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UPSC Exam 2024 Date, Age Limit, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, PYQs

UPSC Exam 2024 date has been released by UPSC. The UPSC 2024 Exam Prelims Date is June 16, 2024, and UPSC Mains 2024 is scheduled to take place on 20th September. Check all the information related to the  UPSC 2024 Exam in the given article.

IAS is one of the most sought-after careers currently in India. Candidates are selected for serving as an IAS or other officer based on their score in the UPSC 2024 Exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

UPSC 2024 Exam Overview

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Service Examination (CSE) to recruit candidates for central service. This exam is popularly known as the IAS exam and is attempted by lakhs of students every year. 

The UPSC 2024 Exam is conducted in three stages: prelims, mains and interview. Prelims is basically to filter out the majority of candidates, while the marks of Mains, along with that of Personality Interview is considered for calculating final rankings. The details about the stages of examination, syllabus, books, strategy etc can be found here.

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UPSC Exam Important Updates
Event Date
UPSC 2024 Notification Date February 14, 2024
UPSC Vacancy 2024 1056
UPSC Calendar 2024 Click here
UPSC Calendar 2025 Click here
UPSC 2024 Prelims Date June 16, 2024
UPSC 2024 Prelims Results 1st July 2024
UPSC 2024 Mains Date 20 September 2024
UPSC 2024 Mains Result To Be Updated
 UPSC Interview 2024 To Be Updated
UPSC 2024 Final Results To Be Updated

UPSC 2024 Exam Calendar Out

The Union Public Service Commission has recently published the UPSC 2024 Exam Calendar on its official website @upsc.gov.in. The UPSC Exam Calendar 2024 contains important dates for notifications, online registration, and the exam itself.

According to the official UPSC Calendar 2024 released on 10th May 2023, the UPSC Exam Date 2024 is scheduled for 16th June 2024, and the UPSC Mains 2024 will commence on 20 September 2024.

If you’re planning to prepare for the UPSC 2024 Exam, this calendar will be a valuable resource.  The UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year in three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. It’s a highly competitive exam that requires rigorous preparation to crack the examination.

UPSC 2024 Exam Notification

According to the official UPSC Calendar 2024 released on May 10, 2023, the UPSC Exam Date 2024 was scheduled for May 26, 2024, and the UPSC Mains 2024 will commence on September 20, 2024.

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However, due to the schedule of the impending general election, the UPSC has decided to postpone the UPSC 2024 Exam prelims, which also serves as a screening test for the Indian Forest Service Examination 2024, from May 26, 2024, to June 16, 2024. No notification has been given for the CSE main examination. Therefore, it has to be conducted on the scheduled date, i.e., September 20, 2024. 

Date of Notification 14th February
Number of Vacancies 1056 (CSE)

150 (IFoS)

Beginning of Registration  14th February 
End of Registration 5th March
Release of Admit Card May 2024
Date of Preliminary Examination 16th June 2024
Results of Preliminary Exam 1st July 2024
Dates of Mains Examination September 20 Onwards

UPSC 2024 Exam New Date

UPSC 2024 Exam date for prelims was initially announced as May 26 2024. However, the date was postponed to 16th June owing to the General Elections taking place in the country.

Candidates are requested to make a note of the changes in date for UPSC prelims 2024. The UPSC Mains 2024 will be held on the predetermined dates, beginning from 20th September 2024.

UPSC prelims (Old Date) 26th May
UPSC Prelims (New Date) 16th June
UPSC Mains 20th September onwards

UPSC 2024 Exam Posts and Vacancies

UPSC 2024 Exam is conducted for two types of posts: Group A and Group B. The list of some important Group A & Group B posts is given below:

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The service-wise and state-wise UPSC 2024 Exam vacancy.

Type Service Name
All-India Service
Group ‘A’ Civil Services
Group ‘B’ Civil Services
  • Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service
  • Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service
  • Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
  • Pondicherry Civil Service
  • Pondicherry Police Service

UPSC 2024 Exam Online Application

The procedure for filing the form of UPSC 2024 Exam has undergone change in recent times. It is now a requirement to register oneself on the OTR application before proceeding with filling the form.

Filling the OTR

  • Step 1: Candidate has to visit UPSC’s official website for filling OTR.
  • Step 2: A new candidate has to click on the “New Registration” tab to register oneself on the portal.
  • Step 3: A candidate will be required to fill personal details such as name, parent’s name, address etc.
  • Step 4: Upon successful registration, a candidate will receive a notification of his/her successful registration.
  • Step 5: To apply for any exam of the UPSC, the candidate can directly apply from the OTR portal.

