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1. UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) Overview

The most popular exam conducted by UPSC is the Civil Services Examination (CSE), which is held annually to recruit candidates for top bureaucratic positions in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Revenue Service (IRS), among others.

2. Stages of UPSC CSE

The UPSC CSE consists of three main stages:

(a) Preliminary Examination (Prelims):

  • Objective in nature with two papers: General Studies Paper I and CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Paper II.
  • Purpose: To screen candidates for the Mains examination.
  • Marks: Paper I (200 marks), Paper II (200 marks – qualifying with 33% marks needed).
  • Negative marking: 1/3rd of the total marks allotted for each question.
  • Subjects covered: History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science and Technology, Current Affairs, etc.

(b) Mains Examination:

  • Descriptive in nature and consists of 9 papers.
  • Purpose: To test the candidate’s academic knowledge and ability to present it.
  • Papers:
    • Paper A: Compulsory Indian language (300 marks, qualifying).
    • Paper B: English (300 marks, qualifying).
    • Paper I: Essay (250 marks).
    • Paper II: General Studies I (250 marks) – Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.
    • Paper III: General Studies II (250 marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
    • Paper IV: General Studies III (250 marks) – Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.
    • Paper V: General Studies IV (250 marks) – Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
    • Paper VI and VII: Optional Subjects (each 250 marks).
  • Total marks for Mains: 1750 (excluding the qualifying papers).

(c) Personality Test/Interview:

  • Candidates who clear the Mains examination are called for the Interview/Personality Test.
  • Marks: 275 marks.
  • Purpose: To assess the candidate’s suitability for a career in public service based on intellectual, moral, and social traits.

3. Eligibility Criteria

(a) Nationality:

  • IAS and IPS: Must be a citizen of India.
  • Other services: A citizen of India or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962.

(b) Age Limit:

  • Minimum age: 21 years.
  • Maximum age: 32 years (General Category) as of August 1st of the exam year.
  • Relaxation:
    • SC/ST: 5 years (maximum age 37).
    • OBC: 3 years (maximum age 35).
    • Physically Disabled: 10 years.

(c) Educational Qualification:

  • Candidate must hold a degree from a recognized university or have an equivalent qualification.

(d) Number of Attempts:

  • General Category: 6 attempts.
  • OBC: 9 attempts.
  • SC/ST: Unlimited attempts (within age limit).

4. Syllabus Overview

Prelims Syllabus:

  • General Studies Paper I:
    • Current events of national and international importance.
    • History of India and the Indian National Movement.
    • Indian and World Geography.
    • Indian Polity and Governance.
    • Economic and Social Development.
    • Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change.
    • General Science.
  • CSAT (Paper II):
    • Comprehension.
    • Interpersonal skills.
    • Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
    • Decision-making and problem-solving.
    • Basic numeracy and data interpretation.

Mains Syllabus:

  • The Mains syllabus is vast and detailed. It covers subjects like Indian history, geography, polity, economics, ethics, science and technology, international relations, social issues, and more.
  • Candidates also have to choose an optional subject from a list provided by UPSC (e.g., Anthropology, Geography, History, Public Administration, Sociology, etc.).

5. Marking and Ranking

  • Prelims marks are not counted towards the final ranking. The Mains exam and the Interview together determine the final ranking.
  • The final merit list is based on a cumulative score out of 2025 marks (1750 for Mains + 275 for Interview).

6. Optional Subjects for Mains

Candidates have to choose one optional subject for Mains from a list of approximately 48 subjects. Each optional subject has two papers of 250 marks each, totaling 500 marks.

7. Cut-off Marks

  • The cut-off marks vary each year depending on factors like the difficulty level of the exam and the number of vacancies.
  • The Prelims cut-off is determined only by Paper I. Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature, meaning that candidates only need to score 33% or more.

8. Important Tips for UPSC Preparation

  • Current Affairs: Consistently read newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express and refer to government publications like Yojana and Kurukshetra.
  • NCERT Books: Start with NCERTs (class VI-XII) for subjects like History, Geography, Economics, and Polity.
  • Standard Textbooks: Use advanced books like Laxmikanth for Polity, Ramesh Singh for Economics, and Spectrum for Modern History.
  • Practice Writing: Regular answer writing practice is crucial for the Mains exam.
  • Mock Tests: Attempt Prelims and Mains mock tests to build confidence and improve time management.

9. Other Exams Conducted by UPSC

Apart from the Civil Services Examination, UPSC conducts other prestigious exams such as:

  • Indian Forest Service (IFS).
  • Engineering Services Examination (ESE).
  • Combined Defence Services (CDS).
  • National Defence Academy (NDA).
  • Indian Economic Service (IES).
  • Indian Statistical Service (ISS).
  • Combined Medical Services (CMS).

10. Useful Resources

  • UPSC Official Website: https://www.upsc.gov.in/.
  • UPSC Syllabus: Available on the official website.
  • Previous Year Question Papers: Essential for understanding the exam pattern.