UPSC Civil Service Exam Pattern And Syllabus

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Service Examination (CSE) every year to recruit candidates for the All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.) and other Group A and Group B services of the Government of India.

The CSE is a three-stage exam that consists of the Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, and the Interview.

The Preliminary Examination is a qualifying examination that consists of two papers: Paper I and Paper II.

Paper I is on General Studies, while Paper II is on Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). The Main Examination consists of nine papers: Paper I to Paper IV on General Studies, Paper V and Paper VI on Optional Subjects, Paper VII on Essay, and Paper VIII and Paper IX on CSAT.

The Interview is a personality test that is conducted by a board of senior officials from the Government of India.

The UPSC CSE is a highly competitive exam, with lakhs of candidates appearing for it every year. The exam is difficult, but it is also achievable with hard work and dedication.

If you are aspiring to join the civil services, then it is important to be aware of the exam date and result schedule. The exam date and result schedule for the 2023 CSE are as follows:

Preliminary Examination

• Date: May 28, 2023
• Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon (IST) for Paper I and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (IST) for Paper II
• Result: June 12, 2023

Main Examination

• Phase I: September 15 to 24, 2023
• Phase II: October 4 to 10, 2023
• Result: February 2024

Interview

• December 2023 to February 2024
• Result: April 2024

The exact dates for the Preliminary Examination and Main Examination will be announced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in due course. The Interview will be held in various centers across India.

The UPSC Civil Service Exam is a three-stage exam that is conducted every year to recruit candidates for the All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.) and other Group A and Group B services of the Government of India. The Preliminary Examination is a qualifying examination, while the Main Examination and Interview are the selection stages.

The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers:

• Paper I: General Studies
• Paper II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

The Main Examination consists of nine papers:

• Paper I: General Studies I
• Paper II: General Studies II
• Paper III: General Studies III
• Paper IV: General Studies IV
• Paper V: Optional Subject I
• Paper VI: Optional Subject II
• Paper VII: Essay
• Paper VIII: CSAT (Analytical Ability and Logical Reasoning)
• Paper IX: CSAT (Quantitative Aptitude)

The Interview is a personality test that is conducted by a board of senior officials from the Government of India.

Some important points about the UPSC Civil Service Exam (Preliminary Examination):

• Questions: The IAS Exam (Prelims) comprises objective type questions in the form of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
• Negative Marking: Negative marking is applicable in the IAS Exam’s Prelims stage. For each incorrect answer, 1/3rd (0.66) of the allotted marks for that question are deducted.
• Qualifying Paper: The General Studies Paper II (CSAT) in the IAS exam is of qualifying nature. Candidates need to score a minimum of 33% in this paper to qualify for the next stage of the exam, which is the Mains.
• Extra Time: Blind candidates are granted an additional 20 minutes for each paper in the IAS Exam (Prelims), providing them with extra time to complete the exam.
• Mandatory: It is mandatory for all candidates to appear in both papers of the civil services prelims exam for their performance to be evaluated.
• Screening Test: The marks obtained by candidates in the preliminary examination are not included in the final score calculation. The preliminary exam serves as a screening test, eliminating candidates who do not meet the cut-off marks.

Stage II: IAS Exam – UPSC Mains

The second phase of the IAS Exam, known as the Mains Exam, This stage delves into a comprehensive assessment through written descriptive examinations, designed to gauge the depth of knowledge, analytical prowess, and communication skills of the candidates.

the Mains Exam serves as a pivotal arena where candidates showcase their understanding of a wide array of subjects, their ability to articulate ideas effectively, and their potential to address complex challenges that are integral to administrative roles.

This stage involves a written descriptive examination consisting of 9 papers. The IAS Exam (Mains) encompasses the following 9 papers:

1. Paper-A (Compulsory Indian Language)
2. Paper-B (English) – Both of these papers are qualifying in nature.
3. Essay
4. General Studies Paper I
5. General Studies Paper II
6. General Studies Paper III
7. General Studies Paper IV
8. Optional Paper I
9. Optional Paper II

Among these papers, while Paper-A and Paper-B serve as qualifying papers, the remaining papers, including Essay and the series of General Studies and Optional Papers, contribute towards the final ranking of candidates.

The UPSC Civil Service Exam is a highly competitive exam, with lakhs of candidates appearing for it every year. The exam is difficult, but it is also achievable with hard work and dedication.

If you are aspiring to join the civil services, then it is important to start preparing early. There are many resources available to help you with your preparation, including books, online courses, and coaching institutes.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.