UPSC Exam 2024

Part 1 of UPSC Application Form:

The Candidate has to fill the Part-1 of the application form before proceeding to the Part-2. Steps involved in filling the Part-1 of the application form is as follows:

  • Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC and click on the UPSC 2024 Exam notification.
  • Step 2: The candidate will be redirected to the OTR portal of the UPSC.
  • Step 3: The candidate has to log in into his/her account using the data previously provided (email id, mobile number or OTR id).
  • Step 4: Visit the Latest Notification tab on the OTR application.
  • Step: Under Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, you will find Part 1 and Part 2. Click on the Part 1 link.
  • Step 5: Upon clicking Part 1, the candidate will see important instructions to fill the online application form. 
  • Step 6: Upon clicking the Yes button, the Part 1 application appears on screen.
  • Step 7: Some part of the application form will be pre-filled based on the personal data provided in the OTR. The candidate has to fill in the remaining personal information.
  • Step 8: In the next step, the candidate has to fill up the educational qualification and contact details. 
  • Step 9: The candidate has to select the category in which they are applying. If they are applying under reserved category, they have to fill in the relevant details and also must possess the documents for the same.
  • Step 10: The next information needed is photo identity details of the candidate, the number of attempts made, marks obtained in graduation degree, centre for prelims and mains exam, optional subject, language paper etc.
  • Step 10: UPSC allows the candidate to edit the information until the form is submitted finally. So, candidates are advised to scrutinise the information carefully.
  • Step 11: After ensuring all the information provided is valid, click the submit button. Part 1 of the form will be submitted and the candidate will be provided a registration id, which has to be noted down to fill Part 2 of the application form.

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Part 2 of UPSC Application Form:

Without filling the Part 2 of the exam, a candidature is invalid. It is therefore advised to fill Part 2 immediately after completing Part 1.

  • Step 1: To continue filling Part 2, use Registration id and Date of Birth to log in.
  • Step 2: Candidates who are not exempted are required to pay examination fees using Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Internet Banking or UPI.
  • Step 3: Once examination fees are paid, a candidate has to select the centre for UPSC prelims exam.
  • Step 4: The candidate has to upload three types of documents: a photograph (JPG format), scanned signature (JPG format) and photo id (PDF format).
    • The photo can be in colour or black & white and the quality must be good.
    • The signature must be made on a white paper with a black ink.
    • Size and Dimension: The scanned images of the photo and the signature should be between 300 KB and 20 KB and in .jpg format.
    • Resolution: minimum of 350 pixels X 350 pixels, maximum of 1000 pixels X 1000 pixels (for both photo and signature)
    • Free image editing software such as MS Paint can be used to convert the images into desired format. 
    • The images must not be illegible.
    • The photo should only contain your photograph along with the name and the date on which the photograph was clicked. The photo of the candidate must be uploaded within 10 days of clicking the photograph.(Recent changes)
    • The face of the candidate in the photograph must occupy 3/4th the space in the photograph.
    • The signature must not contain things such as the date, time etc.
  • Step 5: A declaration appears on the screen, which the candidate has to read thoroughly. Check the box and submit the application finally.
  • Step 6: Wait for a text message and email confirming successful filling of the UPSC application. Keep the details secure for future references.

UPSC 2024 Exam Prelims Pattern

The UPSC Prelims is the first stage of the UPSC 2024 Exam and consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies I and General Studies II (or CSAT). These papers are conducted on the same day in two sessions in offline mode (pen-paper).

The preliminary round is a screening test and only serves as a qualifying round. The marks obtained in this stage are not included in the final merit calculation. The score in General Studies Paper-I is crucial in determining the cut-off for the UPSC Prelims Exam. CSAT serves as a qualifying component, necessitating candidates to achieve a minimum score of 33%, equivalent to 66 marks, to be considered for merit in the UPSC Prelims result. It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the papers examinations for the purpose of evaluation. The candidate will be disqualified if he/she does not appear in both papers of the preliminary examination. 

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IAS aspirants can check the UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern in the given below table:

Type General Studies Paper 1  GS Paper II- (CSAT)
Questions 100 Objective Types MCQ’s 80 Objective Type MCQ’s
Marks 200 Marks 200 Marks
Negative Marking +2 Marks/Question and -0.66 Negative Marks/Question +2.5 Marks/Question /Question and -0.83 Negative Marks/Question
Duration Of Exam 2 Hours 2 Hours
Qualifying Marks Cut-Off List Minimum 33%
Languages English and Hindi English and Hindi.
Presence Mandatory Mandatory.

