UPSC CSE Exam Pattern

UPSC CSE Exam Pattern

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a rigorous process that spans approximately a year and consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Personality Test (interview). Here’s an overview of the exam pattern for CSE:

Prelims:

Civils Exam Pattern – Prelims
Paper	Type	No. of questions	UPSC Total Marks	Duration	Negative marks
General Studies I	Objective	100	200	2 hours	Yes
General Studies II (CSAT)	Objective	80	200	2 hours	Yes
Total UPSC marks for Prelims	400 (where GS Paper II is qualifying in nature with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%)

Mains:

UPSC CSE Exam Pattern – Mains
Paper	Subject	Duration	IAS Total marks
Paper A	Compulsory Indian language	3 hours	300
Paper B	English	3 hours	300
Paper I	Essay	3 hours	250
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 I	3 hours	250
Paper VII	Optional II	3 hours	250

Interview:

UPSC Interview Total Marks

275

Detailed Process:

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims):

• Marks: The Prelims consist of two papers, each carrying 200 marks. The total marks for both papers combined is 400.
• Duration: The Prelims are conducted on a single day, typically on the last Sunday of May.
• Nature of Examination:
• • • General Studies I (GS I): This paper is objective in nature and contains 100 questions. It covers a wide range of topics, including history, geography, polity, economy, environment, and current affairs.
    • General Studies II (CSAT): Also objective, this paper has 80 questions. It primarily tests aptitude, comprehension, logical reasoning, and decision-making skills. Note that the GS II paper is qualifying, and candidates need to score at least 33% to proceed to the Mains.

2. Mains Examination:

• Marks: The Mains stage carries a total of 1750 marks.
• Duration: It spans 5-7 days, with each day dedicated to specific papers.
• Nature of Examination:
  • • The Mains consists of nine descriptive papers, including:
      • Essay Paper: Candidates write two essays (each worth 125 marks).
      • General Studies Papers (I to IV): These cover various subjects like history, geography, polity, economics, science, and technology.
      • Optional Subject Papers (Paper V and VI): Candidates choose one optional subject from a list of approved subjects. Each paper is worth 250 marks.
      • Language Papers (English and Regional Language): These are qualifying papers.
      • Ethics Paper: Tests ethical and moral dimensions (250 marks).
• Significance: Mains marks significantly impact the final merit list.

3. Personality Test (Interview):

• Marks: The interview stage carries 275 marks.
• Duration: The duration varies for each candidate, depending on the interview panel.
• Nature of Examination:
• • • The interview assesses the candidate’s personality, communication skills, general awareness, and suitability for administrative roles.
    • It is conducted by a board of experts.
    • The interview marks are added to the Mains marks to determine the final rank.

Important Links:

Official Website	UPSC
All details	Check Here
General Studies Paper – I	Download
General Studies Paper – II	Download

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024 Previous Papers