Welcome to the UPSC Preparation Journey! In this journey, we are sure you might be having a lot of questions like How to start preparation for UPSC?; what is the UPSC IAS exam pattern? When to start studying for UPSC?; What things should I know about UPSC Preparation?; Am I going in the right direction?; Which subjects to study?.
The answer to all your questions starts from this Article. The first things that you should know about UPSC IAS Preparation 2021-2022 is the Syllabus of the IAS Exam and UPSC IPS Exam Pattern 2021. In this article, we shall talk about the UPSC IAS Exam Pattern 2021 for UPSC CSE 2022.
The UPSC IAS Exam pattern is set by a Constitutional body, i.e., the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). UPSC is a recruiting body that recommends candidates to the Department of Personnel Training.
Schedule of IAS Exam
UPSC provides the dates for all the exams conducted by UPSC a year before in UPSC's official Calendar so that students get enough time to prepare for them.
Likewise, in 2022, UPSC is going to conduct IAS Prelims Examination 2022 on 5 June 2022 i.e. Sunday, and UPSC Mains Examination 2022 on 16th September 2022 for 5 days.
This UPSC CSE Exam is conducted yearly and UPSC Exam Schedule 2023 shall be available next year.
UPSC CSE IAS Exam Pattern
The UPSC CSE exam pattern has been changing time and again according to the needs of the time and the latest change in the UPSC IAS Exam Pattern was done in 2013.
The Civil Services Exam Pattern was simplified with Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test.
In this Article, We shall see the UPSC CSE Exam Pattern of UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern, UPSC Mains Exam Pattern, and UPSC Interview separately and try to understand the demand of the Exam.
UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern
UPSC Civil Services Examination, also known as IAS Exam, is a three-stage examination consisting of Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit suitable candidates for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other allied services.
Prelims is the stage in which most of the Aspirants are filtered out and according to us, it is an easy nut to crack, if we have prepared under Expert guidance like Ankit Agrawal Sir who has mentored and helped clear more than 450+ Selected candidates since the inception of Aspire IAS.
In UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern, you shall have 2 Papers
UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper I
UPSC Prelims Paper II
UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper I
It consists of General Studies.
The Total marks of UPSC GS Prelims Paper I are 200 marks.
In Paper I, the total number of Questions is 100.
Each question carries 2 marks.
Hence, the total marks carried by UPSC Prelims Paper I is 200 marks.
For every wrong answer, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to Question i.e. 1/3rdof 2 marks = 0.67 marks shall be deducted for every wrong answer.
The nature of UPSC Prelims is Objective type or MCQs type.
The marks obtained in General Studies Paper I will decide the merit list and if you are going to write UPSC CSE Mains Exam or not.
It is mandatory for all the candidates to appear for both the exams viz General Studies and CSAT to qualify for the Mains.
The score obtained in the Prelims will not be added to the final score. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021 will be just for screening purposes.
The question paper of Prelims will be bilingual. It will have questions written both in Hindi and English Language.
It consists of Civil Services Aptitude Test or CSAT.
The Total marks of UPSC GS Prelims Paper II are 200 marks.
In Paper II, the total number of Questions is 80.
Each question carries 2.5 marks.
Hence, the total marks carried by UPSC Prelims Paper I is 200 marks.
For every wrong answer 1/3rd of the marks allotted to Question i.e. 1/3rd of 2.5 marks = 0.83 marks shall be deducted for every wrong answer.
The nature of UPSC Prelims is Objective type or MCQs type.
UPSC Prelims Paper II is Qualifying in nature since 2015 and requires only 66 marks to qualify. Only if you qualify, CSAT your GS Paper I answers shall be evaluated.
It is mandatory for all the candidates to appear for both the exams viz General Studies and CSAT to qualify for the Mains.
The score obtained in the Prelims will not be added to the final score. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021 will be just for screening purposes.
The question paper of Prelims will be bilingual. It will have questions written both in Hindi and English Language.
You can download UPSC Prelims 2021 Paper II from here.
You can download UPSC Prelims Previous Years Questions from 2013 to 2021 from the following link:- click here.
UPSC Prelims 2021 Paper II Answer Key
You can download Aspire IAS Official Answer Key for UPSC Prelims 2021 Paper II from here.
You can download UPSC Prelims Previous Years Answer Keys from 2013 to 2021 from the following link:- click here.
Click here to know UPSC Prelims 2021 Cut off and Strategy for UPSC Mains Examination.
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern
UPSC Civil Services Examination, also known as IAS Exam, is a three-stage examination consisting of Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit suitable candidates for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other allied services.
All the aspirants who qualify UPSC CSE Prelims are eligible to give UPSC CSE Mains Examination.
