The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has launched a new online portal for registration and application submission for all future examinations. According to the official notice, the new UPSC Online Application Portal is structured in four parts, each shown as a separate card on the homepage.

UPSC Four-part structure for easier access

As per the UPSC notification, “The UPSC Online Application Portal has four parts, arranged in 4 separate cards at the home page, three of which namely, Account Creation, Universal Registration and Common Application Form contains information which are common to all examinations and can be filled anytime by the candidates. The fourth part i.e. Examination contains examination notices, Examination Application and applications status. Only examination specific information is to be filled up in this part by candidates during the time period allowed in the notification of an examination.”

Move to save time and avoid last-minute rush

The commission stated that this new system is designed to allow candidates to complete the first three sections in advance and keep their profiles ready. This is expected to save time and prevent congestion near the closing dates of application windows.

Previous OTR module discontinued

UPSC has asked all applicants to freshly register and upload necessary documents on the new portal at upsconline.nic.in. The older One Time Registration (OTR) module will no longer be valid.

Aadhaar card based ID verification

For identity verification, candidates have been “strongly advised to use their Aadhar Card as ID document in the Universal Application for easy, effortless and seamless verification and authentication of ID and other details.” According to the commission, this will act as a standard and permanent record for all UPSC examinations.

New portal to be used for upcoming exams

UPSC has confirmed that applications for the CDS II and NDA & NA II exams for 2025 will be accepted only through the new online portal.

For more details and updates, candidates should visit the official UPSC website.

Former RBI Governor calls for UPSC exam reforms

Duvvuri Subbarao, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, has proposed significant changes to the recruitment system for India’s civil services. Writing in The Times of India, he recommended reducing both the upper age limit and the number of attempts for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. He also suggested the introduction of a structured, annual mid-career entry route into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for professionals in their early 40s.

Concerns over lost productive years and exam pressure

Commenting on the 2024 civil service results, Subbarao congratulated successful candidates but raised concerns about the long-term impact on those who do not qualify after repeated attempts. “For every successful candidate, there are at least ten others who too have invested years in preparation but have failed to make the grade. They are back at square one. An abysmal waste of productive years?” he wrote. He criticised the current policy of allowing six attempts up to age 32, saying it encourages aspirants to keep preparing due to the “sunk cost fallacy.”

Advocates mid-career IAS entry route and streamlined youth recruitment

Subbarao called for limiting the number of attempts to three and reducing the upper age limit to 27. He also proposed a permanent, annual IAS entry channel for mid-career professionals aged 40–42. “They can pursue other careers and take another shot at the exam mid-career,” he noted. While supporting continued recruitment of young candidates, he emphasised that the system should be modernised. “The civil service exam has vastly improved from the time I took it over 50 years ago. But there is still a need to push the envelope.”