The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. The exam is held annually in three stages: the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the interview.
The preliminary exam consists of two objective-type papers, and the main exam consists of nine papers, including an essay and language papers.
Candidates who qualify the preliminary exam are eligible to appear for the main exam. Those who pass the main exam are called for an interview, also known as the personality test.
The final selection is based on the candidate’s performance in the main exam and the interview.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to select candidates for various positions in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other Civil Services. The exam is considered one of the toughest and most prestigious in the country, and is conducted in three stages: the preliminary exam, the mains exam, and the interview.
Preliminary Exam
The preliminary exam, also known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), is conducted in May or June every year. The exam consists of two papers: General Studies Paper I and CSAT.
The General Studies Paper I is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of current events, Indian and world history, Indian and world geography, Indian polity, governance, and international relations.
The General Studies Paper II, also known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), is designed to test the candidate’s aptitude, reasoning, and analytical skills. Both papers are of objective type and are of 200 marks each. The duration of each paper is two hours.
Mains Examination
Candidates who qualify in the preliminary exam are eligible to take the mains exam, which is usually conducted in October or November. Only those candidates who secure at least the declared cut off in General Studies I and 33% in General Studies II in Prelims will be allowed to appear for the Mains Examination. The mains exam is written test and consists of nine papers, but only 7 papers will be counted for the final merit ranking. For the rest two papers, the candidate should secure minimum marks prescribed by the commission each year. The first paper is the Essay Paper, which is of 250 marks. The next two papers are the Language Papers(Compulsory Indian language & English), which are of 300 marks each. The remaining six papers are the General Studies Papers (General Studies I-IV )and Optional Papers (Optional I & II), which are of 250 marks each. The duration of each paper is three hours.
The mains exam is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge of the various subjects, as well as their ability to write essays, express themselves in languages, and analyze and interpret information. The exam is also intended to test the candidate’s ability to think critically and make judgments.
Interview
After the mains exam, the candidates who have qualified the Mains are called for the interview. The interview is usually held in the month of March or April and is of 275 marks. The interview is designed to test the candidate’s personality, ability to think on their feet, and ability to express themselves clearly. The interview is also intended to test the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively and to lead and manage people.
The final selection of candidates is based on the marks obtained in the mains exam and the interview. The candidates are ranked according to their performance and are selected for the various Civil Services positions based on their rank.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a rigorous and comprehensive exam that tests the candidate’s knowledge, aptitude, and ability to think critically and make judgments. The exam is conducted in three stages: the preliminary exam, the mains exam, and the interview. The final selection of candidates is based on their performance in the mains exam and the interview. The exam is considered one of the toughest and most prestigious in the country, and is a gateway to a career in the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and other Civil Services.