UPSC Prelims 2024 Exam Date, Eligibility, Notification, Syllabus

Written By
Insight Delhi, IAS
Written By
Insight Delhi, IAS

UPSC Prelims 2024 Exam Date, Eligibility, Notification, Syllabus


Many people from different backgrounds are expected to apply for UPSC 2024, all hoping to secure a position in the respected civil services. As the UPSC exam date for 2024 gets closer, it's important for candidates to learn the important details, how to prepare, and what to expect in the exam.

Come with us as we break down the complexities of UPSC CSE 2024, providing you with the information, tips, and resources you need to do well in this significant exam. We'll cover important things like the structure of the UPSC exam, who is eligible to apply, what subjects to study at each stage, tips for preparation, and suggested study materials.


UPSC PRELIMS 2024- Overview
Particulars Prelims
Exam Date 28th May 2024
No. of Papers Two
Types of Questions Objective Type
Duration of Exam 2 hours each
Total Marks 400
Medium of Exam English & Hindi
Negative Marking (1/3rd of the maximum marks for the question)
Marks Counted in Merit No


UPSC Exam Date 2024

AThe UPSC Notification for 2024 is set to be released on February 14, 2024. This document holds significant information such as important dates, the number of available positions, the syllabus, and all the requirements that candidates must adhere to in order to participate in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It serves as a crucial guide for individuals aspiring to take part in this prestigious examination.



UPSC 2024 Important Events Schedule
Availability of UPSC 2024 Notification February 14, 2024
UPSC Form Date 2024 February 14, 2024
UPSC Application Last Date 2024 March 05, 2024
UPSC 2024 Prelims Date May 26, 2024
 
UPSC 2024 Eligibility Criteria

Before commencing the journey of preparing for UPSC 2024 Civil Services, understanding the eligibility criteria is crucial. These criteria form the basis for aspirants looking to take part in the esteemed Civil Services Examination and contribute as administrators to the nation.

For UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024, the eligibility criteria are as follows:

Nationality:

  • The candidate must be either:
  • A citizen of India
  • A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
  • A Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of settling permanently
  • A person of Indian origin who migrated from specific countries with the intention of settling permanently in India

Educational Qualification:

  • Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university.
  • Those in their final year of graduation can apply provisionally but must provide proof of passing the degree examination before a specified date.

Number of Attempts:

  • General Category: Six attempts
  • OBC Category: Nine attempts
  • SC/ST Category: No restriction on attempts until the upper age limit is reached (excluding relaxation categories)

Physical Fitness:

  • Candidates must meet specific physical and medical standards, particularly for services like the Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).

UPSC Age Criteria – The age limit for the UPSC 2024 is given below:



Category Minimum Age for UPSC 2024 Maximum Age
For General Candidate 21 years 32 years
EWS 21 32
For OBC candidates 21 years 35 years
For SC/ST 21 years 37 years
 
UPSC Qualifications Eligibility Criteria 2024

Given below are the eligibility criteria for different UPSC exams. Check the eligibility criteria here..



Exam Age Limit Qualifications
Civil Services Examination 21 years – 32 years Degree from a recognized University or equivalent
Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination 19 years – 25 years Degree from a recognized University or equivalent
National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination 16 years – 19 years Candidate can apply after class 12.
Engineering Services Examination 21 years – 30 years Valid Engineering Degree.
Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 21 years – 32 years Master’s Degree
CISF AC (EXE) LDCE Examination 18 years – 23 years Candidate can apply after class 12.
Indian Forest Services Examination 21 years – 32 years Bachelor’s degree in interested field
IES / ISS Examination 21 years – 30 years Graduation and Post-Graduation Degree.
Combined Medical Services Examination The upper age limit is 32 years M.B.B.S. Examination
Central Armed Police Force (ACs) Examination 20 – 25 years Bachelor’s Degree
S.O./Steno (GD – B / GD - I) LDCE Examination Not specified Different educational qualifications and work experience required for a different post.


UPSC Age Relaxation 2024

UPSC provides age relaxation for different categories. The candidates must check the age relaxation details for the exam



Category Age Relaxation
SC/ST 5 years
OBC 3 years
Defence Services Personnel 3 years
Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs 5 years
Hearing problem, deaf, low vision, ex-servicemen, blindness, muscle deformity 10 years
 
UPSC Syllabus 2024 for Prelims Exam

The UPSC 2024 syllabus is extensive and all-encompassing, aiming to evaluate candidates on their knowledge, analytical abilities, and comprehension of various issues related to governance, society, economy, and international affairs.

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 issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change - that do not require 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
  • Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level)
  • Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. - Class X level).


Here are some useful tips to prepare for UPSC 2024:

  • Know the Syllabus Well: Make sure you understand and cover all the topics in the UPSC 2024 syllabus.
  • Practice Previous Year's Questions: Get familiar with the exam pattern and types of questions by practicing previous years' question papers.
  • Stay Updated with News: Read newspapers daily and monthly magazines to stay informed about national and international events.
  • Take Notes for Important Events: Develop a habit of creating concise and organized notes for important events to make revision easier.
  • Practice Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): Improve your problem-solving skills by regularly practicing multiple-choice questions for better speed and accuracy.

