On Average, 900,000 to 1,000,000 Candidates Apply Every Year The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India, including:

↪ All India Services (Group A): the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS)

↪ Central Services (Group A): 19 positions, e.g. IFS (Indian Foreign Services), IRS (Indian Revenue Services)

↪ Group B Services: 5 positions, e.g. Pondicherry Civil Service

The examination consists of the following three stages:
↪ Stage I: Preliminary examination - A qualifying test advertised/notified in the month of Feb/March and held in the month of June each year. Results are published in mid July.

↪ Stage II: Main examination - Held in September/October every year. Results are usually published in Jan/Feb.

↪ Stage III: Personality Test (Interview) Held in the month of March/April every year. Final results are usually announced in May.