UPSC CSE Exam: Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Selection Process

The UPSC CSE Exam is a highly esteemed civil service examination in India. It serves as a gateway to prestigious positions in the Indian bureaucracy, offering an opportunity to contribute significantly to public administration.

The exam is known for its rigorous selection process, which includes three stages:

• Preliminary,
• Mains, and
• Interview.

The comprehensive syllabus covers a wide array of subjects, requiring candidates to have a broad understanding of various topics. Despite its challenging nature, the UPSC CSE exam attracts thousands of aspirants each year, driven by the desire to make a difference in society.

UPSC CSE 2024 – Exam Dates & Admit Card

UPSC CSE Mains exam is to be held on September 20, 2024, for candidates who will pass the preliminary exam successfully. The prelims exam date is May 26, 2024.

The following table gives full information regarding UPSC CSE 2024 important dates:

Events	Dates
UPSC CSE 2024 Exam Notification Date	Feb 14, 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 Application Form Last Date	Mar 5, 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 Application Form Correction	Feb 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 Preliminary Exam Admit Card Dates	May 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 Preliminary Exam Date	May 26, 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 Mains Admit Card Date	Aug 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 Mains Exam Date	Sep 20 – 24, 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 DAF-I Date	Jul 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 Preliminary Exam Result Date	Jun 2024

UPSC CSE Exams 2024 – Download Admit Card

The admit card will be released soon. Candidates can download the admit card using either the registration ID or roll number.

UPSC CSE 2024 admit card release dates are given below:

Events	Dates
UPSC CSE 2024 Mains Exam Admit Card Release Date	Aug 2024
UPSC CSE 2024 Preliminary Exam Admit Card Dates	May 2024

What is the UPSC CSE Exam?

The full form of UPSC is the Union Public Service Commission. It is a constitutional body that is responsible for the recruitment of prestigious central services in India. It conducts various examinations(including technical & non-technical) where qualified candidates get a chance to work at different “A” and “B” grade jobs across the Union of India.

Most candidates consider UPSC and IAS the same, but that’s not true!

UPSC is the conducting authority that holds various examinations, including CSE (Civil Service Examination), ESE (Engineering Service Examination), and many more, on the other hand, IAS (Indian Administrative Services) is a civil servant job position/designation that comes under the government of India.

Selected candidates get an opportunity to serve the country at various constitutional bodies, staff and line agencies, and statutory bodies.

How to Register for UPSC CSE?

The exam is conducted to recruit candidates who are suitable for posts such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc. Union Public Service Commission releases notification of UPSC CSE exam registration 2024 on the official website. 

The notification for the UPSC Civil Services Examination for 2024 will be published on February 14, 2024. You can apply for UPSC CSE 2024 between February 14, 2024, and March 05, 2024.

You need to apply for each exam conducted by UPSC separately. There are separate application forms for UPSC Civil Services Exam Prelims, Mains, and Interview. There is nothing too complicated about the application process. To get an idea, we are explaining the steps below:

The UPSC Civil Services Examination Application Form has two parts:

• Part I
• Part II

Steps to fill the Part I of the UPSC CSE 2024 application form

1. Visit the official website of UPSC – upsconline.nic.in
2. Click on the Exam Notifications tab.
3. Click on the Apply Online link.
4. Click on the link available for Civil Services Part-I registration.
5. Read the application form instructions carefully and click on Yes.
6. Fill in all basic information in the part-I application form such as Name, Date of birth, Category, Gender, Email ID, Contact number, Permanent address, Marital status, Parents’ names, Community, Educational qualification etc.
7. Once all the details are filled in, click on Continue. Check all details in the online form carefully and click on Submit.

Steps to fill Part II of the UPSC CSE 2024 application form

1. Pay the UPSC application fee online (through SBI Net Banking/ debit card/ credit card) or offline (by cash through SBI bank challan) mode. (Fee – Female/ SC/ ST/ PwBD – Nil; all other candidates – Rs 100)
2. Upload scanned images of photograph, signature and photo ID card as per the UPSC specifications.
3. Enter the information related to fee payment details and the examination center.
4. Click on the ‘I Agree’ button after reading the declaration.
5. On clicking the button, a page with a registration number will be generated. Note down the registration number. Take a printout of the page.

