There are 24 services offered through Civil Services exam. The IAS (Indian Administrative Service) is considered one ofthe most prestigious jobs in the country.
Union Public Service Commission is a body under the Constitution of India, which conducts the exams for the Civil Services. Almost 10 lakh aspirants enrol each year while almost 5 lakh candidates appear for the exam.
The Exam is divided into three stages – Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam & Personality Test
Preliminary Exam is an objective based exam consisting of two papers where each question has four alternatives. Paper 1 comprises of General Studies and Paper 2 Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT).
| Compulsory | Topic/Subjects | No. of Questions | Duration of the Test | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies I | Geography, Polity, Economy, History, Environmental Ecology, General Science and Current Affairs | 100 | 2 Hrs | 200 |
| General Studies II (CSAT) | Comprehension, Logical Reasoning and General Mental Ability | 80 | 2 Hrs | 200 |
The marks in Prelims is not counted in the final ranking but used as a qualification criterion for the Main Exam. CSAT Paper is of qualifying nature. Marks of Paper-l are the sole criteria for clearing Preliminary Exam.
Main is a subjective conventional (Essay Type) exam consisting of 9 papers followed by an Interview:
Each paper is of 250 mar.ks except Paper 8 & 9 which is of 300 marks each. The marks for Paper 8 & 9 are not counted in the final score. For the optional subject UPSC has a list of 26 subjects to choose from. Candidates will have to choose one subject and it will 2 papers (i.e, Paper 6 and Paper 7)
| S.No. | Papers | Subject | Duration of the Test | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper - I | Essay | Essay Writing | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper - II | General Studies I | Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper - III | General Studies II | Governance, Constutution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper - IV | General Studies III | Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security & Disaster Management | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper - V | General Studies IV | Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper - VI | Optional Subject Paper - I | - | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper - VII | Optional Subject Paper - II | - | 3 Hrs | 250 |
| Paper - VIII | English | Qualifying | 3 Hrs | 300* |
| Paper - IX | Scheduled Language | Qualifying | 3 Hrs | 300* |
The candidate will be interviewed by a Board at UPSC Campus in Delhi. The total marks allotted for Personality Test is 275.
The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms, this is really an assessment of not only his/her intellectual qualities but also social traits and his/her interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.
The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialized or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own state or country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.
The technique of the Personality Test is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and in the form of a purposive conversation intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate with the Board consisting of five members of 25 to 30 minutes.
MERIT List is prepared based on the total marks obtained in the Seven Papers of Main Exam and the Marks of the Personality Test. (i.e. 1750 Marks from Seven Papers + 275 Marks for Personality Test = 2025 Total Marks)
| Notification For Civil Services Exam : January/February | Application for Prelim Exam : February/March |
| Date of Prelim Exam - May/June | Declaration of Main Exam Results - January/February |
| Result of Prelim Exam - August/September | Personality Test - March/April |
| Commencement of Main Exam - October | Declaration of Final Merit List - May/June |
