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UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

The Official UPSC Notification for IAS Exam 2024 was Released on 14th February 2024. The last date to fill the UPSC application was 06-03-2024 till 6:00 PM. As per the UPSC Annual Exam Calendar 2024, Union Public Service Commission conducted the IAS Preliminary Exam on 6-06-2024, and the preliminary Exam Result was declared on 01-07-2024. After that application for (DAF-I) was started from 03-07-2024, and the last date to apply online was 12-07-2024 till 6:00 PM, and now UPSC will conduct the IAS Mains Exam between 20-09-2024 to 29-09-2024.

Overview:

The IAS Exam (officially known as the Civil Services Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually. The IAS (Indian Administrative Service) Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to Appoint Officers for the All India Administrative Civil Service. There are about 24 Services that come under the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC every year. These services include IAS, IFS, IPS, etc.

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

Indian Languages & English:

Name of Test	Topic	Weightage
Part A Indian Languages	Comprehension of given passages	300 Marks
	Précis Writing
	Usage and Vocabulary
	Short Essays
Part B: English	Comprehension of given passages	300 Marks
	Précis Writing
	Usage and Vocabulary
	Short Essays
	Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa

NOTE 1. The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of a qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.

NOTE 2. The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where the translation is involved).

PAPER I ESSAY:

...

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

Indian Languages & English:

Name of Test	Topic	Weightage
Part A Indian Languages	Comprehension of given passages	300 Marks
	Précis Writing
	Usage and Vocabulary
	Short Essays
Part B: English	Comprehension of given passages	300 Marks
	Précis Writing
	Usage and Vocabulary
	Short Essays
	Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa

NOTE 2. The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where the translation is involved).

PAPER I ESSAY:

Name of Test	Topic	Weightage
Essay	Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics, They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely, Credit will be given for effective and exact expression	250 Marks

PAPER- II GENERAL STUDIES- I:

Name of Test	Topic	Weightage
General Studies-I Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society	Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.	250 Marks
	Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues.
	The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
	Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
	History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as the industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
	Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
	Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems, and their remedies.
	Effects of globalization on Indian society. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
	Salient features of the world’s physical geography.
	Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
	Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone,s, etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

PAPER- III GENERAL STUDIES- II:

Name of Test	Topic	Weightage
General Studies II Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations	Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure	250 Marks
	Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues, and challenges about the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein
	Separation of powers between various organs disputes redressal mechanisms and institutions
	Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
	Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges, and issues arising out of these
	Structure, organization, and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity
	Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
	Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
	Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies
	Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
	Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
	Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections
	Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
	Issues relating to poverty and hunger
	Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability, and institutional and other measures
	Role of civil services in a democracy
	India and its neighborhood- relations
	Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
	Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora
	Important International institutions, agencies, and fora- their structure, mandate

PAPER- IV GENERAL STUDIES- III:

Name of Test	Topic	Weightage
General Studies-III Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management	Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development, and employment	250 Marks
	Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
	Government Budgeting
	Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
	Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing
	Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management
	Land reforms in India
	Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth
	Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc
	Investment models
	Science and technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
	Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology
	Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights
	Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation, environmental impact assessment
	Disaster and disaster management
	Linkages between development and spread of extremism
	Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
	Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cybersecurity; money-laundering and its prevention
	Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism
	Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

PAPER- V GENERAL STUDIES- IV:

Name of Test	Topic	Weightage
General Studies- IV Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude	Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators; the role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values	250 Marks
	Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion
	Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards the weaker-sections
	Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance
	Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
	Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations, and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance
	Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption
	Case Studies on the above issues

OPTIONAL PAPER LIST-

AGRICULTURE:

Name of Test	Topic
AGRICULTURE	Paper- 1
	Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation. Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and production. Agro ecology; cropping pattern as indicators of environments,etc
	Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the country. Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns,etc.
	Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the country. Impact of high-yielding and short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns,etc.
	Important features, and scope of various types of forestry plantations such as social forestry, agroforestry, and natural forests,etc.
	Weeds, their characteristics, dissemination and association with various crops, etc.
	Soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Processes and factors of soil formation, etc.
	Water-use efficiency in relation to crop production, criteria for scheduling irrigations, etc.
	Farm management, scope, importance and characteristics , etc.
	Agricultural extension, its importance and role, methods of evaluation of extension programmes , etc.
	Paper- 2
	Cell structure, function and cell cycle. Synthesis, structure and function of genetic material, etc.
	History of plant breeding. Modes of reproduction, selfing and crossing techniques. Origin, evolution and domestication of crop plants, center of origin , etc.
	Seed production and processing technologies. Seed certification, Seed testing and storage. DNA finger printing and seed registration, etc
	Principles of Plant Physiology with reference to plant nutrition, absorption, etc
	Enzymes and plant pigments; photosynthesis—modern concepts and factors affecting the process , etc.
	major fruits, plantation crops, vegetables, spices and flower crops. package practices of major horticultural crops. Protected cultivation and high tech horticulture , etc
	Diagnosis of pests and diseases of field crops, vegetables, orchard and plantation crops , etc.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND VETERINARY SCIENCE:

Name of Test	Topic
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND VETERINARY SCIENCE
	Paper- 1
	Animal Nutrition: Partitioning of food energy within the animal. Direct and indirect calorimetry. Carbon—nitrogen balance and comparative slaughter methods, Latest advances in protein nutrition, Major and trace minerals—Their sources, Feed additives—methane inhibitors, and Advances in ruminant nutrition. Nutrient requirements, Poultry nutrition. Special features of poultry nutrition, etc.
	Animal Physiology: Physiology of blood and its circulation, Blood constituents , Circulation, Respiration,Excretion ,Endocrine glands, Growth and Animal Production , Physiology of Milk Production, Environmental Physiology, etc.
	Animal Reproduction: Semen quality. Preservation and Artificial Insemination Components of semen, composition of spermatozoa, chemical and physical properties of ejaculated semen, etc.
	Livestock Production and Management: Commercial Dairy Farming, Commercial meat, egg and wool production, Feeding and management of animals under drought, flood and other natural calamities, etc.
	Genetics and Animal Breeding: History of animal genetics. Mitosis and Meiosis, Population Genetics applied to Animal Breeding, Breeding Systems, etc.
	Extension: Basic philosophy, objectives, concept and principles of extension. Different Methods adopted to educate farmers under rural conditions, etc.
	Paper- 2
	Anatomy, Pharmacology and Hygiene: Histology and Histological Techniques, Embryology, Bovine Anatomy, Anatomy of Fowl, pharmacology and therapeutics drugs, Veterinary Hygiene with reference to water, air and habitation, etc.
	Animal Diseases: Etiology, epidemiology pathogenesis, symptoms, Etiology, epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis, Deficiency diseases of domestic animals and birds, Diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, Principles and methods of immunization of animals against specific diseases hard immunity , Anaesthesia, Disease investigation techniques, etc.
	Veterinary Public Health: Zoonoses, Epidemiology, Veterinary Jurisprudence, etc.
	Milk and Milk Products Technology: Market Milk, Milk Products Technology, etc.
	Meat Hygiene and Technology: Meat Hygiene, Hygienic methods of handling production of meat, Meat Technology, Physical and chemical characteristics of meat, By-products, Poultry Products Technology, Rabbit/Fur Animal farming, etc.

ANTHROPOLOGY:

Name of Test	Topic
ANTHROPOLOGY
	Paper- 1
	Meaning, Scope and development of Anthropology, Relationships with other disciplines, Main branches of Anthropology, Human Evolution and emergence of Man, Human Evolution and emergence of Man, Characteristics of Primates, Phylogenetic status, The biological basis of Life, Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology. Chronology, etc.
	The Nature of Culture, The Nature of Society, Marriage, Family, Kinship
	Economic Organization
	Political Organization and Social Control
	Religion
	Anthropological theories
	Culture, Language and Communication
	Research methods in Anthropology
	Human Genetics , Age, sex and population variation as genetic marker, Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology, Epidemiological Anthropology,Concept of human growth and Development, etc.
	Paper- 2
	Evolution of the Indian Culture and Civilization, Palaeo, Ethno-archaeology in India, etc.
	Demographic profile of India, Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian population, etc.
	Caste system in India, Sacred Complex and Nature, Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity of Indian society, Emergence, growth and development in India, etc.
	Indian Village, Significane of village study in India; Indian village as a social system, Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, etc.
	Problems of the tribal Communities, Land alienation, poverty, indebtedness, low literacy, Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement, Problems of exploitation and deprivation of Scheduled Castes, Social change and contemporary tribal societies, The concept of ethnicity, Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies,Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development, History of administration of tribal areas, etc.

