Exam Pattern of UPSC

The Civil Services Examination is conducted in three phases:

Phase A	Civil Services Examination (Prelims) which is an objective exam
Phase B	Civil Services Examination (Mains) which is a descriptive exam
Phase C	Personal Interview for Personality Test

(A) PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION: - 

The Examination consists of two papers.

Paper I: General Studies (200 Marks, Duration Two Hours) 200 Marks

➢ 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, Panchayat Raj, public policy, Rights Issues, etc.

➢ Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion. Demographics, social sector initiative, etc.

➢ General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change – that do not require subject specialization.

➢ General Science.

 

Paper II: Aptitude Test (200 Marks Duration Two Hours) 200 Marks

➢ Comprehension

➢ Interpersonal skill 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, cables, data sufficiency etc. - Class X

➢ level)

➢ English Language comprehension skills (Class X level)

Total 400 Marks

NOTE:- When you get minimum 33% marks in Paper II then check the Paper I for passing marks.

(B) MAIN EXAMINATION: 

The written Examination consists of the following papers.

Qualifying Papers :

Paper-A One of the Indian Language (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 1 Essay 250 marks

Paper 2 General Studies - I

(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)250 marks

Paper 3 General Studies –II

(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) 250 marks

Paper 4 General Studies –III

(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) 250 marks

Paper 5 General Studies –IV

(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 250 marks

Paper 6 Optional Subject – 250 marks (Paper 1 & Paper 2)

Total Marks 1750 marks

(C) PERSONALITY TEST : 275 MARKS

Total – (B) Main Examination - 1750 Marks + (C) Personality Test – 275 Marks = 2025 Marks

For IAS Mains Paper 6 – Optional Subject 

Candidates may choose any one optional subject from the list of subjects given below:

1. History
2. Geography
3. Economics
4. Sociology
5. Public Administration
6. Philosophy
7. Psychology
8. Political Science
9. Agriculture
10. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
11. Anthropology
12. Botany
13. Chemistry
14. Civil Engineering
15. Commerce
16. Electrical Engineering
17. Geology
18. Law
19. Mathematics
20. Management
21. Mechanical Engineering
22. Medical Science
23. Physics
24. Statistics
25. Zoology

 Qualifying Paper A (Indian Language in 8th schedule to the constitution)

1. Assamese
2. Bengali
3. Bodo
4. Dogri
5. Gujarati
6. Kannada
7. Kashmiri
8. Konkani
9. Maithili
10. Malayalam
11. Manipuri

                12.Marathi

                13. Nepali

                14. Odia

                15. Punjabi

                16. Sanskrit

                17. Santali

                18. Sindhi

                19. Tamil

                20. Telugu

                21. Urdu