Overview

Every year, the candidates for the government and all-India public services are chosen through the Union Public Service Commission's (UPSC) administration of the public Services Examination (CSE). The Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Audit and Accounts Service, and other positions are among the ones for which this recruiting exam is held. For 1056 positions, the Union Public Service Commission published the UPSC CSE Notification 2024.

Important Dates

Download Notifications PDF

Download Notifications PDF

Selection Process

The candidates are selected through three phases of exams:

• Preliminary Examination (Objective type)
• Main Written Examination
• Personality Test

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification The candidates must possess a Bachelor Degree in any stream from a recognised university. Candidates in final year of their graduation can also apply and submit the proof of passing the degree examination before the specified date.

Age Limit: The candidate must be between 21 and 32 years of age of the examination year. Certain age relaxations are also provided to reserve and other specified categories.

Syllabus & Exam Pattern

Negative marking - There is negative marking in the UPSC 2024 Prelims Examination. For every wrong answer 1/3^rd or 0.33 marks will be deducted.

Time Duration- There would be two papers for the preliminary exam, each lasting two hours. And for the Mains Examination each paper is of 3hours duration.

No. of questions- The number of questions for the Prelims Examination is 100 questions with a total of 200 marks to be solved in 2 hours.

Types of question- The questions will be of objective type/multiple choice type for the Prelims Examination and for the Mains Examination it would be Subjective type And the paper would be conducted in both Hindi and English.

Mode of Exam- The UPSC 2024 Examination, both Prelims and Mains would be conducted in Offline Mode.

Qualifying Marks- The qualifying marks for the General Studies Paper would be fixed to minimum of 33%. For the Mains Examination only Paper A (Indian Language) and Paper B (English) are Qualifying in Nature.

For Preliminary Examination

For Main Written Examination

Qualifying Papers

Paper A One of the Indian Languages from the Languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Paper B English

Both papers will be of 300 marks each and of 3 hours duration.

Optional Subjects   Agriculture; Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science; Anthropology; Botany; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Commerce and Accountancy; Economics; Electrical Engineering; Geology; Geography; Indian History; Law; Mathematics; Management; Mechanical Engineering; Medical Science; Physics; Philosophy; Political Science and International Relations; Psychology; Public Administration; Statistics; Sociology; Zoology; literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.

Syllabus

For Preliminary Examination

Paper-I  (General Studies)

• General Science:    Questions on General Science will encompass broad comprehension and understanding of science, including ordinary observation and experience, as may be anticipated of a well-educated person who has not specialised in any scientific subject.
• Current Events of National and International Importance:   Basic knowledge of key national and international events will be assessed in current events. 
• History of India and the Indian National Movement:  The emphasis in History of India will be on gaining a comprehensive general grasp of the topic in its social, economic and political dimensions. The questions would include the nature and character of the nineteenth-century upsurge, expansion of nationalism and accomplishment of independence.
• Indian and World Geography:  The emphasis in Geography will be on Indian Geography. Questions on Indian Geography will focus on the country's physical, social, and economic geography, as well as the key characteristics of Indian agricultural and natural resources. Questions from World Geography would primarily be based on knowledge of maps.
• Economic and Social Development:  Questions will be based on Indian economy and its rise. Topics such as Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. would also be covered.
• Indian Polity and Governance: Questions on Indian Polity and Economy will test candidate’s knowledge of the country's political structure and the Indian Constitution. Questions will be asked from diverse areas such as Making of the Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State policy, Parliament, etc.
• Environmental Ecology: Questions from this area will assess the awareness of the candidate about his surroundings. Questions from basic themes such as biodiversity, climate change, environmental conventions, etc. that do not require subject specialisation will be asked.

Paper-II (CSAT)

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, order of magnitude, etc.-Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level).

For Main Written Examination

Qualifying Papers

Paper-A (Indian Language) Translation from English to Indian language and vice-versa; Precis writing; Comprehension of given passages; Usage and Vocabulary; Short Essays

Paper-B (English) Precis Writing, Comprehension of given passages, Short Essays, Usage and Vocabulary

Paper–I

Essay

The candidates are expected to write essays on variety of topics. This paper is designed to understand candidate’s presentation of his/her knowledge in the most effective manner.

Paper- II

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

The History of Modern India will cover the history of the country from about the middle of the nineteenth century and would also include questions on important personalities who shaped the freedom movement and social reforms. The part relating to Indian Culture will cover all aspects of Indian culture from ancient to modern times. Questions from Geography will focus on both Indian and World Geography.

Paper- III

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

This section will test candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the Constitutional development, functions of executive, legislature and judiciary in the county, parliamentary processes, panchayati raj, social justice, etc. International relations will broadly focus on recent developments in India’s relations with other countries.

Paper- IV                                                           

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

This paper assesses aspirants’ knowledge and understanding of different topics related to the Indian economy, environment, technology, agriculture, disaster management, biodiversity, and security issues.

Paper- V

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

It is a crucial component of the entire syllabus as this paper is considered scoring by the aspirants. It introduces essential values like ethics, integrity and aptitude which candidates aiming for getting into the civil services must have.

PAPER-VI & PAPER VII

Optional Subject Papers I & II

Exam Analysis

For Preliminary Examination General Studies Paper 1:-

For Preliminary Examination CSAT paper:-

Admit Card

E-admit cards will be issued to the eligible candidates three weeks before the commencement of the examination. No Admit Card will be sent by post.

