The UPSC exam statistics show that the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam is considered one of the toughest exams in the world due to its competitive nature and the extensive preparation required to clear it. Here are some reasons why the UPSC exam is known as the toughest exam.
Table of Contents
Why Civil Services Exam is one of the toughest exams in the country?
- Extensive Syllabus: The UPSC exam has a vast syllabus, covering a wide range of subjects such as history, geography, economics, politics, science and technology, and current affairs. The syllabus requires candidates to have in-depth knowledge of various topics, which makes it difficult to cover everything within a limited time.
- High Competition: The UPSC exam is highly competitive, with lakhs of candidates appearing for it every year. The competition for each seat is intense, with only a few hundred candidates selected from among the thousands who appear.
- Multi-stage Selection Process: The UPSC exam has a multi-stage selection process, which includes the preliminary exam, the main exam, and an interview. Each stage is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge, analytical ability, and personality, making it challenging to clear all three stages.
- Difficulty Level: The UPSC exam is known for its high difficulty level, with many questions being analytical and requiring candidates to have a deep understanding of the subject. The questions are designed to test the candidate’s ability to apply their knowledge and analytical skills to solve complex problems.
- Lengthy Preparation Time: The UPSC exam requires extensive preparation, which can take up to a year or more. Candidates need to be dedicated, disciplined, and consistent in their preparation to cover the vast syllabus and clear the exam.
Overall, the UPSC exam’s rigorous selection process, vast syllabus, and high competition make it one of the toughest exams in the world.
What is the level of Competition in the Civil Services exam?
The Civil Services Exam is a highly competitive exam. On average, about 16 lakh candidates prepare for the exam. Of these, about 11 lakh candidates fill out the exam form. On average, every year about 55% of them appear for the Prelims exam. Ten times the number of seats qualify in the Prelims exam. Twice the number of seats qualify Mains exam and appear for the interview. On average, there are about 1,000 seats in the exam. So the success ratio for the Civil Services Exam is ver less about 0.4%.
UPSC Exam Statistics – Number of Vacancies
The number of vacancies in the UPSC Civil Services Exam varies yearly and is determined by the Government of India. The number of vacancies depends on various factors such as the number of retiring officers, the number of new posts created, and the requirements of different government departments. The vacancies for each year are usually announced along with the notification for the exam. Candidates can check the official website of the UPSC (www.upsc.gov.in) for the latest information on the number of vacancies for the Civil Services Exam.
Here we present the number of vacancies in the UPSC Civil Services Exam from 1992-2023. This gives you the number of vacancies over the years and an indication of possible vacancies in the years to come.
| Year | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 763 |
| 1993 | 791 |
| 1994 | 707 |
| 1995 | 645 |
| 1996 | 740 |
| 1997 | 621 |
| 1998 | 470 |
| 1999 | 411 |
| 2000 | 427 |
| 2001 | 417 |
| 2002 | 309 |
| 2003 | 457 |
| 2004 | 453 |
| 2005 | 457 |
| 2006 | 553 |
| 2007 | 734 |
| 2008 | 881 |
| 2009 | 989 |
| 2010 | 1,043 |
| 2011 | 1,001 |
| 2012 | 1,091 |
| 2013 | 1,228 |
| 2014 | 1,364 |
| 2015 | 1,164 |
| 2016 | 1,209 |
| 2017 | 990 |
| 2018 | 812 |
| 2019 | 927 |
| 2020 | 761 |
| 2021 | 685 |
| 2022 | 1,011 |
| 2023 | 1,105 |
Source: UPSC Annual Reports and newspaper reports
UPSC Exam Statistics – Number of Candidates
The number of candidates appearing in the UPSC Civil Services Exam also varies each year. In recent years, the number of candidates who apply for the exam has been increasing steadily. For example, in the year 2020, a total of 10.58 lakh candidates applied for the exam, while in 2019, around 8 lakh candidates applied. However, the actual number of candidates who appear for the exam may be lower than the number of applicants as some candidates may not appear due to various reasons such as not being eligible or not being able to appear on the exam day.
