UPSC Exam
Introduction to UPSC
Indianisation of the superior Civil Services became one of the major demands of the political movement compelling the British Indian Government to consider setting up of a Public Service Commission for recruitment to its services in the territory. The first Public Service Commission was set up on October 1st, 1926. However, its limited advisory functions failed to satisfy the people's aspirations and the continued stress on this aspect by the leaders of our freedom movement resulted in the setting up of the Federal Public Service Commission under the Government of India Act 1935. Under this Act, for the first time, provision was also made for the formation of Public Service Commissions at the provincial level.
The Constituent Assembly, after independence, saw the need for giving a secure and autonomous status to Public Service Commissions both at Federal and Provincial levels for ensuring unbiased recruitment to Civil Services as also for protection of service interests. With the promulgation of the new Constitution for independent India on 26th January, 1950, the Federal Public Service Commission was accorded a constitutional status as an autonomous entity and given the title - Union Public Service Commission
Constitutional Provisions
The Union Public Service Commission has been established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India. The Commission consists of a Chairman and ten Members. The terms and conditions of service of Chairman and Members of the Commission are governed by the Union Public Service Commission (Members) Regulations, 1969. The Commission is serviced by a Secretariat headed by a Secretary with two Additional Secretaries, a number of Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and other supporting staff. The Union Public Service Commission have been entrusted with the following duties and role under the Constitution:
- Recruitment to services & posts under the Union through conduct of competitive examinations;
- Recruitment to services & posts under the Central Government by Selection through Interviews;
- Advising on the suitability of officers for appointment on promotion as well as transfer-on-deputation;
- Advising the Government on all matters relating to methods of Recruitment to various services and posts;
- Disciplinary cases relating to different civil services; and
- Miscellaneous matters relating to grant of extra ordinary pensions, reimbursement of legal expenses etc.
The major role played by the Commission is to select persons to man the various Central Civil Services and Posts and the Services common to the Union and States (viz. All-India Services).
RECRUITMENT TO VARIOUS SERVICES AND POSTS
Under Article 320 of the Constitution of India, the Commission are, inter-alia, required to be consulted on all matters relating to recruitment to civil services and posts. RECRUITMENT is made by one of the following three methods:
- Direct Recruitment
- Promotion
- Transfer
DIRECT RECRUITMENT is conducted broadly under the following two methods:
- Recruitment by competitive examination.
- Recruitment by selection through interview.
RECRUITMENT BY COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION
Under the Constitution one of the functions of the Commission is to conduct examinations for appointment to Civil Services/Posts of the Union. In addition, competitive examinations are also held by the Commission under arrangements with the Ministry of Defence for entry to certain Defence Services, through the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and the Officers Training Academy.
The Commission usually conducts over a dozen examinations every year on an all India basis. These include Examinations for recruitment to services/posts in various fields, such as Civil Services, Engineering, Medical and Forest Service, etc. At present the Union Public Service Commission conduct their examinations at numerous venues spread over 42 regular centers throughout the country.
RECRUITMENT BY SELECTION
Recruitment by Selection is made by the following methods:
- By Interview Only
- By Recruitment Test Followed By Interview
BY INTERVIEW ONLY
Where the number of applicants is very large, it is not practicable to call for Interview all the applicants who fulfill the minimum eligibility conditions prescribed. The Commission, therefore, shortlist the candidates to be called for the interview on the basis of certain pre-determined criteria related to the job. A large number of recruitment cases is handled by the Commission by the method (1) above.
BY WRITTEN TEST FOLLOWED BY INTERVIEW
In this category, there are two types of procedure followed:
- An objective-type written and/or practical test to test the skill of the candidates followed by Interview, the final selection being decided by Interview, aided by the performance of the candidates in the written test and/or practical test.
- An objective-type written and/or practical test to screen candidates to be called for interview, the final selection being decided by Interview only.
The months shown here are only tentative.