BOTANY:

Name of Test	Topic
BOTANY
	Paper- 1
	Microbiology and Plant Pathology: Structure and reproduction/multiplication of viruses,viroids, bacteria, fungi and mycoplasma; Applications of microbiology in agriculture,Important crop diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and nematodes; Modes of infection and dissemination; Molecular basis of infection and disease, etc.
	Cryptogams: Algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, pteridophytes-structure, etc.
	Plant Resource Development: Domestication and introduction of plants; Origin of cultivated plants, Vavilov’s centres of origin. Plants as sources for food, fodder, fibres, spices, beverages, edible oils, drugs, narcotics, insecticides, timber, gums, resins and dyes, etc.
	Morphogenesis: Totipotency, polarity, symmetry and differentiation; Cell, tissue, etc.
	Paper- 2
	Cell Biology: Techniques of cell biology. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells structural and ultrastructural details; Structure and function of extracellular matrix (cell wall) and membranes-cell adhesion, etc.
	Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution: Development of genetics, and gene versus allele concepts (Pseudoalleles); Quantitative genetics and multiple factors; Incomplete dominance, polygenic inheritance, multiple alleles, Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, Role of RNA in origin and evolution, etc.
	Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics: Methods of plant breeding—introduction, selection and hybridization (pedigree, backcross, mass selection, bulk method); Mutation, polyploidy, male sterility and heterosis breeding. Use of apomixes in plant breeding; DNA sequencing; Genetic engineering, etc.
	Physiology and Biochemistry: Water relations, mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies. Photosynthesis— photochemical reactions, photophosphorylation and carbon fixation pathways; C3, C4 and CAM pathways; Mechanism of pholem transport, Growth substances—their chemical nature, role and applications in agri-horticulture, etc.
	Ecology and Plant Geography: Concept of ecosystem; Ecological factors. Concepts and dynamics of community, Forest types of India—‘Ecological and ecomomic importance of forests, afforestation, deforestation and social forestry; Endangered plants, endemism IUCN categories, etc.

CHEMISTRY:

Name of Test	Topic
CHEMISTRY
	Paper- 1
	Atomic Structure: Heisenberg's uncertainty principle Schrodinger wave equation (time independent); Interpretation of wave function, particle in one- dimensional box, etc.
	Chemical bonding: Ionic bond, characteristics of ionic compounds, lattice energy, Born-Haber cycle; covalent bond and its general characteristics, polarities of bonds in molecules and their dipole moments; Valence bond theory, concept of resonance and resonance energy, etc.
	Solid state: Crystal systems; Designation of crystal faces, lattice structures and unit cell; Bragg's law; X-ray diffraction by crystals, etc.
	The gaseous state and Transport Phenomenon: Equation of state for real gases, intermolecular interactions, and critical phenomena and liquefaction of gases; Maxwell’s distribution of speeds, intermolecular collisions, etc.
	Liquid State: Kelvin equation; Surface tension and surface enercy, wetting and contact angle, interfacial tension and capillary action.
	Thermodynamics: Work, heat and internal energy; first law of thermodynamics, Second law of thermodynamics; entropy as a state function, entropy changes in various processes, entropy-reversibility and irreversibility, etc.
	Phase equilibria and solutions: Clausius-Clapeyron equation; phase diagram for a pure substance; phase equilibria in binary systems, partially miscible liquids, etc.
	Electrochemistry: Debye-Huckel theory of strong electrolytes and Debye-Huckel limiting Law for various equilibrium and transport properties, etc.
	Chemical kinetics: Differential and integral rate equations for zeroth, first, second and fractional order reactions; Rate equations involving reverse, parallel, etc.
	Photochemistry: Absorption of light; decay of excited state by different routes; photochemical reactions between hydrogen and halogens and their quantum yields.
	Surface phenomena and catalysis
	Bio-inorganic chemistry
	Coordination chemistry: Bonding in transition of metal complexes. Valence bond theory, Bonding in transition of metal complexes. Valence bond theory,EAN rule, Synthesis structure and reactivity of metal carbonyls, etc.
	Main Group Chemistry: Boranes, borazines, phosphazenes and cyclic phosphazene, silicates and silicones, Interhalogen compounds; Sulphur—nitrogen compounds, noble gas compounds.
	General Chemistry of ‘f’ Block Element: Lanthanides and actinides: separation, oxidation states, magnetic and spectral properties; lanthanide contraction.
	Paper- 2
	Delocalised covalent bonding
	Reaction mechanisms: Reactive intermediates , Substitution reactions, Elimination reactions, Addition reactions, Reactions and Rearrangements, etc.
	Pericyclic reactions: Classification and examples; Woodward-Hoffmann rules—electrocyclic reactions, cycloaddition reactions, etc.
	Preparation and Properties of Polymers: Biopolymers: Structure of proteins, DNA and RNA, etc.
	Synthetic Uses of Reagents: OsO4, HlO4, CrO3, Pb(OAc)4, SeO2, NBS, B2H6, Na-Liquid NH3, LiAIH4, NaBH4, n-BuLi, MCPBA.
	Photochemistry: Photochemical reactions of simple organic compounds, excited and ground states, singlet and triplet states, Norrish-Type I and Type II reactions.
	Spectroscopy: Principle and applications in structure elucidation, Rotational, Vibrational, Electronic , Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1HNMR), Mass Spectrometry, etc.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING:

Name of Test	Topic
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING	Paper- 1
	Circuits—Theory
	Signals and Systems
	E.M. Theory
	Analog Electronics
	Digital Electronics
	Energy Conversion
	Power Electronics and Electric Drives
	Analog Communication
	Paper- 2
	Control Systems
	Microprocessors and Microcomputers
	Measurement and Instrumentation
	Measurement and Instrumentation
	Power System Protection
	Digital Communication

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

Subject	Books
History, Indian Heritage & Culture [GS Paper 1]	Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
	India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
	India After Independence by Bipan Chandra
	History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
	Ancient India by R.S Sharma
Geography [GS Paper 1]	Geography of India - Majid Hussain
	World Geography- Majid Hussain
	Oxford Atlas
	Central Physical and Human Geography by GC Leong
	Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11
Polity & International Relations [GS Paper 2]	Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth
	Constitution of India by DD Basu
	International Relations: Pushpesh Pant
Economy [GS Paper 3]	Indian Economy – Nitin Singhania
Economy [GS Paper 3]	Environment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw Hill
Ethics [GS Paper 4]	Challenges to Internal Security of India – Ashok Kumar
Solved Papers	IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers – Vishal Publications
Essay	Selected Contemporary Essays – by Saumitra Mohan.
Essay	151 Essays – by Disha Experts

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

Format

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

EXAM PATTERN:

Qualifying Papers:

There will be two qualifying papers mentioned below. It may be noted that marks for the below two papers will not be counted at the time of preparation of the rank list.

Paper	Description	Marks
A	One of the Indian language to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the constitution	300
B	English	300

Papers to be counted for merit :

The UPSC Mains will comprise nine theory papers (essay descriptive type). Out of the nine papers, only seven will be counted for merit ranking. Candidates also have to choose one optional subject for UPSC Mains. The maximum marks for the UPSC Mains exam are 1750 (7 papers * 250 marks each). All papers are of three-hour duration.

Test Mode	Name of Test	Maximum Marks	Duration
Descriptive Type Offline Pen & Paper Based Test

...

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

EXAM PATTERN:

Qualifying Papers:

There will be two qualifying papers mentioned below. It may be noted that marks for the below two papers will not be counted at the time of preparation of the rank list.