UPSC 2024 Exam Mains Pattern

  • Descriptive: The UPSC Mains exam pattern includes nine theory-based papers, all of which are descriptive in nature. 
  • Among these nine papers, seven will be considered for creating the merit list. 
  • Optional Subject: As part of the UPSC Mains, candidates will need to choose one optional subject for the examination. 
  • Evaluation: Essay,’General Studies and Optional Subject’ of all the candidates would be done simultaneously along with evaluation of their qualifying papers on ‘Indian Languages’ and ‘English.
  • Minimum Qualifying Standards of 25%: However,  the papers on ‘Essay’, General Studies, and Optional Subject of only such candidates will be taken cognizance who attain 25% marks in ‘Indian Language’ and 25% in English as minimum qualifying standards in these qualifying papers. 

Total Number of Papers Qualifying Papers: 2

Compulsory Papers: 7

Language of Papers English

Hindi

Descriptive paper: Candidates can appear for language paper in 22 languages mentioned in schedule 8 of the Indian constitution.

Subjects Compulsory Indian language

English

Essay

General Studies I

General Studies II

General Studies III

General Studies IV

Optional I

Optional II

Marks Part A and B: 300 each
General studies and optional paper: 250 each
Maximum Marks 1750
Exam Duration 3 hours for each paper
Medium of Examination Part A and Part B: Respective Languages

General Studies: Medium chosen by the candidate.

Optional: English, Hindi or the language of the literature.

UPSC 2024 Exam Personality Interview

Candidates who successfully clear the Mains stage of the UPSC 2024 Exam with the required cut-off marks move on to the final stage, which is the Personality Test or Interview round conducted by the UPSC Board Members.

Those who qualify for this stage will receive an e-summon from the Commission for a face-to-face discussion with the board members. During the interview, the board evaluates the candidates’ personality traits and asks questions related to their hobbies, current affairs, general knowledge, and situational questions.

Total Interview Marks 275
Interview Location Dholpur House, New Delhi
Interview Medium English, Hindi, or any other regional language chosen by the candidates.
Dress Code Formal attire or any other dress that is presentable.
Eligibility Candidates qualifying the UPSC Mains

Eligibility Criteria for the UPSC 2024 Exam

The UPSC 2024 Exam has kept very low eligibility criteria for candidates to appear. This is the reason why lakhs of candidates apply for the exam, compared to specific services such as Engineering Service. For a candidate to appear for the IAS Exam, he/she has to majorly fulfil two types of criteria: age criteria and educational criteria. In addition, there are limits imposed on the number of attempts a candidate can give, the physical qualifications and citizenship criteria. The minimum qualification for IAS is as follows:

Age Criteria for UPSC 2024 Exam 

The UPSC 2024 Exam age limit for the candidates belonging to the General category is 21 to 32 years. 

For being eligible for UPSC 2024 Exam, candidates must be at least 21 years old and not more than 32 years old as of August 1, 2024.

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However, there are age limit relaxation for candidates belonging to certain categories:

Category of Candidates Age Relaxation
Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes 5 years
Other Backward Classes (OBC) 3 years
Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations 3 years
Ex-servicemen (Commissioned Officers, Emergency Commissioned Officers and Short Service Commissioned Officers) with at least five years of service 5 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)

(a) blindness and low vision; 

(b) deaf and low hearing;

(c) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; 

(d) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; and

(e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness

10 years

Nationality Criteria for UPSC 2024 Exam 

There is a citizenship qualification for Grade-A Services such as IAS, IPS and IFS in UPSC 2024 Exam.

Service  Citizenship Requirements
IAS A Citizen of India
IPS A Citizen of India
IFS A Citizen of India or a Person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam, for permanently settling in India.
Other Services
  • A citizen of India, or
  • A citizen of Nepal, or
  • A citizen of Bhutan, or
  • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 for settling permanently, or
  • A Person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam, for permanently settling in India.

Candidates who are citizens of Nepal, citizens of Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee or a Person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam, for permanently settling in India, must furnish a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India for getting appointed, even though they are eligible to write exam without it.

Educational Criteria for UPSC 2024 Exam 

  • Minimum Qualification for IAS: As a minimum qualification for IAS, a candidate must have graduated from a recognized university or have an equivalent qualification.
  • Eligibility Criteria for Final Year Graduates: Candidates who are in their final year of graduation or awaiting results can also appear for the UPSC Prelims Examination. However, they are required to have passed their final year examination while applying for the UPSC 2024 Exam Mains.
  • Eligibility of Professional and Technical Qualifications: Candidates who possess professional and technical qualifications recognised by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees are also eligible for UPSC 2024 Exam .
  • Eligibility for Medical Students: Medical students, who have not completed their internship, despite passing the final year of MBBS, can also apply for IAS Exam. However, they are required to submit a course completion certificate from the concerned authority along with their Mains Exam application.

