The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the longest selection processes in the country. Based on the verified CSE 2025 cycle:

Stage 1 — Prelims: Held in late May. Results declared approximately 2.5 to 3 weeks later.

• CSE 2025: Prelims 25 May 2025; result 11 June 2025

Stage 2 — DAF-I (Mains registration): Opens within days of Prelims result, typically for about 10 days.

• CSE 2025: 16 June 2025 to 25 June 2025

Stage 3 — Mains Exam: Held in late August, spanning nine papers over two weekends.

• CSE 2025: 22 to 31 August 2025

Stage 4 — Mains Result: Declared approximately 10 to 11 weeks after Mains. About 2,700 to 3,000 candidates are shortlisted.

• CSE 2025: 11 November 2025

Stage 5 — DAF-II (Interview registration): Opens within 2 days of Mains result; approximately 2 weeks to submit.

• CSE 2025: 13 to 27 November 2025

Stage 6 — Personality Test (Interview): Conducted across two phases over roughly 3 months at UPSC Bhavan, New Delhi.

• CSE 2025: December 2025 to February 2026

Stage 7 — Final Result: Declared 1 to 2 weeks after the last interview session.

• CSE 2025: 6 March 2026

Total duration (Prelims to Final Result for CSE 2025): approximately 9.5 months.

For CSE 2026: Prelims on 24 May 2026; Final Result expected approximately January-February 2027.