The UPSC Civil Services Examination consists of three stages, each serving a distinct purpose in the selection process:
The Preliminary Examination marks the initial phase of the UPSC Civil Services Examination and is characterized by its objective format, which includes multiple-choice questions. It includes two papers:
- Paper-I: General Studies (GS) - 200 marks
- Paper-II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) - Worth 200 marks
Both papers are conducted on the same day, each with a duration of two hours. The GS paper covers topics such as History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, and Current Affairs. The CSAT paper evaluates the candidate's grasp of comprehension, analytical prowess, and fundamental aptitude skills.
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024:
Candidates who qualify the Prelims proceed to the UPSC Mains, which is a written examination. It consists of nine papers, categorized into two types:
- Paper-A: An Indian Language (Qualifying) - Valued at 300 marks
- Paper-B: English (Qualifying) - 300 marks
- Paper-I: Essay - 250 marks
- Paper-II: General Studies I - 250 marks
- Paper-III: General Studies II - 250 marks
- Paper-IV: General Studies III - 250 marks
- Paper-V: General Studies IV - 250 marks
- Paper-VI: Optional Subject - Part 1 - Carrying 250 marks
- Paper-VII: Optional Subject - Part 2 - Carrying 250 marks
Each paper is of 3 hours in duration, except for the qualifying language papers.
UPSC Interview:
Successful candidates who clear the UPSC 2024 Mains are invited for the Personal Interview round. This interview aims to evaluate the candidate's personality, communication skills, leadership qualities, and overall suitability for a career in civil services. The Personality Test is conducted by a panel of experts and carries a weightage of 275 marks.
The ultimate selection of candidates depends on the combined marks obtained in the Mains examination (written) and the Personal Interview. It's important to note that the Preliminary examination serves as a qualifying test, and the scores from the Prelims do not contribute to the final merit list.
UPSC 2024 Application Form:
The UPSC Application Form for 2024 is made available simultaneously with the release of the Notification. As per the 2024 Calendar, aspiring candidates can access the UPSC Prelims 2024 application form starting from February 14, 2024. The deadline for submission is set for March 5, 2024.
UPSC Admit Card 2024:
The UPSC 2024 admit card will be accessible for download on the official website of the Union Public Service Commission. This crucial document enables candidates to participate in both the UPSC CSE Preliminary and Main examinations. To obtain the admit card, candidates should follow these steps:
- Access the official UPSC website by navigating to www.upsc.gov.in.
- Locate the Admit Card section: Find the "Admit Card" or "e-Admit Card" link on the website's home page.
- Choose the CSE examination: Click on the link for the UPSC Civil Services Examination admit card.
- Enter required details: Provide your Registration ID/Roll Number and Date of Birth to access the admit card.
- Download and print: Once the details are entered, the UPSC CSE admit card will be displayed. After verifying the details, download and print a copy of the admit card for use at the examination center.
It's crucial to note that the admit card for the Preliminary and Main examinations is issued individually and at different times. Candidates are advised to retain their admit cards until the completion of the entire selection process.
UPSC CSE 2024 Syllabus:
The UPSC 2024 syllabus is extensive and covers a wide array of subjects to assess candidates' knowledge, analytical skills, and understanding of various governance, societal, economic, and international issues.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024:
Paper-I: General Studies (GS)
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography (Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World)
- Indian Polity and Governance (Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.)
- Economic and Social Development (Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.)
- General topics on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change (without the need for subject specialization)
- General Science
Paper-II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Fundamental numeracy (including numbers and their relationships, orders of magnitude, etc.) at the Class X level, along with Data Interpretation (comprising charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc.) - Class X level
UPSC Mains Syllabus 2024:
- Paper-A: One of the Indian Languages (Qualifying)
- Paper-B: English (Qualifying)
- Paper-I: Essay
- Paper-II: General Studies I (Indian Heritage, Culture, History, and Geography)
- Paper-III: General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations)
- Paper-IV: General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)
- Paper-V: General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
- Paper-VI & VII: Optional Subject - Paper 1 & Paper 2 (Candidates can choose one optional subject from the list provided by UPSC)
Optional subjects for Paper-VI and Paper-VII encompass disciplines such as History, Geography, Public Administration, Sociology, Political Science and International Relations, Economics, and more. Candidates must select one optional subject from the list provided by UPSC.
UPSC 2024 Personality Test:
The UPSC interview stands as the conclusive stage in the selection process and holds substantial weight in determining a candidate's final rank and service allocation. The primary objective of the interview is to assess the candidate's personality, communication abilities, intellectual depth, analytical skills, and general aptitude for a civil services career.
Unlike the Preliminary and Mains exams, the UPSC CSE interview does not follow a specific syllabus with predefined topics or subjects. The interview panel maintains the flexibility to pose questions across a diverse array of subjects to evaluate the candidate's comprehension, viewpoints, and general awareness.
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