Paper	Description	Marks
A	One of the Indian language to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the constitution	300
B	English	300

Papers to be counted for merit :

Test Mode	Name of Test	Maximum Marks	Duration
Descriptive Type Offline Pen & Paper Based Test	Paper I Essay	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper II (General Studies I)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper III (General Studies II)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper IV (General Studies, III)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper V (General Studies IV)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper-VI Optional Subject - Paper I	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper-VII Optional Subject - Paper II	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Total	1750 Marks
	Personality Test	275 Marks	180 Minutes
	Grand Total (for merit calculation)	2025 Marks

Candidates may choose any one of the literature subjects from amongst the list of subjects mentioned below:

Language	Script
Assamese	Assamese
Bengali	Bengali
Gujarati	Gujarati
Hindi	Devanagari
Kannada	Kannada
Kashmiri	Persian
Konkani	Persian
Malayalam	Malayalam
Manipuri	Bengali
Marathi	Devanagari
Nepali	Devanagari
Odia	Odia
Punjabi	Gurumukhi
Sanskrit	Devanagari
Sindhi	Devanagari or Arabic
Tamil	Tamil
Telugu	Telugu
Urdu	Persian
Bodo	Devanagari
Dogri	Devanagari
Maithili	Devanagari
Santhali	Devanagari or Olchiki

NOTE: For the Santhali language, the question paper will be printed in Devanagari script, but candidates will be free to answer either in Devanagari script or in Olchik.

List of optional subjects for Main Examination:

Optional Subject List
Agriculture	Commerce and Accountancy	Anthropology
Economics	Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science	Electrical Engineering
Geology	History	Law
Psychology	Public Administration	Sociology
Botany	Chemistry	Civil Engineering
Geography	Mechanical Engineering	Medical Science
Management	Mathematics	Philosophy
Statistics	Zoology

Mode Of Examination:

The question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.

Medium Of Examination:

The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English only.

Marking Scheme:

There shall be No Negative Marking in conventional (essay) type papers.
The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature.
The total marks of the Mains Examination are 1750 marks.
Candidates will be graded based on opinion, Content flow, understanding of the problems/ situation, offering feasible solutions/strategies, presentation, and language.
Candidates can choose two optional papers on which they will be questioned. The candidates must check out the syllabus of several optional papers, such as English Literature before choosing any two.

INTERVIEW / PERSONALITY TEST:

All candidates who secured the Cut off Marks of the mains Examination will proceed toward the Personality Test.

This would include the Psychometric Test, Assessment Test as well as Personal Interview.
The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest.
The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate.
In broad terms, this is an assessment of not only the candidate’s intellectual qualities but also his social traits and his interest in current affairs.
Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, the balance of judgment, variety, and depth of interest, the ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.
This test will be conducted in the language of choice.
The interview will be graded for 275 marks. The total marks of IAS are 2025 marks.
Candidates will be ranked based on the total and called for the final interview.

IMPORTANT FACTS:

1. The papers on Indian Languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature.

2. Paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim.

3. Paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for Candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disability (only Hearing Impairment sub-category).

4. Marks obtained by the candidates for Paper I-VII only will be counted for Merit Ranking. However, the Commission will have the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all of these papers.

5. The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English Language only.

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

Eligibility

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Candidates willing to apply, are required to fulfill certain conditions to be eligible for it. The candidate who does not satisfy the Eligibility criteria like Age, Minimum educational qualification, their candidature shall be rejected by the authorities.

Nationality:

To appear for the UPSC IAS exams you need to be a citizen of India, for all other services, you must be either:

A citizen of India,
Or a subject of Nepal,
Or a subject of Bhutan,
Or a refugee from Tibet that came to India before the 1st of January 1962 with the intention of settling in India permanently.
Or an individual with Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, East African countries of Uganda, Zambia, Zaire, Kenya, the united republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, & Vietnam, with the purpose of settling permanently in India.

Note:

(1) If you belong to categories b), c), d), and e), then you’d need a certificate issued by the govt. of India to be eligible.

(2) Also belonging to the b), c), d), and e). Categories will bar you from being eligible to be appointed to the Indian Foreign Services.

Age Limit:

As per the IAS age limit eligibility criteria, those between 21 to 32 years, can fill the UPSC IAS application form.

Relaxation Of Upper Age Limit:

Categories	Age Relaxation
SC/ST	5 Years
OBC

...

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Nationality:

To appear for the UPSC IAS exams you need to be a citizen of India, for all other services, you must be either:

A citizen of India,
Or a subject of Nepal,
Or a subject of Bhutan,
Or a refugee from Tibet that came to India before the 1st of January 1962 with the intention of settling in India permanently.
Or an individual with Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, East African countries of Uganda, Zambia, Zaire, Kenya, the united republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, & Vietnam, with the purpose of settling permanently in India.

Note:

(1) If you belong to categories b), c), d), and e), then you’d need a certificate issued by the govt. of India to be eligible.

(2) Also belonging to the b), c), d), and e). Categories will bar you from being eligible to be appointed to the Indian Foreign Services.

Age Limit:

As per the IAS age limit eligibility criteria, those between 21 to 32 years, can fill the UPSC IAS application form.

Relaxation Of Upper Age Limit:

Categories	Age Relaxation
SC/ST	5 Years
OBC	3 Years
Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof	3 Years
Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service and have been released	5 Years
Visually challenged/hearing impaired/physically challenged candidates	10 Years

Number of Attempts:

Category	Number of Attempts
General	6
OBC	9
SC/ST	No restriction
Physically Handicapped (General)	9
Physically Handicapped (OBC)	9
Physically Handicapped (SC/ST)	No restriction

Educational Qualifications:

The candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university to take the UPSC exam.
Even those candidates who have written the final year exams of the qualifying exam (bachelor’s degree) and are awaiting results can apply. Also, candidates who would write the final exam are also eligible to apply for the IAS prelims exam. But, these candidates must produce proof of passing the exam while applying for the IAS mains exam.
In exceptional cases, the UPSC may allow a candidate who does not fall under the aforementioned categories if the candidate has passed an exam conducted by other institutions, the standard of which the UPSC is convinced justifies his/her admission to take the UPSC exam.
Those candidates with professional/technical qualifications which are recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional/technical degrees are also eligible.
MBBS candidates who have not yet completed their internship by the time of applying for the UPSC Mains will be given a provisional admission to take the mains, provided they submit a copy of the certificate from the concerned University/institution authority that they have passed the requisite final professional medical examination. At the time of the interview, such candidates will have to produce a certificate from the University/institution stating that they have completed all the requirements (including completion of internship) for the award of the medical degree.

Physical Standard:

Applicants Appearing for the UPSC IAS Exam must be Physically Fit and have a Sound Mind. After the UPSC CSE Personality Test Selected Applicants Undergo Several Medical Tests at the Medical Centre Notified by the UPSC. Candidates must pass all the Medical Tests to get admitted to any of the services.

ELIGIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. The candidate must be a citizen of India to get eligible for Indian Administrative Service.

2. The candidate must be at least 21 years of age, but should not be above 32 years.

3. The candidate should possess a minimum of graduation degree from a recognised university.

4. Candidates must be physically fit.

5. There is a maximum limit of attempts prescribed for each category of candidates.

6. Candidates belonging to SC/ST have no limit of maximum number of attempts.

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

Schedule

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

UPSC IAS MAINS IMPORTANT FACTS:

1. UPSC IAS Exam is held Once a Year.

2. Online Application Validity Period Approx 20 Days.

3. Candidates are advised to be clear about the Exam Schedule.

4. Candidates are advised to Download and Print the Admit Card timely.

5. Candidates should reach the Examination Centre well before time in order to prepare themselves for the Examination.

6. Candidates must be fully aware of all the barred items that are not permitted in the Examination.

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

UPSC IAS MAINS IMPORTANT FACTS:

1. UPSC IAS Exam is held Once a Year.

2. Online Application Validity Period Approx 20 Days.

3. Candidates are advised to be clear about the Exam Schedule.

4. Candidates are advised to Download and Print the Admit Card timely.

5. Candidates should reach the Examination Centre well before time in order to prepare themselves for the Examination.

6. Candidates must be fully aware of all the barred items that are not permitted in the Examination.

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

Analysis

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

PAPER ANALYSIS ( 16th September 2022 ):

The Paper- I of the UPSC IAS Essay Paper was conducted on 16th September 2022. The overall level of the Paper- I of the IAS Mains Exam was Moderate to Difficult. Paper- I is divided into two sections - Section A and Section B.