It is important to note that the competition for the UPSC Civil Services Exam is quite high, and only a small percentage of candidates who appear for the exam are able to clear it and get selected for the various services under the exam.
Here we present the number of candidates applying and appearing in various stages of the UPSC Civil Services Exam from 1992-2023. This gives you the level of competition in the UPSC Civil Services Exam.
| Year | Prelims – Applied | Prelims – Appeared | Prelims – Qualified | Mains – Appeared | Interview | Final Selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | – | – | – | 8,125 | 1,265 | 621 |
| 1998 | – | – | – | 8,789 | 964 | 470 |
| 1999 | – | – | – | 4,718 | 845 | 411 |
| 2000 | – | – | – | 4,725 | 874 | 427 |
| 2001 | 2,09,281 | 1,14,209 | 5,442 | 5,244 | 1,140 | 417 |
| 2002 | 3,01,585 | 1,57,486 | 3,430 | 3,301 | 748 | 309 |
| 2003 | 3,16,496 | 1,60,784 | 5,898 | 5,750 | 1,176 | 457 |
| 2004 | 3,49,020 | 1,74,475 | 5565 | 5,328 | 1163 | 453 |
| 2005 | 3,45,106 | – | – | – | – | 457 |
| 2006 | 3,83,983 | 1,95,803 | 7,692 | 7,496 | 1,408 | 553 |
| 2007 | 3,33,680 | 1,61,469 | 9,158 | 8,886 | 1,883 | 734 |
| 2008 | 3,254,33 | 1,67,035 | 11,669 | 11,330 | 2,136 | 881 |
| 2009 | 4,09,110 | 1,93,091 | 11,894 | 11,516 | 2,431 | 989 |
| 2010 | 5,47,698 | 2,69,036 | 12,271 | 11,865 | 2,589 | 1043 |
| 2011 | 4,99,120 | 2,43,236 | 11,837 | 11,237 | 2,415 | 1,001 |
| 2012 | 5,50,080 | 2,71,442 | 12,795 | 12,190 | 2,674 | 1,091 |
| 2013 | 7,76,604 | 3,23,949 | 14,959 | 14,178 | 3,003 | 1,228 |
| 2014 | 9,47,428 | 4,51,602 | 16,706 | 16,286 | 3,308 | 1,364 |
| 2015 | 9,39,735 | 4,633,91 | 15,008 | 15,000* | 2,797 | 1,164 |
| 2016 | 1,128,262 | 4,59,659 | 15,382 | 15,149 | 2,961 | 1,209 |
| 2017 | 9,47,728 | 4,56,625 | 13,300 | 13,060 | 2,568 | 990 |
| 2018 | 10,41,775 | 4,93,972 | 10,419 | 10,246 | 1,994 | 812 |
| 2019 | 11,35,261 | 5,68,282 | 11,845 | 11,700* | 2,034 | 927 |
| 2020 | 10,57,948 | 4,82,770 | 10,564 | – | 2,053 | 761 |
| 2021 | 10,93,948 | 5,08,619 | 9,214 | – | 1,823 | 685 |
| 2022 | 11,35,697 | 5,73,735 | 13,090 | – | 2,529 | 933 |
| 2023 | – | – | 14,624 | – | – | – |
Source: UPSC Annual Reports and newspaper reports
Thus the UPSC exam statistics on vacancies, number of candidates over last 20 years show that there is a vey tough competition. Therefore, if a candidate wants to clear the UPSC Civil Services Exam then there need is a good understanding of the examination, syllabus, pattern, process, effective study plan, right books, right guidance, well-organized and meticulous approach, perseverance, utmost enthusiasm and passion, and never-give-up attitude that will push gradually one from the preliminary step to the final stage.
Also read:
- UPSC Civil Services Exam Syllabus
- UPSC Civil Services Exam Books
- Government Websites useful for UPSC aspirants
- Private Websites useful for UPSC aspirants
- Blogs by UPSC Toppers useful for UPSC aspirants
- How to study for UPSC Civil Services Exam
- UPSC Official Website
Written By: Editor