About Civil Services Exam

UPSC conducts Civil Services Exam every year. Civil Services Exam is conducted to recruit Central Government Officers Group A & Group B for various services mentioned below. Following are the posts:-

(i) Indian Administrative Service

(ii) Indian Foreign Service.

(iii) Indian Police Service.

(iv) Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service, Group ‘A’.

(v) Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.

(vi) Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), Group ‘A’.

(vii) Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.

(viii) Indian Revenue Service (I.T.), Group ‘A’.

(ix) Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Group ‘A’ (Assistant Works Manager, Administration).

(x) Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’.

(xi) Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.

(xii) Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group ‘A’.

(xiii) Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group 'A'.

(xiv) Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group ‘A’.

(xv) Post of Assistant Security Commissioner in Railway Protection Force, Group ‘A’

(xvi) Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’.

(xvii) Indian Information Service (Junior Grade), Group ‘A’.

(xviii) Indian Trade Service, Group 'A'.

(xix) Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’.

(xx) Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade).

(xxi) Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Group 'B'.

(xxii) Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service, Group 'B'.

(xxiii) Pondicherry Civil Service, Group 'B'.

(xxiv) Pondicherry Police Service, Group ‘B’

Civil Services Exam Pattern

The Civil Services Examination will consist of two successive stages (vide Appendix I Section-I) (i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the selection of candidates for the Main Examination; and (ii) Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts noted above.

The candidates who are declared to have qualified Civil Services (Main) Examination will be required to mandatorily indicate order of preferences only for those services participating in the Civil Services Examination for the year, for which he is interested to be allocated to, in the on-line Detailed Application Form-II [DAF-II], before the commencement of Personality Tests (Interview) of the examination.

A. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION:

The Examination shall comprise of two compulsory Papers of 200 marks each. Note :

(i) Both the question papers will be of the objective type (multiple choice questions) and each will be of two hours duration.

(ii) The General Studies Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

(iii) The question papers will be set both in Hindi and English.

B. MAIN EXAMINATION

The written examination will consist of the following papers :

Qualifying Papers :
Paper	Total Marks
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
Papers to be counted for merit
Paper-I Essay	250 Marks
Paper-II General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)	250 Marks
Download Admit Card for Prelims Exam	December, 2024
SBI PO 2024 Exam Date- Preliminary	31st Dec 2024 & 2nd, 4th, 5th Jan 2024
Result of Online exam – Preliminary	3rd week of January 2024
Download of Call letter for Mains Exam	3rd week of January 2024
SBI PO 2024 Exam Date – Mains	29th January 2024
Result of Online Examination – Main	3rd/ 4th week of February 2024
Download Call Letter for Personal Interview	3rd/ 4th week of February 2024
Conduct of Group Exercises & Interview	February/ March 2024
Declaration of Final Result	Last week of March 2024

All Eligible and interested Candidates are required to register online for the recruitment process. The 3-tier selection process consists of Preliminary and Main Exams which will be conducted online, followed by Interview. Candidates must pass each exam to get shortlisted and progress to the next stage. Final selection will be based on merit.

Civil Services 2024 Syllabus

Part A—Preliminary Examination

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;

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);

Note 1 : Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

Note 2 : The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type. Note 3 :It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination for the purpose of evaluation. Therefore a candidate will be disqualified in case he/she does not appear in both the papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination.

Part A—Preliminary Examination

The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory. The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions will be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.

The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is broadly of the honours degree 1evel i.e. a level higher than the bachelors’ degree and lower than the masters’ degree. In the case of Engineering, Medical Science and law, the level corresponds to the bachelors’ degree.

For Full Syllabus of Mains, go through the official notification.

Number of Attempts

Every candidate appearing at the examination, who is otherwise eligible, shall be permitted six attempts at the examination: Provided that this restriction on the number of attempts will not apply in the case of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes 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 nine. The relaxation will be available to the candidates who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates : Provided further that candidates of Persons with Benchmark Disability will get as many attempts as are available to other candidates who do not belong to Persons with Benchmark Disability of his or her community, subject to the condition that a candidate of Persons with Benchmark Disability belonging to the General and EWS Category shall be eligible for nine attempts. Necessary action to make corresponding changes in respective Rules/regulations pertaining to various services is being taken separately. The relaxation will be available to the candidates of Persons with Benchmark Disability who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.

Note :—

(I) An attempt at a Preliminary Examination shall be deemed to be an attempt at the Civil Services Examination.