Note: Only candidates who qualify for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024 can apply for UPSC Mains 2024.

• The qualified candidates need to submit the Detailed Application Form I (DAF-I) online on upsconline.nic.in.
• Only candidates who qualify for the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2024 can apply for the UPSC Interview 2024.
• The qualified candidates need to submit the Detailed Application Form II (DAF-II) online on upsconline.nic.in.

Why Should One Choose UPSC CSE as a Career?

Choosing the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) as a career has several compelling reasons, and individuals often opt for this prestigious examination for various personal and professional aspirations. Here are some reasons why one might choose Civil Services as a career:

• Public Service and Nation Building

UPSC CSE provides an opportunity to serve the nation by becoming a part of the administrative machinery. Successful candidates get the chance to contribute to policy-making, implementation, and governance, thereby actively participating in nation-building.

• Diverse Career Opportunities

UPSC CSE opens its doors to various services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and more. Candidates can choose a career path that aligns with their interests and skills.

• Job Security and Stability

Civil services provide job security and stability. Once selected, candidates enjoy a stable and secure career with various benefits, including a decent salary, allowances, and pension after retirement.

• Challenging and Dynamic Work Environment

Civil servants often find themselves in challenging and dynamic work environments. The nature of the job requires individuals to adapt to changing situations, solve complex problems, and make critical decisions that can have a significant impact on society.

• Opportunity to Make a Difference

Civil servants have the power to bring about positive changes in society. They can initiate and implement policies that address issues such as poverty, education, healthcare, and more, thereby making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

• Leadership and Responsibility

The civil services offer leadership roles where individuals are responsible for the administration and governance of a particular area or department. This responsibility provides a platform for personal and professional growth.

• Learning and Growth Opportunities

A career in civil services offers continuous learning opportunities. Officers undergo regular training programs and have access to resources that enhance their knowledge and skills, ensuring ongoing personal and professional development.

• Social Recognition and Respect

Civil servants are often held in high regard in society. The role comes with a level of social recognition and respect due to the responsibilities associated with serving the public and contributing to the welfare of the nation.

• Global Exposure

Services like the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) provide officers with the opportunity to represent India on the international stage. This exposure allows for interaction with diplomats, policymakers, and leaders from around the world.

• Personal Fulfillment

For many aspirants, choosing UPSC CSE is a path to personal fulfillment. The sense of purpose derived from contributing to the greater good, coupled with the intrinsic satisfaction of public service, makes it a rewarding career choice.

It’s important to note that the UPSC CSE is a challenging examination, and the decision to pursue it should be driven by a genuine passion for public service and a commitment to making a positive impact on society.

College students also prepare for the CSE exam while doing their graduation. Read our article about “Tips to Prepare for the UPSC CSE Exam while Studying at Delhi University”.

How Many Candidates Appear for UPSC CSE?

Number of candidates who apply for the UPSC Civil Services Exam:

• Prelims – About 10,00,00 (10 lakh) candidates apply every year. However, only around  5 lakh candidates appear on the exam day.
• Mains – About 10000 candidates who qualify for the UPSC preliminary exam apply for the UPSC Main exam.
• Interview – About 2000 candidates who qualify for the UPSC Main exam apply for the UPSC Interview.

The competition for UPSC CSE Examinations is very tough and it requires a good amount of preparation and a lot of hard work and dedication.

UPSC CSE Eligibility Criteria

The candidates for  UPSC CSE 2024 need to fulfill three important factors: Age, Nationality, and Qualification. The eligibility requirements for UPSC CSE are listed below in this article:

Civil Services Exam Eligibility

UPSC CSE Exam Age Limit	21 to 32 years (For General)
Educational Qualification	Graduation
Nationality	Indian citizens only

UPSC CSE Age Criteria

The candidates are required to calculate their age as of August 1, 2023. The upper age limit for the exam is 32 years. This means the candidate should not be the age of 32 years as of 1st August 2023. 

