PCS – J

1. Overview of UPPCS Exam

UPPCS is a state-level civil services examination conducted annually by the UPPSC. It recruits candidates for posts like:

• Deputy Collector (SDM).
• Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
• Block Development Officer (BDO).
• Tehsildar.
• Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes).
• Other Group A and Group B services.

2. Stages of the UPPCS Examination

The UPPCS exam is conducted in three stages, similar to the UPSC Civil Services Examination:

(a) Preliminary Examination (Prelims):

• Objective type with two papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT).
• Purpose: Screening test for the Mains exam.
• Marks:
  • Paper I: 200 marks.
  • Paper II: 200 marks (qualifying with 33% marks required).
• Negative marking: 1/3rd of the marks for the incorrect answer.
• Subjects covered: History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Current Affairs, General Science, etc.
• Prelims is used only for screening; its marks do not count toward the final merit.

(b) Mains Examination:

• Descriptive type with eight papers.
• Marks from the Mains exam are considered for merit ranking.
• Papers:
  • Paper I: General Hindi (150 marks).
  • Paper II: Essay (150 marks).
  • Paper III: General Studies I (200 marks) – History, Geography, Indian Heritage and Culture, and Society.
  • Paper IV: General Studies II (200 marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
  • Paper V: General Studies III (200 marks) – Indian Economy, Agriculture, Environment, Science, and Technology.
  • Paper VI: General Studies IV (200 marks) – Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
  • Paper VII and Paper VIII: Optional Subject (two papers of 200 marks each).
• Total marks for Mains: 1500.

(c) Personality Test/Interview:

• Candidates who clear the Mains are called for the Interview round.
• Marks: 100 marks.
• The final merit list is based on the combined score from the Mains and the Interview.

3. Eligibility Criteria

(a) Nationality:

• Must be a citizen of India.

(b) Age Limit:

• Minimum age: 21 years.
• Maximum age: 40 years (General Category).
• Age relaxation is provided as per UPPSC rules:
  • SC/ST/OBC of UP: 5 years relaxation.
  • Physically handicapped: 15 years relaxation.

(c) Educational Qualification:

• A candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
• Certain posts have additional qualifications. For instance, for the District Basic Education Officer post, a B.Ed degree is required.

4. Exam Pattern and Syllabus

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 and Biodiversity.
  • General Science.
• General Studies Paper II (CSAT):
  • Comprehension.
  • Interpersonal skills.
  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
  • Decision-making and problem-solving.
  • General mental ability.
  • Basic numeracy (class X level) and data interpretation.

Mains Syllabus:

• General Studies I: History, Geography, Society, and Culture of India and Uttar Pradesh.
• General Studies II: Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, and International Relations.
• General Studies III: Economy, Agriculture, Science & Technology, Environment, Disaster Management.
• General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
• Optional Subjects: Candidates can choose one optional subject for Mains from a list of subjects like History, Geography, Sociology, Public Administration, etc.

5. Marking and Ranking

• The Prelims exam is used as a qualifying stage. Marks obtained in Prelims are not counted towards the final ranking.
• The Mains exam and Interview marks are combined to determine the final rank.
• The final merit is prepared out of 1600 marks (1500 for Mains + 100 for Interview).

6. Optional Subjects for Mains

In UPPCS, candidates need to choose one optional subject for the Mains exam. Each optional subject consists of two papers of 200 marks each. Some of the popular optional subjects include:

• History.
• Geography.
• Public Administration.
• Sociology.
• Anthropology.
• Political Science.
• Literature of any one of the languages (Hindi, English, etc.).

7. Cut-off Marks

• The cut-off marks for each stage vary every year based on factors like the difficulty of the exam and the number of vacancies.
• Candidates must score above the cut-off in Prelims to qualify for the Mains exam.
• The final cut-off is based on the combined score of the Mains and Interview.

8. Important Preparation Tips

• Current Affairs: Regularly read newspapers like The Hindu or Dainik Jagran for national and state-level current events.
• NCERT Books: Study from NCERT textbooks (Class 6-12) for History, Geography, Polity, and Science.
• State-Specific Knowledge: Focus on the history, culture, and geography of Uttar Pradesh, which is an important part of the syllabus.
• Mock Tests: Attempt regular Prelims and Mains mock tests to assess your preparation and improve time management.
• Answer Writing Practice: Practice writing answers to improve speed and clarity for the descriptive Mains papers.
• Optional Subject: Choose your optional subject based on your interest and background, as it plays a crucial role in Mains.

9. Other Exams Conducted by UPPSC

Apart from the Provincial Civil Services (PCS) exam, UPPSC also conducts several other exams, including:

• Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) and Range Forest Officer (RFO).
• Combined State/Upper Subordinate Examination.
• Assistant Registrar.
• Lecturer Exam.
• Review Officer (RO) and Assistant Review Officer (ARO).

10. Useful Resources for Preparation

• UPPSC Official Website: https://uppsc.up.nic.in/.
• Previous Year Papers: Solve previous year question papers to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level.
• UPPCS Syllabus: Available on the official UPPSC website.