UPSC CSE Syllabus: All About UPSC CSE

UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern.

It is important for each candidate to know and understand the UPSC CSE syllabus, pattern etc.

What is the Preliminary Examination pattern?

CSE Prelims Exam Pattern

1. The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers (General Studies Paper-I & paper-II) of Objective type (multiple choice questions) of 200 marks each. The General Studies Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%. It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination for the purpose of evaluation. 
2. 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 through this examination. 
3. The Commission will draw a list of candidates to be qualified for Civil Service (Main) Examination based on the criterion of minimum qualifying marks of 33% in General Studies Paper- II of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination and total qualifying marks of General Studies Paper-I of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination as may be determined by the Commission. 
4. There will be negative marking for incorrect answers (as detailed below) for all questions except some of the questions where the negative-marking will be inbuilt in the form of different marks being awarded to the most appropriate and not so appropriate answer for such questions. 
5. There are four alternatives for the answers to every question. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.

What is Mains (Written) Exam?

• 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.  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. 
• Civil Services Mains (Written Examination), is generally held in the month of September / October every year.

What is Optional Subject?

Candidates may choose any one of the optional subjects from;

Agriculture 

Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science 

Anthropology 

Botany 

Chemistry 

Civil Engineering 

Commerce & Accountancy 

Economics 

Electrical Engineering 

Geography 

Geology 

History 

Law

Management 

Mathematics 

Mechanical Engineering 

Medical Science 

Philosophy 

Physics 

Political Science and International Relations 

Psychology 

Public Administration 

Sociology 

Statistics 

Zoology 

Literature

What is the pattern of Mains Written Exam?

Qualifying Paper:

Compulsory Papers;

(Papers to be counted for merit

Papers not to be counted for merit

1750 Marks

Environment, Security and Disaster Management) General Studies – IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

Justice and International relations)

(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)

)

Bio-diversity,

)

Paper-V

Paper-IV

Paper-I Paper-II

Paper A Paper B

Paper-III

Paper-VI Paper-VII

Essay 250 Marks General Studies – I

Optional Subject – Paper 1 Optional Subject – Paper 2

Indian Language (Matriculation or equivalent standard) (Qualifying Paper with 30%) English (Matriculation or equivalent standard) (Qualifying Paper with 25%)

300 Marks

250Marks

250 Marks

250 Marks

250 Marks

300 Marks

250 Marks 250 Marks

General Studies – III (Technology, Economic Development,

General Studies – II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social

Sub Total (Written test) (Each paper of 3-hour duration)

What is the Mains (Written) Examination pattern?

1. The Mains Examination is held for those candidates who qualify the Prelims. 
2. The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type, out of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature. Marks obtained for all the compulsory papers (Paper-I to Paper-VlI) and Marks obtained in Interview for Personality Test will be counted for ranking. 
3. Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Mains Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview for a Personality Test. The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about three times the number of vacancies to be filled. The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks). 
4. 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. 
5. The mains 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. 
6. 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.
7. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers. 
8. The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is broadly of the honors degree level 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. 
9. 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 through this examination. 
10. The question papers of the Mains Examination will be of conventional (essay) type. 
11. Evaluation of the papers, namely, Essay, General Studies and Optional Subject of all the candidates would be done simultaneously along with evaluation of their qualifying papers on ‘Indian Languages’ and ‘English’ but the papers on Essay, General Studies and Optional Subject of only such candidates will be taken cognizance who attain 30% marks in Indian Language and 25% marks in English as minimum qualifying standards in these qualifying papers. 
12. Marks obtained by the candidates for the Paper-I-VII only will be counted for merit ranking. However, the Commission will have the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all of these papers. 
13. If a candidate’s handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to him. 
14. Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge. 
15. Credit will be given for orderly, effective, and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.

What is Mains (Interview) – Personality Test?

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 interview for a Personality Test. ∙ Candidates who are selected in the Mains Written Examination will be eligible to appear before the Interview Board at New Delhi.

1. The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks). Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Mains Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine their final ranking. (Ranking is based on score out of 2025 Marks).
2. The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his career. The candidates will be asked questions on matters of general interest.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.
6. 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.
7. The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialized 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.
8. UPSC interview coaching with mock interview sessions are provided by A A Shah’s IAS Institute.

UPSC Posts List

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted to recruit candidates for various prestigious services and posts under the central government of India. Here are some of the key services and posts for which candidates are selected through the UPSC CSE:

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS): IAS officers are responsible for the administrative functioning of the government and are involved in policy formulation and implementation at various levels.
• Indian Police Service (IPS): IPS officers are responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing and detecting crimes, and ensuring the safety and security of citizens.
• Indian Foreign Service (IFS): IFS officers represent India in diplomatic missions abroad and are involved in the country’s external affairs, international relations, and diplomacy.
• Indian Revenue Service (IRS): IRS officers are responsible for the collection and administration of direct and indirect taxes in the country.
• Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS): IA&AS officers are responsible for auditing government accounts and ensuring financial accountability.
• Indian Forest Service (IFoS): IFoS officers are involved in the management and conservation of forests, wildlife, and natural resources.
• Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS): IRTS officers are responsible for the management of railway operations, including traffic planning, scheduling, and coordination.
• Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS): IRAS officers handle the financial and accounting aspects of the Indian Railways.
• Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS): IRPS officers are involved in personnel management, recruitment, and welfare activities for railway employees.
• Indian Trade Service (ITS): ITS officers work in the field of international trade, export promotion, and trade policy formulation.
• Indian Postal Service (IPoS): IPoS officers are responsible for the management of postal services and related activities.
• Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS): IDAS officers are involved in the financial management of defense expenditure.
• Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS): IOFS officers work in the management and production of defense equipment and ordnance factories.
• Central Secretariat Service (CSS): CSS officers work in various ministries and departments of the central government, involved in policy formulation, implementation, and administration.
• Indian Economic Service (IES): IES officers work in economic planning, policy analysis, and program evaluation in various government departments.

These are just a few examples, and there are several other services and posts that candidates can be allocated based on their preferences, merit, and availability of vacancies. Each service has its own set of responsibilities and opportunities for career growth within the government system. Candidates participating in the UPSC CSE can choose their preferences for services based on their interests and career goals. Familiarizing themselves with the UPSC CSE Syllabus is crucial to understanding the scope and requirements of each service.