About UPSC Civil Services

UPSC civil services examination, which is also known as the IAS examination, is conducted every year in India for recruiting candidates to the civil services of India. The syllabus of UPSC includes multiple topics from various subjects. In this article, we will have a detailed overview of the General Studies paper of UPSC and how to prepare for this exam.

Examination Pattern

The UPSC exams are divided into three stages:- Prelims, Mains, and personal interview. A candidate who is interested in starting a career as an IAS officer has to clear all the three stages for achieving the IAS position. This exam is considered to be the most difficult exam in the nation. The difficulties of the exam help to identify the efficiency of candidates so as to know their capability to handle all the responsibilities that come with the IAS job.

Examination Dates

Examination Score

As we all know that UPSC exams are divided into three stages which are prelims, mains, and personal interviews. A student has to secure pass marks in each stage to get selected for the position of  IAS officer. 

The prelims exams of UPSC consisted of two objective type papers, each carrying a total mark of 200. So the total mark for the prelim exams is 400. Each paper needs to be completed before 2 hours; not an extra minute will be allowed after the exam duration.

The mains exam of UPSC consists of 9 papers in which 2 papers are considered to be qualifying papers, and the other 7 papers are considered to be merit papers. Each paper has a time duration of 3 hours in the mains exam and not one minute extra than that. The marks for each merit paper in the main exams are as follows:

Lastly, the candidates who successfully clear the main exams give the personal interview, which carries a total of 250 marks.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to give the UPSC exams, one has to pass the eligibility criteria set for the civil exams. The eligibility criteria of UPSC exams are as follows:

• The age limit ranges between 21 years to 32 years. 

• The candidate must have a graduation certificate from a recognized university.

• The candidate must be a citizen of India.

Examination Fee

Candidates who belong to the General/EWS/OBC category have to pay an exam fee of 100/- for the prelim exams and 200/- for the main exams. Whereas female candidates, disabled candidates, and those who belong to the SC/ST category do not have to pay a single amount for giving the UPSC exams. One can deposit the fees through the online platform also.

How to Apply

A candidate can register for the UPSC exams in two parts:

Part - 1 Registration

• Go to the official website of UPSC

• Click on the Exam Notification Tab

• Click on Apply Online

• Click on the button mentioning Civil Services Part - 1 Registration

• Fill up the application form carefully

Part - 2 Registration

• Pay the registration fee via offline or online mode (through the official website)

• Upload the scanned images of a photo, signature, and other documents

• Enter the fee payment details 

• Selection of examination centre

• Click on the 'I agree' button after completing reading the declaration

• Then submit the application and get the registration number

Benefits of Taking the Examination

The benefits of getting prepared for the UPSC exams are as follows:

• One can apply for other government jobs such as Combined Graduate Level conducted by the Staff Selection Commission and probationary officer for different banks.

• Candidates who cannot clear the interview stage might get recruited in top public sector units.

• The candidates will also get preference over others in private sector jobs.

• One can become a faculty teacher and prepare students for UPSC exams.

Career Scope after UPSC Civil Services

The job of an IAS officer provides a candidate with a lot of privileges and authorities that no job can provide ever. One will be responsible for handling various administrative matters of a government. The job profile includes managing different issues and making new policies. They are also responsible for advising ministers regarding different matters. They handle international issues that are considered to be very important for the state or the nation.