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Attempts and Age Limit for UPSC 2024 Exam 

The UPSC imposes a limit on the number of times a candidate can appear for the UPSC 2024 Exam. This number varies according to the category of the candidate.

Category  Number of Attempts Maximum Age (Years)
General and EWS 6 32
OBC  9 35
PwBD 9 42
SC and ST Unlimited 37
Ex-Servicemen 9 37
Disabled Defence Services Personnel 9 35
General/OBC/EWS PwBD candidates 9 See below Description
SC/ST categories PwBD candidates Unlimited See below Description
Age Relaxation for PWD Candidate

The prescribed upper age-limit of an examination (wherever applicable) is relaxable up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of candidates belonging to PwBD categories as below

(a) low vision and blindness; 

(b) deaf and hard of hearing; 

(c) Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; 

(d) Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; 

(e) Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (e) including deaf, blindness. PwBD candidates, who also belong to either SC or ST or OBC or Ex-servicemen, are eligible for grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both categories. 

Medical Criteria for UPSC 2024 Exam 

Candidates aspiring to clear UPSC 2024 Exam have to maintain certain physical fitness and capabilities. Without minimum standards, they may not be considered for the service.

Candidates are required to pass a medical fitness examination to assess their physical capabilities to become civil servants. 

For being appointed as IPS officers for districts, Indian Railway services and the police services of Pondicherry, candidates need to have necessary weight, height, and chest measurements.

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The medical test for assessing the physical fitness will be conducted at the following hospital in Delhi:

  • Safdarjung Hospital
  • Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital
  • Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital
  • BR Ambedkar Hospital
  • Sucheta Kriplani Hospital
  • Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
  • Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital

UPSC 2024 Exam Syllabus For Prelims and Mains

The UPSC 2024 Exam Syllabus is an essential aspect that aspirants need to understand thoroughly when preparing for UPSC exams. The syllabus is comprehensive and includes subjects like General Studies, Essay Writing, Indian History, Indian Polity, Economy, Geography, Environment, Science & Technology, Current Affairs, and more.

Moreover, the UPSC Syllabus also includes optional subjects that candidates can choose based on their interests and expertise. The detailed syllabus for UPSC prelims and Mains is given below.

UPSC 2024 Prelims Exam Syllabus

UPSC 2024 Exam prelims will be in MCQ format. Candidates will have to attempt two papers: General Studies and CSAT. The marks scored in only General Studies paper will be considered for qualification for mains. The candidates have to secure a fixed cutoff of 66.66 marks in the CSAT paper.

UPSC 2024 Prelims Exam Syllabus For GS Paper I (General Studies)

Candidates have to study subjects such as polity, history, economy etc as part of General Studies. The detailed prelims General Studies syllabus for UPSC 2024 Exam is as below.

  • Current Affairs: Current events of national and international importance.
  • History (Including Art and Culture) : History of India (Ancient, Medieval, and Modern) and Indian National Movement.
  • Geography : Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
  • Polity and Governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • Economy: Basic Economic Concepts, Growth, Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Trade, Demographics, Economic Organisations, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
  • Environment and Ecology: General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.
  • Science and Technology: General Science and Current affairs related to scientific developments.

UPSC 2024 Prelims Exam Syllabus For CSAT (GS Paper II) 

Comprehension, reasoning and numerical abilities make up the syllabus of the CSAT paper in UPSC 2024 Exam. The detailed CSAT syllabus is given below.

  • Comprehension: Reading Comprehension, Antonyms and Synonyms, Grammar, Vocabulary.
  • Interpersonal skills including communication skills: Active and Passive Voice, Direct and Indirect Speech, Speaking, Listening, and Writing Skills.
  • Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability: Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Venn Diagrams, Series, Analytical Reasoning, Syllogism.
  • Decision-making and Problem Solving: Decision Making, Problem-Solving, Decision Analysis, Data Sufficiency.
  • General Mental Ability: Number series, Letter series , Mixed Patterns, Word Patterns.
  • Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level); 

 

Also Read: How to Prepare for Prelims?

UPSC 2024 Mains Exam Syllabus

The Mains syllabus of UPSC 2024 Exam consists of nine papers. There are two language papers (qualifying), one essay paper, four General Studies Papers and two optional papers. The details of the syllabus are given below. 

