UPSC – Know this before knowing Anything Else!

• Examination conducting authority: Union Public Service Commission
• Date of Examination: Varies (Usually Prelims in June)
• Number of 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 posts: Varies ( 900-1000)
• Application & Official communication address: 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….

EXAM PROCESS

PRELIMS

• 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
• Maximum Marks: 200 marks (100 questions each paper- 2 marks each)
• General Studies Paper-II: Qualifying in nature (Minimum – 33% to be secured for qualifying)
• Negative Marks: 1/3^rd of 2 marks (0.66 deducted for every wrong answer)
• 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.

MAINS Examination (Descriptive Type)

• Date of Examination: Notified by UPSC
• Number of Papers: The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type out of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature.
• Duration of each Paper: 3 hours
• Maximum Marks: 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: – 2017

Personality test

• Maximum Marks: 275 Marks. This will be added to written marks.
• Ranking based on = Written Marks (1750) + Personality test (275)
• Interview: Conducted by a board ( 1 chairman and 4 expert members)
• Questions: They 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:

1. 1. Mental  alertness
   2. Critical  powers  of  assimilations
   3. Clear  and  logical  exposition
   4. Balance  of  judgement
   5. Variety  and  depth  of  interest
   6. Ability  for  social  cohesion  and  leadership
   7. Intellectual and moral integrity.

• How many will be called for interview: 3 times the vacancies
• Duration of Interview: 20-30 minutes