Essay Topics asked in the UPSC IAS Mains 2022 are given below:

Section A:

1. Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world?
2. A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what a ship is for.
3. Forests are the best case studies for economic excellence.
4. History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man.

Section B:

1. You cannot step twice in the same river.
2. A smile is the chosen vehicle for all ambiguities.
3. Just because you have a choice, it does not mean that any of them has to be right.
4. The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.

Based on topics asked in paper, here are a few opinions and reviews about the essay paper:

1. There has been a trend of increased number of philosophical essays in the past couple of years however this time around the benchmark was higher than the previous few years. However, considering the philosophical base of the questions, most candidates found the questions tricky. It was not easy to write 1000 words on each topic within the time constraints.

2. UPSC has ensured that the essay topics were much different from the GS questions.

3. Rather than asking candidates to write on topics that most candidates are familiar with or have practiced with, UPSC now assesses candidates' essay writing skills by providing them with abstract or philosophical topics.

4. This year most of the them were either proverbs or famous quotes.

5. All 8 topics this year will test applicants' spontaneous thinking, understanding, writing and time management.

GENERAL STUDIES ( PAPER-I ) ANALYSIS:

UPSC followed the time-tested pattern of 20 questions in 3 hours this year too. The pattern of 20 questions in GS Paper- I of UPSC CSE 2022 was familiar to most aspirants, Based on the analysis of General Studies Paper- I, here are a few opinions and reviews about the paper:

1. Questions from Culture were from topics like Mediaeval Indian temple sculptures, Contributions of the Gupta and Chola periods

...

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

PAPER ANALYSIS ( 16th September 2022 ):

Essay Topics asked in the UPSC IAS Mains 2022 are given below:

Section A:

Section B:

Based on topics asked in paper, here are a few opinions and reviews about the essay paper:

2. UPSC has ensured that the essay topics were much different from the GS questions.

4. This year most of the them were either proverbs or famous quotes.

5. All 8 topics this year will test applicants' spontaneous thinking, understanding, writing and time management.

GENERAL STUDIES ( PAPER-I ) ANALYSIS:

1. Questions from Culture were from topics like Mediaeval Indian temple sculptures, Contributions of the Gupta and Chola periods and the Significance of Lion and Bull figures in Indian mythology.

2. Modern India part of the UPSC syllabus was given stress through questions on Indian soldiers in armies of the British East India Company and Famines in Colonial India since the mid-18th century.

3. The post-Independence era was touched –on with a question on the Political and Administrative Reorganisation of States and Territories after the mid-19th century,

4. World History There was no direct question asked from the World History part.

5. The highest priority area in GS Paper- I UPSC 2022 (Mains) was Geography. The questions from the geography section were on the following topics: primary rocks, Colour coded weather warnings and IMD, Natural resource potential of the Deccan Trap, Potential of Wind energy in India, Ocean currents and their role in the fishing industry, Rubber producing countries and environmental issues, Significance of Strait and Isthmus in international trade, Significance of Troposhere in weather process.

6. From Human Geography a question was asked about the relationship between Globalisation and new Technologies in a world of scarce resources with special reference to India.

7. Questions from Indian Society were interconnected with subjects like the Impact of Work From Home on family relationships, Growth of Tier-2 cities in rising of a new middle class, Tribal communities and diversities, Salience of ‘sect’ in Indian society vis-a-vis caste, region and religion and the Role of Tolerance, assimilation and Pluralism in Indian secularism.

UPSC IAS MAINS 2022 GENERAL STUDIES ( PAPER- II ) ANALYSIS:

Question Topics in General Studies Paper- II:

1. Constitutionalization of Environmental problems by Supreme Court- with case
2. Right of movement and residence
3. Decentralisation of Power
4. Role of Vice President as Chairman of Rajya Sabha
5. National Commission for Backward Classes
6. Gatishakthi Yojana
7. Person with Disability act 2016
8. Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme
9. India- Srilanka relations
10. BIMSTEC v/s SAARC
11. Election of MP/MLA under ROPA 1951
12. Legislative powers of the Governor
13. National Political Parties and Regional Parties
14. Presidential election of India and France
15. Election Commission and Model Code of Conduct

Based on the analysis of General Studies Paper- II, here are a few opinions and reviews about the paper:

1. Many questions like those on National Commission for Backward Classes, Legislative Powers of Governer, Role of Vice President as Chairman of Rajya Sabha, and Decentralisation of Power were very typical and with the exact keywords mentioned in the UPSC CSE (Mains) Syllabus.

2. Apart from I2U2, Gatishakthi Yojana and the question on President and Vice President, none of the other questions can be considered to have a direct connection with current affairs of the last 1 year. However, knowledge of current affairs in the span of the last 10 years could have added value to some of the other answers.

3. Rather than about the mandate of the Election Commission UPSC asked about of Relation between the Election Commission and the Model Code of Conduct.

4. Overall we rate the quality of the questions as good. Most serious aspirants should find the paper moderate.

5. The questions adequately tested the understanding of future civil servants in the areas of Constitution, Polity, Governance, Social Justice and International relations.

UPSC IAS MAINS 2022 GENERAL STUDIES ( PAPER-III ) ANALYSIS:

Question Topics in General Studies Paper- III:

1. PPP in railway station
2. Inclusive growth & Market Economy
3. Challenges of PDS
4. Food Processing Industry
5. Challenges leading from increased Life Expectancy
6. Cellulose- decomposition
7. Photochemical Fog- Gothenburg protocol
8. Cloud burst
9. Types of organised crimes
10. Maritime Security challenges
11. Labour productivity
12. Renewable energy
13. Marketing of agricultural products
14. Integrated farming systems
15. James Webb Space Telescope

Based on the analysis of General Studies Paper- II, here are a few opinions and reviews about the paper:

1. The question paper started with somewhat factual questions regarding the Challenges of PDS, the Food Processing Industry etc.

2. However, the remaining share of questions mainly focused on the analysis aspect.

3. This paper had a tilt toward recent events of national and international importance (in the last 10 years) – however, there was no focus on trivial or factual current affairs except a lone question on James Webb Space Telescope.

4. However, UPSC also gave a shock to candidates by asking about the Photochemical Fog and specifically about the Gothenburg protocol.

5. This reinforces our theory that the scope of current affairs should not be limited to the last 1 year – but it should span the contemporary events of at least the last 10 years.

6. The questions on Cloud burst, Vaccine development, etc were also connected with contemporary affairs.

7. Overall, the paper can be rated as moderate difficulty.

UPSC IAS MAINS 2022 GENERAL STUDIES ( PAPER- IV ) ANALYSIS:

1. GS Paper IV deals with Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.

2. The paper really checked the quick-decision making skills and overall aptitude of the candidate for the job of a future civil servant.

3. Regarding case studies, most were connected to an ethical angle. However, it was not easy to satisfactorily answer case studies within the time constraints. This paper stressed the importance of conceptual understanding in certain crucial areas like Ethics, Values, Aptitude etc.

4. Questions based on quotes were asked, Many questions focused on seeking examples from candidates – rather than theory, Examples will be game-changer, Topics like good governance, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Whistleblowing, Rule of law were asked.

5. There are no major surprises this year for those candidates who had carefully analysed the previous year’s UPSC question papers. This year’s paper followed more or less the previous year’s trends.

6. The Ethics paper should be taken seriously to score high. It needs a different kind of preparation. Along with conceptual knowledge, the right practice and time managment are also crucial for success.

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

Study Tips

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

SELECTION PROCESS:

As part of the selection procedure of IAS, candidates have to clear all the 3 stages of the entrance exam through UPSC Civil Services Examination given below:-

Preliminary Exam
Mains Exam
Personality Test/Interview

STUDY PLAN:

Preparing for an Exam like UPSC IAS Mains Requires Dedication, Ddetermination, and the Right Approach. The only deciding factor for the Selection or Rejection of a Candidate is the Strategy & Planning, which is used by them for their preparation for the UPSC IAS Mains Examination.

