Cracking UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024? Get complete info on notification date, syllabus, eligibility, important dates like revised prelims on June 16th, vacancies & more!
UPSC Exam 2024: The UPSC 2024 Exam New Date has been released by UPSC. The UPSC 2024 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 Exam 2024 in the given article.
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.
IAS is one of the most sought-after careers currently in India. Because of the rising exposure to the internet and social media, IAS has found a place among the top career choices for students.
Candidates are selected for serving as an IAS or other officer based on their score in the Civil Service Examination.
The UPSC exam is conducted in three stages: preliminary, mains, and interview. Prelim is basically to filter out the majority of candidates, while the marks of the mains, along with those of the interview, are considered for calculating the final rankings. Details about the stages of examination, syllabus, books, strategy, etc can be found below.
UPSC Exam Important Updates | |
Event | Date |
UPSC 2024 Notification Date | February 14, 2024 |
UPSC Vacancy 2024 | 1056 |
UPSC Calendar 2024 | Click here |
UPSC 2024 Prelims Date | June 16, 2023 |
UPSC 2024 Mains Date | 20 September 2024 |
UPSC Prelims 2023 Date | May 28, 2023 |
UPSC Prelims Result 2023 | June 12, 2023 |
UPSC 2023 Final Result | To be announced soon |
UPSC 2022 Final Result | May 23, 2023 |
Top Rank in UPSC 2022 | Ishita Kishore |
UPSC Vacancy 2023 | 1105 |
The UPSC Prelims is the first stage of the IAS 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.
IAS aspirants can check the UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern in the 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. |
Total Number of Papers | Qualifying Papers: 2
Compulsory Papers: 7 |
Language of Papers |
|
Subjects |
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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. |
Candidates who successfully clear the Mains stage of the IAS 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.
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 UPSC Mains |
The IAS 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 meet 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:
The UPSC age limit 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.
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 |
There is a citizenship qualification for Grade-A Services such as IAS, IPS and IFS.
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 |
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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.
The UPSC imposes a limit on the number of times a candidate can appear for the IAS Examination. 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. |
Candidates aspiring to become IAS Officers 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 the necessary weight, height, and chest measurements.
The medical test for assessing physical fitness will be conducted at the following hospital in Delhi:
UPSC conducts exams for two types of posts: Group A and Group B. The list of some important Group A & Group B posts is given below:
The service-wise and state-wise vacancies for UPSC 2024.
Type | Service Name |
All-India Service |
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Group ‘A’ Civil Services |
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Group ‘B’ Civil Services |
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UPSC Calendar 2024 Out: The Union Public Service Commission has recently published the UPSC Calendar 2024 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 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.
However, due to the schedule of the impending general election, the UPSC has decided to postpone the UPSC Preliminary Examination 2024, 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.
If you’re planning to prepare for UPSC Exams in 2024, 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.
PS: The UPSC Prelims date has been postponed to 16th June owing to the general Elections.
The UPSC Exam 2023 is currently going on. The UPSC has concluded the interview process, and the UPSC CSE final results are expected anytime soon and the UPSC 2024 exam details will be updated in the article.
The official UPSC notification for 2024 was released on February 14, 2024. Candidates should make sure to fill out the UPSC IAS application form by March 5, 2024, on the official website, upsc.gov.in. The UPSC 2024 prelims phase is scheduled for June 16, 2024, and the UPSC Mains 2024 will commence on 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 |
Results of Preliminary Exam | June/July |
Dates of Mains Examination | September 20 Onwards |
The procedure for filing UPSC Civil Services 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.
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:
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.
The UPSC 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. Understanding the UPSC Syllabus is crucial for effective preparation and focusing on the relevant topics for success in the UPSC exams.
UPSC Syllabus PDF is released with the official notification. Aspirants preparing for UPSC CSE must go through the IAS Syllabus given below to understand the topics that will be asked in the exam.
