Civil Services Examination (UPSC)

About UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. It is conducted annually to recruit officers for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other Group A and B Central Services.

UPSC CSE Exam Structure

The exam is conducted in three stages:

1️⃣ Preliminary Examination (Prelims) – Objective Type
2️⃣ Main Examination (Mains) – Descriptive Type
3️⃣ Personality Test (Interview)

Mode of Examination (UPSC CSE)

• Prelims: Offline (Objective-Type MCQs)
• Mains: Offline (Descriptive Written Examination)
• Interview: Offline (Face-to-Face)

Stage 1: UPSC CSE Prelims

✅ Nature: Screening Test (Marks not counted for final merit)
✅ Papers: 2 Papers (General Studies & CSAT)

📌 Marking Scheme:
✔ +2 marks for each correct answer in GS Paper-I
✔ +2.5 marks for each correct answer in CSAT
❌ -1/3rd negative marking for wrong answers

📌 Qualifying Criteria:

• GS Paper-I: Cut-off based (Varies yearly)
• CSAT Paper-II: Qualifying (33% i.e. 66/200 required)

Stage 2: UPSC CSE Mains

✅ Nature: Written Descriptive Test
✅ Papers: 9 Papers (7 counted for merit + 2 qualifying)

📌 Qualifying Papers:

📌 Merit-Based Papers:

✅ Total Marks for Merit: 1750

📌 Qualifying Criteria:

• Paper A & Paper B: Need to score at least 25% (75/300)
• Mains total marks counted for ranking

Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview)

✅ Nature: Personal Interview with UPSC Board
✅ Total Marks: 275
✅ Assessment Areas:
✔ Communication Skills
✔ Analytical Thinking
✔ Decision-Making Ability
✔ Leadership Qualities
✔ Knowledge & Awareness

📌 Final Merit List Calculation: Mains (1750) + Interview (275) = 2025 Marks

Eligibility Criteria for UPSC CSE

🔹 Age Limit:

🔹 Educational Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
• Final-year students can apply, but their degree must be completed before Mains.

🔹 Nationality:

• For IAS, IPS: Must be an Indian citizen.
• For Other Services: Indian citizen / subject of Nepal/Bhutan or PIO with eligibility.

How to Apply for UPSC CSE Exam?

1️⃣ Visit UPSC Official Website: www.upsc.gov.in
2️⃣ Register through OTR (One Time Registration)
3️⃣ Fill the UPSC CSE Application Form
4️⃣ Upload Required Documents:
✅ Photograph (JPG, 20–300 KB)
✅ Signature (JPG, 20–300 KB)
✅ Valid ID Proof (Aadhaar, Passport, etc.)
5️⃣ Pay the Application Fee:
✅ ₹100 for General/OBC (SC/ST/PwD/Female – Exempted)
6️⃣ Submit & Download Confirmation

UPSC CSE Syllabus Overview

📖 Prelims Syllabus (GS Paper-I)
✔ History of India & Indian National Movement
✔ Indian Polity & Governance
✔ Economic & Social Development
✔ Environmental Ecology & Biodiversity
✔ Science & Technology
✔ Current Affairs

📖 Prelims Syllabus (CSAT – Paper-II)
✔ Comprehension & Logical Reasoning
✔ Decision Making & Problem Solving
✔ Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation

📖 Mains General Studies Papers
✔ GS-I: Indian Heritage, History, Society, Geography
✔ GS-II: Polity, Governance, IR, Social Justice
✔ GS-III: Economy, Science & Tech, Disaster Management, Security
✔ GS-IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

📖 Optional Subjects for Mains (Any One)
✔ Public Administration
✔ Geography
✔ Sociology
✔ History
✔ Political Science & IR
✔ Mathematics
✔ Anthropology, etc.

Why Take UPSC Mock Tests?

✔ Improves Answer Writing Skills – Helps in structuring better responses.
✔ Enhances Time Management – Essential for Mains descriptive writing.
✔ Identifies Weak Areas – Allows focused preparation.

Important Links for UPSC Aspirants:

📌 Official Website: UPSC Website
📌 Apply Online: UPSC Online Portal
📌 UPSC Notification: UPSC Exam Notification