exam will be able to appear for the UPSC Mains 2022. Candidates who dream to become IAS, IFS, IPS, and IRS officers need to clear the UPSC Mains exam before clearing the UPSC Interview test. Candidates who are allowed to appear for the UPSC Mains exam are 12 to 13 times the number of Civil Service vacancies for that particular year. In the year 2021, the total number of vacancies was 712 so around 10,000 candidates were selected for UPSC Mains 2021.

UPSC Mains Overview

UPSC conducts the CSE (Civil Services Examination) in three stages- Prelims, Mains, and interviews. UPSC Mains is the second stage of the UPSC CSE, and those candidates who clear this round will be called for the final test i.e Interview. Here we are going to cover all the information about the UPSC Mains like syllabus, exam pattern, exam dates, results and etc. Additionally, we have added some preparation tips for the candidates that will help them ace the UPSC Mains 2022. Go through the highlights of the UPSC Mains Exam to get a better understanding of the exam.

UPSC Mains 2022	Details
UPSC Mains Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission
UPSC 2022 Mains Exam Date	From 16 September 2022
UPSC Mains Exam Mode	Offline, Pen and Paper Mode
UPSC Mains Subject List	UPSC Mains includes 2 compulsory Papers, 4 General Studies Paper and 2 Optional Papers. Candidates can choose any one from the Optional Subjects for UPSC.
How Many Papers in UPSC Mains?	There are 9 papers in UPSC Mains Exam.
UPSC Mains Qualifying Marks	The qualifying marks for UPSC Mains vary each year as per the UPSC Cutoff. UPSC Mains Qualifying Marks 2020 was 736 for General Category.
UPSC Mains Total Marks	Total UPSC Mains marks is 1750 marks for 9 Papers.

UPSC DAF 2022- Application Form

The application form for UPSC Mains 2022 has been released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 6th July 2022 on its official website. Those who have cleared the first stage of the UPSC Exam i.e. UPSC Prelims must apply for the UPSC Mains 2022 before the last date. The last date to apply for UPSC Mains 2022 is 15th July 2022 till 6 PM.

>> Download UPSC Mains 2022 Notification PDF

UPSC Mains Exam Date 2022

UPSC has released the UPSC Mains exam date 2022. UPSC Mains 2022 will start from 16th September onwards and end on 25th September 2022. Candidates who are preparing for the UPSC Mains 2022 Exam must keep track of all the important dates. Below we have mentioned UPSC Mains date 2022.

UPSC Mains 2022 Date	Forenoon Session of UPSC Mains 9.00 A.M. to 12.00 Noon	Afternoon Session 2.00 P.M. to 5.00 P.M.
16 September 2022 (Friday)	Paper-I : Essay	No Paper
17 September 2022 (Saturday)	Paper-II General Studies-I	Paper-III General Studies-II
18 September 2022 (Sunday)	Paper-IV General Studies-III	Paper-V General Studies-IV
24 September 2022 (Saturday)	Paper-A Indian Language	Paper-B English
25 September 2022 (Sunday)	Paper-VI Optional Subject-Paper-1	Paper-VII Optional Subject-Paper-2

UPSC Mains Time Table 2022

UPSC has released the detailed UPSC Mains Schedule 2022 on the official website. The UPSC Mains 2022 will be held for 5 days- 16th, 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th.

The first session is Forenoon Session from 9.00 A.M. to 12.00 Noon
Afternoon Session from 2.00 P.M. to 5.00 P.M

>>Download UPSC Mains Time Table 2022

How to apply for UPSC Mains 2022?

Once the UPSC releases the UPSC Result for Prelims, the shortlisted candidates will have to fill up the Detailed Application Form (DAF) to apply for the UPSC Mains exam.

The DAF will be available on the official website of UPSC.
The UPSC DAF comes with six sections such as Personal, Educational Information, Parental Information, Employment Information, Uploading section, and final submission. Things like names, exam center, Date of Birth, etc will be pre-mentioned in the UPSC DAF from the details you have provided while filling the UPSC Online Application for Prelims.
Questions from the DAF will be asked in the UPSC Interview round so make sure to keep a copy with you as well.

