The two stages of the Civil Services Exam (IAS Exam) are:
Civil Services Preliminary Examination is conducted to select candidates for the Main Examination. It is objective type in nature and consists of two papers carrying 200 marks each. The marks of the candidates who qualify the Preliminary Exam are not taken into account for determining the Final Merit.
| Paper Name | Time Duration | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Nature of Paper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I | 2 hours | 100 | 200 | Marks considered for Preliminary Exam Merit |
| GS Paper II (CSAT) | 2 hours | 80 | 200 | Qualifying in nature |
Civil Services Main Examination consists of a written examination and interview test.
The written examination consists of 9 papers out of which 2 papers are only qualifying in nature. The marks obtained in the remaining 7 papers and the interview test together are considered for making the final merit.
| Paper Name | Time Duration | Total Marks | Nature of Paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper A – Compulsory Indian Language Paper | 3 hours | 300 | Qualifying in nature |
| Paper B – English Language Paper | 3 hours
|
300
|
|
| Paper I – Essay | 3 hours | 250 | Considered for Merit |
| Paper II – General Studies I | 3 hours | 250 | |
| Paper III – General Studies II | 3 hours | 250 | |
| Paper IV – General Studies III | 3 hours | 250 | |
| Paper V – General Studies IV | 3 hours | 250 | |
| Paper VI – Optional Paper I | 3 hours | 250 | |
| Paper VII – Optional Paper II | 3 hours | 250 | |
| Total | 1750 | ||
| Interview/ Personality Test | 275 | ||
| Grand Total | 2025 |
Clearing the UPSC CSE Exam is a mix of ‘dedication, focus, right approach, motivation, knowing what to do, well-thought strategy and proper implementation’. It is important to keep oneself updated about the latest UPSC Exam pattern & Syllabus so as to be on the right track throughout your preparation.
Questions will be on matters of general interest
The objective of the questions: to judge the mental calibre of a candidate.
These are the qualities which are judged: mental alertness,critical powers of assimilation,clear and logical exposition, the balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.
