UPSC Prelims 2024, Important Dates, Exam pattern, Syllabus, Admit Card, Cutoff

UPSC Prelims 2023 is the first stage of Civil Services Examination. Aspirants who qualify UPSC Prelims 2023 will be eligible for UPSC Mains examination.

UPSC prelims 2024 is just a few weeks away. Candidates can check out all about UPSC prelims 2024 here!

UPSC prelims 2024 is the first stage of Civil Services Examination 2024, conducted by UPSC. It is a filtering stage where the majority of candidates are eliminated. Those who qualify UPSC prelims 2024 will be eligible for UPSC mains 2024.

UPSC prelims 2024 consists of two papers: General Studies and CSAT. The marks scored in General Studies will determine if a candidate qualified for the mains exam. The cutoff marks for CSAT paper is fixed at 66.66.

Any candidate preparing for UPSC prelims 2024 and beyond needs to understand UPSC CSE inside out. Here , you can check every detail about UPSC prelims 2024!

UPSC Prelims 2024 Overview

UPSC prelims 2024 will be held on 16th June. Candidates will have to attempt two papers, both in MCQ format in this stage. Candidates who obtain greater than or equal to cutoff marks will qualify for the next stage.

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Name of Exam	UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam 2024
Date of Notification	14th February
UPSC 2024 Calendar	Click here
Release of Admit Card	Yet to be Announced
Date of Exam	16 June 2024
Date of Result	July 2024
Nature of Exam	MCQ
Papers	General Studies (Paper 1) CSAT (Paper 2)

UPSC Prelims 2024 Important Dates

Candidates preparing for UPSC prelims 2024 will have to remember some important dates. The details of these dates are provided below.

Date of Notification	14th February
Beginning of Registration	14th February
End of Registration	5th March
Release of Admit Card	May 2024
Date of Preliminary Examination	16th June
Results of Preliminary Exam	June/July
Announcement of Cutoff Marks	2025
Dates of Mains Examination	September 20 Onwards

Also Read: Apply for UPSC 2024 Online

UPSC Prelims 2024 Eligibility

A candidate planning to apply for UPSC prelims 2024 has to fulfill certain criteria in terms of age, education, and attempts. The details of criteria are given below.

UPSC Prelims 2024 Age Criteria

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

To be eligible for UPSC examination 2024, 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

UPSC Prelims 2024 Educational Criteria

Minimum Qualification for IAS: As a minimum qualification for UPSC prelims 2024, 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 2024. However, they are required to have passed their final year examination while applying for the UPSC Mains Examination.
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 prelims 2024.
Eligibility for Medical Students: Medical students, who have not completed their internship, despite passing the final year of MBBS, can also apply for UPSC prelims 2024. However, they are required to submit a course completion certificate from the concerned authority along with their Mains Exam application.

Attempts Criteria for UPSC Prelims 2024

A candidate from a certain category has a distinct number of attempts for the exam. To apply for UPSC prelims 2024, attempt criteria must be fulfilled.

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.

UPSC Prelims 2024 Exam pattern

UPSC prelims 2024 will be in MCQ format, consisting of two papers: General Studies and CSAT. The number of questions, marks, cutoff etc are given in the table below.

Particulars	General Studies (Paper 1)	CSAT (Paper 2)
Mode of Examination	Pen and Paper	Pen and Paper
Nature of Questions	MCQ	MCQ
Exam Duration	2 hours	2 hours
Medium of Examination	English and Hindi	English and Hindi
Session	Morning (9.30 to 11.30)	Afternoon (2.30 to 5.30)
Number of Questions	100	80
Total Marks	200	200
Marks for Correct Answer	+2	+2.5
Marks for Negative Answer	-0.66	-0.83
Marks for No Response	0	0
Qualifying Marks	Varies according to Category	66.67

UPSC Prelims 2024 Syllabus

The syllabus of UPSC prelims 2024 is divided into two parts based on the two papers. The GS syllabus will include core subjects such as polity, geography etc. The CSAT paper will include reasoning, comprehension etc. The details of the syllabus is given below.

UPSC Prelims 2024 General Studies Syllabus

The UPSC prelims 2024 syllabus for General Studies paper is given here.