The foremost step in planning involves preparing a study plan based on the syllabus:

Month	Area of Focus (6 hours)	Additional 2 Hours Each Day
1st Month	NCERTs of History, Polity, Economy, Geography, and Art & Culture	Monthly Current Affairs (Past 1 month)
2nd Month	Basic reference books of History, Polity	Monthly Current Affairs (Past 2 month)
3rd Month	Basic reference books of Economy + Budget + Economic Survey	Monthly Current Affairs (Past 3 month)

...

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

SELECTION PROCESS:

As part of the selection procedure of IAS, candidates have to clear all the 3 stages of the entrance exam through UPSC Civil Services Examination given below:-

Preliminary Exam
Mains Exam
Personality Test/Interview

STUDY PLAN:

The foremost step in planning involves preparing a study plan based on the syllabus:

Month	Area of Focus (6 hours)	Additional 2 Hours Each Day
1st Month	NCERTs of History, Polity, Economy, Geography, and Art & Culture	Monthly Current Affairs (Past 1 month)
2nd Month	Basic reference books of History, Polity	Monthly Current Affairs (Past 2 month)
3rd Month	Basic reference books of Economy + Budget + Economic Survey	Monthly Current Affairs (Past 3 month)
4th Month	Basic reference books of Geography and Art & Culture	Monthly Current Affairs (Past 4 month)
5th Month	Previous Years’ Papers + Mock-test-based learning approach UPSC	UPSC IAS Mock Test + Current Affairs
6th Month	Mock-test-based learning approach	UPSC IAS Mock Test + Current Affairs

TIPS & TRICKS:

1. Candidates must selectively point out the important topics from the enormous ocean of topics linked to the Indian Administrative Services entrance examination while studying for the exam.

2. The most crucial aspect of your preparation is taking notes. While preparing for Indian Administrative Services you should take notes in your language. This will assist you in remembering the material in greater detail and for a longer amount of time, Self-made notes, on the other hand, will come in helpful during the last stages of Exam Revision.

3. Learning alone will not help you remember the stuff you have studied for UPSC Indian Administrative Services. Topics should be revised on a regular basis to ensure that information is retained, Schedule your study so that you can complete at least two rounds of revision.

4. Candidates must complete as many Indian Administrative Services sample test papers as possible prior to the exam date. The most significant benefit of taking online mock tests is that it familiarises participants with the exam format, which reduces anxiety. Candidates can also maintain track of their time management skills by taking online Indian Administrative Services practise examinations.

5. Candidates will receive the right kind of coaching during their preparation stages if they use appropriate study resources or books. Rather of focusing on quantity, candidates should keep in mind that quality is more important. In comparison to a list of books that may contain irrelevant material, one decent book will enough.

6. It is advisable to attempt mini mock tests on a daily basis for every topic studied so to be thorough with the topic.

Recommended Books for Exam:

Subject	Books
History, Indian Heritage & Culture [GS Paper 1]	Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
	India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
	India After Independence by Bipan Chandra
	History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
	Ancient India by R.S Sharma
Geography [GS Paper 1]	Geography of India - Majid Hussain
	World Geography- Majid Hussain
	Oxford Atlas
	Central Physical and Human Geography by GC Leong
	Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Class 11
Polity & International Relations [GS Paper 2]	Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth
	Constitution of India by DD Basu
	International Relations: Pushpesh Pant
Economy [GS Paper 3]	Indian Economy – Nitin Singhania
Economy [GS Paper 3]	Environment and Disaster Management – Tata McGraw Hill
Ethics [GS Paper 4]	Challenges to Internal Security of India – Ashok Kumar
Solved Papers	IAS General Studies Prelims Solved Papers – Vishal Publications
Essay	Selected Contemporary Essays – by Saumitra Mohan.
Essay	151 Essays – by Disha Experts

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ):

FAQ RELATED TO EXAM GENERAL QUERY:

Query	Response
Can I apply for multiple posts?	Yes, you can apply for multiple posts by filing a separate application form and submitting the application fee for each post
Do we need to upload a black and white or colored photograph in the application form?	Both, black and white and coloured photographs are acceptable by the Commission as long as they are clear (not blurred) and of the prescribed
I have applied for the exam, but will not be able to appear for the examination. Will that be counted as an attempt?	No, it will only be counted as an attempt if the candidate has applied but has not appeared for the examination.
What are the minimum qualifying marks for the compulsory language papers?	The cut-off marks in each of the two Qualifying Papers i.e. English and Indian Languages are at present 25%
Where can I find study material for exam preparation?	The syllabus for the civil services exam is comprehensive and the finest study material is necessary to prepare and furthermore, crack the exam. The books, video lectures, notes and study material is easily available both online and offline.
Are whiteners is allowed in UPSC IAS mains?	whiteners are allowed in the examination hall; some students have used them without any problems
Is calculator is allowed in UPSC IAS mains?	candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Progr ammable type) Calculators at the conventional (Essay) type examination of UPSC, ie Mains Exam. Programmable type calculators will however not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall be tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates
Can i write UPSC IAS mains with a black pen?	In the Mains Examination, the candidate can use any pen which is black or blue. Choosing the proper pen and practicing with it long before the examination gives you a sense of relief before the examination
Where can I check the UPSC IAS mains result?	The result for UPSC IAS mains is released on the official website and their candidates can download the list of shortlisted candidates.

FAQ RELATED TO APPLICATION FORM:

Query	Response
When Can I Submit Online Application For A Particular Examination?	An applicant should apply for a particular examination only when it has been notified by the Commission.
Is it necessary to fill up both the parts i.e. part-I and part II of the application?	The applicant is required to first complete the part-I of the application and thereafter complete the part- II of the application. Both Part-I and Part-II of the application should be fuly completed as per instructions.
What is the procedure to pay the fee for the examination?	There are three options for the payment of fees- Pay By Cash in any branch of State Bank of India, OR Pay by credit/debit Card and OR Pay by Net Banking facility of SBI.
What should I do in case my Photo / Sign does not match with pixel sizes mentioned in UPSC guidelines?	UPSC is concerned with the identification of a candidate at the Exam Hall based on the images uploaded by the candidate and not canceling the candidature based on the size or color of ink used.
Is an attempt in prelims examination counted as an attempt for the UPSC exam?	Yes, an attempt in the prelims examination counted as an attempt for the UPSC exam

FAQ RELATED TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Query	Response
What is the minimum educational qualification required to apply for the examination?	Any candidate aspiring to apply for the exam must hold a degree from Government recognized Universities or possess an equivalent qualification. Final year students who are awaiting their results are also eligible to apply for the UPSC exam.
What are the age limit criteria to apply for the civil services exam?	The applicant must not be more than 32 years of age and not be less than 21 years of age. However, age relaxations are available for specific categories.
Are there a fixed number of attempts to apply for the UPSC Exam?	YES, FOR General – 6 attempts & OBC/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD-EWS/Disabled Defence Services Personnel – 9 attempts & SC/ST – Unlimited Attempts

FAQ RELATED TO RECRUITMENT & NOTIFICATION:

Query	Response
When is the exam notification released?	The exam notification for various posts under the Union Public Service Commission exam is generally released in February every year. However, the release date is announced in the yearly UPSC calendar.
How many times is the UPSC recruitment held in a year?	It is an annual recruitment process and the official notification is released once every year.
When are the exam dates for the recruitment released?	A calendar is released by the Commission at the beginning of every year, wherein the tentative schedule for all the exams is released by the conducting body. The final dates are released along with the official notification.

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

General info

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

CAREER PROSPECTS:

IAS Officers are Recruited, and Trained by the Central Government, but they work under both the Union government as well as the individual states' government. He may also be deputed to the various International Intergovernmental Organization and Public Sector Undertakings. An IAS Officer can take up Roles, such as:

Collector
District Magistrate
Chief Development Officer
District Development Commissioner
Deputy Secretary in Government of India
Director in Government of India

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Prominently an IAS officer responsible to handle the revenue.
He/she also functions as a court official in matters of revenue and crime.
He/she has to maintain law and order in the state. He also has to implement and monitor welfare schemes and policies at the grassroots level when posted to field positions.
He/she acts as an intermediary between the public and the government.
He/she has to handle the administration and daily proceedings of the government. It includes the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policy in consultation with the minister-in-charge of a specific ministry or department.
To contribute to policy formulation.
He/she has to come out with a final decision on some issues, with the agreement of the minister concerned or the council of ministers depending upon the weight of the matter. This power comes when he is posted at the higher level in the Government of India as a joint secretary, special secretary, additional secretary or secretary equivalent and Cabinet Secretary, and in state governments as secretary, additional chief secretary principal secretary, special chief secretary and chief secretary.

