IFS Mains is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and covers General English, General Knowledge and Optional subjects. This page summarises the IFS Mains exam pattern, marking scheme and syllabus as a study snapshot for previous year question practice. Confirm eligibility, dates and marking in the latest official notification on upsc.gov.in.
Official notification wins
The notification for your cycle fixes dates, vacancies, age limits and any pattern change. Use this page to plan practice, not to replace it.
Pattern
The IFS Main examination has six papers of 3 hours each. Paper I is General English and Paper II is General Knowledge, 300 marks each. Candidates then pick two optional subjects from a list of 14, each with two papers of 200 marks. That is 1,400 marks written, and a 300-mark interview takes the total to 1,700.
| Stage or paper | Subject | Marks and format |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 300 marks, 3 hours |
| Paper II | General Knowledge | 300 marks, 3 hours |
| Optional subject 1 | Two papers | 200 marks each |
| Optional subject 2 | Two papers | 200 marks each |
| Interview | Personality Test | 300 marks |
Syllabus areas
Compulsory papers
General English tests essay writing, usage, precis and comprehension. General Knowledge covers national and international events, India and the world, and science, technology and environment.
Science options
Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology.
Agriculture and forestry options
Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, and Forestry.
Engineering options
Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Eligibility
IFS shares the Civil Services Prelims. Candidates need a bachelor’s degree with at least one of the listed subjects (animal husbandry and veterinary science, botany, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, statistics, zoology) or an engineering or agriculture degree. Age and attempts follow the notification.
Using the papers
The papers on the IFS Mains hub follow the pattern above, so a full paper sat at the real duration is a fair mock. Years 2019 to 2025 are hosted.