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (In May)
- Civil Services (Main) Examination (In Oct/Nov)
- Indian Forest Service Examination (In July)
- Engineering Services Examination (In June)
- Geologist Examination (in December)
- Special Class Railway Apprentices Examination (In July)
- National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (In April & September)
- Combined Defence Services Examination (In February & August)
- Combined Medical Services Examination (In January)
- Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination (In November)
- Section Officers/Stenographers (Grade-B/Grade-I) Limited Departmental Competetive Examination (In December)
- Central Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination (In October)
List of service
Civil service, the backbone of the Indian government machinery constitutes all the departments which runs the State administration. A highly competitive and challenging area, it involves a variety of jobs in different departments. Compared to private sector jobs this profession has job security. The prestige and power that comes along with these top-notch jobs is a definite reason for anybody to join this profession. The salary, allowances and facilities like healthcare, housing, conveyance etc. also make it a lucrative profession.
Entry into the IAS, IPS and the Central Services, Group A and Group B is through the All India Combined Competitive Examination for the Civil Services conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in different centers spread all over the country. However, recruitment to the Indian Forest Service is through a different procedure. Entry into the State Civil Services is through a competitive examination conducted by every state public service commission. Anyone thinking of taking up civil service, should have an idea how difficult it is to get in as lakhs of candidates apply for the 400 to 500 vacancies that may arise. So once you decide to appear in civil service exam, one should be prepared to slog endlessly.
- Indian Administrative Service.
- Indian Foreign Service.
- Indian Police Service.
- Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) Group 'A'
- Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Revenue Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Group 'A' (Assistant Works Manager, Administration)
- Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group ‘A’.
- Post of Assistant Security Officer, Group 'A' in Railway Protection Force.
- Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’.
- Indian Information Service (Junior Grade), Group ‘A’.
- Indian Trade Service, Group "A" (GR.III)
- Indian Corporate Law Service, Group "A"
- Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade)
- Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Group 'B'.
- Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service, Group 'B'.
- Pondicherry Civil Service, Group 'B'
- Pondicherry Police Service, Group 'B'
Group-wise service arrangement
All India Services
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Forest Service (IFS)
Central Civil Services - Group "A"
- Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
- Border Roads Engineering Service
- Central Information Service
- Corporate law services
- Company Law Board Service
- Central Power Engineering Service
- Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service
- Central Water Engineering Service(Civil)
- Central Water Engineering Service(Mechanical)
- Central Engineering Service
- Central Engineering Service(Roads)
- Central Health Service
- Central Legal Service
- Central Labour Service
- Central Trade Service
- Defense Lands and Cantonment Service
- Defence Quality Assurance Service
- Defence Research & Development Service
- Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Postal Service
- Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)
- Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers
- Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers
- Indian Railway Service of Engineers
- Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers
- Indian Railway Stores Service
- Indian Telecommunication Service
- Indian Revenue Service (IRS) - Income Tax
- Indian Revenue Service (IRS) - Customs & Central Excise
- Indian Audits & Accounts Service (IA & AS)
- Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
- Indian Defence Estate Service (IDES)
- Indian Economic Service(IES)
- Indian Ordnance Factory Services (IOFS)
- Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)
- Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)
- Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
- Indian Information Service (IIS)
- Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
- Indian Naval Armament Service
- Indian Supply Service
- Indian Inspection Service
- Indian Salt Service
- Indian Broadcasting(Engs) Service
- Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service
- Indian Economic Service
- Indian Statistical Service
- Indian Cost Accounts Service
- Indian Defence Service of Engineers
- Indian Broadcasting(Programme) Service
- Military Engineering Service
- Military Engineers Service of Architects
- Military Engineers Service of Surveyors
- Overseas Communication Service
- P&T Building
- Railways Protection Force (RPF)
- Railway Medical Service
- Railway Board Secretariat Service
- Survey of India
Central Civil Services - Group "B"
- Defence Secretariat Service
- Union Territories Administrative Service
- Union Territories Police Service
Eligibility Conditions
The following are the eligibility criteria for the application of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Examination
- Nationality
- Age Limits
- Minimum Educational Qualifications
- Restrictions on applying for the examination
- Physical Standards
Nationality
- For the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service, a candidate must be a citizen of India.
- For other services, a candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India. or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Srilanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India. Provided further that candidates belonging to categories (b), (c) and (d) above will not be eligible forappointment to the Indian Foreign Service. A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary, may be admitted to the examination but the offer of appointment may be given only after the necessary eligibility certificate has been issued to him by the Government of India.