Note: For UPSC 2024, the minimum age will be 21 as of 1st August 2024, and the maximum age will be 32, falling between 2nd August 1993 and 1st August 2004.

Civil Services Exam Age Criteria

Category	Minimum Age Limit for UPSC	Maximum Age Limit for UPSC
Age Limit for General Category	21	32
EWS	21	32
SC/ST	21	37
IAS OBC Age Limit	21	35

UPSC Exam Age Relaxation

UPSC provides age relaxation for different categories. The candidates need to check the age relaxation details for the exam.

Category	UPSC Age Limit- Upper Relaxation
General	32
OBC	35
SC/ST	37
Disabled Defence Services Personnel	35
Ex-Servicemen	37
Persons with Benchmark Disability – EWS (Economically Weaker Section)	42

UPSC CSE Selection Process

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted in three stages:

• The Preliminary Examination, 
• The Main Examination, 
• The Personality Test (Interview). 

Let’s take a closer look at each stage of the selection process:

UPSC Prelims Examination

Objective: To shortlist candidates for the Main Examination.

Sl. No.	Name of the Paper	Nature of the Paper	Duration of the Exam	Questions	Marks
1	Paper I: General Studies	Merit Ranking Nature	2 Hours	100	200 Marks
2	Paper II: General Studies (CSAT)	Qualifying Nature	2 Hours	80	200 Marks

Important Points

• The questions in the UPSC Prelims are of the objective type or Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• There is a ‘Negative Marking’ in the exam for each incorrect answer but only in the Prelims stage. The negative marking for incorrect answers will be 1/3rd (0.66) of the allotted marks of that question.
• The GS Paper II (CSAT) in the UPSC CSE exam is of qualifying nature and candidates should score a minimum of 33 per cent in this paper to qualify for the next stage of the IAS exam i.e. the Mains.
• Blind candidates are given an extra time of 20 minutes for each paper in the IAS Exam (Prelims).
• The candidates must appear in both the papers of the civil services prelims exam for the evaluation.
• The marks scored by the candidates in the preliminary examination are not counted for the final score. It is only a screening test where candidates not securing the cut-off marks are eliminated.

UPSC Mains Examination

The second stage of the IAS Exam is called the Mains Exam, which is a written descriptive examination and comprises 9 papers.

The 9 papers in the IAS Exam (Mains) are as follows: Paper – A (Compulsory Indian Language); Paper – B (English) which are qualifying in nature, while the other papers like Essay, General Studies Papers I, II, III, and IV, and Optional Papers I and II are considered for the final ranking.

Objective: To assess candidates’ in-depth knowledge and understanding of diverse subjects.

Sl. No.	IAS Exam Paper	Name of the Paper	Nature of the Paper	Duration of the Exam	Marks
1	Paper – A	Compulsory Indian Language	Qualifying Nature	3 Hours	300 Marks
2	Paper – B	English	Qualifying Nature	3 Hours	300 Marks
3	Paper – I	ESSAY	Merit Ranking Nature	3 Hours	250 Marks
4	Paper – II	General Studies I	Merit Ranking Nature	3 Hours	250 Marks
5	Paper – III	General Studies II	Merit Ranking Nature	3 Hours	250 Marks
6	Paper – IV	General Studies III	Merit Ranking Nature	3 Hours	250 Marks
7	Paper – V	General Studies IV	Merit Ranking Nature	3 Hours	250 Marks
8	Paper – VI	Optional Paper I	Merit Ranking Nature	3 Hours	250 Marks
9	Paper – VII	Optional Paper II	Merit Ranking Nature	3 Hours	250 Marks

Important Points

• Papers I to VII are subjective and essay-type.
• Papers I to V are counted for merit ranking.
• Papers VI and VII are only qualifying, but candidates must score a minimum mark.
• The candidates can select their medium of writing the UPSC Civil Services IAS Mains Exam as Hindi/English or any other language listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• The Indian Languages included in the IAS exam are as per languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• The candidates who score above the prescribed cut-off marks in the IAS exam (Mains) will get the summons for the Personality Test (last stage of the IAS exam).
• The candidates’ final ranking is based on their marks in the Main Examination and Personality Test/Interview Round of the IAS exam.