EXAM PATTERN:

Qualifying Papers:

There will be two qualifying papers mentioned below. It may be noted that marks for the below two papers will not be counted at the time of preparation of the rank list.

...

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 To 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

CAREER PROSPECTS:

Collector
District Magistrate
Chief Development Officer
District Development Commissioner
Deputy Secretary in Government of India
Director in Government of India

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Prominently an IAS officer responsible to handle the revenue.
He/she also functions as a court official in matters of revenue and crime.
He/she has to maintain law and order in the state. He also has to implement and monitor welfare schemes and policies at the grassroots level when posted to field positions.
He/she acts as an intermediary between the public and the government.
He/she has to handle the administration and daily proceedings of the government. It includes the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policy in consultation with the minister-in-charge of a specific ministry or department.
To contribute to policy formulation.
He/she has to come out with a final decision on some issues, with the agreement of the minister concerned or the council of ministers depending upon the weight of the matter. This power comes when he is posted at the higher level in the Government of India as a joint secretary, special secretary, additional secretary or secretary equivalent and Cabinet Secretary, and in state governments as secretary, additional chief secretary principal secretary, special chief secretary and chief secretary.

EXAM PATTERN:

Qualifying Papers:

There will be two qualifying papers mentioned below. It may be noted that marks for the below two papers will not be counted at the time of preparation of the rank list.

Paper	Description	Marks
A	One of the Indian language to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the constitution	300
B	English	300

Papers To Be Counted For Merit:

Test Mode	Name of Test	Maximum Marks	Duration
Descriptive Type Offline Pen & Paper Based Test	Paper I Essay	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper II (General Studies I)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper III (General Studies II)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper IV (General Studies, III)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper V (General Studies IV)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper-VI Optional Subject - Paper I	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper-VII Optional Subject - Paper II	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Total	1750 Marks
	Personality Test	275 Marks	180 Minutes
	Grand Total (for merit calculation)	2025 Marks

Candidates may choose any one of the literature subjects from amongst the list of subjects mentioned below:

Language	Script
Assamese	Assamese
Bengali	Bengali
Gujarati	Gujarati
Hindi	Devanagari
Kannada	Kannada
Kashmiri	Persian
Konkani	Persian
Malayalam	Malayalam
Manipuri	Bengali
Marathi	Devanagari
Nepali	Devanagari
Odia	Odia
Punjabi	Gurumukhi
Sanskrit	Devanagari
Sindhi	Devanagari or Arabic
Tamil	Tamil
Telugu	Telugu
Urdu	Persian
Bodo	Devanagari
Dogri	Devanagari
Maithili	Devanagari
Santhali	Devanagari or Olchiki

NOTE: For the Santhali language, the question paper will be printed in Devanagari script, but candidates will be free to answer either in Devanagari script or in Olchik.

List of optional subjects for Main Examination:

Optional Subject List
Agriculture	Commerce and Accountancy	Anthropology
Economics	Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science	Electrical Engineering
Geology	History	Law
Psychology	Public Administration	Sociology
Botany	Chemistry	Civil Engineering
Geography	Mechanical Engineering	Medical Science
Management	Mathematics	Philosophy
Statistics	Zoology

Mode Of Examination:

The question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.

Medium Of Examination:

The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English only.

Marking Scheme:

There shall be No Negative Marking in conventional (essay) type papers.
The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature.
The total marks of the Mains Examination are 1750 marks.
Candidates will be graded based on opinion, Content flow, understanding of the problems/ situation, offering feasible solutions/strategies, presentation, and language.
Candidates can choose two optional papers on which they will be questioned. The candidates must check out the syllabus of several optional papers, such as English Literature before choosing any two.

INTERVIEW / PERSONALITY TEST:

All candidates who secured the Cut off Marks of the mains Examination will proceed toward the Personality Test.

This would include the Psychometric Test, Assessment Test as well as Personal Interview.
The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest.
The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate.
In broad terms, this is an assessment of not only the candidate’s intellectual qualities but also his social traits and his interest in current affairs.
Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, the balance of judgment, variety, and depth of interest, the ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.
This test will be conducted in the language of choice.
The interview will be graded for 275 marks. The total marks of IAS are 2025 marks.
Candidates will be ranked based on the total and called for the final interview.

IMPORTANT FACTS:

1. The papers on Indian Languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature.

2. Paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim.

3. Paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for Candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disability (only Hearing Impairment sub-category).

4. Marks obtained by the candidates for Paper I-VII only will be counted for Merit Ranking. However, the Commission will have the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all of these papers.

5. The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English Language only.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Nationality:

To appear for the UPSC IAS exams you need to be a citizen of India, for all other services, you must be either:

A citizen of India,
Or a subject of Nepal,
Or a subject of Bhutan,
Or a refugee from Tibet that came to India before the 1st of January 1962 with the intention of settling in India permanently.
Or an individual with Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, East African countries of Uganda, Zambia, Zaire, Kenya, the united republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, & Vietnam, with the purpose of settling permanently in India.

Note:

(1) If you belong to categories b), c), d), and e), then you’d need a certificate issued by the govt. of India to be eligible.

(2) Also belonging to the b), c), d), and e). Categories will bar you from being eligible to be appointed to the Indian Foreign Services.

Age Limit:

As per the IAS age limit eligibility criteria, those between 21 to 32 years, can fill the UPSC IAS application form.

Relaxation Of Upper Age Limit:

Categories	Age Relaxation
SC/ST	5 Years
OBC	3 Years
Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof	3 Years
Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service and have been released	5 Years
Visually challenged/hearing impaired/physically challenged candidates	10 Years

Number of Attempts:

Category	Number of Attempts
General	6
OBC	9
SC/ST	No restriction
Physically Handicapped (General)	9
Physically Handicapped (OBC)	9
Physically Handicapped (SC/ST)	No restriction

Educational Qualifications:

The candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university to take the UPSC exam.
Even those candidates who have written the final year exams of the qualifying exam (bachelor’s degree) and are awaiting results can apply. Also, candidates who would write the final exam are also eligible to apply for the IAS prelims exam. But, these candidates must produce proof of passing the exam while applying for the IAS mains exam.
In exceptional cases, the UPSC may allow a candidate who does not fall under the aforementioned categories if the candidate has passed an exam conducted by other institutions, the standard of which the UPSC is convinced justifies his/her admission to take the UPSC exam.
Those candidates with professional/technical qualifications which are recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional/technical degrees are also eligible.
MBBS candidates who have not yet completed their internship by the time of applying for the UPSC Mains will be given a provisional admission to take the mains, provided they submit a copy of the certificate from the concerned University/institution authority that they have passed the requisite final professional medical examination. At the time of the interview, such candidates will have to produce a certificate from the University/institution stating that they have completed all the requirements (including completion of internship) for the award of the medical degree.

Physical Standard:

ELIGIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. The candidate must be a citizen of India to get eligible for Indian Administrative Service.

2. The candidate must be at least 21 years of age, but should not be above 32 years.

3. The candidate should possess a minimum of graduation degree from a recognised university.

4. Candidates must be physically fit.

5. There is a maximum limit of attempts prescribed for each category of candidates.

6. Candidates belonging to SC/ST have no limit of maximum number of attempts.

How Can Apply:

Steps to fill the Application form:

Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC.
Step 2: Click on the Exam Notifications tab.
Step 3: Click on Apply Online link.
Step 4: Click on the Civil Services Part-I registration.
Step 5: Read the application form instructions carefully and click on Yes.
Step 6: Fill in all basic information in the part-I application form such as Name Date of birth, Category, Gender, Email ID, Contact number, Permanent address, Marital status, Parents’ names, Community, Educational qualification etc.
Step 7: Once all the details are filled in, click on Continue. Check all details in the online form carefully and click on Submit.

Steps to fill Part- II of the UPSC CSE application form

Step 8: Pay the UPSC application fee.
Step 9: Upload scanned images of photograph, signature.
Step 10: Enter the information related to fee payment details and the examination centre.
Step 11: Click on the ‘I Agree’ button after reading the declaration.
Step 12: On clicking the button, a page with a registration number will be generated. Note down the registration number. Take a printout of the page.