Age Limits
Prescribed age limits are minimum 21 years and maximum of 30 years as on 1 August of the year of Examination. As on 1 August candidates should not have attained or completed 30 years. In case on that day a candidate whose age is 29 years and 360 days means still he is qualified to take the examination. 1 August to 1 August is the criteria. Those who are in 20s should have attained 21 and those who are in 30s should not have attained 30 years.
The upper age limit prescribed above will be relaxable:
- upto a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe.
- upto a maximum of three years in the case of candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.
- upto a maximum of five years if a candidate had ordinarily been domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from the 1st January, 1980 to the 31st day of December, 1989.
- upto a maximum of three years in the case of Defence Services personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof:
- upto a maximum of five years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1st August of the year of examination and have been released (i) on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from 1st August of the year of examination) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or (ii) on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service, or (iii) on invalidment.
- upto a maximum of five years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years Military Service as on 1st August, of the year of examination and whose assignment has been extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defence issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three month's notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment.
- upto a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons.
Note:
- Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes who are also covered under any other clauses of para 3(ii) (b) above, viz. those coming under the category of Ex-servicemen, persons domiciled in the State of J & K, blind, deaf-mute and orthopadically handicapped etc. will be eligible for grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both the categories.
- The term ex-servicemen will apply to the persons who are defined as ex-servicemen in the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979, as amended from time to time.
- The age concession under para 3(ii) (b) (v) and (vi) will not be admissible to Ex-Servicemen and Commissioned Officers including ECOs/SSCOs who are released on own reguest.
- Notwithstanding the provision of age-relaxation under para 3(ii) (b) (vii) above, a physically disabled candidate will be considered to be eligible for appointment only if he/she (after such physical examination as the Government or appointing authority, as the case may be, may prescribe) is found to satisfy the requirements of physical and medical standards for the concerned Services/posts to be allocated to the physically disabled candidates by the Government.
- Save as provided above the age limits prescribed can in no case be relaxed.
- The date of birth accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University, which extract must be certified by the proper authority of the University or in the Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination certificate.
- These certificates are required to be submitted only at the time of applying for the Civil Services (Main) Examination.
- No other document relating to age like horoscopes, affidavits, birth extracts from Municipal Corporation, service records and the like will be accepted.
- The expression Matriculation/Secondary Examination Certificate in this part of the instruction includes the alternative certificates mentioned above.
- Candidates should note that only the Date of Birth as recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate on the date of submission of applications will be accepted by the Commission and no subsequent request for its change will be considered or granted.
- Candidates should also note that once a Date of Birth has been claimed by them and entered in the records of the Commission for the purpose of admission to an Examination, no change will be allowed subsequently (or at any other Examination of the Commission) on any grounds whatsoever.
- The candidate should exercise due care while entering their date of birth in column 8 of the application form for the PreliminaryExamination. If on verification at any subsequent stage, any variation is found in their date of birth from the one entered in their matriculation or equivalent Examination certificate, disciplinary action will be taken against them by the commission under the Rules.
Minimum Educational Qualifications
- Minimum qualification is a degree from a recognised university under the 10+2+3 scheme alone eligible.
- Degree received through Correspondence Education or Distance Education is also eligible
- Open University degree with 10-th standard eligible.
- Candidates who have appeared at their final year an examination the passing of which would render them educationally candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination will also be eligible for admission to the Preliminary Examination.
- All candidates who are declared qualified for the Commission’s examination but have not been informed of the results as also the by the Commission for taking the Civil Services (Main) Examination will be required to produce proof of passing the requisite examination with their application for the Main Examination failing which such candidates will not be admitted to the Main Examination.
- Candidates who have passed the final professional M.B.B.S. or any other Medical Examination but have not completed their internship by the time of submission of their applications for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, will be provisionally admitted to the Examination
Restrictions on applying for the examination
A candidate who is appointed to the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Foreign Service on the results of an earlier examination and continues to be a member of that service will not be eligible to compete at this examination.
In case such a candidate is appointed to the IAS/IFS after the Preliminary Examination of Civil Services Examination, 2011 is over and he/she continues to be a member of that service, he/she shall not be eligible to appear in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2011 notwithstanding his/her having qualified in the Preliminary Examination, 2011.
