The central government has made changes to the application process for the 2025 Civil Services Preliminary Exam. Now, candidates will have to submit certain documents while applying for the exam.
The central government has made changes to the application process for the 2025 Civil Services Preliminary Exam. Now, candidates must submit documents supporting their age and reservation claims along with their application. Previously, these documents were only required after passing the preliminary exam.
The rule changes are based on the Poornia Khedkar case. This step was taken after the controversial case of former IAS probationer Poornia Khedkar. She was accused of wrongly taking advantage of the OBC and disability quotas to secure selection in the civil services. However, she denied these allegations.
In the notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, it is stated that all candidates applying for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) must apply online. They will also need to upload supporting documents required by UPSC, such as birth date, category (caste), PwBD (disability), Economically Weaker Section (EWS), ex-servicemen, education, service preference, etc. The notification specifies that if the supporting documents are not uploaded, the candidature will be canceled.
Examination Process
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination in three stages every year:
1. Preliminary Exam
2. Main Exam
3. Interview
This examination is held to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
Mandatory Document Submission During Application
According to the Civil Services Examination Rules-2025, issued on January 22, candidates must submit the following documents while applying:
1. Proof of date of birth
2. Category (such as SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PWD, or ex-servicemen)
3. Educational qualifications
4. Service preference
Reservation and Application Process
The government has made provisions for reservation for candidates from SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and disability categories. The application process will be fully online. Interested candidates can apply until 6 PM on February 11, 2025.
Special Encouragement for Female Candidates
The government is encouraging female candidates to apply, keeping gender balance in mind. The notice states that creating a balanced and inclusive workforce is the government’s goal.
