NEW DELHI: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has introduced a new way for candidates to register and apply for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025. This new process replaces the old Detailed Application Form (DAF) first and Second, the  Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

The main purpose of this change is to make the application process easier.  It also helps save time, and improve the overall examination process, the minister said.

The Union Public Service Commission conducts the civil services examination every year as per the rules set by the Department of Personnel and Training. The examination is held in three stages under Preliminary, main, and interview to select officers for services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).

As per the new rules, candidates will have to provide all required details and documents, such as proof of date of birth, reservation category, and educational qualifications, when they submit their application. If they fail to submit the same, their application is liable to be rejected.

The minister also said that medical science is already an optional subject for the civil services main exam. However, he said that after reviewing the matter, the government has decided not to add pharmacy as an optional subject.

The deadline to register for the Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2025 and the Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) test has been extended to February 18, 2025. Earlier, the last date to apply online was February 11.

Candidates must apply online through the official website

As per the Commission’s notice, if a candidate's name does not match the one on their matriculation or higher education certificate due to a name change, they must submit a gazette notification as proof.

The correction window will be open for seven days after the application deadline. This means candidates can make changes from February 19 to February 25.

The Civil Services Preliminary Exam is scheduled for May 25, 2025.

This year, around 979 vacancies are expected to be filled through the exam, including 38 positions reserved for candidates under the benchmark disability category.