UPSC Interview/Personality Test

Objective: To assess the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and suitability for a career in civil services.

• Candidates who clear the Mains stage of the IAS exam with the required cut-off marks qualify for the final stage of the IAS exam i.e., the Personality Test or Interview round with the UPSC Board Members. 

• The candidates who qualify for the final stage will be sent an e-summon by the Commission for a face-to-face discussion round with the board members. 

• In this round, the board assesses the personality traits of the candidates and questions will be asked on their hobbies, current affairs, general knowledge, situation questions, etc. to evaluate if they are fit for a career in the civil services or not. 

• The interview aims to evaluate the candidate’s mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion, and leadership skills.

• The UPSC personality test will be held only in the UPSC Bhavan in New Delhi.

Total Interview Marks: 275 marks

Final Selection

The final merit list is prepared based on the candidate’s performance in the Main Examination and the Personality Test having a combined score out of 2025 marks (1750 + 275).

Note: Marks from the Preliminary Examination are not counted for the final merit.

UPSC CSE Syllabus

Two Compulsory Papers	1. General Studies Paper-I 2. General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)
Number of Questions asked in GS Paper-I	100
Number of Questions asked in CSAT	80
Total Number of Marks	400 marks (GS Paper-I – 200 Marks and CSAT – 200 Marks)
Negative Marking	1/3rd of the total marks allotted to the question will be deducted for every wrong answer
Time Allotted	Two hours each: 1. GS Paper-I – 2 Hours (9:30 AM -11:30 AM) 2. CSAT – 2 Hours (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

The two papers of the UPSC prelims are discussed in detail below:

1. General Studies
   • The General Studies test is the first paper of the preliminary examination.
   • This test is intended to test the general awareness of a candidate in a wide range of subjects that include: Indian Polity, Geography, History, Indian Economy, Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology, International Relations and associated UPSC current affairs.

2. Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) (Generally conducted between 2:30 PM and 04:30 PM)
   • This UPSC Prelims syllabus for CSAT intends to assess the aptitude of the candidate in solving ‘Reasoning and Analytical’ questions, apart from ‘Reading Comprehension’ and the occasionally asked ‘Decision Making’ questions.
   • The ‘Decision Making’ based questions are generally exempt from negative marks.

UPSC Syllabus for Mains Exam

Paper	Subject	Marks
Paper-I	Essay (can be written in the medium of the candidate’s choice)	250
Paper-II	General Studies – I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society)	250
Paper-III	General Studies – II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations)	250
Paper-IV	General Studies – III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management)	250
Paper-V	General Studies – IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude)	250
Paper-VI	Optional Subject – Paper I	250
Paper-VII	Optional Subject – Paper II	250

Must-Know Facts about UPSC Mains

• The Mains examination constitutes the 2nd phase of the Civil Services Examination. Only after successfully qualifying in the prelims exam would the candidates be allowed to write the IAS Mains.
• The Mains exam tests the candidate’s academic talent in depth and his/her ability to present his/her understanding according to the requirements of the question in a time-bound manner.
• The UPSC Mains exam consists of 9 papers, out of which two are qualifying papers of 300 marks each.
• The two qualifying papers are:
  • Any Indian Language Paper
  • English Language Paper
• Papers on Essays, General Studies and Optional Subjects Only such candidates who attain 25% marks in both the language papers as a minimum qualifying standard in these qualifying papers, will be taken cognisance of, for evaluation.
• In case a candidate does not qualify for these language papers, then the marks obtained by such candidates will not be considered or counted.

