UPSC Awareness for Beginners : From A to Z

Ye UPSC kya h ??

About the Indian Civil Services : 

Which is the right career for all those of you who are having the passion to serve The Nation - 

“ Civil Services ko lock kiya jaaye ".

Career Path : How to get in: 
The Civil Services selection remains one of the few untainted exams in India. The examination is conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) every year. The announcement of the first stage of the selection process is made in the national dailies in the month of Nov-Dec (so watch out!).  The Employment News carries full details of the total number of vacancies, eligibility conditions, plan of examination, and the date of the round of selection to various Central Services (like IAS, IPS, IFS and Indian services in accounts, customs, revenue, postal, railway, defence etc.)

PS. Website: The website www.upsc.gov.in carries full details in case u miss the ads.

How to go about with the UPSC examinations :

The competitive examinations at UPSC are in three stages :

1) Preliminary examinations (Prelims):

 The prelims are held around May-June.It has objective ie multiple

choice questions. There are two papers (duration of each being 2

hrs). 

a) General studies  

b) Aptitude test

PS. The prelims score has no bearing for determining the final merit

list for the services.

2) Main examination :

The main written examination usually takes place in Oct-Nov, it comprises of 9 papers in all  

(a lot more strenuous than CAT!)

Duration of each paper is 3 hrs.

Language: one of the Indian languages, English, Essay GK and Current

Affairs: 2 papers on general studies

Optionals: papers from two subjects that fall in optional-1 and two papers from optional-2 (a choice of subjects is listed by the UPSC in the prospectus)

Candidates who are successful in the main examinations are eligible for an interview which plays a crucial part in the selection.

3) The Interview :The interview calls are sent in March-April of the following year and they take place in the month of April-May. The Board of interviewers look for a well-adjusted personality with the social traits, integrity and qualities of leadership . 

PS. The number of candidates called for the interview is normally twice the number of vacancies.

BEWARE : The whole process of selection in the civil services takes a full year and when the application process is included it sums up to 18 months in all.

PLEASE NOTE :The main exam score and the interview determines the placement in the final list. You have your say in the choice of service if you have secured a high position, otherwise accept what is offered if not take another attempt (4 attempts permitted) in the general category. Of course you have to start from the prelims all

over again.

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Anurag Shukla

IIT Madras

anurag.shukla89@gmail.com