Welcome to our blog post on UPSC Demystified: Basic FAQs for Beginners! If you have ever been curious about the UPSC, also known as the Union Public Service Commission, then you have come to the right place. Whether you are a beginner just starting your journey or someone who has been considering it for a while, this post aims to provide you with all the essential information you need to know. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to discover the world of UPSC in a way that is both friendly and descriptive. By the end of this post, you will be ready to tackle the UPSC with confidence and clarity. Let us get started!
What is UPSC?
Hey there! Let me tell you all about the renowned UPSC. The Union Public Service Commission, commonly known as UPSC, is a constitutional body in India responsible for conducting various examinations to recruit and appoint the country's top-notch civil servants. It plays a crucial role in selecting candidates for prestigious positions such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), among others. UPSC examinations are renowned for their competitive nature, challenging syllabus, and rigorous selection process, which includes multiple stages like the preliminary examination, main examination, and personal interview. These exams test the candidates' knowledge, aptitude, and decision-making abilities, ultimately aiming to recruit dynamic individuals who can contribute to the effective governance and development of the nation. So, if you aspire to become a civil servant and make a difference in society, UPSC is the pathway to your dream career!
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What are the various services offered through UPSC?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the central recruiting agency of the Government of India. It is responsible for the recruitment of officers to the All India Services, Central Civil Services, and certain other posts.
All India Services
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Indian Police Service (IPS)
Indian Forest Service (IFoS)
Group A Civil Services
Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)
Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES)
Indian Information Service (IIS)
Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
Indian Postal Service (IPoS)
Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)
Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise)
Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) (IRS-IT)
Indian Trade Service (ITS)
Other Services
Railway Protection Force (RPF)
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Enforcement Directorate (ED)
National Investigation Agency (NIA)
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
National Academy of Audit and Accounts (NAAA)
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
National Defence Academy (NDA)
Indian Military Academy (IMA)
Indian Naval Academy (INA)
Air Force Academy (AFA)
The UPSC conducts a competitive examination every year to recruit candidates to these services. The examination is known as the Civil Services Examination (CSE), and it is one of the most competitive examinations in the world.
Successful candidates are allocated to different services based on their rank in the examination and their preferences. The most popular services are the IAS, IPS, and IFS. However, all of the services offered by the UPSC are important and offer challenging and rewarding careers.
If you are interested in a career in the civil services, you can visit the UPSC website for more information on the CSE and other recruitment examinations.
What is the eligibility criterion for UPSC examination?
To be eligible for the UPSC examination, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Nationality: Indian citizens, or subjects of Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibet who have come to India before January 1, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or persons of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Age: Between 21 and 32 years of age as on August 1 of the year of examination. There is an age relaxation of 3 years for OBC candidates, 5 years for SC/ST candidates, and 10 years for PWD candidates.
Educational qualification: A bachelor's degree from a recognized university.
There are certain restrictions on the number of attempts that candidates can take the UPSC examination. General category candidates are allowed 6 attempts, OBC candidates are allowed 9 attempts, and SC/ST candidates are allowed unlimited attempts.
What is the selection process for UPSC examination?
The selection process for UPSC examination involves a preliminary exam, a main exam, and an interview. Candidates who clear the preliminary examination become eligible for the main exam. Then, after clearing the main exam, the candidates become eligible to appear for the final interview.
Preliminary Examination:
The preliminary examination consists of two objective type papers - general studies and CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). The General Studies paper has a total weightage of 200 marks and contains questions spanning subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science and Technology, Environment, and Ecology. The CSAT paper tests a candidate's language aptitude and logical reasoning.
Main Examination:
The main examination consists of nine descriptive papers, including an English language paper, an essay paper, and optional subject papers. The main examination contains 1750 marks, and it is the most crucial phase of the entire selection process. The syllabus for the main examination also covers extensive General Studies, covering fundamental subjects, such as Indian History, Geography, Economy, Polity, Science and Technology, and more, along with an optional subject, which a candidate will choose while filling up the application form.
Interview:
The interview is the final stage of the process, with the Union Public Service Commission board, where a candidate is assessed on their personality, character, communication skills, and knowledge about current affairs.
What is the exam pattern for UPSC?
The exam pattern for UPSC is designed to assess the candidate’s competence in various segments. The preliminary examination consists of two objective-type papers for 400 marks, which a candidate has to clear to qualify for the main examination. The main examination has two categories of papers, consisting of a language and essay paper and a set of optional papers. The duration of the exam for optional papers is three hours. The Questions appearing in both the papers will be of an Essay nature which will test the candidates' writing and analytical skills. The weighted score of the Main examination is 1750 marks, followed by the final personality test interview conducted by the UPSC board.
What are the significant topics that one needs to prepare for UPSC?
UPSC examinations are known to have a vast and comprehensive syllabus. Though it is not possible to cover all the topics in-depth, candidates should be proficient in current affairs with a focus on national and international situations, economics, and history and be aware of government policies, schemes, and programmes. Apart from these, a candidate should choose their optional subjects wisely and prepare for the same thoroughly.
Current Affairs:
Current Affairs play a significant role in the selection of candidates in the UPSC exam. The syllabus for the exam coverings various current topics ranging from national to international affairs. Keeping tabs on recent developments and regular reading of newspapers, current affair magazines like "The Hindu," "Economic Times " or "The Indian Express" is essential to keep oneself updated for the exam.
History:
Candidates must have knowledge related to the Indian history and its struggle from ancient times to the present era to do well in the UPSC examination. The history syllabus for UPSC is enormous, covering vast topics from ancient India to modern India's struggles and its freedom movement. Candidates should also focus on significant events like World War 1 & 2, Cold war, the French revolution etc. Candidates should also refer to previous year papers that will give a fair idea of question patterns, and referencing past year papers can also give ideas about the kind of questions being asked to candidates
Economics:
UPSC Economics can be divided into two sections, namely micro and macro-economics. Candidates should be thorough with the emerging trends and techniques of economic analysis, including GDP concepts, inflation and deflation, national income, and other internal and external factors that affect our Indian economy."
Conclusion
The Union Public Service Commission examination is a highly regarded exam, and every year thousands of aspirants prepare rigorously for it. Success, however, requires more than just hard work and determination. The key to acing the examination is having the right strategy in place, thoroughly analyzing the syllabus, and dedicating time for both revision and practice.
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