UPSC CSE Exam 2024, Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus and Exam pattern

The UPSC released the Reserved List for Civil Services Mains on November 2, 2023, about the 2022 cycle. The UPSC Civil Services Mains for the IAS Exam 2023 are scheduled for September 15, 16, 17, 23, and 24, 2023. The UPSC Civil Services Prelims Result, conducted on May 28, 2023, has been declared. The Commission has announced 1105 vacancies for recruitment to various posts through the UPSC CSE 2023 Examination. This article provides comprehensive details about the IAS Exam.

UPSC Exam 2024

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination, also known as the IAS exam, on an annual basis. The official UPSC Notification for the IAS Exam 2024 is scheduled to be released on February 14, 2024. Currently, the IAS Exam for 2023 is in progress, with the prelims phase for IAS Exam 2024 set to take place on May 26, 2024. The IAS Mains 2024 is scheduled to commence on September 20, 2024. As the IAS 2023 reaches its final stage, including the interview stage, the IAS 2024 will follow, and the article will be updated with relevant details. For more information, please refer to the provided link.

List of UPSC Exams

In addition to the Civil Services Examination, various other posts and services are filled through the following UPSC Exams:

UPSC Exams
Central Armed Police Forces Exam	Engineering Services Examination
SO-Steno (GD-B-GD-I) LDCE	Indian Economic Service – Indian Statistical Service Examination
CISF AC(EXE) LDCE	Combined Defence Services Examination
Indian Forest Service Examination	Combined Geo-Scientist Examination
Combined Medical Services Examination	National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination

UPSC Exam – Civil Services/IAS

This stands as one of the most sought-after exams organized by the Union Public Service Commission. It is an annual examination conducted in three phases:

1. UPSC Exam Preliminary Stage
2. UPSC Exam Mains Stage
3. UPSC Exam Interview Stage

UPSC Civil Services Exam Application Process

• The notification is still pending release. The application is accessible to individuals of all genders, including males, females, and transgender, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria. To participate in the UPSC CSE, applicants must submit their applications online via the official website. While completing the UPSC Exam application, candidates are required to have one photo ID card from the following list in their possession:
  – Aadhaar Card
  – Voter Card
  – PAN Card
  – Passport
  – Driving Licence
  – Any other Photo ID Card issued by the State/Central Government

• Applicants have the option to withdraw their UPSC CSE application form within the specified window provided by the Commission. For guidance, information, or clarification regarding their applications or candidature, individuals can utilize the UPSC Exam Facilitation Counter located at Gate C of the UPSC campus.
• The UPSC Exam application is initially released for the Preliminary stage. Subsequently, following the announcement of the prelim results, the Commission issues the UPSC Detailed Application Form for successful candidates to apply for the Mains stage.

UPSC Exam Stages

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)  Exam consists of three main stages, each designed to assess candidates’ knowledge, skills, and aptitude for various administrative roles in the Indian civil services. The three stages are:

Prelims

• It is the screening test.
• It contains two papers:
  – GS-I
  – CSAT
• GS 1 has 100 questions with 2 marks each.
• CSAT has 80 questions with 2.5 marks each.
• The candidate has to attain a minimum of 66 marks in CSAT and only then does his/her GS 1 paper get evaluated.
• The cut-off is decided based on the GS 1 paper of the prelims.

Mains

• It is the subjective stage of the UPSC Exam.
• It has nine theory papers.
  – 4 General Studies Papers
  – 2 Optional Papers
  – 2 Language Papers
  – 1 Essay Paper
• Among the nine papers in the Main Examination, language papers are considered qualifying in nature.
• Candidates are required to choose one optional subject from a list of 48 subjects.
• It is permissible to select any one official language of India as the medium for writing this examination.

Interview

The UPSC Exam concludes with a personality test, marking the final phase of the assessment. Successful candidates from the main stage proceed to the interview stage. Typically, the number of candidates participating in the interview is three times the actual UPSC Exam Vacancy. Despite being the ultimate stage of the UPSC Examination, adequate preparation from day one is essential.

UPSC Exam Posts

Before applying for the examination, it is crucial to be aware of the various posts and services encompassed in the UPSC Civil Services Exam. In addition to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Foreign Service, the UPSC CSE Exam also selects candidates for the following Group A & B Services:

UPSC Exam Group A Services

UPSC Exam Group B Services

Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’ Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’ Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’ Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’ Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’ Indian Information Service, Junior Grade Group ‘A’ Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’ Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘A’ Indian Railway Protection Force Service, Group ‘A’ Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) Group ‘A’ Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) Group ‘A’ Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Grade III)

Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade) Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service (DANICS), Group ‘B’ Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS), Group ‘B’ Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS), Group ‘B’

UPSC Exam Syllabus

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Exam Syllabus is a comprehensive document that delineates the range of topics covered in the Civil Services Examination, a highly competitive and prestigious examination in India. The UPSC Civil Services Syllabus outlines the topics included in both the preliminary and main examinations. Organized into different sections, the UPSC Exam syllabus serves as the primary resource for comprehending the examination structure.