Also provided that if such a candidate is appointed to IAS/IFS after the commencement of the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2011 but before the result thereof and continues to be a member of that service, he/she shall not be considered for appointment to any service/post on the basis of the result of this examination viz. Civil Services Examination, 2011.
Physical Standards
Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to Civil Services Examination. 2011 as per guidelines given in Appendix-III of Rules for Examination published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 2nd Jan, 2011.
Number of attempts
Every candidate appearing at the Civil Services Examination, who is otherwise eligible, shall be permitted four attempts at the examination.
Provided that this restriction on the number of attempts will not apply in the case of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates who are otherwise eligible.
Provided further that the number of attempts permissible to candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes, who are otherwise eligible, shall be seven. This relaxation will be available to the candidates who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.
| Category | Age Limit | Number of attempts |
|---|
| SC/ST | 35 | No Limit |
| OBC | 33 | 7 Attempts |
| OC | 30 | 4 Attempts |
1. Blind
2. Deaf/Mute
3. Orthopaedically handicapped person | 40 | |
| Ex-service man | 35 | |
Note:
- An attempt at a Preliminary Examination shall be deemed to be an attempt at the examination.
- If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination, he shall be deemed to have made an attempt at the examination.
- Notwithstanding the disqualification/cancellation of candidature the fact of appearance of the candidate at the examination will count as an attempt.
Job Prospects
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Railway Service
- Indian Postal Service
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
The IAS Officers handle affairs of the government. At the central level, this involves the framing and implementation of policy. They also represent the government in other countries and in International forums. They are even authorised to sign agreements on behalf of the government. At the district level, it is concerned with district affairs, including development functions. At the divisional level, the IAS officers look after law and order, general administration and development work. In IAS cadre you can be sub-magistrate, district magistrate, joint secretary, deputy secretary etc.
Indian Police Service (IPS)
The IPS (Indian Police Service) is responsible for public safety and security. The IPS mainly takes care of law and order, which, at the district level, is a responsibility shared with the IAS; crime prevention and detection ; and traffic control and accident prevention and management. On completion of probation an IPS officer, begins his career as a Assistant Superintendent of Police of a sub-division.
The Police service is divided into various departments like Crime Branch, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Home Guards, Traffic Bureau. They also offer there services to Central Policing Agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Cabinet Secretariat Security, the Border Security Force (BSF), and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
The Indian Foreign Service deals with the country's external affairs, including diplomacy, trade and cultural relations. It is responsible for the administration and activities of Indian missions abroad, and for the framing and implementation of the Government's foreign policy. Probationers at first work at the External Affairs Ministry, then they are posted to the Indian Mission of a particular country, as third secretaries.
Indian Railway Service
It is essentially responsible for the running of India's vast railway network. There are four non-technical and technical or engineering cadres in the railways. Entry for non-technical services - the Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS)- responsible for freight, passengers and movement of trains, the Indian Railway Personnel Services (IRPS)- responsible for recruitment and administration of staff, the Indian Railway Accounts Services (IRAS)- responsible for maintenance of accounts, and the Railway Police Service (RPS)- responsible for providing security to railway properties such as railway tracks, personnel, equipment etcis through the Civil Services examination. However, the engineering services (IRSE) have a different recruitment procedure.
Indian Postal Service
Responsible for the efficient functioning of the postal and telegraph services, officers after training with field officers are appointed as Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Assistant Post Master General through out the country and also in the Ministry at the centre.
Indian Customs and Central Excise Service
The Indian Customs and Central Excise Service (IC&CES) is basically concerned with two main aspects, mainly Customs and Excise. While Customs is concerned with the checking and levy of duty on taxable goods brought into the country, the Excise department is involved with the taxation of goods manufactured within the country.
Audit & Accounts Service
Indian Audit & Accounts Service comes under the Controller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which is responsible for the maintenance and audit of accounts in the states, as well as Union and State Governments. These officers work in the audit offices under CAG and in central ministries and state governments.
Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) is responsible for maintaining and auditing of accounts of the defence services.
Indian civil Accounts Service (ICAS) under the control of Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance, maintains accounts of the State, Central governments and public sector enterprises
Indian Information Service (IIS)
IIS under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is responsible for running government owned broadcasting and advertising agencies like All India Radio, Doordarshan and DAVP. The service is also responsible for handling press and public relations for the various central ministries, public sector enterprises and defense forces at home as well as abroad.
Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
IRS is responsible for fixing, assessment and collection of income tax. The service also has specialized branches dealing with the investigation of tax evasion, statistics and so on.
Plan of Examination
The competitive examination comprises two successive stages:
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination; and
- Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various services and posts.
The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 400 marks in the subjects set out. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit. The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year in the various Services and Posts. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in thePreliminary Examination in a year will be eligibe for admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.
The Main Examination will consist of a written examination and an interview test. The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type in the subjects set out.
Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Main Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview for a Personality Test. However, the papers on Indian Languages and English will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking. The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled. The interview will carry 300 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).
Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine their final ranking. Candidates will be allotted to the various Services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and the preferences expressed by them for the various Services and posts.
General Instructions (Preliminary / Main Examination):
- Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances, they will be allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them. However, blind candidates will be allowed to write the examination with the help of a scribe.
- The eligibility conditions of a scribe, his/her conduct inside the examination hall and the manner in which and extent to which he/she can help the blind candidate in writing the Civil Services Examination shall be governed by the instructions issued by the UPSC in this regard. Violation of all or any of the said instructions shall entail the cancellation of the candidature of the blind candidate in addition to any other action that the UPSC may take against the scribe.
- For purpose of these rules the candidate shall be deemed to be a blind candidate if the percentage of visual impairment is 40% or more. The criteria for determining the percentage of visual impairment shall be as follows :
- For availing of the concession admissible to a blind candidate, the candidate concerned shall produce a certificate in the prescribed proforma from a Medical Board constituted by the Central/State Governments alongwith his application for the MainExamination.
- The concession admissible to blind candidates shall not be admissible to those suffering from Myopia.
| | Better Eye | Worse eye | Percentage |
|---|
| Category 0 | 6/9-6/18 | 6/24 to 6/36 | 20% |
| Category 1 | 6/18-6/36 | 6/60 to nil | 40% |
| Category 2 | 6/60-4/60 or field of vision 10-20 | 3/60 to nil | 75% |
| Category 0 | 6/9-6/18 | 6/24 to 6/36 | 20% |
| Category 0 | 6/9-6/18 | 6/24 to 6/36 | 20% |
| Category 0 | 6/9-6/18 | 6/24 to 6/36 | 20% |
- The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.
- If a candidates handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to him.
- Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.
- Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.
- In the question papers, wherever required, SI units will be used.
- Candidates should use only international form of Indian numerals (i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc.) while answering question papers.
- Candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Programmable type) calculators at the conventional (Essay) type examination of UPSC. Programmable type calculators will however not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall is not permitted.
It is also important to note that candidates are not permitted to use calculators for answering objective type papers (Test Booklets). They should not therefore take the same to the Examination Hall.
Interview test
The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his career. He will be 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. The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interst 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 technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised 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.
Preliminary Exam and Syllabus
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination. The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 400 marks in the subjects set out in subsection (A) of Section-II. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit.
The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year in the various Services and Posts. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in the year will be eligible for admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Maximum Questions | Minimum Marks |
|---|
| I | General Studies | 2 hours | 100 | 200 |
| II | CSAT | 2 hours | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 400 |
- Both papers will consist of Objective (multiple choice answer) Type questions only.
- Question Papers will be set both in Hindi and English.
- Commission has discretion to fix qualifying marks (to qualify for Main Exam) in any or all the subjects of the examination.
- The marks obtained in the Preliminary exam will not be counted in the final merit list/rank.
Important Note
- There will be penalty for wrong answer marked by a candidate in the objective type question papers. For the each wrong answer by the candidate , ONE-THIRD (0.33) of the mark assigned to that question will be deduced as penalty.
- In general studies paper – II (CSAT) there will be penalty for wrong answer marked by a candidate except for questions from 73 to 80, which do not carry any penalty for wrong answer.
Syllabus
The syllabus and pattern of the the preliminary examination would be as under :
Subject: Changes in syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination from 2011 in the scheme of Civil Services Examination
- As per the decision of Government of India, there shall be change in the syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination from 2011 in the scheme of the Civil Services Examination.
