The UPSC Exam 2024 consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination, Mains Examination, and Personality Test. Prelims is a screening test with two papers. Mains includes 7 descriptive papers and language papers. The Personality Test is the final interview stage.
Stage of Examination | Description |
Stage 1 | Preliminary Examination |
Stage 2 | Mains Examination |
Stage 3 | Personality Test |
Descriptive Paper of UPSC Exam Pattern | Details of UPSC Exam Pattern |
Paper I |
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Paper II |
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Paper III |
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Paper IV |
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Paper V |
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Papers VI, VII |
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Language Paper (A) |
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Language Paper (B) |
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Papers | Subjects | Marks |
Paper A | One of the Indian languages (listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India) mentioned below to be selected by the candidate (Qualifying) | 300 |
Paper B | English (Qualifying) | 300 |
Paper I | Essay | 250 |
Paper II | General Studies I (Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society) | 250 |
Paper III | General Studies II (Governance, constitution, polity, social justice and international relations) | 250 |
Paper IV | General Studies III (Technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management) | 250 |
Paper V | General Studies IV (ethics, integrity and aptitude) | 250 |
Papers VI, VII | Two papers on subjects to be selected by the candidate from the list of optional subjects below (250 marks for each paper) | 250 |
Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 | |
Personality Test (Interview) | 275 | |
Total Marks | 2025 |
Must Read | |
NCERT Notes For UPSC | UPSC Daily Current Affairs |
UPSC Blogs | UPSC Daily Editorials |
Daily Current Affairs Quiz | Daily Main Answer Writing |
UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers | UPSC Test Series 2024 |
As per the UPSC Official Notification, the total marks of the IAS exam would be 2025, out of which the Mains exam carries 1750, and the interview round has 275 marks.
No, Candidates should remember that the prelims stage is only the screening test to find eligible candidates for the next round (Mains), hence marks scored in the Preliminary exam will not be counted in the final result
7 Descriptive Papers: Mains exam comprises 7 descriptive papers namely an Essay paper, 4 General Studies Papers, 2 Optional Papers (of own choice to be selected from the list of Civil Services Exam Optional Subjects), 2 Language Papers: There are 2 language papers (qualifying papers wherein candidates need to score at least 25% in each paper in order to qualify).
The final and most important step in the cycle of the exam is the UPSC Interview/ Personality Test. The interview is of 275 marks, for a maximum possible score of 2025.
Stage of Examination Description Stage 1 Preliminary Examination Stage 2 Mains Examination Stage 3 Personality Test
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