The table below indicates the number of students who have appeared for the UPSC Preliminary Test and Mains Exams and those who have secured their names in the final merit list. By analysing the data from 2006 to 2019, it becomes clear that the pass percentage in the examination is meagre, around 0.3%. Comparing it with the pass percentage in the last five years, it has even reduced to 0.21%. So, the competition in the Civil Services preliminary examination is exceptionally high, with most of the candidates, around 97 - 98.5 %, unable to clear the Preliminary Exam. Although the numbers may feel demotivating, the candidate must remember that they require only one seat. Hence, it is better to stick to one’s career if one has a good and satisfactory one and prepare simultaneously. Although it will take one more year extra, the candidates would be saved from the stress of rebooting their careers if they cannot clear all the stages of the Civil Services Examination in one go.

Year	The number of students who applied	Number of students who appeared for Prelims	Number of students who appeared for Mains	Number of students who appeared for the Interview	Number of students who Cleared the Exam	Pass Percentage
2006	383983	195803	7496	1408	531	.27%
2007	333680	161469	8886	1883	553	.34%
2008	325433	167035	11330	2136	734	.44%
2009	409110	193091	11516	2431	881	.45%
2010	547698	269036	11865	2589	989	.37%
2011	499120	243236	11237	2415	965	.39%
2012	550080	271442	12190	2674	999	.36%
2013	776604	324279	14178	3001	998	.30%
2014	947428	446623	16286	3308	1122	.25%
2015	945908	465882	15,008	2797	1236	.26%
2016	1128262	459659	15149	2961	1078	.23%
2017	969065	462848	13060	2564	1056	.23%
2018	1065552	500484	10246	1992	812	.16%
2019	1135261	493972	11700	2034	829	.17%