UPSC Exam Details and Paper Pattern

UPSC Exam Details and Paper Pattern

Overview of UPSC Exam

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) annually for recruiting candidates into various civil services in the Government of India. This includes roles like IAS, IPS, IFS, and other prestigious positions. The examination is highly competitive and consists of three main stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview (Personality Test).

Eligibility Criteria

  • Age Limit: Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years of age. Age relaxations are provided for reserved categories.
  • Educational Qualification: A candidate must have a degree from a recognized university.
  • Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India. (For some posts, citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees may also apply.)

UPSC Exam Paper Pattern

Preliminary Exam Pattern

Paper Type No. of Questions Marks Duration
General Studies Paper I Objective (Multiple Choice) 100 200 2 hours
General Studies Paper II (CSAT) Objective (Multiple Choice) 80 200 2 hours

Note: The marks obtained in Paper II (CSAT) are qualifying in nature. Candidates need to score at least 33% to qualify.

Main Exam Pattern

Paper Type Marks
Paper A (Indian Language) Qualifying (Descriptive) 300
Paper B (English) Qualifying (Descriptive) 300
Paper I (Essay) Descriptive 250
Paper II (General Studies I) Descriptive 250
Paper III (General Studies II) Descriptive 250
Paper IV (General Studies III) Descriptive 250
Paper V (General Studies IV) Descriptive 250
Paper VI (Optional Subject I) Descriptive 250
Paper VII (Optional Subject II) Descriptive 250

Total Marks for Mains Exam: 1750 marks (excluding Paper A & B, which are qualifying).

Interview (Personality Test) Pattern

  • The interview carries a maximum of 275 marks.
  • The Personality Test is intended to assess the candidate's overall suitability for a career in public services.

Syllabus

Preliminary Exam Syllabus

  • General Studies Paper I: Current events, History of India, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science, etc.
  • General Studies Paper II (CSAT): Comprehension, Interpersonal skills, Logical reasoning, Decision making, General mental ability, etc.

Main Exam Syllabus

  • Essay Paper: Candidates are required to write an essay on a given topic, testing their ability to think and express themselves in writing.
  • General Studies I: Indian Heritage, Culture, History, Geography of the World and Society.
  • General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International relations.
  • General Studies III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-Diversity, Environment, Security, Disaster Management.
  • General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
  • Optional Subject Papers (Choose any two from a list of subjects): For example, Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science, Sociology, etc.

Important Points

  • The UPSC Civil Services Exam is highly competitive, with thousands of candidates competing for limited posts.
  • Preparation requires extensive reading, writing practice, and consistent effort.
  • Negative marking is applicable in the Preliminary exam for wrong answers.
  • Be sure to keep updated with official notifications regarding the exam dates and eligibility.