Chennai: Over 7 lakh candidates across India took part in the first stage of the UPSC examination, vying for positions including IAS and IPS officers.

The UPSC exam, which recruits for 24 categories of posts such as IAS, IPS, IRS, and IFS, is conducted in three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. This year preliminary exam took place yesterday in 79 cities nationwide, drawing more than 7 lakh participants.

In Tamil Nadu, the preliminary exam was held in five cities: Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Vellore, and Coimbatore, with 25,000 candidates attending. The exam schedule included a General Knowledge Test from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, followed by an Aptitude Test from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.

Eager candidates began arriving at the exam centers as early as 7:00 AM. After undergoing strict security checks, they were allowed into the examination halls. Electronic devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches were prohibited.

In Chennai, the exam was conducted at 35 centers. The results of the preliminary exam are expected to be announced in two weeks. Successful candidates will advance to the mains exam scheduled for September 20th, followed by interviews for those who clear the mains.

In Coimbatore, 7,332 candidates had registered for the UPSC exam at 17 centers. Of these, 4,411 appeared for the morning session of the Preliminary exam, while 2,921 were absent. In the afternoon session, 4,386 candidates attended, and 2,946 did not show up.