Syllabus for UPSC Mains GS-I

General Studies‐I is also called Paper-II of UPSC Mains. It covers –  Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

The detailed UPSC Syllabus for this paper is given below:

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.
• The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
• History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as the Industrial Revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effects on society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• Salient features of the world’s physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, Volcanic activity, and cyclones. etc., geographical features and their location changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. 

Syllabus for UPSC Mains GS-II

General Studies-II is also called Paper-III of UPSC Mains. It majorly covers Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

The detailed UPSC syllabus for this paper is given below:

• Constitution of India — historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges about the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs disputes redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
• Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. 
• Role of civil services in a democracy.
• India and its neighbourhood – relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. 

Syllabus for UPSC Mains GS-III

General Studies-III is also called Paper-IV of the UPSC Mains. The major topics covered are Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

The detailed UPSC syllabus for this paper is given below:

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Major crop-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. 
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Investment models.
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and development of new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
• Disaster and disaster management.
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention. 
• Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. 

Syllabus for UPSC Mains GS-IV

General Studies Paper-IV is also called Paper-V of UPSC Mains. The major topics covered under it are Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude. This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitudes and approaches to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and problem-solving approaches to various issues and conflicts faced in dealing with society. Questions may utilize the case study approach to determine these aspects.

The following broad areas will be covered:

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; the role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
• Emotional intelligence concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
• Public/Civil Service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on the above issues. 

Syllabus for UPSC Language and Essay Papers

Essay Paper – Paper I of UPSC Mains

Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression. 

Structure of the Language Papers

The types of questions asked are –

1. Essay – 100 marks
2. Reading comprehension – 60 marks
3. Precis Writing – 60 marks
4. Translation:
   • English to compulsory language (e.g. Hindi) – 20 marks
   • Compulsory language to English – 20 marks
5. Grammar and basic language usage – 40 marks

The rest of the seven papers can be written in any of the languages mentioned under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India or in English.

The papers aim to test the candidates’ ability to read and understand serious discursive prose and to express ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language. The pattern of questions would broadly be as follows :

(i) Comprehension of given passages.

(ii) Precis Writing.

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.

(iv) Short Essays.

Indian Languages

(i) comprehension of given passages.

(ii) Precis Writing.

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.

(iv) Short Essays.

(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

UPSC Syllabus for Optional Subjects

The UPSC Mains syllabus gives a list of 48 Optional Subjects which include Literature of different languages. Candidates need to choose any one of the ‘Optional Subjects’ from the list of subjects given below:

UPSC Mains Optional Subjects

1. Agriculture
2. Zoology
3. Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
4. Assamese (Literature)
5. Anthropology
6. Bengali (Literature)
7. Botany
8. Bodo (Literature)
9. Chemistry
10. Dogri (Literature)
11. Civil Engineering
12. Gujarati (Literature)
13. Commerce & Accountancy
14. Hindi (Literature)
15. Economics
16. Kannada (Literature)
17. Electrical Engineering
18. Kashmiri (Literature)
19. Geography
20. Konkani (Literature)
21. Geology
22. Maithili (Literature)
23. History
24. Malayalam (Literature)
25. Law
26. Manipuri (Literature)
27. Management
28. Marathi (Literature)
29. Mathematics
30. Nepali (Literature)
31. Mechanical Engineering
32. Odia (Literature)
33. Medical Science
34. Punjabi (Literature)
35. Philosophy
36. Sanskrit (Literature)
37. Physics
38. Santhali (Literature)
39. Political Science & International Relations
40. Sindhi (Literature)
41. Psychology
42. Tamil (Literature)
43. Public Administration
44. Telugu (Literature)
45. Sociology
46. English (Literature)
47. Statistics
48. Urdu (Literature)

Syllabus for UPSC Interview

Known as the Personality Test, the UPSC Interview is the last stage of the examination. There is no defined UPSC syllabus for the interview. Questions are asked from wide-ranging issues.

