UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 — Written Examination
6 Written Examination papers from the 2025 UPSC SO/Steno LDCE examination, conducted by Union Public Service Commission. Each paper links to its official source. Written Examination: Paper I General Studies, Constitution, machinery of government, parliamentary procedure and RTI Act (objective); Paper II Procedure and Practice by category (objective); Paper III Noting and Drafting, Précis Writing (descriptive).
Written Examination pattern
Paper I General Studies and General Knowledge of Constitution of India and Machinery of Govt., Practice and Procedures in Parliament and Knowledge of RTI Act, 2005: objective, 150 marks, 2 hours. Paper II Procedure and Practice in the Government of India Secretariat and attached offices and General Financial and Service Rules (set separately for the relevant categories of services): objective, 150 marks, 2 hours. Paper III Noting and Drafting, Précis Writing: subjective, 200 marks, 3 hours. The 2026 notice states there is a penalty (negative marking) for wrong answers in the objective papers; the 2025 Paper I and Paper II booklets each had 120 items printed in Hindi and English, with one-third of a question's marks deducted for a wrong answer. (Time table of the Combined SOs' (Gr. 'B') LDCE 2025 and Combined Stenos' LDCE 2019, 2020 & 2021; negative marking from the SO LDCE 2026 notice (16.09.2026)) Official source
Patterns change between cycles. Confirm in the latest official notification.
| Exam paper | Year | Stage | Language | Type | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper I Paper I · 13 Dec 2025 · 22 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in | 2025 | Written Examination | Bilingual | Official Paper | |
| UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories I, IV, VIII, IX and XI) Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories I, IV, VIII, IX and XI) · 13 Dec 2025 · 33 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in | 2025 | Written Examination | Bilingual | Official Paper | |
| UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories II and V) Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories II and V) · 13 Dec 2025 · 34 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in | 2025 | Written Examination | Bilingual | Official Paper | |
| UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories III and VII) Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories III and VII) · 13 Dec 2025 · 22 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in | 2025 | Written Examination | Bilingual | Official Paper | |
| UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories VI and X) Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories VI and X) · 13 Dec 2025 · 34 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in | 2025 | Written Examination | Bilingual | Official Paper | |
| UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper III – Noting and Drafting, Précis Writing Paper III – Noting and Drafting, Précis Writing · 14 Dec 2025 · 13 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in | 2025 | Written Examination | Bilingual | Official Paper |
- UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper I2025Written ExaminationBilingualOfficial Paper
Paper I · 22 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in
- UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories I, IV, VIII, IX and XI)2025Written ExaminationBilingualOfficial Paper
Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories I, IV, VIII, IX and XI) · 33 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in
- UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories II and V)2025Written ExaminationBilingualOfficial Paper
Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories II and V) · 34 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in
- UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories III and VII)2025Written ExaminationBilingualOfficial Paper
Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories III and VII) · 22 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in
- UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories VI and X)2025Written ExaminationBilingualOfficial Paper
Paper II – Procedure and Practice (Categories VI and X) · 34 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in
- UPSC SO/Steno LDCE 2025 – Paper III – Noting and Drafting, Précis Writing2025Written ExaminationBilingualOfficial Paper
Paper III – Noting and Drafting, Précis Writing · 13 MB · Source: upsc.gov.in