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 Prelims 2024 CSAT Syllabus

The UPSC prelims 2024 syllabus for CSAT paper is given here.

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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);

UPSC Prelims 2024 Complete Book List

Candidates preparing for UPSC prelims 2024 and beyond will need to refer to certain books in order to complete the syllabus. The detailed book list for UPSC prelims 2024 is provided below.

Subject	Books
Polity	Indian Polity by M Laxmikant NCERT IX to XII Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu
History	NCERT VI – XII NCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval) NCERT XII- Themes in Indian History. India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra Ancient India by R.S Sharma
Geography	NCERT VI – XII Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong Geography of India by Majid Husain World Geography by Majid Husain
Environment and Ecology	Textbook of Environmental Studies by Erach Bharucha A book by Shankar IAS on Environment. Environment and Ecology – Biodiversity, Climate Change and Disaster Management by Majid Hussain
International Relation	NCERT XII Current Affairs
Science and Technology	Current Affairs NCERT XI and XII
Economy	NCERT XI Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
Art and Culture	Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania NCERT XI- An introduction to Indian Art, Part -I
CSAT (Complete Syllabus)	Analytical Reasoning by M K Pandey A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non- Verbal reasoning by R S Aggarwal General Studies Paper II for UPSC Preliminary Examination by Tata McGraw Hill The Mantra of CSAT Paper II by Gautam Puri CSAT Manual by Pearson
Current Affairs	All Relevant Topics frequently in News

Also Read: Most Important Topics for Prelims 2024

UPSC Prelims 2024 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 examination. 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.

To download UPSC Prelims 2024 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 Prelims

UPSC Prelims 2024 Exam Analysis

UPSC Prelims 2024 will be conducted on 16th June 2024. The complete analysis of the question papers, along with expected cutoff marks will be available here after the exam. Keep checking this space for more updates.

Also Read: UPSC prelims 2024 Cutoff Analysis

UPSC Prelims 2024 Cutoff

The detailed cutoff of UPSC prelims 2024 will be available only after the final results are announced. The tentative cutoff will be provided here after the exam.

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Category of Students	Expected Cutoff
General	To be Updated
EWS	To be Updated
OBC	To be Updated
SC	To be Updated
ST	To be Updated
PwBD 1	To be Updated
PwBD 2	To be Updated
PwBD 3	To be Updated
PwBD 5	To be Updated

UPSC Prelims 2023 Cutoff

The cutoff marks for UPSC prelims 2023 was announced after the final results of UPSC 2023. The following is the cutoff for different categories.

Category of Candidates	Cutoff Marks
General	75.41
EWS	68.02
OBC	74.75
SC	59.25
ST	47.82
PwBD 1	40.40
PwBD 2	47.13
PwBD 3	40.40
PwBD 5	33.68

UPSC Prelims 2024 Result

UPSC prelims 2024 result will be announced on the official website 20-25 days after prelims. Candidates can check the results using the following steps.

Step 1: Visit UPSC’s official website at www.upsc.gov.in
Step 2: Select the ‘Examination’ tab and click on ‘Active Examination’ option.
Step 3: Look for a Notification titled ‘Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024’.
Step 4: Click on the Notification and you will be directed to a page containing all notifications related to UPSC Prelims 2024.
Step 5: Click on the Written Result link. A PDF file will be downloaded
Step 6: Check your name and roll number in the PDF file.

UPSC Prelims

UPSC Prelims 2024 Preparation Strategy

Candidates appearing for UPSC prelims 2024 can follow some steps from the strategy mentioned below.

