The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Mains examination is a crucial stage in the selection process for civil services. It consists of a written examination followed by an interview. Below is a detailed explanation of the time it takes to complete the UPSC Mains examination process.



The written examination for UPSC Mains comprises nine papers, out of which two are qualifying in nature, while the remaining seven are considered for merit. The exam duration for each paper is three hours. Here is an overview of the time required for the written examination:

1. Qualifying Papers:
- Paper A: Indian Language (300 marks)
- Paper B: English (300 marks)

The qualifying papers are of matriculation-level and are not counted for ranking. The time required to complete both papers is six hours.

2. Merit Papers:
- Paper I: Essay (250 marks)
- Paper II: General Studies I (250 marks)
- Paper III: General Studies II (250 marks)
- Paper IV: General Studies III (250 marks)
- Paper V: General Studies IV (250 marks)
- Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper 1 (250 marks)
- Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper 2 (250 marks)

The merit papers carry a total of 1750 marks. The time required to complete these papers is 21 hours (7 papers x 3 hours each).



After the written examination, candidates who qualify based on the cutoff marks are called for the UPSC interview, also known as the Personality Test. The interview process usually lasts for around 30-45 minutes per candidate.



The total time required to complete the UPSC Mains examination process can be estimated as follows:

- Written Examination: 27 hours (6 hours for qualifying papers + 21 hours for merit papers)
- Interview: Approximately 30-45 minutes per candidate

Considering the time required for the written examination and the interview, the entire UPSC Mains examination process may take around 27 hours plus the number of candidates multiplied by 30-45 minutes.

It is important to note that the time mentioned above is an estimate and may vary depending on factors such as the number of candidates, availability of exam centers, and scheduling of interviews by the UPSC.