(II) If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination, he/she shall be deemed to have made an attempt at the Examination.

(III) Notwithstanding the disqualification/cancellation of candidature, the fact of appearance of the candidate at the examination will count as an attempt.

Eligibility Criteria

(I)Nationality:

(1) For the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Foreign Service and the Indian Police Service, a candidate must be a citizen of India. (2) For other services, a candidate must be either:— (a) a citizen of India, or (b) a subject of Nepal, or (c) a subject of Bhutan, or (d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or (e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, 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. 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/her by the Government of India.

(II) AgeLimits:

(a) A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August, 2024 i.e., he must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1988 and not later than 1st August, 1999. Necessary action to make corresponding changes in respective Rules/Regulations pertaining to various services is being taken separately.

(b) The upper age-limit prescribed above will be relaxable:

(i) up to a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe;

(ii) up to 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;

(iii) up to 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; (iv) up to 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, 2024 and have been released; (a) on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from 1st August, 2024 otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency; or (b) on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service; or (c) on invalidment.

(v) up to a maximum of five years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Service as on 1st August, 2024 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 months’ notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment. (vi) up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of (a) blindness and low vision; (b) deaf and hard of hearing; (c) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; (d) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; and (e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness

(III) Minimum Educational Qualifications: The candidate must hold a degree of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply. educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University Under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.

Negative Marking

Candidates should note that there will be penalty (negative marking) for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the Objective Type Question Papers in the Preliminary Exam.

Interview / Personality Test

1. 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 caliber of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judge-ment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Civil Services Exam Cut-Off (2019)

Exam	General	EWS	OBC	SC	ST	PwBD-1	PwBD-2	PwBD-3	PwBD-5
CS(Prelim)**	98.00	90.00	95.34	82.00	77.34	53.34	44.66	40.66	61.34
CS(Main)**	751	696	718	706	699	663	698	374	561
CS(Final)**	961	909	925	898	893	861	890	653	708

How to apply

(a) Candidates are required to apply online using the website http://www.upsconline.nic.in Detailed instructions for filling up online applications are available on the above mentioned website. The applicants are advised to submit only single application; however, if due to any unavoidable situation, if he/she submits another/multiple applications, then he/she must ensure that application with the higher RID is complete in all respects like applicants’ details, examination centre, photograph, signature, photo ID, fee etc. The applicants who are submitting multiple applications should note that only the applications with higher RID (Registration ID) shall be entertained by the Commission and fee paid against one RID shall not be adjusted against any other RID. (b) All candidates, whether already in Government Service, Government owned industrial undertakings or other similar organizations or in private employment should submit their applications direct to the Commission. Persons already in Government Service, whether in a permanent or temporary capacity or as work charged 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 to 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 application will be liable to be rejected/candidature will be liable to be cancelled.

Application Fee

Candidates (excepting Female/SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability Candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only) either by remitting the money in any Branch of State Bank of India or by using Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card or by using Internet Banking of SBI. Applicants who opt for "Pay by Cash" mode should print the system generated Pay-in-slip during part II registration and deposit the fee at the counter of SBI Branch on the next working day only. "Pay by Cash” mode will be deactivated at 11.59 P.M. of 02.03.2024 i.e. one day before the closing date; however applicants who have generated their Pay-in- Slip before it is deactivated may pay at the counter of SBI Branch during banking hours on the closing date. Such applicants who are unable to pay by cash on the closing date i.e. during banking hours at SBI Branch, for reasons whatsoever, even if holding valid pay-in-slip will have no other offline option but to opt for available online Debit/Credit Card or Internet Banking payment mode on the closing date i.e. till 18:00 Hours of 03.03.2024.

For the applicants in whose case payments details have not been received from the bank they will be treated as fictitious payment cases and a list of all such applicants shall be made available on the Commission website within two weeks after the last day of submission of online application.

Admit Card

1. Visit the official website at upsc.gov.in

2. Click on the link given on What’s New section on the home page to download admit card

3. Read the instructions carefully

4. After reading the instructions, click yes on the end of the page

5. Enter the required details

6. Key in your login credentials and submit

7. Your UPSC Civil Services prelims admit card 2024 will be displayed on the screen

8. Download and take its print out

In case, the photograph is not printed or not visible on the admit card, candidates must carry two identical photographs (one for each session) along with a proof of identity such as voter ID card, Aadhaar card, etc. to the venue of the examination along with the undertaking.