UPSC 2024 Mains Exam Syllabus For Qualifying Papers

UPSC 2024 Exam Mains includes two qualifying papers: Paper A: Indian Language and Paper B: English. Each paper has a weightage of 300 marks. The minimum qualifying mark is 25% (75 marks) in these language papers. The marks scored in these papers will not be considered for merit rank calculation. The details of the syllabus are provided below.

Paper Name Syllabus
Paper A: Compulsory Indian Language (i) comprehension of given passages. 

(ii) Precis Writing. 

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary. 

(iv) Short Essays. 

(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language.

Paper B: Compulsory English (i) Comprehension of given passages. 

(ii) Precis Writing. 

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary. 

(iv) Short Essays.

UPSC 2024 Mains Exam Syllabus For Essay Paper

UPSC 2024 Exam Mains Essay paper is one of the seven papers considered for merit calculation. The total marks for the Essay paper are 250. The syllabus for the essay paper is given below.

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Paper Name Syllabus
Essay
  • Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. 
  • They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. 
  • Credit will be given for effective and exact expression. 

UPSC 2024 Mains Exam Syllabus For General Studies Subjects (GS Papers: 1, 2, 3, and 4)

There are four General Studies papers for the UPSC 2024 Exam Mains. The papers cover subjects such as history, polity, economy, ethics, etc. The marks scored in these four papers, each of which is 250 marks, will be considered for final merit calculation. The details of the syllabus are given below.

Paper Name Syllabus
General Studies 1
  1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. 
  2. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues. 
  3. The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. 
  4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. 
  5. History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society. 
  6. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. 
  7. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and  developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies. 
  8. Effects of globalization on Indian society. 
  9. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. 
  10. Salient features of the world’s physical geography. 
  11. Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India). 
  12. Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
General Studies 2
  1. Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. 
  2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.  
  3. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. 
  4. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries. 
  5. Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. 
  6. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity. 
  7. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. 
  8. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. 
  9. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. 
  10. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 
  11. Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. 
  12. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. 
  13. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. 
  14. Issues relating to poverty and hunger. 
  15. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. 
  16. Role of civil services in a democracy. 
  17. India and its neighborhood- relations. 
  18. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. 
  19. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. 
  20. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
General Studies 3
  1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. 
  2. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. 
  3. Government Budgeting. 
  4. Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers. 
  5. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing. 
  6. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management. 
  7. Land reforms in India. 
  8. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. 
  9. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. 
  10. Investment models. 
  11. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. 
  12. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. 
  13. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. 
  14. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. 
  15. Disaster and disaster management. 
  16. Linkages between development and spread of extremism. 
  17. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. 
  18. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention. 
  19. Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism. 
  20. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. 
General Studies 4 This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilize the case study approach to determine these aspects. 

  1. The following broad areas will be covered: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values. 
  2. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion. 
  3. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections. 
  4. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance. 
  5. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world. 
  6. Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance. 
  7. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; 
  8. Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. 
  9. Case Studies on above issues. 

Optional Subjects For UPSC Mains Examination 2024

Candidates writing UPSC 2024 Exam mains have to select one of the optional subjects from the list below.

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Available Literature Languages:

Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Konkani, Kannada, Manipuri, Marathi, Santhali, Sanskrit, Maithili, Malayalam, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu. (Total 23 Languages)

Also Read: UPSC Mains Optional Syllabus

UPSC 2024 Exam Booklist

The UPSC 2024 Exam requires extensive knowledge and clarity of concepts. This is the reason why candidates have doubts when it comes to selecting the books for preparation. Following are some of the core books that are vital for IAS Preparation, both prelims and mains.

Subject Books
Polity
  • Indian Polity by M Laxmikant
  • NCERT IX to XII
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu
History
  • NCERT VI – X
  • NCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval)
  • NCERT XII (Modern Indian History)
  • India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra
  • Ancient India by R.S Sharma
Geography
  • Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong
  • NCERT VI – X 
  • Geography of India by Majid Husain
  • World Geography by Majid Husain
  • NCERT XI, XII 
Environment and Ecology
  • Textbook of Environmental Studies by Erach Bharucha
  • Environment and Ecology – Biodiversity, Climate Change and Disaster Management by Majid Hussain
Disaster management
  • Disaster Management for UPSC Exam by K Mounika
Internal Security
  • Challenges to the Internal Security of India by Ashok Kumar
  • Internal Security and Disaster Management by R N Sharma
International Relation
  • NCERT XII
  • Current Affairs
Science and Technology
  • Current Affairs 
  • NCERT XI and XII
Ethics
  • Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chaudary
  • Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude by Niraj Kumar
Economy
  • NCERT XI
  • Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
Art and Culture 
  • Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
  • NCERT XI

Also Read: UPSC Prelims Question Paper

UPSC 2024 Exam Test Series For Prelims and Mains

Test series are of utmost importance for any candidate preparing seriously for the exam. Attempting test series will help them get used to the rigorous challenge they are likely to encounter during the actual exam. Test series will also help in managing time effectively and address any weakness in their preparation. 

