Scheme / Pattern of UPSC Civil Services Exam

PLAN OF EXAMINATION

The competitive examination comprises two successive stages:
(i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination
(ii) Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various services and posts.


2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 vide sub-section ‘C’ of Section-II. Marks obtained in the papers will be counted for ranking. The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled.
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.

Scheme and subjects for the Preliminary and Main Examinations

A. Preliminary Examination
The Examination shall comprise two compulsory papers of 200 marks each.

NOTE (i) Both the question papers will be of the objective type (multiple choice questions).
(ii) The question papers will be set both in Hindi and English. However, questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level will be tested through passages from English Language only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper.
(iii) Details of the syllabi are indicated in Part A of Section III.
(iv) Each paper will be of two hours duration. Blind candidates will however; be allowed an extra time of twenty minutes at each paper.

B. Main Examination
The written examination will consist of the following papers:

Paper-I
Section 1 Essay         200 Marks
Section 2 English Comprehension & English Précis.      100 Marks(Of Matriculation/ Xth standard level)

Paper-II
General Studies–I       250Marks
(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)

Paper-III
General Studies –II      250 Marks
(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)

Paper-IV
General Studies –III     250 Marks
(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

Paper-V
General Studies –IV     250 Marks
(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

Paper-VI
Optional Subject – Paper 1       250 Marks

Paper-VII
Optional Subject – Paper 2        250 Marks

Sub Total (Written test) 1800 Marks

Personality Test 275 Marks.

Grand Total 2075 Marks