What is UPSC CSE or IAS Exam?
The UPSC CSE Exam or IAS examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the recruitment of candidates for the central civil services. The top-rated posts one can get by qualifying the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) are Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS), Indian Revenue Services (IRS).
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted once a year, it is conducted in offline mode. UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) has three stages of examination that are stage 1 of Prelims exam, stage 2 of Mains exam, and stage 3 of Interview. The final selection of the candidate is made on the basis of marks of all these three stages and the final merit list is published on the official website of the UPSC.
The IAS Exam toppers can get to the Cabinet Secretary post in the Indian Government, which is the highest bureaucratic post one can achieve in India.
History of Civil Services Examination (CSE)
On the basis of merit, the Civil Services Examination (CSE) was introduced first time in India in 1854. For this purpose, in 1854 a Civil Services Commission was established in London, and in 1855 competitive exam was conducted. At that time, it is called Indian Civil Services (ICS).
In India for the first time, the Indian Civil Services Examination started in 1922, first in the city of Allahabad and later in Delhi after the establishment of the Federal Public Service Commission. In London, the ICS examination was continued to be conducted by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
UPSC CSE Posts
All India Services Posts
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) has only three all India Services these are:
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Forest Service (IFoS)
Group ‘A’ Civil Services Posts
| Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS) |
| Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) |
| Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) |
| Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) |
| Indian Postal Service (IPoS) |
| Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) |
| Indian Revenue Service (IRS) |
| Railway Protection Force (RPF) |
| Indian Foreign Service (IFS) |
| Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) |
| Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) |
| Indian Information Service (IIS) |
| Indian Communication Finance Services (ICFS) |
| Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) |
| Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) |
| Indian Trade Service (ITS) |
Group ‘B’ Civil Services Posts
|
Delhi Civil Service |
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service |
|
Daman & Diu Civil Service |
Delhi Police Service |
|
Nicobar and Andaman Islands Civil Service |
Daman and Diu Police Service |
|
Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service |
Andaman & Nicobar Islands Police Service |
|
Lakshadweep Civil Service |
Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service |
|
Pondicherry Police Service |
Lakshadweep Police Service |
|
Pondicherry Civil Service |
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) | IAS Exam 2021 Highlight
|
S.NO |
Features |
Details |
|
1. |
Exam Name |
UPSC Civil Services Exam (IAS) 2021 |
|
2. |
Exam level |
National |
|
3. |
Conducted by |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|
4. |
Exam frequency |
Once a year |
|
5. |
Mode of exam |
offline |
|
6. |
UPSC CSE Syllabus |
The candidates applying for Civil Services Exam (IAS) have to prepare GK/GS and Current Affairs in depth. To see the syllabus in detail, Click Here. |
|
7. |
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern |
Stage 1- Prelims it is of objective nature. It has 2 papers: Paper 1 General Studies: It has 100 objective questions from different sections of GK/GS. Each question is of 2 marks, so the paper is of a total of 200 marks. Paper 2 CSAT: It has a total of 80 objective questions. Each question is 2.5 marks, so the maximum marks for paper 2 are 200. Stage 2- Mains Exam Stage 3- Interview |
|
8. |
Duration of Exam |
Paper 1 General Studies is of 2hrs. Paper 2 CSAT is of 2hrs |
|
9. |
Language of Exam |
Hindi and English |
|
10. |
UPSC CSE Exam fee |
100 Rs (Free for SC/ST candidate) |
|
11. |
UPSC CSE Portal Official website (Apply online) |
https://www.upsc.gov.in/ |
|
12. |
UPSC CSE Notification |
04/03/2021 |
|
13. |
UPSC CSE Admit Card |
30 days before the exam |
|
14. |
UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Date |
27/06/2021 |
|
15. |
UPSC CSE Mains Exam Date |
17/09/2021 |
|
16. |
UPSC CSE Forest Services (IFoS) Mains Exam Date |
21/11/2021 |
|
17. |
UPSC CSE Exam Result |
Within a month |
|
18. |
Test Cities |
Centers are across the country. |
|
19. |
UPSC CSE 2021 Vacancies |
712 |
UPSC CSE (IAS) Exam 2021 Eligibility
The candidates who want to appear in the UPSC Civil Services (IAS) Exam 2021 must fulfill the following eligibility criteria.
