Structure of UPSC Civil Services Exam

The Civil Services Exam in India is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and consists of three stages:

• 1

  Preliminary Examination (Objective Type):

  Two papers
  
  
• 2

  General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)

  Both papers are objective in nature.
  
  General Studies Paper-I covers subjects like history, geography, economics, polity, science, and current affairs.
  
  General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) tests aptitude and reasoning skills.
  
  
• 3

  Mains Examination (Descriptive Type):

  Consists of nine papers, out of which seven are compulsory and two are optional subjects chosen by the candidate.
  
  Compulsory papers include Essay, General Studies (4 papers), English, and Indian Language (qualifying in nature).
  
  Optional subjects have two papers each.
  
  
• 4

  Personality Test (Interview):

  Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for an interview.
  
  Tests the candidate's personality, communication skills, and depth of understanding on various issues. The interview carries 275 marks.
  
  
• 5

  Marking and Selection:

  Marks obtained in the Main Examination and the Interview are considered for the final merit list. Preliminary Examination is qualifying in nature and its marks are not counted for the final ranking.
  
  Final merit determines the selection for various services like IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.
  
  
• 6

  Training:

  Candidates who clear the exam undergo training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie and other training academies.
  
  
• 7

  Services Allocation:

  Allocation to various services is based on the candidate’s rank, preferences, and availability of vacancies.
  
  Candidates need to prepare comprehensively, covering a wide range of subjects for both Prelims and Mains, and also focus on developing analytical and writing skills. The entire process is challenging and demands consistent effort.