How to prepare for IAS

This section lists important UPSC preparation tips for beginners. These tips aim at helping aspirant devise a well-planned preparation strategy for the upcoming UPSC 2024 exam.

There are 15 important tips mentioned below:

Tip #1: Prepare Yourself

• Before trying to understand how to start preparing for UPSC at home, you should prepare yourself for the journey.

• Before starting your preparation, prepare mentally and physically for the examination. Set goals and devote time effectively.

• Understand the UPSC exam pattern thoroughly, and pace your IAS preparation accordingly.

1. The UPSC exam has three stages — prelims mains and the interview.

2. To know more about the UPSC Prelims exam, click here

3. To know more about the UPSC Mains exam, click here.

• If you are working and have decided not to quit your job, analyse how you would devote time for studies and chart a plan.

• Today, with technology like the internet, it is possible to balance both preparation and a job with ease.

Watch our YouTube Channel for all the latest videos on IAS preparation.

Tip #2: Make a Time Table

• To become an IAS officer, it is necessary to be like an officer with a well-organized daily routine.

• You should set a comfortable timetable before your preparation and stick to it.

• Making a timetable will ease your preparation and make it more streamlined. With deadlines, you would work better and complete the syllabus faster.

Tip #3: Know the UPSC Syllabus

• The syllabus is the soul of any exam. Knowing the syllabus is the foremost thing to do before you go through the books.

• The UPSC has provided the syllabus for the Civil Services Preliminary and Main examination in an elaborate manner.

• Aspirants should understand and follow the syllabus for UPSC civil service examination. Knowing the syllabus will help you to choose relevant study materials, prioritize the subjects, etc.

Click here for the complete UPSC Syllabus.

You can also download the UPSC Syllabus PDF from the links below:

UPSC Prelims Syllabus:- Download PDF

UPSC Mains Syllabus:- Download PDF

Tip #4: Newspaper Reading/Current Affairs for IAS

• The newspapers are the most important aspect of the IAS exam.

• If you do not read the daily newspaper or follow the daily news for the IAS exam, you cannot hope to clear this exam.

• The questions asked in the civil services exam are directly or indirectly connected with current affairs. Hence, it is very important to follow the relevant news items in your daily newspaper. You can go through the IBOP ACADEMY Comprehensive News Analysis that gives the exam-relevant news items in a concise manner.

• You can also visit our YouTube Channel for a detailed video analysis of the daily news. Watch the news analysis videos here.

Tip #5: Choosing Optional

• The optional subject accounts for 500 marks in the UPSC final tally.

• Hence, you should choose an optional subject wisely and after a thorough think-through of the pros and cons of the subjects, you have in mind.

• Some of the factors to keep in mind before selecting an optional are:

  - Interest in the subject

  - Prior knowledge in it/academic background

  - Overlap with the GS papers

  - Availability of coaching

  - Availability of study material

For detailed guidance on how to select an optional subject, click here.

You can also watch a video on the optional selection below:

Tip #6: NCERTs

• The NCERT textbooks from classes six to twelve play a very significant role in IAS exam preparation.

• Aspirants can get basic concepts and theories from NCERT textbooks.

• These books provide the information very coherently. Moreover, they are reliable too as the source is the government itself.

• In previous years UPSC has asked questions directly from NCERT textbooks.

• So, NCERTs are undoubtedly the best books to begin your IAS preparation with. Get a complete list of NCERTs needed for the UPSC exam here.

• Apart from the NCERTs, you should also follow a few other advanced textbooks.

Tip #7: Making Notes

• It is helpful to make short notes during UPSC preparation.

• Since the UPSC syllabus is very vast, it helps to keep track of the portions covered and also serves as a ready-reckoner for revision.

• You can have separate files or notebooks for separate subjects. Files are preferred by many since they help adding notes to a topic easier. This is especially helpful in the case of adding current affairs-related news to a particular topic.

Tip #8: Answer Writing Practice

• The IAS main exam papers are descriptive in nature.

• It is mainly about testing your analytical, critical, and communicative abilities.

• It demands you to think with conceptual clarity and organize your views, perceptions, and thoughts in a flawless manner.

• Another thing to be kept in mind is the time and space constraint in the answer booklet.

• Therefore, candidates have to answer the questions quickly and effectively and in minimum words.

• This is not possible without adequate answer writing practice.

Tip #9: Solving Previous Years’ UPSC Question Papers

• Previous question papers are the most reliable sources of UPSC pattern, difficulty level and question type.

• You can judge the trends in the UPSC exam paper easily.

