UPSC

https://upsc.gov.in/

The Civil Services Examination, widely recognized as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and formerly known as the Imperial Civil Service (ICS), is among India's most challenging competitive exams. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) oversees the recruitment process for All India Administrative Civil Service officers. As the principal hiring body, UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE), commonly referred to as the IAS exam, every year.

Frequency- yearly

Mode- Pen and Paper

Exam Pattern

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sets the pattern for its examination, which is held annually. Since 2013, the IAS Exam format has remained unchanged. This article provides an overview of the UPSC exam pattern and syllabus for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024. Known as the toughest examination in India, it is highly competitive and covers an extensive syllabus. The UPSC CSE's complexity is further enhanced by its intricate pattern, with an exam cycle lasting nearly a year from prelims to final results.

UPSC Exam Pattern 2024

The exam is officially divided into two stages: Preliminary and Main Examination, but it effectively comprises three stages, including a Personality Test/Interview.

Stage 1: UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Pattern The Preliminary Exam is scheduled for May 26, 2024. It consists of two objective-type papers conducted on the same day. Both papers have multiple-choice questions. The Prelims serve as a qualifying stage for the Mains exam, with marks not counted towards the final merit list. Candidates must prepare thoroughly as cut-offs are unpredictable.

Prelims Exam Details:

General Studies I: 100 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours, with negative marking.
General Studies II (CSAT): 80 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours, with negative marking.
Total: 400 marks (GS Paper II is qualifying with a minimum of 33%).

Stage 2: UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern The Mains stage includes nine descriptive papers over 5-7 days. Only candidates who meet the cut-off in General Studies I and score at least 33% in General Studies II in Prelims qualify for the Mains.

Mains Exam Details:

Paper A: Compulsory Indian language, 3 hours, 300 marks.
Paper B: English, 3 hours, 300 marks.
Paper I: Essay, 3 hours, 250 marks.
Paper II: General Studies I, 3 hours, 250 marks.
Paper III: General Studies II, 3 hours, 250 marks.
Paper IV: General Studies III, 3 hours, 250 marks.
Paper V: General Studies IV, 3 hours, 250 marks.
Paper VI: Optional I, 3 hours, 250 marks.
Paper VII: Optional II, 3 hours, 250 marks.

Papers A and B are qualifying, requiring a minimum of 25%. Papers I to VII determine merit ranking. Paper A exemptions apply to certain candidates based on specific criteria.

General Studies topics:

GS I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, Geography of the World, Society.
GS II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International relations.
GS III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, Disaster Management.
GS IV: Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude.

Optional subjects include a wide range of fields, and candidates can answer in English or any language from the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

Stage 3: UPSC CSE Interview Pattern The final stage is the Interview/Personality Test, which evaluates the candidate's suitability for civil service roles. The board assesses mental and social traits, including alertness, assimilation, judgment, interests, leadership, and integrity. The interview carries 275 marks, contributing to the total of 2025 marks for Mains and Interview combined.

Overall, the UPSC IAS exam is comprehensive and highly competitive. Preparation should be thorough, as the process spans almost a year, and failure requires starting anew the following year.

Eligibility Criteria

This article provides a detailed explanation of the complete UPSC eligibility criteria for the IAS exam.

Understanding the eligibility criteria is the first step in the IAS preparation process. The IAS Eligibility and UPSC Age Limit for the Civil Services Exam 2024 are outlined here. The UPSC notification for 2024 was released on February 14, 2024. The Prelims 2024 was initially set for May 26, 2024, but due to the general elections, it has been rescheduled to June 16, 2024 (Sunday).

Candidates can check and download the official notification PDF from the linked article once it is officially available.

UPSC Eligibility – Latest Update

The UPSC 2024 Notification was issued on February 14, 2024. Candidates interested in applying for the UPSC 2024 exam can find the eligibility criteria in this article.

IAS Eligibility Overview

IAS Exam Age Limit: 21 to 32 years
Age Relaxation: As per category (details below)
Educational Qualification: Graduation
Nationality: Indian citizens only

UPSC Age Limit – Minimum and Maximum Age for IAS

For the Civil Services Exam 2024, candidates must be at least 21 years old and under 32 years old as of August 1, 2024, meaning they must have been born between August 2, 1991, and August 1, 2002. The official notification will provide detailed age limit information.

Category-wise Age Limits:

General Category: 21 to 32 years
EWS: 21 to 32 years
SC/ST: 21 to 37 years
OBC: 21 to 35 years

Candidates should verify their eligibility for the EWS reservation in the linked article.

IAS Eligibility – Age Relaxation & Number of Attempts

Category-wise Relaxations:

General: 32 years, 6 attempts
OBC: 35 years, 9 attempts
SC/ST: 37 years, unlimited attempts (up to age limit)
Disabled Defence Services Personnel: 35 years, 9 attempts
Ex-Servicemen: 37 years, 9 attempts
Persons with Benchmark Disability (EWS): 42 years

Special age relaxations apply for certain Defence Servicemen and ECOs/SSCOs as outlined in the IAS Eligibility criteria.

IAS Eligibility – Educational Qualification

Candidates must have a degree from a government-recognized University or an equivalent qualification.
Final-year students or those awaiting results are eligible to appear for the UPSC preliminary Examination but must provide proof of passing the examination for the main IAS examination.
Professional and technical qualifications recognized by the Government are acceptable.
Medical students who have completed their final year of MBBS but are yet to finish their internship can also apply, provided they submit a certificate of course completion (including internship) with the Main Examination application.

IAS Eligibility – Nationality

For IAS and IPS:

The candidate must be a citizen of India.

For other Services:

The candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, intending to settle in India permanently, or
- A person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from specified countries intending to settle in India permanently.

Candidates from categories (2), (3), (4), and (5) must present a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. They may take the exam before obtaining this certificate, but the offer of appointment will only be given once the certificate is issued. Note that individuals from categories (2), (3), and (4) are not eligible for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).