- The Preliminary Examination shall now comprise of two compulsory Papers of 200 marks each and of two hours duration each. Detailed below is the new syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination, which is brought to the notice of the prospective candidates intending to appear at the Civil Services Examination (CSE) in 2011 onwards:
Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World.
- Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization
- General Science.
Paper II- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. -Class X level)
- English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).
- Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level (last item in the Syllabus of Paper-II) will be tested through passages from English language only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper.
- The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
- A set of sample questions for both Papers would be put on the UPSC website http://www.upsc.gov.in in due course for reference of the prospective candidates.
- The prospective candidates are advised to note that no changes are being introduced at this stage in the Civil Services (Main) Examination and Personality Test in the scheme of Civil Services Examination (CSE).
Main Examination
The Main Examination is to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of the candidates. The Written Examination in the Main Examination consists of 9 papers and is conducted according to the following pattern:
The Main written examination (Descriptive Type) usually takes place in October-November. It comprises of 9 papers in all and duration of each paper is 3 hrs and Each 300 Marks.
| Paper | Subject | Duration (Hours) | Marks |
|---|
| 1 | LANGUAGE: ANY ONE OF THE INDIAN LANGUAGE (REFER ANNEXURE 1) | 3 | 300 |
| 2 | English | 3 | 300 |
| 3 | Essay | 3 | 200 |
| 4 | General Studies Paper I | 3 | 300 |
| 5 | General Studies Paper II | 3 | 300 |
| 6 | Optional 1 - Paper I | 3 | 300 |
| 7 | Optional 1 - Paper II | 3 | 300 |
| 8 | Optional 2 - Paper I | 3 | 300 |
| 9 | Optional 2 - Paper II | 3 | 300 |
Note:
- Paper 1 and paper 2 is a qualifying papers (i.e) if this two paper cleared only the remaining main papers can be evaluated. But its not consider for ranking.
- Paper 3 to paper 9 WILL alone consider for ranking (i.e) A total of 2000 marks
Annexure 1:
Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Marathi, Malayalam, Manipuri, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.
Compulsary Subjects
English and Indian Languagues The aim of the paper is to test the candidate's ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly in English/Indian language concerned. The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :-
- Comprehension of given passages.
- Precise Writing
- Usage and Vocabulary
- Short Essay
Indian Languages
- Comprehension of given passages.
- Precise Writing
- Usage and Vocabulary.
- Short Essay
- Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa
Note 1 : The Papers on Indian languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
Note 2 : The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).
List of Optional Subjects
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- Indian History
- Law
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology, and
Literature of one of the following languages:
Arabic, Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, Dogri, Chinese, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Pali, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
The following combination of subjects are not allowed:
- Political Science & International Relation and Public Administration.
- Commerce & Accountancy and Management.
- Anthropology and Sociology.
- Mathematics and Statistics.
- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science.
- Management & Public Administration.
- Civil Engineering, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering – not more than one Engineering subject.
- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Science.
The Main Examination is descriptive written test, which is held around October/November every year.
Note: The UPSC have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination. Scoring 50% (or) more (1000 or more out of 2000) definitely sufficient to qualify for the Interview.
Interview
Civil Services Personality Test (IAS Interview)
Civil Services Interview (also called ‘IAS Interview’ or ‘Civil Services Personality’) is the final assessment of prospective officers. The interview is for a maximum of 300 marks, so it has about 13% weightage (300 out of 2300) Out of about 2,00,000 candidates that have started the long and arduous journey, about 2500 winners (typically, 2.5 times the total number of vacancies) will be called for the interview to fill about 1200 posts. So, people who are invited for the interview are almost there at the threshold of a bright civil services career and all it needed is one last show of strength.
Just like for CSAT and Mains, Interview too needs focused preparation. Interview questions broadly fall into eight categories:
- Questions about your place of birth/hometown, your home state and your current place
- Questions about your hobbies
- Questions about your school/college/University
- Questions about your subjects/specialization at school/college/university
- Questions about your optional subjects
- Questions about your current/past jobs (if you have worked or working currently)
- Questions current events of national and international importance.
