ABout UPSC – CSE

UPSC Civil Services Exam

The Civil Services Exam (CSE) in India is a nationwide competitive examination conducted by the constitutional body Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). 

    
About the Examination Process

To get selected into these coveted services, candidates must appear in the Civil Services Exam (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and should pass a three-phase selection process. 

 The three phases are the-

  • Civil Services Preliminary Exam (Prelims)
  • Civil Services (Main) Examination (Mains)
  • The Personality Test (Interview)

How to Apply-

Candidates can apply Online using the official website of UPSC that is www.upsconline.nic.in.

  • Candidates need to complete the Online Application Form containing two stages viz. Part-I and Part-II
  • The candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs.100/- Rupees One Hundred only)
  •  SC/ST/ Female/Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates who are exempted from payment of fee.
  •  Candidates can pay the fee, either by depositing the money in any branch of State Bank of India by cash, or by using net banking facility of State Bank of India or by using any Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/ Debit Card.
  • Applicants should avoid submitting multiple applications.
  • The applications with higher Registration ID will be considered by the Commission, in case of multiple applications.
  • While filling their Application Form, the applicants must ensure that they are providing their valid and active E-Mail IDs.

Plan of Examination

The Civil Services Examination consist of three stages:

  1. Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type)
  2. Civil Services (Main) Examination
  3.   Personal Interview for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts.
  • First Stage Details
  • The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination comprises of two papers of 200 marks each –
  •     General Studies Paper I
  • General Studies Paper II.
    • GS Paper-II (CSAT i.e., Civil Service Aptitude Test) is of qualifying in nature. A candidate must secure 33% marks only.
    • Objective type (Multiple Choice Questions) is asked in this stage. Marks obtained in this stage are counted only to decide merit in preliminary examination, not for final selection.
    • Clearing the Prelims makes one eligible for the next stage of the exam.
  • Second Stage Details
    • Civil Services (Main) Examination the question papers for this examination are of subjective type.
    •  It consists of nine papers of which, in deciding the final merit list marks of only seven papers are counted.
    •  A candidate must secure the minimum qualifying marks decided by UPSC each year in the remaining two papers.

Civil Services Interview

The personality test is the final round in the Civil Services Exam selection process. It is the gateway to your dream service. Only those candidates who manage to clear the mains exam cut-off are allowed to attend the interview. At this stage, the candidates are tested for their mental alertness, the balance of judgment, intellectual and moral integrity, etc out of 275 marks. The Civil Services Personality Test consists of a board of members for assessing the candidate’s personality. A candidate is asked questions on matters of general interest. The object 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.

Table shows the Marks distribution counted for final merit
PaperSubjectMarks
Paper-1Essay250
Paper-2General Studies–I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)250
Paper-3General Studies–II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)250
Paper-4General Studies–III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)250
Paper-5General Studies–IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)250
Paper-6Optional Subject – Paper 1250
 Optional Subject – Paper 2250
Paper-7Sub Total (Written test)

Personality Test

Grand Total		1750

 275

2025
   

Two Qualifying Papers are:

  • Paper-A (One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution): 300 Marks
  • Paper-B (English): 300 Marks

Eligibility Criteria

  • For the IAS and the IPS, a candidate must be a citizen of India.
  •  For other services, a candidate must be either a citizen of India or a citizen of some other country.
  • A candidate –

i)Must have attained the age of 21 years.

ii)Must not have attained the age of 32 years in case of General and EWS candidates.

iii)The upper age-limit is relaxable, maximum of 5 years for SC/STs candidates and 3 years for OBC candidates.

Iv)Age relaxation is also applicable for candidates with certain disability and Ex-Defense personnel.

  • A candidate must hold a university degree or possess an equivalent qualification for appearing in Civil Services Examination.
  • Candidates who have appeared in the final year of degree examination and the candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination will also be eligible for admission to the Preliminary Examination. But before appearing in Civil Services (Main) Examination such candidates must produce proof of passing the requisite examination.

All India Services (AIS)

  1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
  2. Indian Forest Services (IFoS)
  3. Indian Police Services (IPS)

Other ‘Group A’ Services

  • Indian P&T Accounts & Finance Service
  • Indian Audit and Accounts Service
  • Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise)
  • Indian Defence Accounts Service
  • Indian Revenue Service (I.T.)
  • Indian Ordnance Factories Service (Assistant Works Manager, Administration)
  • Indian Postal Service
  • Indian Civil Accounts Service
  • Indian Railway Traffic Service
  • Indian Railway Accounts Service
  • Indian Railway Personnel Service
  • Indian Railway Protection Force (Assistant Security Commissioner)
  • Indian Defence Estates Service
  • Indian Information Service (Junior Grade)
  • Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Gr. III)
  • Indian Corporate Law Service

Group B Services

  • Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (Section Officer’s Grade)
  • Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service (DANICS)
  • Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS)
  • Pondicherry Civil Service
  • Pondicherry Police Service