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| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| No. of sessions | Two |
| UPSC 2024 Exam timings | 9 AM to 12 PM, 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM |
| UPSC 2024 Exam fee | General and OBC candidates: INR 100, SC/ST candidates: NIL, Women candidates of all categories: NIL |
| No. of test takers | Over 13.5 lakh (as of June 2024) |
| Mode of examination | Offline mode |
| Scores validity | One year |
| Conducting Institute for UPSC exam 2024 | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| UPSC exam website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 14 February 2024 | UPSC CSE Notification 2024 |
| 16 June 2024 | UPSC Prelims 2024 |
| 20 September 2024 | UPSC CSE Mains 2024 |
| To be announced | Interview Date |
| To be announced | Final Results for UPSC 2024 |
information not available.
www.upsc.gov.in
Click on Examinations and select Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC or directly go through the Online Application Portal (https://upsconline.nic.in).
Fill out your details such as name, gender etc. Fill in your academic details. Full address, email ID, and mobile number are required here. Select Exam Center from the given list.
Pay the examination fee online or via challan at any branch of SBI. Attach scanned copies of your passport-sized photo, signature, and Photo ID proof as per the instructions given. Fill in your preferences for services/posts and the medium you want to appear for the examination.
Review all the details you entered and apply. The admit card will be available on the UPSC website. Regularly check the site for updates.
| City/State/ Union Territory | City/State/ Union Territory | City/State/ Union Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Agartala | Ahmedabad | Aizawl |
| Agra | Aligarh | Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) |
| Ajmer | Aurangabad | Bilaspur |
| Bangalore | Bareilly | Bhopal |
| Chandigarh | Chennai | Coimbatore |
| Dehradun | Cuttack | Delhi |
| Faridabad | Dharwad | Dispur |
| Gangtok | Gaya | Gautam Buddha Nagar |
| Hyderabad | Ghaziabad | Gorakhpur |
| Imphal | Gurgaon | Gwalior |
| Jabalpur | Indore | Itanagar |
| Kochi | Jaipur | Jammu |
| Leh | Jodhpur | Jorhat |
| Madurai | Kohima | Kolkata |
| Panaji (Goa) | Kozhikode (Calicut) | Lucknow |
| Raipur | Ludhiana | Mumbai |
| Sambalpur | Mysore | Nagpur |
| Shillong | Thiruvananthapuram | Patna |
| Shimla | Tiruchirapalli | Prayagraj (Allahbad) |
| Siliguri | Tirupati | Pune |
| Srinagar | Navi Mumbai | Rajkot |
| Vellore | Ranchi | Udaipur |
| Vijayawada | Port Blair | Varanasi |
| Visakhapatnam | Puducherry | Warangal |
| Thane |
| Topic | No of Questions | Level of difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper – I | 100 | Moderate |
| General Studies II (CSAT) | 80 | Moderate |
| Books | Books |
|---|---|
| India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra | Indian Economic Development NCERT |
| NCERT XII (Modern Indian History) | Introduction to Macroeconomics NCERT |
| History of Modern India - Bipan Chandra | Introduction to Microeconomics NCERT |
| A Brief History of Modern India - Spectrum | Economic Survey |
| Certificate Physical and Human Geography – G C Leong | Indian Budget |
| Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11 | India Yearbook |
| Geography of India by Mazid Hussain | Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh |
| Oxford Student Atlas | Niti Aayog Reports |
| Concise Geography by ALS | Environmental Studies Books of IGNOU and NOS |
| Constitution of India Bare Act | Environment Book by DS Khullar |
| Constitution of India by DD Basu | Environment Book - Shankar UPSC IAS Academy |
| Indian Polity by Laxmikant | Science and Technology by Ashok Singh |
| Indian Constitution by P.M. Bakshi | Science and Technology by Ravi Agrahari |
| Newspapers - The Hindu, Indian Express | Press Information Bureau (PIB) website |
| Newspaper columns dedicated to technology | Yojana and Kurukshetra monthly magazines |
| Monthly Magazine |
The selection procedure for UPSC CSE is an elaborate process comprising three stages, which are: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
Prelims: The Prelims consist of 2 papers – General Studies and CSAT. Both papers are objective. Both the papers are 200 marks each, which makes the total 400 marks. A total of 120 minutes (2 hours) is allotted to complete each paper.
Mains: The Mains exam consists of 9 papers and all the papers contain descriptive-based questions. All 9 papers constitute a total of 1750 marks in the exam. The time duration allotted to complete each paper is 3 hours.
Interview: The Interview consists of questions related to the candidate’s personal details, educational background, current affairs, and social and political events. The Interview comprises is of total 275 marks.
The concept of reservation in the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam is undertaken to ensure that socially and economically backward classes get their due representation in public service jobs. The reservation policy applies to candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
SC candidates get a 15% reservation.
ST candidates receive a 7.5% reservation.
OBC candidates are entitled to a 27% reservation.
EWS candidates, introduced recently, have a 10% reservation.
PwBD candidates receive a 4% reservation across all categories.
Analyzing PYQs helps candidates identify important topics, understand the depth of questions, and gauge the evolving trends in the UPSC exam. Regular practice with these papers also enhances time management skills and boosts confidence for the actual exam.
Here is the link for the official site of UPSC question papers:
For UPSC preparation, mock tests are designed to replicate the actual exam scenario, allowing candidates to experience the exam's timing and structure. These tests help assess knowledge in a structured way and identify weak areas to improve accuracy. Regular practice through mock tests enhances time management skills and keeps candidates motivated for exam day. Detailed feedback and analysis after each test make this an effective strategy for refining preparation and boosting confidence.
https://www.drishtiias.com/open-mocktest-prelims-2024
Answer keys of the UPSC exams are published on the official site of UPSC.
Click here to view the answer keys: https://upsc.gov.in/examinations/answer-key
| College/ Posts/ Academy | Cut off for general category |
|---|---|
| General | 90-95 |
| EWS | 80-85 |
| OBC | 85-90 |
| SC | 70-75 |
| ST | 65-70 |
| PwBD 1 | 60-65 |
| PwBD 2 | 60-65 |
| PwBD 3 | 55-60 |
| PwBD 5 | 50-55 |
Strategise: Defining a plan for attempting the exam can help you score well and motivate yourself as if a deadline is approaching. Time Management: Effective time management is crucial in preparing for civil services exams. Consistency: Practice daily, and allocate specific time slots for your studies.
Current affairs should be at your fingertips: Understanding the importance of staying updated with current events is vital for this exam, so keep up with daily news by reading newspapers and practising regularly. Practice Mock Tests and Previous Year's Question Papers: Try to solve as many full-length mock test papers and previous year's question papers as possible to familiarize yourself with the pattern and manage your time in the final exam.