Application Fee:

The IAS Application fee can be paid Offline as well as Online. For online payment, candidates may use a credit card/debit card/Rupay card or Internet Banking Services. For offline payment, download the e-challan and submit the fee in cash at SBI bank branches on the next day itself. Here is the specified payable amount for all candidates:

Category	Mains Exam Fee
General/ EWS/OBC	200
SC/ST OR PWD	Nil
FEMALE	Nil

Exam Centre:

Exam Centres
AHMEDABAD	JAMMU
AIZAWL	KOLKATA
BANGALURU	LUCKNOW
BHOPAL	MUMBAI
CHANDIGARH	PATNA
CHENNAI	PRAYAGRAJ ( ALLAHABAD)
CUTTACK	RAIPUR
DEHRADUN	RANCHI
DELHI	SHILLONG
DISPUR (GUWAHATI)	SHIMLA
HYDERABAD	THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
JAIPUR	VIJAYAWADA

Admit Card:

Important steps related to the UPSC IAS Exam Admit Card download are given below:

Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC.
Step 2: Click on the Admit Card link available on the Home page of the website.
Step 3: Read the instructions given on the page and click on the Yes button.
Step 4: Select any of the given two options – By Registration ID or By Roll Number.
Step 5: Enter registration ID and date of birth (if ‘By Registration ID’ is selected) or roll number and date of birth (if ‘By Roll Number’ is selected).
Step 6: Click on the Submit button.
Step 7: Download the UPSC admit card and take two printouts for the exam day.

Result:

Steps to check the result of UPSC IAS Exam are as mentioned below:

Step-1: Candidates should visit the official website of UPSC.
Step-2: After landing on the website, scroll down and click on the ”UPSC Civil Services Result”.
Step-3: The UPSC Result PDF will open on the screen, which can be downloaded with a single click. It contains the list of roll numbers of the selected candidates.
Step-4: Press ‘Ctrl+F’ to search for any desired Roll number or Candidate roll number. If the name/number is located, then you are qualified or otherwise not.
Step-5: Download the UPSC Result and take a printout for future reference.

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

2024 exam

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

SALIENT FEATURES:

Particulars	Details
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Post Name	IAS (Civil Services)
Vacancies	1056
Application Mode	Online
Selection Process	*Written Exam, ((Preliminary), (Mains)), Interview*
Official Website	https://upsc.gov.in/

Exam Vacancy Notification Details:

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 to 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

EXAM PATTERN:

...

UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2024: Latest Update

Overview:

The UPSC Selection Process happens in 3 stages:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type)
Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written)
Interview (Personality Test)

SALIENT FEATURES:

Particulars	Details
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Post Name	IAS (Civil Services)
Vacancies	1056
Application Mode	Online
Selection Process	*Written Exam, ((Preliminary), (Mains)), Interview*
Official Website	https://upsc.gov.in/

Exam Vacancy Notification Details:

IMPORTANT DATES:

Events	Dates
Application Begin	14-02-2024
Last Date For Apply Online	06-03-2024 Upto 6:00 pm
Date for Correction Window	06-03-2024 to 12-03-2024
Date Of Preliminary Examination (Cancelled)	26-05-2024
New date Of Preliminary Examination	16-06-2024
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination	07-06-2024
Result Of Preliminary Examination	01-07-2024
Application Begin For (DAF-I)	03-07-2024
Last Date Of Online Application (DAF-I)	12-07-2024 Upto 6 Pm Only
Complete Form Last Date (DAF-I)	12-07-2024
Mains Examination Date	20-09-2024 To 29-09-2024

EXAM PATTERN:

Qualifying Papers:

There will be two qualifying papers mentioned below. It may be noted that marks for the below two papers will not be counted at the time of preparation of the rank list.

Paper

Description

Marks

One of the Indian language to be selected by the candidate from the

languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the constitution

300

English

300

Papers to be counted for merit :

Test Mode	Name of Test	Maximum Marks	Duration
Descriptive Type Offline Pen & Paper Based Test	Paper I Essay	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper II (General Studies I)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper III (General Studies II)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper IV (General Studies, III)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper V (General Studies IV)	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper-VI Optional Subject - Paper I	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Paper-VII Optional Subject - Paper II	250 Marks	180 Minutes
	Total	1750 Marks
	Personality Test	275 Marks	180 Minutes
	Grand Total (for merit calculation)	2025 Marks

Candidates may choose any one of the literature subjects from amongst the list of subjects mentioned below:

Language	Script
Assamese	Assamese
Bengali	Bengali
Gujarati	Gujarati
Hindi	Devanagari
Kannada	Kannada
Kashmiri	Persian
Konkani	Persian
Malayalam	Malayalam
Manipuri	Bengali
Marathi	Devanagari
Nepali	Devanagari
Odia	Odia
Punjabi	Gurumukhi
Sanskrit	Devanagari
Sindhi	Devanagari or Arabic
Tamil	Tamil
Telugu	Telugu
Urdu	Persian
Bodo	Devanagari
Dogri	Devanagari
Maithili	Devanagari
Santhali	Devanagari or Olchiki

NOTE: For the Santhali language, the question paper will be printed in Devanagari script, but candidates will be free to answer either in Devanagari script or in Olchik.

List of optional subjects for Main Examination:

Optional Subject List
Agriculture	Commerce and Accountancy	Anthropology
Economics	Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science	Electrical Engineering
Geology	History	Law
Psychology	Public Administration	Sociology
Botany	Chemistry	Civil Engineering
Geography	Mechanical Engineering	Medical Science
Management	Mathematics	Philosophy
Statistics	Zoology

Mode Of Examination:

The question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.

Medium Of Examination:

The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English only.

Marking Scheme:

There shall be No Negative Marking in conventional (essay) type papers.
The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature.
The total marks of the Mains Examination are 1750 marks.
Candidates will be graded based on opinion, Content flow, understanding of the problems/ situation, offering feasible solutions/strategies, presentation, and language.
Candidates can choose two optional papers on which they will be questioned. The candidates must check out the syllabus of several optional papers, such as English Literature before choosing any two.

INTERVIEW / PERSONALITY TEST:

All candidates who secured the Cut off Marks of the mains Examination will proceed toward the Personality Test.

This would include the Psychometric Test, Assessment Test as well as Personal Interview.
The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest.
The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate.
In broad terms, this is an assessment of not only the candidate’s intellectual qualities but also his social traits and his interest in current affairs.
Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, the balance of judgment, variety, and depth of interest, the ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.
This test will be conducted in the language of choice.
The interview will be graded for 275 marks. The total marks of IAS are 2025 marks.
Candidates will be ranked based on the total and called for the final interview.

VACANCY DETAILS:

The Number of Vacancies to be Filled through the UPSC 2024 Examination is Approximately 1056.

Salay Structure:

The entire salary structure of an IAS officer is mentioned in the table below:

IAS Salary Post Wise
IAS Officer Rank	IAS Basic Pay	IAS Pay Level	Total Years of Service
SDM, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary	Rs.56,100	10	1-4 years
ADM, Deputy Secretary, Undersecretary	Rs.67,700	11	5-8 years
District Magistrate, Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary	Rs.78,800	12	9-12 years
District Magistrate, Deputy Secretary, Director	Rs.1,18,500	13	13-16 years
Divisional Commissioner, Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Joint Secretary	Rs.1,44,200	14	16-24 years
Divisional Commissioner, Principal Secretary, Additional Secretary	Rs.1,82,200	15	25-30 years
Additional Chief Secretary	Rs.2,05,400	16	30-33 years
Chief Secretary and Secretary	Rs.2,25,000	17	34-36 years
Cabinet Secretary of India	Rs.2,50,000	18	37+ years

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Candidates willing to apply, are required to fulfill certain conditions to be eligible for it. The candidate who does not satisfy the Eligibility Criteria like Age, Minimum educational qualification, their candidature shall be rejected by the authorities.