Nationality
For the Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS) a candidate must be an Indian citizen.
For all services other than IAS, IPS, and IFS the candidate either be:
- Indian citizen or
- A subject of Bhutan/Nepal or
- A Tibetan refugee with the intention of permanently settling in India came over to India before 1st January 1962. or
- Indian origin person migrated from the following countries: Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Pakistan, Burma, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Malawi, Zaire with the intention to settle permanently in India.
For the candidate of categories of (2), (3), and (4) the certificate of eligibility has to be issued by the Indian Government.
Age Limit for CSE (IAS) 2021
The age limit criteria for the UPSC CSE are that the candidate must have attained the age of minimum 21 years and he must not have exceeded the age of 32 years of maximum age as of 1st August 2021. That is the candidate have not born earlier than 2nd August 1989 and he must not bear later than 1st August 2000.
The age relaxation is also given to the reserved categories. The age relaxation is given below:
|
Category |
Age-Relaxation |
|
SC/ST |
5 Years |
|
OBC |
3 Years |
|
Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations in a disturbed area or during hostilities with any foreign country and released as a consequence |
3 Years |
|
Ex-servicemen including ECOs/SSCOs and commissioned officers. Who have completed military service of at least 5 years as of 1st August 2021 and have been released |
5 Years |
|
PwD [(a) deaf and hard of hearing; (b) blindness and low vision; (c) locomotor disability including leprosy cured, dwarfism, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and acid attack victims; (d) autism, specific learning disability, intellectual disability, and mental illness; and (e) multiple disabilities under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness] |
10 Years |
Note:
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) candidates do not have any age relaxation in UPSC CSE.
Important Links for UPSC Exams
| UPSC IAS Prelims, Mains & Interview Cut Off | |
| UPSC CSE Notification | IAS Exam Eligibility & Pattern |
Educational Qualification
The candidates applying for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) must be graduate degree holders in any stream from the recognized university. The candidates who waiting, for the result or who were in the last year of their graduation are also eligible to apply for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) but for the preliminary exam, such candidates have to submit proof of passing when they are applying for the mains examination.
The number of UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) Attempts
There is a limitation in the number of attempts in the Civil Services (IAS) Exam. All the candidates have a maximum of 6 attempts for the CSE. However, the reserved category has some relaxation in the number of the attempts in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the candidates from the SC/ST category have not the number of attempts criteria they can give the IAS exam (n) number of times till they achieve their age limit.
If any of the applicants have appeared in any of the paper in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) prelims then his/her one attempt will be counted
|
Category |
Number of Attempts |
|
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)/ General |
6 |
|
Other Backward Classes (OBC) |
9 |
|
Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
Till the age limit |
|
A person with Disabilities (PWD) |
Till the age limit |
UPSC CSE (IAS Exam) 2021 Dates
The important UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2021 dates are given below:
|
Events |
Dates |
Description |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) Notification |
04/03/2021 |
Schedule an exam details are released. |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) Application Form |
04/03/2021 |
Online registration for NDA started. |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) the Last Date to Apply |
24/03/2021 |
Candidates must submit their online applications before this date. |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) Admit Card |
To be Notified |
Admit Card will be available to download. |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) Prelims Written Exam |
27/06/2021 |
Offline prelims written exam will be held in two shifts. |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) Prelims Result |
July 2021 (Tentative) |
Declaration of the result of selected candidates. |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) Mains Exam |
17/09/2021 |
Offline mains written exam will be held. |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) Mains Result |
December / January 2022 (Tentative) |
UPSC 2021 Mains result will on the official website of the UPSC. |
UPSC CSE (IAS) Selection Process
For the selection as a civil servant, one has to go through the following selection process and steps:
UPSC CSE (IAS) Notification
The UPSC releases notification every year for the CSE (IAS), in which the UPSC gives detailed information regarding the number of Posts, Exam Date, and Syllabus, etc.
