UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) is one of India's most prestigious exams that selects candidates for various administrative positions in the government. The exam is conducted in three stages namely, Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Let's look at the number of papers in each stage.

Preliminary Exam:

The Preliminary exam is the first stage of the UPSC exam. It is an objective type exam that consists of two papers.

1. General Studies Paper-I: This paper consists of 100 questions and is for 200 marks. The questions are from current events, history of India, geography, Indian polity, economy, and ecology.

2. General Studies Paper-II (CSAT): This paper consists of 80 questions and is for 200 marks. The questions are from comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, and analytical ability.

Mains Exam:

The Mains exam is the second stage of the UPSC exam. It is a subjective type exam that consists of nine papers.

1. Paper-I (Essay): This paper is for 250 marks and candidates have to write an essay on a given topic.

2. Paper-II (General Studies-I): This paper is for 250 marks and consists of questions from Indian heritage and culture, history, and geography of the world and society.

3. Paper-III (General Studies-II): This paper is for 250 marks and consists of questions from governance, constitution, polity, social justice, and international relations.

4. Paper-IV (General Studies-III): This paper is for 250 marks and consists of questions from technology, economic development, bio-diversity, environment, security, and disaster management.

5. Paper-V (General Studies-IV): This paper is for 250 marks and consists of questions from ethics, integrity, and aptitude.

6. Paper-VI (Optional Paper-I): This paper is for 250 marks and candidates can choose any optional subject from the list of subjects provided by UPSC.

7. Paper-VII (Optional Paper-II): This paper is for 250 marks and candidates can choose any optional subject from the list of subjects provided by UPSC.

8. Paper-VIII (Language Paper-I): This paper is for 300 marks and candidates have to write an essay in the language they have chosen from the list of languages provided by UPSC.

9. Paper-IX (Language Paper-II): This paper is for 300 marks and candidates have to do a comprehension, precis writing, and translation from the language they have chosen from the list of languages provided by UPSC.

Interview:

The Interview is the third and final stage of the UPSC exam. Candidates who qualify for the Mains exam are called for the interview. The interview is for 275 marks.

Conclusion:

UPSC exam is a tough nut to crack and requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The number of papers in each stage of the exam is as follows:

- Preliminary Exam: 2 papers
- Mains Exam: 9 papers
- Interview: 1 paper

Candidates need to prepare and plan accordingly to ace the exam and achieve their dream of serving the nation.