UPSC Civil Services exam pattern

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a highly competitive examination in India that is conducted to select candidates for various prestigious civil services and administrative positions. The CSE is known for its comprehensive and rigorous examination pattern.

Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

• This is the first stage of the CSE and consists of two papers.
• Paper I: General Studies - This paper tests candidates on topics such as current events, history, geography, economics, science, and more. It is a merit-based paper, and the marks obtained in Paper I do count toward the candidate's overall score and ranking in the preliminary examination.
• Paper II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) - This paper evaluates candidates' comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, and analytical abilities. The CSAT is intended as a qualifying paper, which means that candidates must achieve a minimum qualifying score in this paper to move on to the next stage of the examination, which is the Main Examination.

Main Examination (Written Examination)

• Candidates who qualify in the preliminary examination move on to the main examination.
• The main examination consists of nine papers, including two qualifying papers and seven merit-based papers.
• Qualifying Papers:
  • Paper A: Indian Language (300 marks) - This paper is intended to test the candidate's ability to read and understand basic texts in an Indian language chosen by the candidate.
  • Paper B: English (300 marks) - This paper tests the candidate's English language skills.
• Merit-Based Papers (Candidates have to choose one optional subject from a list of subjects):
  • Essay (250 marks)
  • General Studies I (250 marks) - Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society
  • General Studies II (250 marks) - Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations
  • General Studies III (250 marks) - Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management
  • General Studies IV (250 marks) - Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
  • Optional Subject Paper I (250 marks)
  • Optional Subject Paper II (250 marks)

Interview/Personality Test

• Candidates who qualify in the main examination are called for an interview/personality test.
• The interview assesses the candidate's personality, communication skills, leadership qualities, and overall suitability for a career in the civil services. Interview carries max 275 marks

Final Ranking and Allotment

• Total marks are 1750 + 275 = 2025 marks. Anudeep Durishetty scored highest marks 1126 out of 2025 in UPSC CSE 2017 exam.
• The final rank of a candidate is determined based on their performance in the main examination and the interview.
• Based on their rank and preference, candidates are allocated to various civil services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and others.

MPSC state services exam is also going to follow similar pattern from 2025 onwards.