UPSC Mains Paper - Exam Pattern

The UPSC Mains Exam Pattern was revised in 2015, and the latest UPSC Mains exam pattern has been used since then. As per the latest UPSC Mains Paper Pattern, there will be a total of nine theory papers in the UPSC Mains 2022.

Out of these nine papers, only seven will be taken into consideration while preparing the merit list.
Additionally, there will be one optional subject, and candidates can choose any subject from the list of 48 optional subjects. The optional subject has two papers and each carries 250 marks.
Three hours of time-duration will be given to each paper.

Check out the complete UPSC Mains exam pattern 2022 below.

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern
Papers	Subject	Nature of Exam	Total Marks
Paper A	Indian Language	Qualifying	300
Paper B	English	Qualifying	300
Paper I	Essay	Counted for Merit	250
Paper II	General Studies (GS) I		250
Paper III	General Studies (GS) II		250
Paper IV	General Studies (GS) III		250
Paper V	General Studies (GS) IV		250
Paper VI	Optional Subject Paper-I		250
Paper VII	Optional Subject Paper-II		250

UPSC Mains Syllabus

Those candidates who are planning to appear for the UPSC Exam, must understand the UPSC Prelims & Mains syllabus in-depth. Candidates must remember that some part of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus has an overlap with the UPSC Mains syllabus. Download the UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF using the direct link mentioned below in both English and Hindi.

The UPSC Mains Syllabus includes topics to be covered for all 9 papers which cover the compulsory paper, general studies paper, and optional subject.

UPSC Mains Language Paper Syllabus

UPSC Mains Paper consists of two compulsory papers which must be qualified by the aspirants. Paper- A and Paper-B are the two language papers of the UPSC Mains. The UPSC Mains Qualifying Marks for Paper A and Paper B is at least 25% otherwise marks scored in other papers won’t be taken into consideration.

Check out the UPSC Mains syllabus for the language paper

UPSC Mains Paper	Syllabus
UPSC Mains Paper A – Indian Language (any of the Indian languages listed in the 8th schedule of the Constitution)	Comprehension of given passages, Precis Writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Short Essays, Translation from English to the Indian, Language and vice-versa
UPSC Mains Paper B – English	Comprehension of given passages, Precis Writing, Usage, and Vocabulary, Short Essays

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Essay

There is no particular syllabus for the essay paper, and here the candidates have to write two essays from a few given options. The total mark of this UPSC Mains paper will be 250, and candidates are advised to write their ideas in an orderly fashion to fetch maximum marks.

UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies

There will be four general studies UPSC Mains papers, and these papers will test the knowledge of the candidates on a broad range of topics. The UPSC Mains syllabus for the general studies paper includes history, geography, polity, economics, ethics, etc.

UPSC Mains Paper	UPSC Mains Syllabus
UPSC Mains Paper 2 – GS Paper 1	Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society
UPSC Mains Paper 3 – GS Paper 2	Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations
UPSC Mains Paper- 4 – GS Paper 3	Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
UPSC Mains Paper 5 – GS Paper 4	Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

UPSC Mains Subject List with Syllabus

Candidates have the option to choose one subject from the list of 48 optional subjects. There are two UPSC Mains papers and each carries 250 marks. We have provided the direct link to all the optional subject syllabi in the UPSC Mains exam.

UPSC Mains Cut Off

UPSC Mains Qualifying marks is the minimum score required for the candidates to clear the IAS Mains exam and be eligible for the Personality Test round. The UPSC Mains cutoff varies depending on the category of the candidate. UPSC declares the Mains result on its official website.

There are nine papers in the UPSC Mains round, and seven of them are merit ranking in nature. It means the marks scored in those seven papers will be considered for the preparation of the merit list.
The other two papers, Paper-A and Paper-B are qualifying in nature, and candidates only need to score 25% to qualify in these papers.
The UPSC Mains Cutoff Marks will be out of 1750 marks.

UPSC Mains Cut Off 2020

Below mentioned is the UPSC Mains Qualifying Marks 2020 for all the categories.

Category	Year 2020
General	736
EWS	687
OBC	698
SC	680
ST	682
PwBD-1	648
PwBD-2	699
PwBD-3	425
PwBD-4	300

UPSC Mains Question Paper

Candidates need to work really hard in order to crack a difficult exam like UPSC Mains. However, if the hard work is not done in the right direction then the results won’t be fruitful. That is why candidates must take a strategic approach while preparing for UPSC Mains 2022.

