UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern

UPSC CSE Pattern/ Plan:

The Civil Services Examination comprises three successive stages:

• Civil Services Preliminary Examination-Objective Type, for the selection of candidates for Main Examination.
• Civil Services Main Examination-Written, for the selection of candidates for Interview.
• Interview or Personality Test for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts.

Overview of IAS Exam Pattern :

IAS Exam pattern of Prelims

• Prelims examination consists of 2 compulsory papers - General Studies paper and (CSAT) Civil service aptitude test to test the analytical skills of the candidate.
• All the questions in the prelims exam are objective in nature. So, the candidate has to choose any one option out of 4 answers given for each question.
• Questions are in both Hindi and English language. However, comprehension questions in the English language in the CSAT paper are without Hindi translations.
• Questions are in both Hindi and English language. Also, the prelims exam is qualifying only. The cut-off of paper 'I' is decided by UPSC every year. The CSAT paper requires the candidates to score at least 33% i.e. 66 marks to qualify and to be able to sit for the Mains exam.

IAS Prelims Exam Pattern

Marking Scheme of Prelims

The IAS Exam pattern is very important to understand to pass the prelims exam. Here is the marking scheme of prelims:

• Every question in paper I is of 2 marks. So, the question paper is a total of 200 marks.
• Every question in the Civil Service Aptitude Test carries 2.5 marks. So, the question paper is a total of 200 marks.
• Also, for every wrong answer by the student, 0.33 marks will be deducted i.E. 0.66 will be deducted from paper I and 0.83 marks will be deducted from paper II.
• If the candidate gives more than 1 answer, then it will be considered as wrong even if one of them is right.
• Candidates must cross the cut-off marks in Paper I and a minimum of 33% score in Paper II to sit for the main exam.

Negative Marking

The Civil Services Exam (CSE) pattern is very different from other exams. Also, the candidates can easily get negative marking in the UPSC Exam. In other words, 3 incorrect answers will lead to around 2 marks deduction. In short, the candidate will get a 1/3rd mark deducted for incorrect answers. There is no negative marking for blank answers. Read everything about UPSC on its official website.

IAS Exam Pattern for Mains

• UPSC CSE mains is an offline exam. There are a total of 9 papers in the Mains exam.
• Every paper is of 3 hours and extra 30 minutes extra is given to blind students.
• Paper 'A' and Paper 'B' are of 300 marks each and the remaining papers are of 250 marks each.
• The mains exam is divided into 2 parts qualifying and being considered for merit. And it is compulsory to sit in for all the exams to go into the interview stage. Here, questions are subjective. And you can write in either Hindi or English language So, the candidate is get tested based on knowledge and understanding of the subject. You have to answer touching the basic and relevant aspects. You will also be marked upon whether you can provide valuable and constructive way forwards

Qualifying Paper

1. Paper A - Either of the Indian languages can be selected from the 8th schedule of the constitution. It carries 300 marks.
2. Paper B - This paper tests your knowledge of basic English paper. And it also carries 300 marks.

General Studies - The students have to score minimum marks in the general studies paper to crack the exam. Moreover, the question paper is set to test the student's ability to analyze. In other words, the questions test the student's understanding of the concept and subject. However, there would be 2 optional exams that the student will have to choose from. The list of GS and Optional papers and marks is given below for more information:

Prelims Syllabus

Paper 1(General Studies) - This will test the student's knowledge and passion for learning about the country. Also, the questions are from various aspects like history, geography, economy and much more.

• Events of National and International Importance
• Geography impact in the country
• Constitutional and governance structure
• Issues faced by the country currently
• Social and Economic Development
• Research and development
• Scientific development

Paper 2 (Civil Services Aptitude Test) - In the CSAT paper, students have to score at least 33% to crack the exam. So, candidates have to practice mock tests to be able to score the minimum marks. However, the aptitude of the student determines the ability to solve complex problems, time management, and much more. Also, the important fields to practice for the Civil Services Exam (CSE) are as follows:

• Logical Reasoning
• The capacity of problem-solving
• Interpersonal Skills
• Numerical Ability
• Analytical Skills
• Comprehension
• Synonyms/antonyms

Mains Syllabus

Paper A(Any Indian Language) - This paper is to test the candidate's knowledge of the language.
Paper B (English) - This paper tests your ability to understand the English language.
Paper 3(Essay Writing) - Students write essays on the topic of their choice.
Paper 4(General Studies 1) - It will have questions related to ancient India like history, geography, heritage and much more.

• Ancient, Medieval, and Modern - History of India.
• Significant changes in Architecture, Literature, etc.
• Significance of Geography.
• Diversity, Indian Society.
• Globalization

Paper 5(General Studies 2) - This part will have questions regarding the reform in Indian governance after Independence. Further, the topics are:

• India's Constitution
• Analysis of the world's constitution
• Legislature and Parliament
• Main issues faced by the nation and solutions
• Welfare schemes by the government
• Structures and departments in government.
• International Relations.

Paper 6(General Studies 3) - This paper has questions regarding the Modern Indian Economy and key developments. Topics included are:

• Indian Economy
• Farming
• Science
• Research and Development
• IT
• Environmental Studies
• Achievement in different fields
• Security challenges
• Industrial growth
• Infrastructure Development

Paper 7(General Studies 4) - This will have questions about Integrity, Ethics, and aptitude. Moreover, the included topics are:

• Public Administration ethics
• Emotional Intelligence
• Behavior Analysis
• Functional Values and case studies based on given topics.
• Moral thinkers.

Paper 8 and 9 - This will cover the optional subjects chosen by the candidates. Students can choose any subject from the following:

• Agriculture
• Animal husbandry and Veterinary Science
• Anthropology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Commerce and Accountancy
• Economics
• Electrical Engineer
• Geography
• Geology
• History of India
• Law
• Management
• Maths
• Mechanical Engineer
• Medical Science
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political science and International relations
• Psychology
• Public administration
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology
• Literature of any available 23 subjects

IAS Preparation Books

We have provided you with a list of the best books to refer to for UPSC CSE preparation. You can start preparing for your exam starting with these basic books from the comfort of your home:

We have covered everything that you need to know about IAS Exam Pattern. Use this to make your own unique strategy to prepare for the exam. You need to understand that clearing the IAS exam is not a simple task as lakhs of aspirants sit for this exam but only a few are selected. However, with the right guidance, proper planning, consistency, and hard work you can clear this exam. Therefore, you need to understand the IAS exam pattern deeply. The IAS exam pattern will clear your doubts and you will have a clear picture. To sum up, prepare yourself wisely.

1. Why it is important to understand the IAS exam pattern?
The candidate should understand the Civil Services Exam (CSE) pattern properly because it will help to understand what to study and what to not. The syllabus should be divided based on strengths and weaknesses.

2. What is the IAS exam pattern of Prelims?
It has 2 papers General Studies and CSAT. Moreover, the candidate should score 33% in the second paper to crack the exam.

3. Is maths a good choice as an optional subject?
Yes, it is a very scoring subject in UPSC exams. However, if you are weak in maths but you have the interest to learn it, enroll in good coaching.