UPSC Civil Services Exam
WHY CHOOSE CIVIL SERVICES AS A CAREER?
Civil Services work as the backbone of the administrative machinery of the country. Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) are three of the most preferable services under this.
ABOUT THE EXAMINATION PROCESS
In order to get selected into these coveted services, candidates have to appear in the Civil Services Exam (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and should pass a three-phase selection process. The three phases are the Civil Services Preliminary Exam (Prelims), Civil Services (Main) Examination (Mains) and The Personality Test (Interview).
As per the official UPSC Exam Calendar, Civil Services Preliminary Exam is conducted in the months of May & June and the Main Examination is held after 3-4 months.
- Candidates are required to apply online on the official website of UPSC (www.upsconline.nic.in).
- Candidates need to complete the online application form containing two stages viz. Part-I and Part-II as per the instructions available in the above mentioned website.
- The candidates are required to pay a fee of ` 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only) [except SC/ST/ Female/Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates who are exempted from payment of fee] either by depositing the money in any branch of State Bank of India by cash, or by using net banking facility of State Bank of India or by using any Visa/ Master/Ru Pay Credit/ Debit Card.
- Before filling up the online application form, a candidate must have his/her photograph and signature duly scanned in the jpg format in such a manner that each file should not exceed 40 KB and, must not be less than 3 KB in size for the photograph and 1 KB for the signature.
- Applicants should avoid submitting multiple applications. In case of multiple applications, the application with higher Registration ID will be considered by the Commission.
- The applicants must ensure that while filling their Application Form, they are providing their valid and active e-mail IDs as the Commission may use electronic mode of communication in order to contact them at different stages of examination process.
NATIONALITY
1) For the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Foreign Service and the Indian Police
Service, a candidate must be a citizen of India.
(2) For other services, a candidate must be either:—
(a) a citizen of India, or
(b) a subject of Nepal, or
(c) a subject of Bhutan, or
(d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the
intention of permanently settling in India, or
(e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East
African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia,
Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in
India.
QUALIFICATIONS
A candidate must hold a university degree, or possess an equivalent qualification for
appearing in Civil Services Examination. Candidates who have appeared in the final year
of degree examination and also the candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying
examination will also be eligible for admission to the Preliminary Examination. But such
candidates have to produce proof of passing the requisite examination before appearing
in Civil Services (Main) Examination.
AGE LIMIT
General – 21 years – 32 years
EWS – 21 years – 32 years
OBC – 21 years – 35 years
SC/ST – 21 years – 37 years
PWD – 21 years – 42 years
ATTEMPTS
General – Maximum 6 Attempts Up to Age of 32
EWS – Maximum 6 Attempts Up to Age of 32
OBC – Maximum 9 Attempts Up to Age of 35
SC/ST – Unlimited Attempts Up to Age of 37
PwBD 1. – General/OBC – Maximum 9 Attempts Up to Age of 42
2. SC/ST – Unlimited Attempts Up to Age of 42
ALL INDIA SERVICES
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
GROUP – A SERVICES
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service
- Indian Audit and Accounts Service
- Indian Railway Management Service (Traffic)
- Indian Civil Accounts Service
- Indian Railway Management Service (Personnel)
- Indian Corporate Law Service
- • Indian Railway Management Service(Accounts)
- Indian Defence Accounts Service
- Indian Railway Protection Force Service
- Indian Defence Estates Service
- Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes)
- • Indian Information Service
- • Indian Revenue Service (Income
Tax) - • Indian Postal Service • Indian Trade Service (Grade III)
GROUP – B SERVICES
- Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
- Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra &
Nagar Haveli Civil Service (DANICS) - Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra &
Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS) - Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS)
- Pondicherry Police Service (PONDIPS)
THE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION CONSIST OF TWO SUCCESSIVE STAGES:
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the selection of
candidates for the Main Examination; and - Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of
candidates for the various Services and posts. - Candidates who are declared qualified for Civil Services (Main) Examination; have
to submit Detailed Application Form (DAF).
FIRST STAGE DETAILS : PRELIMINARY EXAM
- The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination comprises of two papers of 200 marks
each i.e. General Studies (GS) Paper-I. - GS Paper-II (also known as CSAT i.e. Civil Service Aptitude Test) is qualifying in nature
and in which a candidate has to secure 33% marks only. - Objective type (Multiple Choice Questions) is asked at this stage. Marks obtained at
this stage are counted only to decide merit in preliminary examination, not for final
selection. Clearing the Prelims makes one eligible for the next stage of the exam.