Join Test Series for UPSC 2024 by Physics Wallah!

UPSC 2024 Exam Admit card

An admit card is an official document that contains the name of the candidate, their photograph and signature, roll number, parents’ details, location of the exam centre and examination session, etc. 

A candidate has to carry the admit card in order to attend the UPSC 2024 Exam. UPSC releases admit cards for each stage of the examination – prelims, mains and interview. Without an admit card, a candidate is not allowed to attend the examination.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Release of Admit Card for UPSC 2024 Exam 

  • The UPSC does not specify the date when the admit card will be released. It advises candidates to keep a watch over its official website to know when the admit card will be released. 
  • Generally, the commission releases the admit card 3-4 weeks before the date of the examination. 
  • Since UPSC 2024 Exam Prelims has been postponed by 21 days, the release of the UPSC admit card for 2024 has also been postponed.
  • If the examination had been held on the specified date of 26ty, the admit card would have been released in the first week of May. Now, it is likely that the admit card may be released in the last week of May.

Downloading Admit Card for UPSC 2024 Exam 

A candidate has to know certain details before downloading the admit card from the UPSC website. To download an admit card, a candidate must have information about his/her registration id and date of birth they have used while filling the form. The registration id has to be noted down while filling the application for UPSC prelims examination.

Visit the official website of UPSC to download the admit card. It will be an e-admit card, which is a tentative document that allows a candidate to attend the examination. The commission does not issue admit cards through post.

To download UPSC 2024 Exam admit card, follow the given procedure below:

  • Step 1: Visit the Official website of UPSC (https://upsconline.nic.in/) for regular updates.
  • Step 2: Look for the notification displaying e-admit cards for various examinations of UPSC.
  • Step 3: Upon reaching the page, look for the link that specifies the examination as UPSC Preliminary Examination 2024.
  • Step 4: The screen will show the instructions page. Read the instructions carefully and then lick the checkbox.
  • Step 5: Enter the application number and date of birth in the respective sections of the page. Enter the verification code displayed below the section.
  • Step 6: Select the “login” button to enter the admit card page.
  • Step 7: Click on “download” to save the admit card in e-format. Print out of the admit card has to be taken for carrying to the examination hall.

UPSC Exam 2024

UPSC 2024 Exam Preparation Tips

Candidates preparing for UPSC 2024 Exam require certain planning to increase their chances of qualification. Through systematic planning, dedication and hard-work, UPSC 2024 preparation can be simplified:

  • Optimal Utilization of Resources: IAS Exam preparation requires dedication and hard work. A comprehensive strategy can help you in utilisation of resources in order to maximize your chances of success in the UPSC IAS Exam.
  • Understanding of the Syllabus: The first step of the strategy should be to familiarize yourself with the syllabus and format of the exam. Develop a plan to consult exam resources, such as previous papers, in order to gain a basic understanding of the question patterns, topics covered and how marks are allocated.
  • Making a Time-table: Make a timeline to cover the syllabus in an organized manner. This should consider your own strengths and weaknesses and involve breaking the syllabus into manageable chunks. Professionals, such as a mentor or coaching centre, can be consulted for advice.
  • Practice PYQs: Complete existing question papers and create a bank of mock paper topics. Regularly attempt past exam paper questions and review areas of weakness in order to improve your score.
  • Mock Tests: Time management is essential, and developing a personalized time management strategy is key to IAS Exam success. Always practice mock exams on time and analyse the time taken to complete each section.
  • Update Current Affairs: Read newspapers and journals regularly in order to keep abreast of current developments, both in India and around the world. Knowledge of current events is important, particularly understanding their relevance to IAS Exam topics.
  • Familial Support: Remain motivated during your preparation period by increasing your knowledge of the topics in which you are weak. Set realistic goals, taking into account your time constraints, and actively seek support from family and friends to help you reach them.

Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store

UPSC 2024 Exam PYQs

Analysis of PYQs gives an idea about the types of questions asked in the exam. A closer look at PYQs will help candidates predict the themes that are most likely to be repeated again in UPSC 2024 Exam, both prelims as well as mains. Solving PYQs can also help candidates answer the questions correctly in case the themes are repeated. The following table contains links of PYQs for UPSC Exam:

UPSC 2024 Exam Analysis

UPSC analysis will help candidates to streamline their preparation in the right direction. This will give them a much-needed path to increase their chances of success.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes

UPSC 2024 Prelims Exam Analysis

UPSC 2024 Prelims Examination was conducted on June 16, 2024, across India. The analysis of the paper will be available after the exam. The exam analysis of the last few years is provided below.

