Madhavi Gaur
July 02, 2023 09:28
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The UPSC Exam Pattern, released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), assesses the academic expertise and answer presentation skills of candidates. It is crucial for aspirants to thoroughly understand the UPSC exam pattern for both the Prelims and Mains. This understanding helps candidates manage their time effectively and streamline their preparation according to the exam requirements.
The UPSC exam pattern provides clarity on the number of questions and negative marking scheme. The exam consists of three phases: Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test. It is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the UPSC exam pattern to navigate the exam successfully.
The UPSC Exam follows a three-stage selection process. Candidates need to clear each stage to progress to the next one. The Prelims exam for 2023 is set for 28th May 2023. Those who pass the Prelims will be eligible for the Mains exam. Qualifying candidates from the Mains will be invited for the Personality test round.
To excel in the year-long cycle of the UPSC IAS Exam, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the complete UPSC Exam pattern, which includes the prelims, mains, and interviews. Here, you can find the complete details of the UPSC pattern for all stages of the exam:
| Stage | Paper | Number of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary
Examination |
General Studies Paper | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper | 80 | 200 | 2 hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mains Examination | Paper 1 (Essay) | – | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 2 (General Studies 1) | – | 250 | 3 hours | |
| Paper 3 (General Studies 2) | – | 250 | 3 hours | |
| Paper 4 (General Studies 3) | – | 250 | 3 hours | |
| Paper 5 (General Studies 4) | – | 250 | 3 hours | |
| Paper 6 (Optional Subject Paper 1) | – | 250 | 3 hours | |
| Paper 7 (Optional Subject Paper 2) | – | 250 | 3 hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personality Test | – | – | 275 | – |
Note: The UPSC Exam Pattern is subject to change, and candidates are advised to refer to the official UPSC website or notification for the most accurate and updated information.
Candidates should adopt a strategic approach aligned with the exam pattern, to maximize their performance in the UPSC exam. This involves minimizing negative marking in the prelims and answering a maximum number of questions in the mains. It is crucial for candidates to devise a well-prepared UPSC preparation strategy to excel in the exam.
The UPSC Exam Pattern, whether in Hindi or English, maintains consistency in terms of the number of questions, total marks, and negative marking. A detailed representation of the exam pattern is available in the provided illustration.
This is the first stage of the UPSC CSE and is conducted in an objective multiple-choice question (MCQ) format. It consists of two papers: General Studies Paper-I and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper-II. The Prelims is a screening test, and candidates who clear this stage are eligible for the Mains Exam.
The Mains is the second stage of the UPSC CSE and is a descriptive written examination. It comprises nine papers, out of which two are qualifying in nature: one is an Indian language paper, and the other is an English language paper. The remaining seven papers cover various subjects such as Essay, General Studies, and optional subjects chosen by the candidates.
The Personality Test, also known as the Interview, is the final stage of the UPSC CSE. It is conducted to assess the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and overall suitability for a career in the civil services. The interview is conducted by a panel of experts and holds significant weightage in the final selection process.
Candidates who clear all three stages of the UPSC CSE are eligible for the final selection and subsequent allocation of services based on their rank and preferences.
UPSC Exam Pattern may be subject to change, and candidates are advised to refer to the official UPSC website or notification for the most accurate and updated information.
The UPSC Prelims exam pattern consists of two papers: General Studies Paper 1 and General Studies Paper 2 (also known as CSAT). Both papers are conducted on the same day.
GS Paper 2 / CSAT is a qualifying paper, where candidates need to score a minimum of 33% marks to qualify. Familiarize yourself with the UPSC CSAT syllabus to ensure success in this paper.
It’s important to note that the Prelims exam is a filtering stage for the Mains exam, and the marks obtained in the Prelims are not considered for the final merit list. The cutoff marks for Prelims are determined based on GS Paper 1. Along with the exam pattern, candidates should also refer to the UPSC Prelims syllabus.
Each paper allows 2 hours of time. GS Paper 1 consists of 100 questions, while GS Paper 2 has 80 questions. Both papers are marked out of 200 as per the UPSC Prelims marking scheme.