- Surprise questions or stress questions
Every year, UPSC constitutes many interview boards for the Civil Services Interview. Typically, each board consists of six eminent persons with varied specializations and expertise. UPSC member of the board will officiate as the chairman. The interview board will assess the candidate’s appearance, manners, poise, alertness, emotional balance, rational and unbiased judgment, decision making ability under stress, depth of knowledge, communication skills, analytical skills, leadership skills and integrity.
Each interview will generally last about 30 - 50 minutes. Each board is adept at making each candidate comfortable by starting the interview with pleasantries and ice-breaker questions. So the friendly interview boards make sure that the time flies in the interview room and most candidates admit that the interview was pleasant and not at all intimidating. Candidates are allowed to choose their preferred language for the interview from the list given by UPSC and it need not be the same medium that the candidate chose for the Mains.
The world of knowledge is infinite and many people compare a human’s acquired knowledge to that of a spoonful from the ocean of knowledge. Learned persons have a bigger spoon, that’s all. So, it is expected that a candidate cannot answer all the questions. Nobody ever scored more than 250 marks out of the possible 300 marks. All India topper of the year 2009 scored 225. Any score above 200 is very impressive.
Preparation: Preparation should start soon after the Mains, without waiting for the result of the Mains. Each candidate is advised to keep the photocopy of the application form he/she has filled for the Mains as to prepare for any question about the data that was on the form. Prepare for questions on your home town, home state, your present and past jobs and your hobbies. Brush up your optional subjects for any question. For current events of national and international significance, read good news papers and magazines everyday (see book list for recommendations on newspapers and magazines) Participate in as many mock interviews as possible with a good institute or with your study group.
IAS Interview Do's and Dont's
Reach the venue well before your scheduled time: You need to do lot of paper work before you go in for your interview. So, it would be wise to reach the venue one/two hours before your scheduled time and relax for few minutes just brfore the interview.
Dress for the occasionYou need to wear proper dress (dark coloured trousers with belt and white or light coloured plain shirt with matching tie)
Be honestNobody expects that you know everything. So, if you have no idea about a question, politely admit the fact and make an intelligent guess if you are asked to do so.
Be objective and unbiasedNever unduly criticize anybody or anything. Always support your position with data.
Be firm If you are asked to take a stand on some real-life situation (you want to marry a girl from another community and your parents are opposed, so will you respect your parents' opinion or will you save the honour of the girl who defied her parents to come with you?) pause for a few seconds and take a stand be frim. Board will try to shift your stand by playing sentimental cards, but stick to your stand by reasoning out. If you change stand, board will assume that your are prone to manipulation and hence a liability to the government.
Tips to improve your performance at the UPSC Interview
- There are generally 5 members at the board with the Chairperson seated at the center. Enter confidently and greet the Chairperson, who will probably welcome you, and pleasantly nod at other members. Wait till you are asked to sit.
- Intelligent listing is the mantra, and for this maintaining eye contact is very important. You should not glare but all the same appear attentive and do not glance at other members, it can be very distracting for the interviewer. However if some other member asks you anything, look at that member and answer and turn back to the first - this is what we do in normal attentive listening.
- Do not fidget or throw your hands around, or shake your head. Less amount of movement does not mean you should sit unnaturally stiff. Your posture should be attentive and relaxed at the same time. Do not crouch/bend forward or place your hands on the table.
- Cut your answer short to the required patience shown by the member talking to you. They usually like to talk more, so listen carefully and think for a few seconds before you start answering the question. This will show that you are organising your thoughts in mind before starting to speak.
- Leave some room for difference in opinion. Do take a stand, but do not look adamant or unwilling to appreciate the board's opinion.
- Use couple of words from the question while answering any question. It shows you have listened to the question carefully. But at the same time limit the use the technical jargon.
- Listen very carefully. Come to the central issue of the enquiry immediately. Wild guessing or speculation are a complete no no.
- Do not start evaluating your performance while still inthe interview. Even if you have committed mistakes in the beginning, do not think that you have already lost the game. They are looking for warm, sensitive respectful and attentive youngsters. They know you are good or you would not have come so far.
- Talk humbly about your achievements and hobbies. You may have mentioned some hobbies in the form without serious background in them, but before the interview it would be useful to pick up some basic info on the hobby.
- Say less to convey more. Less is more these days as per the minimalist creed. Argue logically and generalise correctly. Do not try to read too much between the lines.
