UPSC Mains 2027 — How Many Days Left

The UPSC Civil Services Main examination is the written stage that actually decides the ranking. It runs over several days and consists of nine papers, all descriptive — no multiple choice anywhere.

Two papers qualify, seven count.

• Paper A (an Indian language) and Paper B (English) are qualifying only, at 25 %. Their marks are never added to the total, but failing either means the rest of the papers are not even evaluated.
• Essay, four General Studies papers and two Optional subject papers carry 250 marks each — 1750 marks in total.

The interview, formally the Personality Test, adds 275 marks, giving a final total of 2025.

The optional subject is chosen by the candidate from a published list, and covers two full papers — 500 of the 1750 marks. It is the single largest strategic decision of the whole process.

Answer writing is the skill being tested. Word limits are tight, time is short, and the question papers reward structure and directly relevant content over volume. Candidates who cleared Prelims on recall alone routinely find that Mains asks something else entirely.

Prelims marks count for nothing here: the slate is wiped clean, and only Mains plus interview build the final rank.