Negative marking is a crucial aspect of the UPSC Prelims paper pattern. As the prelims exam is qualifying in nature, there is a provision for negative marking. For every incorrect answer, 1/3 marks are deducted from the total score. Here’s a table depicting the UPSC Marks Distribution for Prelims:
| Paper | Name of the Paper | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Studies-1 | 100 | 200 | 1/3 marks deducted for every incorrect answer |
| Paper 2 | General Studies-2 (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 1/3 marks deducted for every incorrect answer |
| UPSC Prelims Total Marks | 400 | ||||
In the UPSC Prelims exam, negative marking is implemented to discourage random guessing and ensure that candidates provide accurate answers. According to the exam pattern, for General Studies-1, each question carries 2 marks, and for CSAT, each question carries 2.5 marks.
There is a provision of negative marking in UPSC, where 1/3 of the marks allotted to a question will be deducted for an incorrect response. In the case of IAS Prelims Paper 1, the negative marking will be 0.66 (2 marks * 1/3), and for CSAT, the negative marking will be 0.83 (2.5 marks * 1/3). It is essential for candidates to be cautious while attempting questions and avoid guessing unless they are reasonably confident about the answer.
| Exam | Total no. of Questions | Total Marks in UPSC Prelims | Marking Scheme in UPSC Prelims – Negative Marks |
| General Studies-1 | 100 | 2*100=200 | 0.66 |
| General Studies-2 (CSAT) | 80 | 2.5*80=200 | 0.83 |
UPSC Exam Pattern 2024 for mains is distinct from the Prelims pattern as it involves more comprehensive and descriptive papers. The UPSC Mains 2023 is scheduled for September 15, 2023, and candidates who qualify the Prelims exam are eligible to appear for the Mains exam. To have a better understanding of the topics covered in the exam, candidates should refer to the UPSC Mains Syllabus.
The UPSC Exam Pattern for Mains consists of a total of 9 papers, with two papers being qualifying in nature, four papers for General Studies, and two papers for optional subjects. Candidates have the flexibility to choose an optional subject for the Mains exam based on their preference and expertise. All the papers in the Mains exam are descriptive in nature, requiring candidates to provide detailed written responses.
For a comprehensive overview of the UPSC Paper Pattern for Mains, please refer to the table. The table below is the overview of the UPSC Exam Pattern for Mains:
UPSC Exam Pattern 2024 for Mains |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper Number | Paper Name | Type | Duration | Marks |
| Paper-A | Qualifying Indian Language | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Paper-B | English | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Paper-I | Essay | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies-I | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies-II | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-III | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies-IV | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | Descriptive | 3 Hours | 250 |
Candidates from Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland, and candidates with hearing impairment are exempted from appearing in Paper-A. However, they need to provide evidence of exemption from 2nd or 3rd language courses issued by their university or board.
The UPSC mains exam pattern consists of four General Studies (GS) Papers, each covering specific topics:
1. General Studies 1 Syllabus: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.
2. General Studies 2 Syllabus: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
3. General Studies 3 Syllabus: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.
4. General Studies 4 Syllabus: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
Candidates should thoroughly understand UPSC Exam Pattern and the syllabus of each GS paper to effectively prepare for the UPSC mains exam.
In the UPSC mains exam pattern, Paper A and Paper B are qualifying papers, while the remaining papers are considered for merit. Candidates must score a minimum of 25% in each paper to be eligible for the final merit list. Paper A and Paper B are both worth 300 marks, while the other seven papers carry a total of 250 marks each.
The UPSC mains pattern includes two optional papers, each carrying 250 marks according to the UPSC marking scheme. Candidates have the freedom to choose any subject from the list of UPSC Optional Subjects. The list of optional subjects is as follows:
| UPSC Exam Pattern – Optional Subjects | ||||
| Mechanical Engineering | Medical Science | Physics | Political Science and International Relations | Philosophy |
| Civil Engineering | Commerce and Accountancy | Electrical Engineering | Geography | Economics |
| Psychology | Public Administration | Statistics | Zoology | Sociology |
| Agriculture | Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science | Botany | Chemistry | Anthropology |
| Geology | History | Management | Mathematics | Law |
Candidates have the option to choose the literature of any one of the following languages for the UPSC exam: Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Maithili, Assamese, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Urdu, and English.