• Candidates who qualify for the UPSC Mains Exam will be called for the ‘Personality Test/Interview’. These candidates will be interviewed by a Board appointed by the UPSC.
• The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in civil services by a board of competent and unbiased observers.
• The interview is more of a purposive conversation intended to explore the mental qualities and analytical ability of the candidate.
• The Interview test will be 275 marks and the total marks for the written examination is 1750. This sums up to a Grand Total of 2025 Marks, based on which the final merit list will be prepared.

UPSC CSE Exam Analysis & Pattern

The exam pattern for UPSC CSE includes the following things:

Plan of the Examination

The Civil Services Examination will consist of two successive stages (vide Appendix I Section-I):

• Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the selection of candidates for the Main Examination
• Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts noted above.

Preliminary Examination

UPSC CSE 2024 preliminary exam pattern is discussed below:

• UPSC CSE Preliminary Exams consist of two papers and both papers have to be cleared.
• For UPSC CSE Prelims, a negative marking scheme is followed. 
• Paper 2 or CSAT is merely qualifying. i.e. candidate has to score a minimum of 33 per cent to clear paper 2
• After the Candidates have cleared UPSC CSE Prelims, they can appear in the Mains and the Personal Interview. 
• All the questions are MCQs in the UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam. 

Mains Examination

UPSC CSE 2024 mains exam pattern is discussed below:

• The Main Examination will consist of a written examination and an interview test.
• The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type out of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature. Also, marks obtained for all the compulsory papers (Paper-I to Paper-VII) and Marks obtained in the Interview for Personality Test will be counted for ranking.
• 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 an interview for a Personality Test.
• The number of candidates to be summoned for an interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled.
• The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).
• 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.

NAME	MARKS
Prelims
General Studies	200
CSAT	200
Total Prelims Marks	400
Mains
Language (Paper A) – Qualifying Nature	300
English (Paper B) – Qualifying Nature	300
Total Mains Qualifying Marks	600
Essay	250
General Studies I	250
General Studies I	250
General Studies I	250
General Studies I	250
Optional Subject-I	250
Optional Subject-II	250
Total Mains Merit Marks	1750
Interview
Personality Test	275
Total Merit Marks (1750 + 275)	2025

UPSC CSE Cutoffs

UPSC cut-off marks are released category-wise for each stage separately. The UPSC cut-off for the Prelims Exam includes marks for General Studies-I as the CSAT paper is only qualifying in nature.

As the UPSC Cut Off is released, we have updated the same here:

UPSC CSE Exam Centres

There will be 2 different exam centers one is to conduct the UPSC CSE 2024 Preliminary Exam and the other is to conduct the UPSC CSE 2024 Mains Exam.

No. of Centres: The Preliminary Exam consists of 72 centers across India and the Mains Exam consists of 24 centers across India.

Choice of Centre: The allotment of exam city would be as per the order of preference clicked by the applicant during online registration on a first cum first-served basis.

List of All Exam Centres

Agartala	Aurangabad	Coimbatore	Ghaziabad
Agra	Bareilly	Cuttack	Gorakhpur
Ahmedabad	Bengaluru	Dehradun	Gurgaon
Aizawl	Bhopal	Delhi	Gwalior
Ajmer	Bilaspur	Dharwar	Hyderabad
Aligarh	Chandigarh	Dispur	Imphal
Allahabad	Chennai	Faridabad	Indore
Ananthapuru	Jorhat	Gangtok	Itanagar
Jammu	Kochi	Gautam Buddh Nagar	Jabalpur
Jodhpur	Kohima	Gaya	Jaipur
Panaji (Goa)	Shillong	Varanasi	Kolkata
Patna	Shimla	Vellore	Kozhikode (Calicut)
Port Blair	Siliguri	Vijayawada	Lucknow
Puducherry	Srinagar	Visakhapatnam	Ludhiana
Pune	Thane	Warangal	Madurai
Raipur	Thiruvananthapuram	Nagpur	Mumbai
Rajkot	Tiruchirapalli	Navi Mumbai	Mysuru
Ranchi	Tirupati	Sambalpur	Udaipur