UPSC CSE Mains is the stage where all the serious aspirants of UPSC compete with each other to get into the All India Services and Central Services of India like IAS, IPS, IFS, and 22 Allied Jobs.
UPSC CSE Mains 2021 shall be conducted on 17th January 2022 and UPSC Mains 2022 shall be conducted on 16th September 2022.
This examination is of 5 days.
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern consists of 9 Papers:
The IAS Mains Exam consists of two types of papers i.e. 2 qualifying papers and 7 Papers for merit ranking.
Paper A and Paper B namely the Language paper and English paper will be qualifying in nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be added to marks that may determine your rank.
Essay, General Studies Paper I to IV, and Optional Paper I and II will be evaluated for merit purposes.
Each paper shall be of 250 marks. Hence your merit list for Mains shall be considered out of 1750 marks.
If you qualify for the UPSC Mains Cut off, then you shall be called for UPSC Personality Test or UPSC Interview. The interview shall be of 275 marks. And your final Selection shall be on the basis of your marks in UPSC Mains (1750) and Personality Test (275) i.e. 2025 marks.
Candidates who qualify for all the rounds are recommended for joining the civil services in India.
Each round i.e. Prelims, Mains & Personality Test is an elimination round, so you need to qualify each one in order to appear for the next one.
Now, let us discuss the UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2021 along with the marking scheme for each of the papers.
1) 2 Compulsory Papers
2 Papers are of Qualifying nature, each having 300 marks. One is English and the other is the Regional Paper.
This paper is qualifying in nature and the marks obtained in it do not count in the final ranking.
The other eight papers in the UPSC civil services exam pattern are GS papers 1, 2, 3, 4; Optional papers 1, 2; English and Essay papers.
Paper A: Compulsory Language Paper
Total marks for Paper A – 300 marks.
Number of hours – 3 hours
But you must clear this paper, only then your Mains marks shall be evaluated for the final result. And UPSC will not disclose your marks in GS Paper I to IV, Optional, and Essay paper. So, kindly take this seriously.
You can clear this paper by getting at least 25% of the total, i.e., 75 out of 300 marks.
Click here to know more about Paper A and how to clear Compulsory Language Paper A of UPSC CSE Mains 2021 Examination.
Paper B: Compulsory English Paper
Total marks for Paper B – 300 marks.
Number of hours – 3 hours
Click here to know more about Paper A and how to clear in Paper A of UPSC CSE Mains Examination.
But you must clear this paper, only then your Mains marks shall be evaluated for the final result. And UPSC will not disclose your marks in GS Paper I to IV, Optional, and Essay paper. So, kindly take this seriously.
You can clear this paper by getting at least 25% of the total, i.e., 75 out of 300 marks.
It is a generic English language paper. Click here to know more about Paper B and how to clear Compulsory English Paper B of UPSC CSE Mains 2021 Examination.
2) GS Paper I to IV: General Studies Paper I to Paper IV& Essay
Candidates shall have to answer 4 papers of UPSC GS Paper I to Paper IV and Essay.
GS Paper I consists of Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
GS Paper II consists of Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
GS Paper III consists of Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.
GS Paper IV consists of Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
All the GS Papers I to IV and Essay carry 250 marks each.
These marks shall be counted in the final merit list of the UPSC Mains Examination on the basis of which you shall be called for the Personality Test.
Click here to get the full strategy and detailed analysis of
GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society
GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
GS Paper III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
Essay Strategy and Syllabus
After UPSC CSE Mains Examinations, the final stage is the Personality Test or Interview.
UPSC Interview Exam Pattern
UPSC Civil Services Examination, also known as IAS Exam, is a three-stage examination consisting of Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit suitable candidates for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other allied services.
After UPSC CSE Mains Examinations, if you qualify for the UPSC Mains Cut off, then you shall be called for UPSC Personality Test or UPSC Interview.
The interview shall be of 275 marks.
And your final Selection shall be on the basis of your marks in UPSC Mains (1750) and Personality Test (275) i.e. 2025 marks.
The interview process is the last and final stage of the selection process.
Click here to read how to score 190+ in UPSC Interview.
And then finally if you clear all the 3 stages, you shall be allotted with Services and Cadre. Your induction and training will be done at LBSNAA and many other All India institutions. Your journey from Civil Service Aspirant will be converted into your journey as a Civil Servant!
All the best!
Jai Hind!
Team Aspire IAS!
FAQ
1. What is UPSC? What does it do?
UPSC is a Central Recruiting Agency that recommends candidates to the Department of Personnel and Training.
2. What is the educational qualification for the Civil Service exam?
UPSC in the advertisement has mentioned Graduate from a recognized university.
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