Nationality:

To appear for the UPSC IAS exams you need to be a citizen of India, for all other services, you must be either:

A citizen of India,
Or a subject of Nepal,
Or a subject of Bhutan,
Or a refugee from Tibet that came to India before the 1st of January 1962 with the intention of settling in India permanently.
Or an individual with Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, East African countries of Uganda, Zambia, Zaire, Kenya, the united republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, & Vietnam, with the purpose of settling permanently in India.

Note:

(1) If you belong to categories b), c), d), and e), then you’d need a certificate issued by the govt. of India to be eligible.

(2) Also belonging to the b), c), d), and e). Categories will bar you from being eligible to be appointed to the Indian Foreign Services.

Age Limit:

As per the IAS age limit eligibility criteria, those between 21 to 32 years, can fill the UPSC IAS application form.

Relaxation Of Upper Age Limit:

Categories	Age Relaxation
OBC	3 years
SC/ ST	5 years
Defense Services Personnel, who got disabled during operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence	3 years
Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers (CO) and ECOs/ SSCOs who will render at least five years Military Service as of August 1, 2021, and have been released	5 years
ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Service as of 1st August 2021	5 years
In the following cases: blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability including acid attack, cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, victims and muscular dystrophy, intellectual disability, autism, specific learning disability and mental illness	10 years
Candidates ordinarily domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir from January 1, 1981, to December 31, 1989.	5 years

Number of Attempts:

Category	Number of Attempts
General	6
OBC	9
SC/ST	No restriction
Physically Handicapped (General)	9
Physically Handicapped (OBC)	9
Physically Handicapped (SC/ST)	No restriction

Educational Qualifications:

The candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university to take the UPSC exam.
Even those candidates who have written the final year exams of the qualifying exam (bachelor’s degree) and are awaiting results can apply. Also, candidates who would write the final exam are also eligible to apply for the IAS prelims exam. But, these candidates must produce proof of passing the exam while applying for the IAS mains exam.
In exceptional cases, the UPSC may allow a candidate who does not fall under the aforementioned categories if the candidate has passed an exam conducted by other institutions, the standard of which the UPSC is convinced justifies his/her admission to take the UPSC exam.
Those candidates with professional/technical qualifications which are recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional/technical degrees are also eligible.
MBBS candidates who have not yet completed their internship by the time of applying for the UPSC Mains will be given a provisional admission to take the mains, provided they submit a copy of the certificate from the concerned University/institution authority that they have passed the requisite final professional medical examination. At the time of the interview, such candidates will have to produce a certificate from the University/institution stating that they have completed all the requirements (including completion of internship) for the award of the medical degree.

Physical Standard:

How Can Apply:

Steps to fill the Application form:

Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC.
Step 2: Click on the Exam Notifications tab.
Step 3: Click on Apply Online link.
Step 4: Click on the Civil Services Part-I registration.
Step 5: Read the application form instructions carefully and click on Yes.
Step 6: Fill in all basic information in the part-I application form such as Name Date of birth, Category, Gender, Email ID, Contact number, Permanent address, Marital status, Parents’ names, Community, Educational qualification etc.
Step 7: Once all the details are filled in, click on Continue. Check all details in the online form carefully and click on Submit.

Steps to fill Part- II of the UPSC CSE application form

Step 8: Pay the UPSC application fee.
Step 9: Upload scanned images of photograph, signature.
Step 10: Enter the information related to fee payment details and the examination centre.
Step 11: Click on the ‘I Agree’ button after reading the declaration.
Step 12: On clicking the button, a page with a registration number will be generated. Note down the registration number. Take a printout of the page.

Application Fee:

Category	Application Fees
GENERAL AND OBC	100
SC/ST OR PWD	NIL
FEMALE	NIL

Exam Centres:

Exam Center Code	UPSC CSE Exam Centers
1	AHMEDABAD
2	AIZAWL
3	BANGALURU
4	BHOPAL
5	CHANDIGARH
6	CHENNAI
7	CUTTACK
8	DEHRADUN
9	DELHI
10	DISPUR (GUWAHATI)
11	HYDERABAD
12	JAIPUR
13	JAMMU
14	KOLKATA
15	LUCKNOW
16	MUMBAI
17	PATNA
18	PRAYAGRAJ ( ALLAHABAD)
19	RAIPUR
20	RANCHI
21	SHILLONG
22	SHIMLA
23	THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
24	VIJAYAWADA

Admit Card:

The important steps related to the UPSC IAS Exam Admit Card download are given below:

Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC.
Step 2: Click on the Admit Card link available on the Home page of the website.
Step 3: Read the instructions given on the page and click on the Yes button.
Step 4: Select any of the given two options – By Registration ID or By Roll Number.
Step 5: Enter registration ID and date of birth (if ‘By Registration ID’ is selected) or roll number and date of birth (if ‘By Roll Number’ is selected).
Step 6: Click on the Submit button.
Step 7: Download the UPSC admit card and take two printouts for the exam day.

Result:

The steps to check the result of UPSC IAS Exam are as mentioned below:

Step-1: Candidates should visit the official website of UPSC.
Step-2: After landing on the website, scroll down and click on the ”UPSC Civil Services Result”.
Step-3: The UPSC Result PDF will open on the screen, which can be downloaded with a single click. It contains the list of roll numbers of the selected candidates.
Step-4: Press ‘Ctrl+F’ to search for any desired Roll number or Candidate roll number. If the name/number is located, then you are qualified or otherwise not.
Step-5: Download the UPSC Result and take a printout for future reference.

IMPORTANT LINKS-

For Official Website- Click here

For Official Notification- Click here

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Posted On: 29 Aug, 2023
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Posted On: 11 Dec, 2023
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UPSC Civil Services IAS 2023 Mains Exam Result Released

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Civil Services IAS 2023 Mains Exam Result...

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UPSC Civil Services IAS 2023 2nd Phase Interview Schedule Announced

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the Civil Services IAS 2023 2nd Phase Interview Schedule...

Posted On: 27 Jan, 2024
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UPSC Civil Services IAS 2023 3rd Phase Interview Schedule Announced

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Posted On: 22 Feb, 2024
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UPSC IAS Mains

ONLINE TESTS

SAMPLE PAPERS

NOTES

VIDEOS

PREVIOUS YEAR PAPERS

Sample Papers

Indian Heritage And Culture, History And Geography Of The World And Society Set 1

Indian Heritage And Culture, History And Geography Of The World And Society Set 2

Indian Heritage And Culture, History And Geography Of The World And Society Set 3

Indian Heritage And Culture, History And Geography Of The World And Society Set 4

Indian Heritage And Culture, History And Geography Of The World And Society Set 5

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice And International Relations Set 1

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice And International Relations Set 2

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice And International Relations Set 3

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice And International Relations Set 4

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice And International Relations Set 5

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security And Disaster Management Set 1

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security And Disaster Management Set 2

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security And Disaster Management Set 3

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security And Disaster Management Set 4

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security And Disaster Management Set 5

Ethics, Integrity And Aptitude Set 1

Ethics, Integrity And Aptitude Set 2

Ethics, Integrity And Aptitude Set 3

Ethics, Integrity And Aptitude Set 4

Ethics, Integrity And Aptitude Set 5

Essay Set 1

Essay Set 2

Essay Set 3

Essay Set 4

Essay Set 5

Previous Year Papers

General Studies Paper I

General Studies Paper II

General Studies Paper III

General Studies Paper IV

General Studies Paper I

General Studies Paper II

General Studies Paper III

General Studies Paper IV

General Subject Essay

Assamese

Bengali

Gujarati

Kannada

Malayalam

Marathi

Nepali

Odia

Punjabi

Sanskrit

Tamil

Telugu

Urdu

Agriculture Paper I

Agriculture Paper II

Animal Husbandry And Veterinary Science Paper I

Animal Husbandry And Veterinary Science Paper II

Anthropology Paper I

Anthropology Paper II

Commerce And Accountancy Paper I

Commerce And Accountancy Paper II

Electrical Engineering Paper I

Electrical Engineering Paper II

Geography Paper I

Geography Paper II

History Paper I

History Paper II

Mathematics Paper I

Mathematics Paper II

Physics Paper I

Physics Paper II

Zoology Paper I

Zoology Paper II

Assamese Paper I

Assamese Paper II

Bengali Paper I

Bengali Paper II

Gujarati Paper I