Year of Prelims Exam Exam Analysis Link
UPSC Prelims 2024 UPSC Prelims 2024 Exam Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2023 UPSC Prelims 2023 Exam Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2022 UPSC Prelims 2022 Exam Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2021 UPSC Prelims 2021 Exam Analysis

UPSC 2024 Mains Exam Analysis

The UPSC 2024 Exam mains will be conducted from September 20th to September 28th across different centres. The papers for the main exam include Essay Paper, General Studies-Paper-I General Studies-I, Paper-III General Studies-II, Paper-IV General Studies-III, Paper-V General Studies-IV, Paper-A Indian Language, Paper-B English, Paper-VI Optional Subject-Paper-1, and Paper-VII Optional Subject-Paper-2. The exam analysis links for Essay and GS Papers are given below.

Paper Exam Analysis Link
Essay Essay Paper Analysis
General Studies Paper 1 GS 1 Analysis
General Studies Paper 2 GS 2 Analysis
General Studies Paper 3 GS 3 Analysis
General Studies Paper 4 GS 4 Analysis

UPSC 2024 Exam Answer Keys

Candidates preparing for UPSC 2024 Exam  can use the official answer key to analyse how the examiner frames the options. This will help them tackle tricky questions during the examination. The table below contains links of both GS and CSAT paper:

UPSC Prelims Answer Key Year-wise
Year of Examination General Studies Paper CSAT Paper
2023 Download Now Download Now
2022 Download Now Download Now
2021 Download Now Download Now
2020 Download Now Download Now
2019 Download Now Download Now
2018 Download Now Download Now
2017 Download Now Download Now

UPSC 2024 Exam Result 

UPSC releases exam results after each stage of the exam, i.e after prelims, mains and final result. Candidates appearing for UPSC 2024 Exam can check their result on the official website of UPSC.

UPSC Prelims 2023 Result

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the UPSC Prelims Result 2023 on 12th June 2023. Aspirants who were eagerly waiting for their UPSC civil services preliminary results can check directly on the official website at www.upsc.gov.in.

The UPSC Prelims 2023 was successfully conducted by UPSC on 28th May 2023 for 1255 posts. The result is available in a PDF format, displaying the roll number-wise and name-wise list for both civil services and Indian Forest Services posts. 

To access your results, Candidates can check the UPSC Prelims Result 2023 PDF

UPSC Mains Result 2023

A total of 2916 candidates are declared successful in UPSC Mains 2023 examination and will be called for Interview by UPSC. While 28 candidates’ result is currently with-held by UPSC due to pending court cases.

The results of UPSC Mains 2023 can be accessed here: UPSC Mains Result 2023.

UPSC 2024 Exam Cut-off

The Union Public Service Commission will publish the UPSC Cutoff marks for the Civil Service Preliminary, Mains, and Final rounds on its official website, upsc.gov.in, along with the UPSC Final Result 2023. 

Candidates who have appeared in the exam and are preparing for UPSC 2024 Exam can check the cut off marks from previous years. 

The UPSC Prelims Cut-off marks for 2023 will be determined based on the GS Paper-I only. The IAS Prelims cut-off marks 2023 was announced after the UPSC Final Result 2023 was declared on the official website. These cut-off marks will be categorized according to each stage separately. The following is the cut-off for UPSC 2023:

Category Prelims Cut-off Mains Cut-off Final Cut-off
General 75.41 741 953
EWS 68.02 706 923
OBC 74.75 712 919
SC 59.25 694 890
ST 47.82 692 891
PwBD-1 40.40 673 894
PwBD-2 47.13 718 930
PwBD-3 40.40 396 756
PwBD-5 33.68 445 589

UPSC 2024 Exam Cutoff Analysis

Cutoff marks of UPSC 2024 Exam  will be available prelims, mains and final list. Candidates can check the cutoff marks and understand where they stand in their performance.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

UPSC 2024 Exam Prelims Cutoff Analysis

Prelims cutoff analysis will help understand the changing difficulty level of the question paper. Based on this trend, we can predict the tentative cutoff marks for UPSC 2024 Exam  prelims. 