Following are the steps to download the admit card: 

• Access the official Portal at https://upsc.gov.in/
• On the homepage, click on the “UPSC IAS Admit Card 20XX” download Link.
• Then a login window will display and you have to login by entering your login credential like your Registration Number and Date of Birth then submit it.
• The UPSC IAS admit card will appear and you will be able to check all information.
• Download it and take a print copy to appear in the examination.

Result

Follow the below steps to check the UPSC IAS result

• Candidates should go to the official website of the UPSC at https://upsc.gov.in/
• On the homepage, Click on “Result - CIVIL SERVICES (PRELIMINARY)/(MAIN) EXAMINATION, 202X”

• After clicking the link, a new page will open up containing a PDF Roll No of candidates who qualify the examination.
• Download the result and save it for future reference.

Cut Off

The Cut Off for the UPSC 2024 Examination for Prelims and Mains would be released with result declaration and the Answer Key.

Answer Key

The candidates can check the Answer Key by following the steps given below: 

• Visit the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in.
• Search for and click on  ”Examination” and then on “Answer Keys” on the homepage.
• Click on the link for the "Civil Service Preliminary Examination Answer Key 202X”.
• THE UPSC answer key will open in a new page. It may be available in PDF format or displayed directly on the webpage. 
• If it’s a PDF file, you can click on the download button to save it to your computer or mobile device.
• If the answer key is displayed directly on the webpage, you can view and analyse the answers online.

Preparation Tips

Check below a few general tips and tricks to crack the exam:  

• Understand the UPSC IAS Syllabus  Most of the aspirants feel that the volume of Civil Services Syllabus is a barrier to crack the UPSC IAS exam in the first attempt. But understanding the syllabus and breaking them down into small parts is the first step to ace the examination. Brush up your existing knowledge of the subjects like history, geography, polity, economy, etc. and clear your subject fundamentals first.
• Prepare Daily Study Timetable  Preparing a study plan is very essential for preparing for Civil Service Examinations that has such a comprehensive syllabus with a variety of subjects. Draw out a realistic study plan for yourself and try to devote at least 3-4 hours daily and not more than 8-9 hours every day to avoid burden. Start with easy topics first and solve questions in it for good revision before moving on to complex concepts. For instance, theory papers require more time while CSAT papers require more intelligence to prepare.
• Discuss with your Mentors & Ex-Aspirants  Discussion with mentors and ex-aspirants is essential to understand the nuances of this exam. Discussing general as well as current affairs with your mentors and past toppers will give you an edge over others in not just Prelims & Mains but also in the Interview stage.  
• Practice Answer Writing Skills In the UPSC Mains stage, you will have to write descriptive/essay type answers which require rigorous practice and habit. Thus, studying the syllabus simply won’t suffice. Approach each topic with advanced attention and try to note down points in your notebook to create answers of your own. You can take help from UPSC exam preparation apps as well as online portals but don’t simply copy answers from them. The commission will test your analytical skills in an answer which needs to have determined practice.   
• Use Two-Times Revision Rule  In your daily study plan; keep enough time to revise both theory and CSAT papers twice. With such a lengthy syllabus in hand, you might forget topics studied in your initial days. So, ensure revising after approaching each topic and then revise in entirety one or two weeks before the exam date.
• Prioritise Study of NCERTs  Studying from NCERT books will create a strong subject foundation. As you know, NCERT books cover basic General Studies subjects in an easy and concise manner. Thus, it will help you approach complex topics and clear your fundamentals to solve all types of questions. 
• Attempt Mock Tests  You must solve both full-length and subject-wise mock papers for both Prelims and Mains stages. Solving the UPSC IAS Mock Tests with updated questions and expert suggestions for both GS and CSAT papers will help you track your daily progress and assess your strengths and weaknesses for further preparation. 
• Solve Previous Exam Papers   To prepare for such a comprehensive exam, you will require ample practice of exam-level questions. Thus, solving UPSC IAS Previous Year Papers should be on your priority list as several questions for GS also get repeated on a two-year cycle.  
• Read Newspapers Daily  Several questions from the GK & Current Affairs portion come from state and international news affairs found easily in newspapers. Stick to reading not more than two newspapers daily and know what to read and what not to. Follow business and economy columns, science affairs on a daily basis.

Apply Online

To apply online, follow the below mentioned steps:   

• The candidates are required to apply online on the website upsconline.nic.in
• Detailed instructions for filling up online applications are available on the above-mentioned website.
• No other means / mode of submission of application will be accepted.

FAQs

How tough is the UPSC 2024 Examination?
There are three stages to the UPSC Exam 2024. The first exam to be administered is the syllabus-based, objective-type Prelims Exam. The Mains Exam, which is of a subjective nature and requires study for each topic, is the next step. Qualified candidates move on to the Interview round, also called the Personality round, after passing the first two steps.

Is there negative marking in the UPSC 2024 Examination?
Yes there is negative marking in the Prelims paper of the UPSC 2024 Examination. 1/3^rd or 0.33 marks are deducted for every wrong answer attempted.

How many numbers of times a candidate can appear for the UPSC Examination?
The age limit provided by the Union Public Service Commission for the year 2024 is from 21 to 32 years. The number of attempts category wise is General – 6 attempts, SC/ST- Unlimited, OBC’s- 9 and PwBD-9 attempts.

When will admit card of the UPSC 2024 Examination be released?
The admit card for the UPSC 2024 Examination will be released three weeks before the examination is conducted on the official website.

What are the passing marks for the UPSC 2024 Examination?
The Prelims Paper 1, i.e., General Studies has minimum qualifying marks of 33%. And the Mains Paper 1 and Paper 2 are qualifying in nature.