Strategy for General Studies

Strategy for CSAT

Understanding Syllabus: The first and foremost step is to understand the syllabus of the examination. Having a clear understanding of syllabus and knowing the difference in approach between prelims and mains will help a lot in preparation.
Analyse PYQs: Candidates need to analyse PYQs of the last 10-15 years. Analysis will give an idea of the type of questions asked and also the depth of knowledge required to solve the questions.
Focus on Core Subjects: There are certain core subjects that carry half of the marks in the preliminary examination and their syllabus is mainly static. Such subjects have to be covered as soon as possible.
Make Short Handwritten Notes: A successful candidate is most likely to have their own handwritten notes. The compilation of short notes helps in quick revision of concepts.
Read Newspapers Regularly: Reading newspapers daily will increase the capability of the candidate to understand issues taking place around the world. It also helps candidates in their mains preparation.
Attempt UPSC Test Series: Test series can act as simulations and also help candidates to identify their strengths, weaknesses, develop ability to understand questions, and apply their knowledge effectively. Candidates can join a reputable IAS coaching institute to avail a test series.
Develop MCQ Aptitude: MCQ aptitude is the ability of a candidate to develop a personal strategy to solve MCQs. The nature of the questions may not be difficult, but the nature of the options, which makes it difficult. Hence, a candidate will have to keep pace with the changing MCQ pattern and develop strategies accordingly.
Regular Revision: The nature of prelims topics has widened, making it almost impossible to cover all the dynamic subjects. In such a condition, regular revision enables a candidate to use his/her knowledge to eliminate wrong options.
Inter-link Static and Current Affairs: There is always an underlying reason why the topic has been asked by UPSC. This reason is usually based on current affairs. Hence, inter-linking static and current affairs helps candidates prepare better for the examination.

Analyse Topics: Make a list of topics on which UPSC generally asks questions. This is because, UPSC syllabus does not mention the subtopics that are part of the syllabus.
Quantitative and Reasoning: To prepare for quantitative reasoning, candidates have to sharpen their basics of math. If they face a problem in math, they would need to enroll in a CSAT course from a suitable coaching institute. They must not ignore the topic at any cost.
Time Management: Time management is of utmost importance as CSAT paper is lengthy and cannot be completely attempted. Candidates have to target topics that can be solved easily without much effort.
Focus on Comprehension: Comprehension cannot be ignored as it helps candidates easily clear the required 33% of marks. With the right approach, comprehension can be easily attempted.
Identify the type of question asked in this and make strategies to tackle different types of questions. For example: Assumption based or Inference based RC
Regular Practice: There is a popular belief that students from science backgrounds can easily clear CSAT without practice. However, the increasing level of difficulty has made it difficult to clear CSAT without adequate preparation.
Test Series: It is advisable to use test series to practice CSAT. It will help in managing the stress during the actual day of the exam. You can join any good coaching institute for the test series.
Solve PYQ: Try to solve PYQ papers in exam-like situations to improve your aptitude. At least the last 5 year question papers have to be solved in this manner before the real exam.

UPSC Prelims 2024 Post Result

Candidates who have cleared UPSC prelims 2024 must begin their mains preparation immediately after the declaration of results. If you have already prepared for mains previously, you need to start revising your GS static notes as well as optional notes.

All successful candidates will have to apply again for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2024 by filling out the Detailed Application Form-I (DAF-I). The UPSC will announce the important instructions for filling out the DAF-I and its submission in due course on its official website.

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Candidates must not restrict their mains preparation to just revision. They must practice answer writing daily to prepare for the rigours of writing mains papers. Before the actual examination, candidates must enroll in any good test series, such as Physics Wallah Mains Test Series to have a very good chance of clearing mains.

Get curated plan to clear UPSC prelims 2024 by enrolling in top courses from Physics Wallah. Begin your journey now!

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Frequently Asked Questions

UPSC prelims exam is considered to be the first stage in the journey of becoming an officer under the Indian Government. Candidates who aspire to join the Indian civil services need to clear the prelims examination in order to clear the UPSC CSE exam.

Candidates who prepare well for the UPSC exam need not fear at the time of the examination. Students can prepare for the examination from any reliable platform such as PWOnlyIAS, which provides students with a curated study plan and experienced faculty members.

The state in India giving the highest number of IAS officers in India is Uttar Pradesh.

In the 2020 Civil Services Examination, the overall pass rate was 4.82%, with a total of 829 candidates qualifying for appointment to the Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Administrative Service, and other central services. However, the pass rate can be different for different categories and can vary from year to year.

The UPSC prelims result will declare once the final result declare.

UPSC Prelims 2024, Important Dates, Exam pattern, Syllabus, Admit Card, Cutoff

UPSC Prelims 2024 Overview

UPSC Prelims 2024 Important Dates