Exam Details :
All India Combined Competitive Examination for the Civil Services conducted
by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) comprises of two successive
stages:
- Preliminary Examination : It is of objective type, which is a qualifying
examination
for the selection of candidates for Main Examination
- Main Examination : It consists of written examination and
interview
for the selection of candidates for the various services and posts.
The Preliminary Examination is held in May/June and the Main Examination in
October/November. One must begin preparations of the main exam along with
preliminary exam. This is because there is little time for the Main exam if
one waits for the results of the Preliminaries. A candidate is permitted 4 attempts at
the examination. If a person appears in the Preliminary Exam or even appears in
one paper, it is counted as an attempt.
Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of
Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 450. Paper I is of general studies
and paper II is from a selected list of optional subjects for preliminary
examinations. The
question papers are set in Hindi as well as in English. The course content for
the optional subjects will be of the degree level. Each paper is of two hours
duration. Blind candidates are allowed an extra time of 20 minutes for each
paper. Preliminary Examination is meant to
serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained by the candidates who are
declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for
determining their final order of merit. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have
qualified in the Preliminary Examination in a year will be eligible for
admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise
eligible for admission to the Main Examination.
Subjects for Paper II (one subject to be selected): Agriculture, Animal
Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering,
Commerce, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, Indian History,
Law, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics,
Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics,
Zoology.
Main 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. It will consist of a written examination
and an interview test. The written examination will consist of 9 papers of
conventional essay type in the selected subjects for main examination.
Each paper is of 3 hours duration.
Papers for main examination :
Paper I - One Indian language (selected by the candidate) 300 marks
Paper II - English 300 marks
Paper III - Essay 200 marks
Paper IV&V - General Studies 300 marks each
Paper VI-IX - Any two subjects (optional papers to be selected by the candidate)
with two papers each 300 marks for each
Optional Papers: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany,
Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce, Economics, Electrical Engineering,
Geography, Geology, Indian History, Law, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering,
Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public
Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology.
Interview : Candidates who obtain minimum qualifying marks in the written
part of the Main Examination shall be summoned for an interview. It is usually
conducted in the month of April/May
every year. Candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of
the interview is to assess the personal suitability and judge the mental caliber of
the candidate. The candidate must exhibit an intelligent interest in events
happening around him so that he appears to be a complete personality. The interview will carry 300 marks (with no
minimum qualifying marks).
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.
There is also a medical test,
especially rigid for IPS. Out of the final candidates selected top rankers
are appointed as IAS officers.
Once appointed, all probationary officers of the All India and Central Services
undergo a compulsory foundation training.