UPSC Exam Eligibility

This represents the fundamental eligibility criteria for UPSC, applicable to the general category. For details regarding reservation and age relaxation granted to different categories, please refer to the associated article provided.

Minimum Age to apply for the UPSC Exam	21
Maximum Age to apply for the UPSC Exam	32
Minimum Education	Final Year Student in Graduation/A Graduate

UPSC Exam Study Material

It’s widely known that a vast number of candidates aspire to succeed in the Civil Services Examination. However, it’s also a reality that only a limited number of seats are announced annually. Consequently, acquiring the most effective UPSC Exam notes becomes crucial.

UPSC Exam Recommended Books

The UPSC exam stands out as one of the most prestigious and demanding examinations in India. Given its extensive syllabus and fierce competition, successful navigation of the UPSC exam requires proper guidance and study resources. Although there is no singular book ensuring success, there are numerous recommended books for the UPSC exam, including NCERT textbooks, which can prove to be invaluable companions in your preparation journey. Covering a diverse array of subjects, these books offer comprehensive knowledge, analytical insights, and practice materials for every stage of the UPSC exam.

Subject	UPSC Books
History	India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania NCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval) NCERT XII (Modern Indian History) India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra India after Independence by Bipan Chandra
Geography	Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong NCERT VI – X (Old Syllabus) NCERT XI, XII (New Syllabus) World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
Indian Polity	Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth NCERT IX-XII
Economics	Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri NCERT XI
Disaster Management	Environment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw Hill
Security	Challenges to Internal Security of India – Ashok Kumar
International Relations	NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics) Current Affairs
Ethics	Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Main Examination by Subba Rao and P.N. Roy Chaudary
Current Affairs	The Hindu or The Indian Express Newspaper Yojana and Kurukshetra Magazine
CSAT	Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R S Aggarwal

Current Affairs Preparation for UPSC Exam

In recent times, Current Affairs has evolved into one of the pivotal sections of the UPSC Exam. The significance of staying abreast of national and international events has grown over the years. To align with this contemporary emphasis, several initiatives have been introduced to assist candidates in gearing up for the impending UPSC Exam.

Other UPSC Exams

Besides the main UPSC Civil Services Exam, there are other important exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). These exams, like the Indian Forest Service (IFS), Combined Defense Services (CDS), Engineering Services Examination (ESE), and more, offer different opportunities for people to work for the country. We have provided below a quick overview of these exams so that candidates can decide which one suits them best.

UPSC Exam – SO-Steno (GD-B-GD-I) LDCE

• SO stands for Section Officers.
• GD-B stands for Grade B, and GD-I stands for Grade-I.
• The recruitment process aims to fill vacancies for Section Officers across various services.
• The positions are distributed under nine categories.

To discover more about the categories and eligibility requirements for the SO-Steno UPSC Exam, please visit the official website at upsc.gov.in/examinations/.

UPSC Exam – Indian Forest Service Examination

• This examination is conducted to select candidates for the Indian Forest Service (IFoS), which is an All-India Service.
• The exam pattern for IFoS is akin to that of the IAS Exam.

Combined Medical Services Examination

• The exam is conducted to hire candidates for the subsequent positions:
  • Junior Scale Posts in Central Health Service
  • Assistant Divisional Medical Officer in the Railways.
  • Assistant Medical Officer in Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service
  • General Duty Medical Officer in New Delhi Municipal Council
  • General Duty Medical Officer Gr-II in East Delhi Municipal Corporation,
  • North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation

Engineering Services Examination

• Engineering Services Examination exam recruits candidates for:
  – Group A Services/Posts in Civil Engineering
  – Group A/B Services/Posts in Mechanical Engineering
  – Group A/B Services/Posts in Electrical Engineering
  – Group A/B Services/Posts in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering

Indian Economic Service – Indian Statistical Service Examination

• Eligible candidates for the IES-ISS examination must be in the age range of 21 to 30.
• The examination consists of two parts: The written Exam and Viva Voce.

Learn the scheme of the examination from the official notification available on the official website.

Combined Geo-Scientist Examination

• Combined Geo-Scientist UPSC Exam recruits for:
  – Chemist, Group A in the Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines
  – Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology), (Chemical) (Geophysics) Group ‘A’ in the Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources.

Learn the scheme of the examination from the official notification available on the official website.