The IAS 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 |
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History |
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Geography |
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Environment and Ecology |
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Disaster management |
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Internal Security |
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International Relation |
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Science and Technology |
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Ethics |
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Economy |
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Art and Culture |
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The test series is of the utmost importance for any candidate preparing seriously for the exam. Attempting the 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 weaknesses in their preparation.
The UPSC 2024 exam date for prelims was initially announced as May 26, 2024. However, the date was postponed to June 16, 2024 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 on September 20, 2024.
UPSC prelims (Old Date) | 26th May |
UPSC Prelims (New Date) | 16th June |
UPSC Mains | 20th September onwards |
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.
The UPSC does not specify the date when the admit card will be released. It advises candidates to keep a watchful eye on its official website to know when the admit card will be released.
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 admit card 2024, follow the given procedure below:
Candidates preparing for UPSC 2024 require certain planning to increase their chances of qualification. Through systematic planning, dedication and hard-work, UPSC 2024 preparation can be simplified:
Analysis of PYQs gives an idea of 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 the exam, both prelims and 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:
Exam | PYQ Links |
UPSC Prelims | Prelims PYQs |
UPSC Mains | General Studies |
The UPSC conducted preliminary examinations on May 28, 2023, across India. About 5.5 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. The analysis of the question paper indicated an increase in toughness, not only because of the questions asked but also due to the nature of the options. The detailed analysis of prelims 2023 can be viewed by clicking here.
The UPSC mains examination was conducted from September 15th to September 24th 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 detailed analysis of UPSC Mains 2023 can be viewed by clicking here.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the UPSC Prelims Result 2023 on June 12, 2023. Aspirants who are eagerly waiting for their UPSC civil services preliminary results can check them directly on the official website at www.upsc.gov.in.
The UPSC Prelims 2023 was successfully conducted by the UPSC on May 28, 2023, for 1255 posts (including IFoS). The result is available in 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.
A total of 2916 candidates were declared successful in the UPSC Mains 2023 examination. UPSC completed interviews for candidates who passed the Mains exam in three phases from January 2, 2024, to April 9, 2024. While 28 candidates’ results are currently with-held by the UPSC due to pending court cases,.
The results of UPSC Mains 2023 can be accessed here: UPSC Mains Result 2023.
The Union Public Service Commission will publish the UPSC Cut off 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 upcoming UPSC exams can check the cut off marks from previous years. To be selected for the UPSC CSE exam, candidates need to score higher than the UPSC 2023 Cut Off marks, which will be announced by the Commission on its official website along with the final result declaration.
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 will be announced when the UPSC Final Result 2023 is declared on the official website. These cut-off marks will be categorized according to each stage separately. The following is the predicted cut-off for UPSC 2023:
Category | Prelims Cut-off | Mains Cut-off | Final Cut-off |
General | 90-95 | 735-750 | 945-950 |
EWS | 75-80 | 688-695 | 890-900 |
OBC | 88-92 | 695-710 | 905-915 |
SC | 72-76 | 682-688 | 875-892 |
ST | 68-72 | 680-690 | 875-890 |
PwBD-1 | 50-55 | 645-655 | 865-875 |
PwBD-2 | 60-65 | 680-705 | 900-915 |
PwBD-3 | 40-45 | 425-450 | 675-680 |
PwBD-4 | – | 300-315 | 465-475 |
PwBD-5 | 40-45 | – | – |
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 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 |
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Documents Required |
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Mode of Filling Form | Online filling of form, including submission of documents |
Exam Fees |
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Candidates qualifying UPSC Mains are required to fill the DAF-2, which needs details such as hobbies, service preferences, cadre preferences, medium of personality interview, etc.
The detailed procedure for filling out DAF-2 can be viewed by clicking on this link.
The UPSC final results are expected soon, as the personality interview stages have been completed. Candidates must keep a watchful eye on the UPSC website for any new notifications. The steps to check the final results are as follows:
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 |
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.
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