February 4, 2025 7:10 am
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) is the central recruiting agency responsible for hiring personnel for top-level Group-A and select Group-B posts in the Central Government of India. It is known for conducting the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE), which recruits for services such as IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), and IFS (Indian Foreign Service).
What is UPSC?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s central authority that conducts competitive exams for recruitment into top governmental positions, including civil and defense services. UPSC’s mandate includes recruiting for various All India Services, Central Services, and Defense Services.
What is the Full Form of UPSC?
The full form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission.
Key UPSC-Related Information
UPSC Syllabus
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) syllabus includes a comprehensive range of subjects across the Preliminary, Main, and Interview stages. The prelims focus on general knowledge, current affairs, and aptitude, while the mains cover topics such as Indian history, geography, polity, economics, ethics, and more. Optional subjects are also part of the mains exam.
UPSC CSE Eligibility
To be eligible for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, candidates must:
- Be a citizen of India.
- Hold a graduate degree from any recognized university.
- Be between 21 to 32 years of age for the General category. Relaxations apply for OBC, SC, ST, and other categories.
UPSC Exam Dates
For 2024, the following are the key dates for the UPSC Civil Services Examination:
- Notification Date: February 14, 2024.
- UPSC CSE Prelims Date: May 26, 2024 (Sunday).
- UPSC CSE Mains Date: September 20, 2024 (5 days).
- UPSC CSE Interview: January to March 2025 (expected).
- Final Result: April 2025 (expected).
How to Apply for UPSC Online?
You can apply for the UPSC exams online through the official UPSC application portal: https://upsconline.nic.in/. The application window for UPSC CSE 2024 will be open from February 14, 2024, to March 05, 2024.
UPSC Notification
The UPSC CSE 2024 Notification is expected to be released on February 14, 2024. The notification will provide detailed information regarding the syllabus, eligibility, exam pattern, and other guidelines.
UPSC Previous Year Question Papers
Previous year’s question papers for both Prelims and Mains are available on the official UPSC website. These papers are essential for understanding the pattern, difficulty level, and important topics.
UPSC Results
UPSC publishes results for all exams on their official website. Typically, results for the prelims are announced a few months after the exam, while the mains results come closer to the interview stage. The final result, based on the cumulative score from the mains and the interview, is released in April of the following year.
UPSC Civil Services Examination: An Overview
The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by UPSC, is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most prestigious exams in India. This exam recruits candidates into approximately 24 top government services, including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and others.
Stages of the UPSC Civil Services Examination
The UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages:
- Preliminary Exam (Objective Type):
The prelims consist of two papers:- General Studies Paper-I (200 marks).
- General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) (200 marks, qualifying).
- Main Exam (Written Test):
The mains consist of nine papers, out of which seven are counted for merit ranking. Two papers, namely, language and English, are qualifying in nature. The total marks for the merit-based papers are 1750. - Interview/Personality Test:
The interview is conducted by a board appointed by UPSC. It carries 275 marks, and the final selection is based on the total marks secured in the Mains (1750 marks) and Interview (275 marks), making a grand total of 2025 marks.
Exams Conducted by UPSC
UPSC conducts various examinations besides the Civil Services Examination. Some of the key exams include:
For Civil Services:
- Civil Services Examination (CSE).
- Indian Economic Service (IES)/Indian Statistical Service (ISS).
- Engineering Services Examination (ESE).
- Combined Medical Services (CMS).
- Indian Forest Services (IFoS).
- Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
For Defence Services:
- National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA).
- Combined Defence Services (CDS).
- Special Class Railway Apprentices Exam (SCRA).
How to Prepare for UPSC CSE?
Proper training and practice are essential for success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. For online UPSC preparation, LearnPro offers structured courses, mock tests, and personalized guidance. Here’s a recommended strategy for UPSC preparation:
- Join an Online Classroom Program (like LearnPro).
- Prepare Notes based on NCERTs and standard reference books.
- Self-Study using comprehensive study materials.
- Take Mock Tests for Prelims and Mains.
- Practice Answer Writing for the Mains exam.
- Learn Optional Subject thoroughly.
- Participate in Interview Guidance Programs.
UPSC Syllabus for Civil Services Exam
The UPSC Civil Services Examination syllabus is divided into three stages:
1. Preliminary Exam:
- General Studies Paper I: Indian history, geography, economics, polity, environment, current affairs, and general science.
- General Studies Paper II (CSAT): Comprehension, logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and data interpretation.
2. Main Exam:
The Main Exam consists of nine papers:
- Essay (250 marks).
- General Studies I (250 marks): Indian heritage, culture, history, and geography.
- General Studies II (250 marks): Governance, polity, constitution, social justice, and international relations.
- General Studies III (250 marks): Technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, and disaster management.
- General Studies IV (250 marks): Ethics, integrity, and aptitude.
- Optional Subject Papers: Two papers of 250 marks each on a subject chosen by the candidate.
- Two qualifying papers: Language and English (300 marks each).
3. Interview/Personality Test:
The interview carries 275 marks and is designed to test the candidate’s personality, suitability for a public service career, and general knowledge.
UPSC Age Limit and Educational Qualifications
Age Limit:
- Minimum age: 21 years (as of August 1 of the exam year).
- Maximum age: 32 years for General category.
- OBC candidates have an upper age limit of 35 years.
- SC/ST candidates have an upper age limit of 37 years.
- Additional relaxations are provided for certain categories, such as ex-servicemen and disabled persons.
Educational Qualifications:
Any candidate with a graduate degree from a recognized university (in any stream) is eligible to apply for the UPSC CSE.
UPSC Online Preparation and Mock Tests
Online preparation is an effective way to study for the UPSC exams. LearnPro provides online courses, mock exams, and personalized mentorship programs. Mock tests are an important tool for evaluating your preparation and honing exam skills.
Important Books for UPSC Exams
Some of the recommended books for UPSC preparation include:
- Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth.
- Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania.
- Modern Indian History by Sonali Bansal.
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh.
Stay updated with the latest UPSC notifications and announcements on the official UPSC website or follow trusted platforms like LearnPro for guidance and resources.
See Also:
- Part XIV of the Constitution of India
- Articles 315 to 323 of the Indian Constitution for more details on the provisions related to the Public Service Commissions.
- UPSC – Syllabus, Full Form, Exam, Date, Notification, and Latest News
- UPSC Mains Syllabus – General Studies-II
- Important Books for UPSC Exams
- UPSC Mains Syllabus – General Studies-I
- UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024: Detailed Topics for General Studies Paper I and II (CSAT)