UPSC CSE Vacancies

Year	Vacancy
2021	1011
2020	712
2019	796
2018	896
2017	759

UPSC CSE Salary & Job Profile

Depending on the rank and years of service, the salary of an IAS officer is as follows: 

• The basic IAS salary per month in India starts from Rs. 56,100. This value can go up to Rs 2,50,000 per month which is the salary of the post of Cabinet Secretary of India.  
• However, the gross monthly salary typically varies from Rs. 56,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 (approx.) depending on the different allowances.  

The gross monthly salary of an IAS officer comprises DA, TA and HRA and it differs from state to state, and district to district.

IAS Officer Grade Pay

The monthly IAS salary in India is divided into 8 grades with different grade pay along with the pay scale. As is the case with the salary, the level for each grade pay depends on the seniority in work experience.

To provide you with a better picture, the information on different grade pay of an IAS officer is given below:

• Junior scale – At the entry level and with no years of service, the pay scale of an officer ranges between Rs. 50,000- 1, 50, 000 with a grade pay of Rs. 16, 500.  
• Senior time scale: After 5 years of service, the pay scale of an IAS officer varies between Rs. 50,000- 1, 50, 001 with an increase in the grade pay to Rs. 20,000.
• Junior Administrative Grade: Upon completion of 9 years of service, the range of pay scale of an officer lies between Rs 50,000 – 1,50, 002 with a raise in the grade pay to Rs 23,000.

The highest grade level is of Cabinet Secretary of India with Rs 2, 50, 000 (fixed) pay scale with no predefined years of service.

IAS Salary in India:

Basic Pay (INR)	State Secretariat	District Administration	Central Secretariat
56,100	Undersecretary	Sub-Divisional Magistrate	Assistant Secretary
67,700	Deputy Secretary	Additional District Magistrate	Undersecretary
78,800	Joint Secretary	District Magistrate	Deputy Secretary
1,18,500	Special Secretary-cum-Director	District Magistrate	Director
1,44,200	Secretary-cum-Commissioner	Divisional Commissioner	Joint Secretary
1,82,200	Principal Secretary	Divisional Commissioner	Additional Secretary
2,05,400	Additional Chief Secretary	No Equivalent Rank	No Equivalent Rank
2,25,000	Chief Secretary	No Equivalent Rank	Secretary
2,50,000	No Equivalent Rank	No Equivalent Rank	Cabinet Secretary of India

• The information in the table above about IAS salary in India excludes various allowances that the govt. offers like House Rent Allowances, Dearness Allowances, Travel Allowances, Medical, etc.  
• These allowances don’t have a fixed value as they differ according to the city of posting, and various other factors.

In case a student is not able to clear the UPSC CSE examination, don’t lose hope. You can opt for other government bank exams like SBI PO, and IBPS SO, or go for other career options.

FAQs

Q1. What are the total marks for UPSC CSE Mains?

Answer: The UPSC CSE Mains examination consists of a total of 1750 marks. The Final interview comprises 275 marks.

Q2. What is the pattern of the Prelims Exam of UPSC CSE?

Answer: In the preliminary stage of the UPSC CSE exam, candidates encounter two General Studies papers on the same day, both of which are objective-type.

Q3. Can one crack UPSC CSE without coaching?

Answer: Yes, it is possible for individuals to successfully navigate the UPSC CSE exams without the aid of coaching. The feasibility of this achievement depends on the individual’s strategies, commitment to self-study, and confidence. Although challenging, it is certainly attainable.

Q4. Can a 12th-pass candidate apply for UPSC?

Answer: No, individuals who have completed only the 12th standard are not eligible to apply for the UPSC CSE exam. A candidate must possess a graduation degree to be eligible to appear for the examination.