- Remember, while answering any question, what is easy to see is easy to miss. We often tend to miss the obvious and go for some non-crucial aspect of the subject.
- Get up to leave only when the chairperson asks you to, not because you think everyone has asked a question. Similarly, even if someone has not asked a question and the chairperson asks you to leave then please leave. Some members do not ask questions at all, due to various reasons like limited time.
- Before leaving politely thank the chairperson and nod at the others politely. Avoid saying "Have a good day sir". A "Thank you Sir/Madam" is enough.
Application Procedure
UPSC have developed an application form common for all their examinations which will be processed on computerised machines. The application form along with an InformationBrochure containing general instructions for filling up the form, an acknowledgement card and an envelope for sending the application is obtainable from the designated Head Post Offices/ Post Offices throughout the country against a specified cash payment. Form should be purchased from the designated Post Offices only and not from any other agency. This form can be used only once and for only one examination.
Notification along with application forms for the civil service exam will appear in all the daily newspapers and the Rozgar Samachar/ Employment News by the end of December each year. Candidates must use only the supplied form and they should in no case use photocopy/ reproduction/ unauthorisedly printed copy of the Form. Since this form is electronically scannable, due care should be taken to fill up the application form, correctly.
The duly filled in application form and the acknowledgement card should then be mailed in the special envelope supplied with the Information Brochure. The Candidates should also write the name of examination, year (eg: "Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2000") on the envelope before despatching it to : Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110 069.
All candidates, whether already in Government Service, or in Government owned industrial undertakings or other similar organisations or in private employment should submit their applications direct to the Commission. If any candidate forwards his application through his employer and it reaches the Union Public Service Commission late, the application, even if submitted to the employer before the closing date, will not be considered. Persons already in Government service, whether in a permanent or temporary capacity or as workcharged employees other than casual or daily rated employees or those serving under the Public Enterprises are however, required to submit an undertaking that they have informed in writing their Head of Office/Department that they have applied for the Examination.
Candidates should note that in case a communication is received from their employer by the Commission withholding permission to the candidates applying for/appearing at the examination, their applications will be liable to be rejected/candidature will be liable to be cancelled.
Notes
- While filling in his application form, the candidate should carefully decide about his choice for the centre and optional subject for the Examination. More than one application from A candidate giving Different centers and/or optional subjects will not be accepted in any case. Even if a candidate sends more than one completed application the Commission will accept only one application at their discretion and the Commission's decision in the matter shall be final. If any candidate appears at a centre/optional subject other than the one indicated by the Commission in his Admission Certificate, the papers of such a candidate will not be valued and his candidature will be liable to cancellation.
- Since These application forms are to be processed in a computerized system, Due care should be taken by the candidates to fill up their application form correctly. No column of the Application should be left blank. Incomplete or defective applications shall be summarily rejected. No representation or correspondence regarding such rejection shall be entertained under any circumstances.
- Candidates are not required to submit along with their applications any certificate in support of their claims regarding Age, Educational Qualifications, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes and Physically disabled etc. Which will be verified at the time of the Main examination only. The candidates applying for the examination should ensure that they fulfil all the eligibility conditions for admission to the Examination. Their admission at all the stages of examination for which they are admitted by the Commission viz. Preliminary Examination, Main (Written) Examination and Interview Test will be purely provisional, subject to their satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions. If on verification at any time before or after the Preliminary Examination, Main (written) Examination and Interview Test, it is found that they do not fulfil any of the eligibility conditions, their candidature for the examination will be cancelled by the Commission.
Acknowledgement of applications : Immediately on receipt of an application from a candidate, the Acknowledgement Card submitted by him along with the application form will be dispatched to him by the Commission's office duly stamped in token of receipt of his Application. If a candidate does not receive the Acknowledgement Card within 30 days, he should at once contact the Commission by quoting his Application Form No. (8-digit) and name & year of examination. Candidates delivering the application form in person at the Commission's Counter will be issued Acknowledgement Card at the Counter itself. The mere fact that a candidate's application has been acknowledged by the Commission does not mean that his candidature for the examination has been accepted by the Commission. Candidates will be informed at the earliest possible about their admission to the examination or rejection of their application.