Key Points to Remember:

  • If you answer a question incorrectly, 1/3rd of the total mark will be deducted.
  • No marks will be deducted for leaving a question blank.
  • In General Studies (Paper I), each question is worth 2 marks, and there is a penalty of 0.66 marks for each incorrect answer.
  • In CSAT (Paper-II), each question is worth 2.5 marks, and there is a penalty of 0.833 marks for each incorrect answer.
  • Preliminary exam marks won't be considered in the final merit list.
  • Paper II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination is a qualifying paper, and you need a minimum of 33% marks to pass.


UPSC 2024 Application Process

The UPSC Application Form for 2024 is made available on the same date as the Notification. As per the 2024 Calendar, the UPSC Prelims 2024 application form will be released on 14th February 2024. Candidates can fill out the form up to the last date, which is 5th March 2024. It's essential to complete the application within this timeframe to be considered for the UPSC Preliminary Examination.

To apply for UPSC 2024, follow these simple steps:

  • Open the UPSC Notification and download it.
  • Look for the UPSC 2024 Application Form link and click "Apply."
  • Fill in all the necessary information in the application form.
  • Double-check the details before submitting to ensure accuracy.

UPSC Application Fee:

Candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs. 100/- for the UPSC online application. This fee can be paid by depositing the amount in any branch of the State Bank of India in cash, utilizing the Net Banking facility of any bank, or using Visa/Master/RuPay/Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment. It's important to note that certain categories of candidates, such as Females, SC/ST, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, are exempted from paying the application fee.

 

Also Read – UPSC 2024 Exam eligibility, pattern, syllabus, dates



UPSC Admit Card 2024

To obtain the UPSC 2024 admit card, candidates should adhere to the following steps:

  • Visit the Official UPSC Website: Access the Union Public Service Commission's official website at www.upsc.gov.in.
  • Locate the Admit Card Section: Look for the "Admit Card" or "e-Admit Card" link on the homepage of the website.
  • Choose the CSE Examination: Click on the link specifically related to the UPSC Civil Services Examination admit card.
  • Enter Required Details: Provide the necessary details, such as Registration ID/Roll Number and Date of Birth, to access the admit card.
  • Download the Admit Card: After entering the required details, the UPSC CSE admit card will be displayed on the screen. Candidates must carefully verify the details, including the examination venue, date, and time.
  • Print the Admit Card: Once verified, download and print a copy of the admit card. It is mandatory to carry a printed copy to the examination centre.

It's essential to note that separate admit cards are issued for the Preliminary and Main examinations. Candidates should keep their admit cards safe until the entire selection process is completed.

 

Details mentioned on UPSC 2024 Admit Card

  • Name of the candidate
  • Roll Number of the candidate
  • Gender
  • Category of the candidate
  • Date of birth
  • Exam date and timings
  • Exam Centre name
  • Photo of the candidate
  • Signature of the candidate
  • Exam day guidelines



UPSC CSE 2024 Exam Centers

The list of examination centres for IAS Prelims are given below:

Agra Bilaspur Faridabad
Agartala Bhopal Gaya
Ahmedabad Chennai Gangtok
Ajmer Chandigarh Gautam Buddh Nagar
Aizawl Cuttack Gorakhpur
Aligarh Coimbatore Ghaziabad
Aurangabad Delhi Gurgaon
Anantpur Dehradun Gwalior
Bareilly Dharwad Hyderabad
Bangalore Dispur PANAJI (GOA)
Imphal Indore Itanagar
Jabalpur Jodhpur Jaipur
Jorhat Kochi Kolkata
Kozhikode Lucknow Leh
Ludhiana Mumbai Madurai
Mysore Nagpur Navi Mumbai
Patna Port Blair Pune
Prayagraj Rajkot Shillong
Shimla Siliguri Srinagar
Sambalpur MANDI (NEW) Thane
Thiruvananthapuram Tirupati Tiruchirapalli
Udaipur Varanasi Vellore
Vijayawada Visakhapatnam Warangal
Vishakhapatnam Dharamsala (new) Nasik
Mysuru Dharwar Tirupati
Kozhikode (calicut) Surat Kolkatta
Srinagar (uttarakhand) Kohima Jammu
Bengaluru Ranchi Ananthapuru
Almora (uttarakhand) Raipur Indore
Puducherry Prayagraj (allahabad) Portblair

 

Also Read – LBSNAA: India’s Civil Services Training Academy

 

UPSC IAS 2024 Result

The results for UPSC IAS 2024 will be announced by the Union Public Service Commission on their official website. The Prelims results will be declared online, presented in a merit list format containing the names and roll numbers of the successful candidates. UPSC will also release the marks obtained by the qualified candidates, and a direct link will be activated to download the mark sheet for those who clear the civil services examination. Additionally, the final merit list for UPSC IAS 2024 will be made available to the public. Candidates are encouraged to regularly check the official website for updates and access their results and related information.