Exam Cutoff Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2024 UPSC Prelims 2024 Cutoff Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2023 UPSC Prelims 2023 Cutoff Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2022 UPSC Prelims 2022 Cutoff Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2021 UPSC Prelims 2021 Cutoff Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2020 UPSC Prelims 2020 Cutoff Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2019 UPSC Prelims 2019 Cutoff Analysis

UPSC 2024 Exam Mains Cutoff Analysis

Candidates preparing for UPSC 2024 Exam  mains can refer to the mains cutoff from previous year to determine the difficulty level of the exam. This will prove to be a very useful tool.

Exam Cutoff Analysis
UPSC Mains UPSC Mains Cutoff Analysis

UPSC 2024 Exam Marksheet

UPSC releases the marksheet of candidates who have appeared for the prelims, mains and interview. The marksheet is released only after the final results are announced. Candidates can check their 2023 marks by accessing their marksheet in UPSC’s official website through following steps:

Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store

  • Step 1: Visit the Official website of UPSC at www.upsc.gov.in
  • Step 2: Navigate to the ‘Examination’ and select the ‘Marks Information’.
  • Step 3: You will be directed to a website containing links for various examination stages of UPSC CSE.
  • Step 4: For students checking prelims marksheet, click on the link given in ‘Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam 2023’. Fill the respective details and obtain the marksheet.
  • Step 5: For students viewing the Mains result, they will have to click on the link based on their qualification for interview or non-qualification.
  • Step 6: They will be directed to a page where they have to register first. They will receive a temporary password, which they must use to log in and view the marksheet.

UPSC Exam 2024

UPSC Exam 2024

UPSC Exam 2024

UPSC Exam 2024

UPSC Exam 2024

UPSC 2024 Exam DAF

Candidates qualifying Prelims as well as Mains have to fill Detailed Application Form (DAF) before their candidature is accepted in the subsequent stages. Candidates qualifying UPSC Prelims have to fill DAF-1 and those qualifying UPSC Mains have to fill DAF-2. 

DAF-1

DAF-1 will contain details of the candidate such as educational qualification, job experience, address, personal information, reservation details etc. Candidates can check the details of filling DAF-1 below:

Information Required Educational details

Employment details

Personal details

Parental information

Previous attempts

Examination centre

Interview medium

Documents Required Matriculation Certificate

Degree Certificate/Final year appearing certificate

Domicile Certificate/Caste Certificate along with Income/Property Proof

Disability Certificate (for PwBD)

Undertaking (in the case of Government Servants)

Mode of Filling Form Online filling of form, including submission of documents
Exam Fees  GM/OBC: ₹200

SC/ST/PwBD/Female candidates: Exempted

DAF-2

Candidates qualifying UPSC Mains are required to fill the DAF-2, which needs details such as hobbies, service preference, cadre preferences, medium of personality interview etc.

DAF-2 Procedure to fill DAF-2

UPSC 2024 Exam Final Results

UPSC 2024 Exam  final results were announced on 16th April 2024 on UPSC’s official website. Candidates can follow these steps to check final results:

  • Step 1: Visit official website of UPSC at www.upsc.gov.in
  • Step 2: Look out for any notification of UPSC final result
  • Step 3: Click on the link given
  • Step 4: A PDF file containing the list of successful candidates will be downloaded.
  • Step 5: Check your name and roll number in the PDF to ascertain whether you have qualified or not.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes

UPSC 2024 Exam Toppers List

UPSC exam 2023 final result was declared on 16th April 2024. A total of 1016 candidates cleared the exam. Aditya Srivastava from Lucknow topped the exam with a total marks of 1099. The toppers of UPSC 2023 can be found in this image below:

UPSC Exam 2024

Planning to Appear for UPSC Prelims 2024? Enroll in Physics Wallah’s top courses to boost your score!

Must Read
UPSC Daily Editorials UPSC Daily Current Affairs
Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store 
Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store UPSC Test Series 2024
Daily Current Affairs Quiz Daily Main Answer Writing
Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store

 

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UPSC Exam 2024 FAQs

No. UPSC mandates candidates to have a minimum educational qualification of graduation for being eligible for the exam. Candidates in their final year of graduation can also apply.

Candidates applying for UPSC 2024 must have completed a minimum age of 21 years on August 1st 2024.

UPSC is expected to release admit cards 20-25 days before the actual date of the exam. For UPSC 2024 prelims, admit cards may be released in the 3rd week of May.

UPSC prelims 2024 will be held on June 16th 2024. Previously, it was slated to be held on 26th May, but was postponed.

Candidates can select any test series that has been developed keeping in mind UPSC question paper format. There are many good quality test series available in the market.

PYQs help candidates understand the demand of the exam and the types of questions that may be asked. Careful analysis of PYQs can also help in predicting repeated themes.

 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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