UPSC Previous Year Question Papers would be a valuable addition to the Mains exam preparation. It would help the candidates to keep track of changing trends of UPSC Papers. Here we have provided the UPSC Mains question paper of previous years. Aspirants must solve the last 10 years' UPSC Mains Question Papers with answers PDF to level up their score and qualify for the UPSC Mains Exam.

UPSC Mains Question Paper 2021

Following are the question papers for UPSC Mains 2021.

UPSC Mains Question Paper 2020

Below we have mentioned the Mains question paper for the year 2020 as well, candidates can download these question papers directly from the link given.

UPSC Mains Answer Sheet

As UPSC Mains is a descriptive paper, aspirants are provided with a UPSC Mains Answer Sheet to write their answers in. Usually, the size of the mains answer sheet is 8.5 x 10.5 inches. Candidates can also download the UPSC Mains Answer Sheet PDF using the direct link mentioned below to have an idea about what kind of sheets would be provided in the examination.

UPSC Mains Answer Sheet PDF Download

How to prepare for UPSC Mains?

UPSC Mains is a descriptive paper and therefore UPSC Mains preparation requires a subjective and comprehensive coverage of the syllabus. UPSC Mains Exam helps you improve your rank in the IAS Exam as the marks secured in Mains Exam are included in the final merit list. Below mentioned are some tips and strategies to be followed for the UPSC Mains Preparation.

The UPSC Prelims exam is usually held between June and August, so the candidates need to prepare for both Prelims, and Mains simultaneously till January. After that candidates are required to fully focus on the Prelims exam.
As UPSC Mains is descriptive in nature, candidates need to write at least 300 words per day. Answer writing practice can be done through regular tests along with making notes.
Candidates need to be very consistent with their preparation as there is not much time left after the UPSC Prelims exam. The days should be pre-scheduled and you need to implement them to perfection.
To write qualitative answers, candidates must understand the trend of the questions including the essay. So here keeping track of the previous year’s questions becomes so crucial. While going through the previous year’s questions you will figure out that some parts are more important than others. Use this method for the optional subjects as well.
It is equally important to maintain a balance between your health, studies, and mental wellbeing. Hard work with discipline will take you to the merit list. Form a robust timetable, and follow it meticulously. Allot enough time to cover the optional paper, GS, and essay. Revise regularly, and access your performance regularly.

The UPSC Exam is considered one of the toughest exams in the country. The UPSC Exam is conducted in three rounds, viz. Prelims, Mains and the Interview. The UPSC Mains is the second stage of the exam. It is advised for candidates to practice answer writing well in advance for the UPSC Mains Exam as all t papers in the Mains Exam are descriptive in nature. Many candidates fail to complete the entire paper due to a lack of practice and proper time management.

How to Write Answers in UPSC Mains?

To approach the questions asked in the UPSC Mains, a candidate should have a basic idea of the topic asked. The answers for the Mains Exam need not be of the scholar level but should convey all the necessary details asked. To write answers for the UPSC Mains, candidates should:

Follow a multidimensional approach. The answers should cover all the basic aspects related to the topic and its interrelation with other subjects.
The keyword or the important points should be underlined or highlighted so that it becomes visible to the examiner.
Avoid using flowery language or jargon in the answer. The answer should be simple, lucid, and concise.
The introduction should not be more than 40-50 words, and should necessarily cover the definition of the topic asked along with data, facts, figures, and famous committee reports.
The main body should cover the basic idea of the topic, covering the core demand. The answer should be structured in headings and subheadings as per the requirement of the question.
Usage of diagrams, mindmaps, and graphs makes the answer more presentable and shows the candidate's knowledge about the topic.
Government schemes, efforts, and initiatives should be highlighted along with the answer.
The conclusion of the answer should always carry a positive futuristic approach and must have a balanced view.
Always adhere to the word count prescribed by the UPSC, failing to can result in deduction of marks.

Books for UPSC Mains

It is impossible to imagine UPSC preparation without the UPSC Books. However many candidates get overwhelmed and find themselves in a confusing situation when it comes to choosing the right books for UPSC. You may feel like buying the whole bookstore at times. However not all the books would be beneficial for the preparation for the UPSC Mains exam. And to save you from confusion we have compiled a list of all the highly recommended books for UPSC Mains. Check out the complete UPSC Mains Book List below.

Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
Geography of India by Majid Husain
World Geography by Majid Husain
Constitution of India at Work (Class XI) NCERT
Indian Polity by Laxmikant
Indian Economy by Sanjiv Verma
Class 12 NCERT Book on Biology (Chapters pertaining to Ecology)
India Year Book (Chapters on Environment)
India’s Security in a Turbulent World by Jasjit Singh
Ethics in Governance, ARC Report
India’s Security in a Turbulent World by Jasjit Singh
Challenges to Internal Security of India – Ashok Kumar

UPSC Mains Books for Optional Subject

Above we have mentioned the books required for the GS papers of the UPSC Mains exam. Below candidates can check out the highly recommended books for all the optional subjects in the Mains exam.

UPSC Mains Books for Optional Subjects
UPSC History Optional Books UPSC Mains	Political Science Optional Books for UPSC Mains	UPSC Public Administration Optional Books
UPSC Geography Optional Books	Anthropology Optional Books for UPSC	UPSC Sociology Optional Books
Hindi Literature Optional Books for UPSC IAS Exam	UPSC Economics Optional Books	Tamil Literature Optional Books for UPSC
UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Optional Books	Law Optional Books for UPSC Mains	UPSC Zoology Optional Books
Best Polity Books for UPSC	UPSC Gujarati Literature Optional Books	Chemistry Optional Books for UPSC Mains
UPSC Physics Optional Books	English Literature Optional Books for IAS	UPSC Telugu Literature Optional Books
Statistics Optional Books for IAS Exam	UPSC Geology Optional Books	Commerce Optional Books for UPSC
UPSC Mathematics Optional Books	Philosophy Optional Books for UPSC	UPSC Botany Optional Books
Assamese Literature Optional Books for UPSC	Sindhi Literature Optional Books for UPSC Mains	Kashmiri Literature Optional Books for UPSC Mains
UPSC Psychology Optional Books	Electrical Engineering Optional Books for UPSC	UPSC Medical Science Optional Books
Agriculture Optional Books for UPSC Mains	UPSC Civil Engineering Optional Books	Mechanical Engineering Optional Books for UPSC Mains
IAS Malayalam Literature Optional Books	Nepali Literature Optional Books for UPSC	Bengali Literature Optional Books for UPSC Mains
Maithili Literature Optional Books for UPSC Mains	Marathi Literature Optional Books for IAS Exam	UPSC Punjabi Literature Optional Books
Sanskrit Literature Optional Books for UPSC IAS Mains	Kannada Literature Optional Books for IAS	Important Ethics Books for UPSC Mains
UPSC Bodo Literature Optional Books for IAS Exam	UPSC Konkani Literature Optional Books	Manipuri Literature Optional Books for UPSC Exam
Oriya Literature Optional Books for UPSC IAS	UPSC Santhali Literature Optional Books	Urdu Literature Optional Books for UPSC
Management Optional Books for IAS Mains

UPSC Mains Result

UPSC Mains 2022 result will be declared a few weeks after the completion of the Mains exam. Candidates can check the result on the official website of UPSC. The UPSC Mains 2021 result was released on 17th March 2022, and the candidates who got shortlisted will have to fill up and submit the DAF-II for the final selection round i.e. the Personality Test. the commission will upload the final results on its official website after the completion of this last stage of UPSC exam.

UPSC Mains Result 2021 Name List

UPSC Mains result 2021 has been declared by UPSC on 17th March 2022 on its official website. The UPSC Mains exam 2021 was conducted from 7th- 16th January 2022. A total of 1823 candidates are selected for the 3rd stage of the exam i.e. Personality round, and we have provided the names of the selected candidates in UPSC Mains 2021 below.

>> Download UPSC Mains Result 2021 Name List

How to Check UPSC Mains Result?

To check the result of the Mains exam, candidates need to follow these steps we have mentioned below.

Visit the official website of UPSC
Click on the “Written Result”
Find the result link
Search for the written result and enter the roll number
Download the result and take a printout of it

UPSC Mains 2022: Exam Date, Paper Pattern & Syllabus