Every year there are lakhs of candidates preparing for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Service examination. Out of lakhs only a few thousands will be eligible for the Mains examination and the number gets pruned still further at the interview stage. This article will help you understand the magnitude of the competition.
Aspirants would find this article very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam.
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Competition for UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2017
If the IAS prelims was a tough nut to crack, the mains is an even harder one! But with strategic preparation and unwavering focus, it is indeed possible to clear the UPSC mains with flying colors. Apart from the huge UPSC syllabus, what makes the IAS exam seem difficult is the level of competition involved. The lure of a career in the civil services is so great that lakhs of candidates take the exam every year. However, less than 1% of them make the cut in the end. Even though the competition is lesser in the mains compared to the prelims, it is by no means a small number.
Number of candidates who had applied for the 2017 UPSC prelims exam: 10 lakhs (Approx.)
Number of candidates who had appeared for the 2017 USPC prelims exam: 5 lakhs (Approx.)
Number of candidates who qualified for the 2017 UPSC mains exam: 13,366
Number of candidates who have cleared the 2017 UPSC mains exam: 2568
Number of vacancies in 2017: 980
Generally, the UPSC shortlists 2 candidates for every vacancy for the UPSC personality test/interview round. That means, this year, around 1960 candidates can expect the interview summons. This is the competition that you will face. More than 13000 candidates for less than 2000 seats! Here is an answer to the question “How many candidates appeared in UPSC prelims 2017?”.
Total Number of Candidates – Appeared for the IAS Exam and Selected for Various UPSC Posts
Take a look at the past years’ record in the UPSC civil services exam.
| Year | No. of candidates who applied for Prelims | No. of candidates who appeared for Prelims | No. of candidates who appeared for Mains | No. of candidates who appeared for the interview | No. of candidates who got selected |
| 2016 | 11.36 lakhs | 5 lakhs | 15,452 | 2,961 | 1,099 |
| 2015 | 9,45,908 | 4,65,882 | 15,008 | 2,797 | 1,078 |
| 2014 | 9,47,428 | 4,46,623 | 16,286 | 3,308 | 1,236 |
| 2013 | 7,76,604 | 3,24,279 | 14,178 | 3,001 | 1,122 |
| 2012 | 5,50,080 | 2,71,442 | 12,190 | 2,674 | 998 |
| 2011 | 4,99,120 | 2,43,236 | 11,237 | 2,415 | 999 |
| 2010 | 5,47,698 | 2,69,036 | 11,865 | 2,589 | 965 |
As you can see, a tiny fraction of the people who appear for the UPSC civil services prelims exam, find their names in the final rank list released by the UPSC at the end of the whole process. This is not meant to dishearten you. Let it work as a motivator and propel you towards your dream destination.
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!”
Nothing is unassailable. With the right tools and the right attitude, you can reach your goal.
The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2022.
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