SECOND STAGE DETAILS : MAINS EXAM & PERSONALITY TEST
- The Civil Services Personality Test consists of a board of members for assessing the
candidate’s personality. A candidate is asked questions on matters of general
interest. - The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a
career in public service. The test is intended to judge the mental caliber of a
candidate. - Final rank of a candidate in merit list depends upon the marks scored in second
stage only i.e. Written and Interview.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
| Paper | General Studies (Paper 1) | CSAT (Paper 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Marks | 200 | 200 |
| Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd of marks assigned to a question | 1/3rd of marks assigned to a question |
| Qualifying Criteria | – | 33% marks required (i.e., 66 marks) |
MAINS EXAMINATION (QUALIFYING PAPERS )
| Paper | Paper-A: Indian Language | Paper-B: English |
|---|---|---|
| Language | One Indian language chosen from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution | English |
| Maximum Marks | 300 | 300 |
| Duration | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Qualifying Criteria | 25% marks required (i.e., 75 marks) | 25% marks required (i.e., 75 marks) |
PAPERS TO BE COUNTED FOR MERIT
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Two essays (125 marks each) to assess clarity of ideas, critical thinking, and balanced perspective on various topics | 250 | 3 hrs |
| General Studies – I | Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World, Society | 250 | 3 hrs |
| General Studies – II | Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations | 250 | 3 hrs |
| General Studies – III | Science & Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Internal Security, Disaster Management | 250 | 3 hrs |
| General Studies – IV | Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Optional Subject – I | Subject chosen by the candidate | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Optional Subject – II | Subject chosen by the candidate | 250 | 3 hrs |
| Paper | Subjects / Topics | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | • Current Events of National & International Importance • History of India & Indian National Movement • Indian & World Geography (Physical, Social, Economic) • Indian Polity & Governance (Constitution, Panchayati Raj, etc.) • Economic & Social Development (Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, etc.) • General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change • General Science | 200 | 2 hrs |
| Paper-II | • Comprehension • Interpersonal Skills incl. Communication Skills • Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability • Decision Making & Problem Solving • General Mental Ability • Basic Numeracy (Class X level) • Data Interpretation (Class X level) | 200 | 2 hrs |
GS Paper-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
| Sl.No | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times. |
| 2 | Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues. |
| 3 | The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. |
| 4 | Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. |
| 5 | History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as the Industrial Revolution, World Wars, Redrawing of national boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, Political philosophies (e.g., Communism, Capitalism, Socialism) – their forms and effects on society. |
| 6 | Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. |
| 7 | Role of women and women’s organizations, Population and associated issues, Poverty and developmental issues, Urbanization – their problems and remedies. |
| 8 | Effects of globalization on Indian society. |
| 9 | Social empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism. |
| 10 | Salient features of the world’s physical geography. |
| 11 | Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); Factors responsible for the location of industries (primary, secondary, tertiary) across the world (including India). |
| 12 | Important Geophysical phenomena such as Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, Cyclones, etc.; Geographical features and their location – changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps), flora and fauna, and their effects. |
GS Paper-II : Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
| Sl.No. | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Constitution – Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. |
| 2 | Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States; Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure; Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. |
| 3 | Separation of powers between various organs; Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. |
| 4 | Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries. |
| 5 | Parliament and State Legislatures – Structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges, and issues arising out of these. |
| 6 | 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. |
| 7 | Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. |
| 8 | Appointment to various Constitutional posts; Powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. |
| 9 | Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. |
| 10 | Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. |
| 11 | Development processes and the development industry – the role of NGOs, SHGs, groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. |
| 12 | Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies for their protection and betterment. |
| 13 | Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. |
| 14 | Issues relating to poverty and hunger. |
| 15 | Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability; E-governance – applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizen charters, transparency & accountability, and institutional measures. |
| 16 | Role of civil services in a democracy. |
| 17 | India and its neighborhood – Relations. |
| 18 | Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. |
| 19 | Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests; Indian diaspora. |
| 20 | Important international institutions, agencies and fora – their structure and mandate. |
GS Paper-III: Science & Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Internal Security & Disaster Management
| Sl.No. | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment. |
| 2 | Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. |
| 3 | Government budgeting. |
| 4 | Major crops – cropping patterns in various parts of the country; types of irrigation and irrigation systems; storage, transport & marketing of agricultural produce; issues and constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers. |
| 5 | Issues related to farm subsidies & MSPs; Public Distribution System – objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; buffer stocks and food security; technology missions; animal-rearing economics. |
| 6 | Food processing & related industries – scope, significance, location, upstream/downstream requirements, supply chain management. |
| 7 | Land reforms in India. |
| 8 | Effects of liberalization on the economy; changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. |
| 9 | Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc. |
| 10 | Investment models. |
| 11 | Science & Technology – developments, applications, and effects in daily life. |
| 12 | Achievements of Indians in Science & Tech; indigenization of technology and development of new technologies. |
| 13 | Awareness in IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-tech, Bio-tech; IPR issues. |
| 14 | Conservation, environmental pollution & degradation, EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment). |
| 15 | Disaster and disaster management. |
| 16 | Linkages between development and spread of extremism. |
| 17 | Role of external state and non-state actors in creating internal security challenges. |
| 18 | Internal security threats via communication networks; role of media and social media; basics of cyber security; money laundering and its prevention. |
| 19 | Security challenges and management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism. |
| 20 | Various security forces and agencies and their mandate. |
GS Paper-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
| Sl.No. | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | 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 lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators; role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values. |
| 2 | Attitude: Content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion. |
| 3 | Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Services – Integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion toward the weaker sections. |
| 4 | Emotional Intelligence – Concepts, utilities, and application in administration and governance. |
| 5 | Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world. |
| 6 | 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. |
| 7 | Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity; information sharing and transparency in government; Right to Information (RTI); Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct; Citizen’s Charters; work culture; quality of service delivery; utilization of public funds; challenges of corruption. |
| 8 | Case Studies on the above issues. |