FACTS
- Examination conducted by: Union Public Service Commission
- Date of Examinations: Varies (Usually Prelims in June)
- Attempts:
- General Category: 6 Attempts
- OBC: 9 Attempts
- SC/ST: No limit
- Age:
- General Category: 32 years
- OBC: 35 years
- SC/ST-37 years
- PH: Additional 10 years
- exMP: 5years
- Education Qualification: Any Recognised Degree
- Number of post: Varies ( 900-1000)
- How to apply: upsconline.nic.in
- Posts:
- Indian Administrative Service
- Indian Foreign Service
- Indian Police Service
- Indian Revenue Service
- Indian Postal Service
- Indian Railway Personnel Service
- Indian Railway Traffic Service
- Indian Trade Service
- Railway Protection Force
- Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service
- Pondicherry Civil Service etc….
STAGES OF EXAMINATION
Stage 1: Prelimimary Examinations- Objective type
Stage 2: Mains written Examinations- Descriptive type
Stage 3: Personality Test- Interview type
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS (OBJECTIVE TYPE)
- Date of examination: Notified by UPSC (Usually in June)
- Number of papers: 2
- Type of examination: Objective type (MCQs)
- Duration of each paper: 2 hours
- Each paper shall be of a maximum of 200 marks (100 questions- 2 marks each)
- The General Studies Paper-II- Only qualifying in nature (minimum qualifying marks- 33%)
- There are four alternatives for the answers to every question.
- There will be negative marking for incorrect answers (one-third-0.66)
- Language of examination: English and Hindi
- How many will clear Prelims?12-13 times the vacancies notified for recruitment will be selected to write Mains examination
- Cut off marks: Varies.
Category | Cutoff (2017) |
General | 105.34 |
OBC | 88.66 |
SC/ST | 88.66 |
PH1 | 88.88 |
PH2 | 61.34 |
PH3 | 40 |
Syllabus Prelims
Paper 1 – General Studies – 100 questions X 2Marks = 200 Marks
- History: Acient, Medieval and Modern Indian History
- Geography- Physical and Indian Geography
- Indian Constitution
- Ecology & Biodiversity
- Indian Economy
- Science & Technology
- Current Affairs
Paper 2 – CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) – 80 Questions X 2.5Marks = 200Marks
Only Qualifying
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability
- Data Interpretation
- General English
- Problem Solving
- Decision Making
* There will be negative marking for incorrect answers (one-third-0.66 allocated for each question will be deducted)
MAINS Examinations (Descriptive Type)
- Date of examination: Notified by UPSC
- Number of papers: The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay typeout of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature.
Category | Mains Cutoff | Final Score |
General | 809 | 1006 |
OBC | 770 | 968 |
SC | 756 | 944 |
ST | 749 | 939 |
PH1 | 734 | 923 |
PH2 | 745 | 948 |
PH3 | 578 | 830 |
- Duration of each paper: 3 hours
- Each paper shall be of a maximum of 250 marks
- Type of examination: Descriptive type (Essay type)
- Language of examination: English and regional language
- How many will clear Mains?3 times the vacancies notified for recruitment will be selected to write Mains examination
- Cut off marks: Varies. – 2017
Subject | Papers | Marks |
Qualifying paper | 2 paper (Regional language + English) | 300 Marks each ( Only for qualification) |
Essay | 1 paper (2 essay) | 250 Marks |
Genral studies | 4 Papers | 250 Marks each |
Optional Paper- any 1 | 2 Papers | 250 Marks each |
Total Written | 7 papers | 1750 Marks |
Personality Test | – | 275 Marks |
Total Marks | – | 2025 Marks |
Mains Optionals
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce & Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
- Literature of any one of the following languages:
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English
Syllabus for Mains
- Essays:
- Topic of International /National Importance
- Social Issues
- Quote Based
- General studies 1
- Cultural Heritage(India)
- History- World, Modern Indian History, Post Independent History
- Society and social issues.
- Geography- Physical, Human and Indian
- General Studies 2.
- Overview of Indian
- Governance
- International Relations.
- General Studies 3
- Economy
- Science andTechnology
- Security issues
- Environment and Ecology.
- General Studies 4: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
- Optional subject:Any 1
Personality test
- Marks: 275 Marks.
- This will be added to written marks
- Ranking based on = Written Marks (1750) + Personality test (275)
- Interview will be conducted by a board ( 1 chairman and 4 expert members)
- Questions will be based on matters of general interest.
- Objective of the interview: To assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public services and to judge the mental caliber of a candidate.
- What is expected from the candidate:
- Mental alertness
- Critical powers of assimilations
- Clear and logical exposition
- Balance of judgement
- Variety and depth of interest
- Ability for social cohesion and leadership
- Intellectual and moral integrity.
- How many will be called for interview: 3 times the vacancies
- Duration of Interview: 20-30 minutes