The UPSC exam pattern includes a personality test or interview as the final round before the final merit list is announced. Candidates who clear the Mains exam receive e-summon letters for this round. During the interview, candidates face a panel of board members from the Union Public Service Commission who evaluate their suitability for a career in Civil Services.
The interview panel assesses the candidate’s mental and social traits by asking general interest questions. They evaluate qualities such as logical reasoning, judgment, alertness, depth of knowledge, variety of interests, leadership skills, social adaptability, and moral integrity.
According to the UPSC exam pattern, the interview carries a total of 275 marks. The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Mains exam and the interview.
Over the years, the UPSC exam pattern has undergone some changes. Here are the key changes made in specific years:
Ans: These three stages form the UPSC Civil Services Examination, evaluating candidates’ knowledge, aptitude, and personality for administrative roles.
Stage I: Preliminary Examination (IAS Prelims)
The first stage is the Preliminary Examination, consisting of two papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT). It screens candidates for the Mains Examination.
Stage II: Mains Examination (IAS Mains)
The second stage is the Mains Examination, which includes descriptive papers on various subjects. It plays a crucial role in determining the final merit list.
Stage III: UPSC Personality Test (IAS Interview)
The final stage is the Personality Test, where candidates face a panel of experts to assess their suitability for the Civil Services.
Ans: यूपीएससी (UPSC) परीक्षा के तीन चरण हैं:
1. प्रारंभिक परीक्षा (IAS Prelims): इसमें दो पेपर होते हैं – सामान्य अध्ययन पेपर-I और सामान्य अध्ययन पेपर-II (सीएसएटी). यह प्रारंभिक परीक्षा उम्मीदवारों को मुख्य परीक्षा के लिए चयनित करती है।
2. मुख्य परीक्षा (IAS Mains): यह मुख्य परीक्षा विभिन्न विषयों पर वर्णनात्मक पेपर सम्पादित करती है। इसका महत्वपूर्ण योगदान अंतिम मेरिट सूची का निर्धारण में होता है।
3. यूपीएससी व्यक्तित्व परीक्षा (IAS Interview): अंतिम चरण है व्यक्तित्व परीक्षा, जहां उम्मीदवारों को एक एक्सपर्ट पैनल के सामरिक का सामान्य परीक्षण किया जाता है, जिससे सिविल सेवाओं के लिए उपयुक्तता का मूल्यांकन किया जाता है।
Ans: The UPSC Mains examination consists of nine papers. The details of these papers are as follows:
1. Paper-A: One of the Indian languages selected from the prescribed list (qualifying in nature).
2. Paper-B: English (qualifying in nature).
3. Paper-I: Essay.
4. Paper-II: General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society).
5. Paper-III: General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations).
6. Paper-IV: General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management).
7. Paper-V: General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude).
8. Paper-VI: Optional Subject – Paper 1.
9. Paper-VII: Optional Subject – Paper 2.
Ans: The total marks for the UPSC Mains examination is 1750. The distribution of marks across the different papers is as follows:
1. Paper-A: 300 marks
2. Paper-B: 300 marks
3. Paper-I: 250 marks
4. Paper-II: 250 marks
5. Paper-III: 250 marks
6. Paper-IV: 250 marks
7. Paper-V: 250 marks
8. Paper-VI: 250 marks (Optional Subject – Paper 1)
9. Paper-VII: 250 marks (Optional Subject – Paper 2)
The optional subjects chosen by the candidates have two papers, each carrying 250 marks. The rest of the papers, including the essay and the general studies papers, are also marked out of 250 each.
Ans: The salary of a UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) employee varies based on the position they hold. Here are the salary details for some of the prominent positions:
1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS): Rs. 56,100 – 2,14,100
2. Indian Foreign Service (IFS): Rs. 56,100 – 2,18,200
3. Indian Police Service (IPS): Rs. 56,100 – Rs. 2,25,000 (fixed)
4. Other Group A Services: The salary of other Group A services may vary depending on the specific position and pay scale.
UPSC Full Form – Union Public Service Commission, What is the Full Form and Its Roles?
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