• It will also help you understand which areas are the most important in a particular subject.

• Lastly, it is a good source of self-assessment in your IAS preparation.

Check out the previous year question papers of UPSC here.

Tip #10: Mock Test Series

• Self-assessment is an essential part of UPSC preparation.

• It can help civil service aspirant in realizing and learning from mistakes, shaping what approach they need to follow in continuing the preparation and identifying strengths and weaknesses.

• It is highly recommended to join mock test series, especially if you are preparing from home. This will help you to assess yourself and help you further.

Tip #11: Important Government Resources

• Your ultimate aim when you are taking the IAS exam is to work for the Indian government.

• Naturally, there are many government sources you can rely on during your preparation. Government websites like the PIB, PRS, and national television programmes featured on the Rajya Sabha TV are very helpful. We cover important PIB articles every day. Click here for a Gist of PIB.

• We also cover important Gist of Rajya Sabha TV programmes for UPSC. You can read the Gist of RSTV articles here.

Tip #12: Revision

• Revision is very important when you are facing an exam as tough as the UPSC exam.

• Since the UPSC syllabus is vast and diverse, covering multifarious subjects, it is natural to forget things that you had studied earlier.

• To avoid this, timely revision is a must.

Tip #13: UPSC Interview

• As mentioned before, the final stage in the UPSC exam process is the UPSC interview or Personality Test.

• This is an important stage in the process and here, it is something more than academics that will help you.

• You will be assessed on qualities such as diplomatic skills, communication skills, presence of mind, reaction to stress, etc.

• You will also be asked questions about your interests, hobbies, education and work experience, if any. So, you have to brush up on these aspects.

Tip #14: Relevant Magazines

• Magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, Economic & Political Weekly, etc. are very important for the IAS exam.

• They contain important information on topics like polity, governance, agriculture, economy, etc.

• You can get a gist of the Yojana, Kurukshetra and EPW magazines in our website.

Tip #15: Stay Positive

• The most important aspect of the entire UPSC journey is to stay positive.

• There are times when it can get quite overwhelming and you will feel depressed.

• Remove negative thoughts from your head and work on.

Call +91 92435 00460 for tips and guidance on IAS preparation from our IAS mentors!

IAS – FAQs.

Is 1 year enough for IAS preparation?

1 year is sufficient for IAS preparation if you prepare diligently.

Can I prepare for UPSC at home?

You can, if you take the right steps towards IAS preparation. With online sources and strategy available, you can prepare for the IAS exam at home. With focus and dedication, and the right guidance, you can clear the IAS exam. Coaching is not mandatory, but is good to see where your preparation is heading and

How to prepare for IAS at home?

Follow the steps outlined below to kickstart your IAS preparation at home:

• Understand the UPSC pattern and procedure first.

• Go through the UPSC syllabus thoroughly.

• Start reading a few books and watch video lectures online for a few basic subjects like polity, history, geography, etc.

• Read the newspaper regularly.

• Chart out a preparation time table and follow it strictly.

• Enrol for a good test series and get answer writing practice.

How can I start my IAS preparation during graduation?

You can start your IAS preparation during graduation itself. All you must do is go through the syllabus and chart out a study plan for IAS. Starting early has many advantages. You will have age on your side since the IAS age limit will be far away. Also, being young and still a student, you would be in touch with academics, giving you an edge over older competitors. Also, being in college, you can make use of your college library for the preparation. And, make sure you take part in college fests and events as this experience will help you develop a well-rounded personality, and also make up for your lack of work experience in case you clear the exam right after your graduation!

How to prepare for IAS exam after 12th?

If you are starting your preparation after 12th, you have the advantage of choosing a subject for graduation that will suit your IAS preparation. You can opt for graduation in subjects like political science, history or sociology – subjects that will help you cover the UPSC syllabus in a better way. This way, you can easily combine your graduation studies and IAS preparation. Also, you have enough time to hone your soft skills like communication skills and also develop a good hobby – both of which would aid you in the interview stage.

How to prepare for IAS while doing engineering?

Many candidates have cleared the IAS exam preparing for it while they were engineering students. Even though it can get hectic, it is not impossible. With a full-fledged plan and the correct guidance, it is possible to crack the toughest exam in India even while in engineering college.

How can I apply for the IAS exam?

Visit our UPSC Notifications page regularly. We update all the relevant UPSC news and information you need to know.

Talk to our UPSC Expert on 9137211317/9987802676.