UPSC CSE (IAS) Application
The candidate has to fill the application form before the last day, it is advised to fill the application form as soon as possible because of the availability of the examination center which is totally on the first-come and first-serve basis, and to avoid the last-minute hurry. The application form is in two parts part 1 is the registration part and part 2 for the personal and education details. The candidate has to pay the examination fee which is 100 Rs for the EWS/OBC/General Category and free for all other reserved categories.
|
Category |
Preliminary Exam Fee |
Mains Exam Fee |
|
EWS/OBC/General |
100 Rs |
Rs 200 |
|
SC/ ST/ Females/Persons with Benchmark Disability (PWD) |
Nil |
Nil |
UPSC CSE (IAS) Syllabus
The candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Services have to do their preparation as per the syllabus defined by the because of the depth of the syllabus. The UPSC CSE is designed in such a way that it checks both; in-depth knowledge and the analytical view of the candidate. The UPSC CSE (IAS) has two stages of the written exam that if Prelims Exams and Mains Exams. The syllabus of the UPSC IAS covers all the topics like GK/GS and detailed Current Affairs. Read the detailed UPSC IAS syllabus below.
See here: Detailed IAS Prelims Syllabus
See here: Detailed IAS Mains Syllabus
UPSC CSE (IAS) Prelims Admit Card
The UPSC releases the IAS admit card one month before the CSE (IAS). Candidates can download the e-admit card from the official website of the UPSC and take the printout of the admit card. The candidate must carry the admit card to the examination center because if the candidate fails to bring the admit card, he/she will not be allowed to the examination hall.
UPSC CSE (IAS) Preliminary Exam 2021
The UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam will be conducted in two shifts is shift 1 has paper 1 which is of General Studies, it is for 2 hours and have 100 questions and each question is 2 marks, so the maximum marks of paper 1 are 200 and 1/3rd will be deducted for the wrong answer. Shift 2 has paper 2 which is of CSAT, it is of 2 hours and has 80 questions and each question is of 2.5 marks, so the maximum marks of paper 2 are 200 and 1/3rd will be deducted for the wrong answer but paper 2 is of qualifying nature.
|
Paper |
Subject | Nature of Paper | NO. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
Negative Marking |
|
Paper 1 |
General Studies | Counted for merit | 100 | 200 |
1/3rd |
|
Paper 2 |
CSAT | Qualifying | 80 | 200 |
1/3rd |
UPSC CSE (IAS) Prelims Result
After the UPSC IAS prelims exam, the result usually comes within a month and the qualifying candidates will have their roll number in the pdf which is published by the UPSC on their official website. The qualifying candidates will go to the stage two selection process.
Filling of UPSC CSE (IAS) DAF
The prelims qualifying candidates have to fill the Detailed Application Form (DAF) before the IAS mains exam. The DAF plays a very important role in the UPSC CSE (IAS) interview because the information based on which the candidates get the service and the cadre are mentioned in the DAF which is filled by the candidates.
UPSC CSE (IAS) Mains Admit Card
The UPSC releases the IAS mains admit card one month before the CSE (IAS). Candidates can download the e-admit card from the official website of the UPSC and take the printout of the admit card. The candidate must carry the admit card to the examination center because if the candidate fails to bring the admit card, he/she will not be allowed to the examination hall.
UPSC CSE (IAS) Mains Exam 2021
UPSC CSE (IAS) Mains 2021 is expected to held from 17th September 2021. The paper and the detailed schedule are mentioned in the mains admit card and the candidate has to appear in the examination as per the schedule. The IAS mains exam pattern is discussed below:
| S.NO | Name of Paper |
Maximum Marks |
|
A |
The candidate has to select one Indian language from the 8th schedule of the Constitution |
300 (Qualifying only) |
|
B |
English |
300 (Qualifying only) |
|
1. |
Essay |
250 |
|
2. |
General Studies I |
250 |
|
3. |
General Studies II |
250 |
|
4. |
General Studies III |
250 |
|
5. |
General Studies IV |
250 |
|
6. |
Optional Subject Paper I |
250 |
|
7. |
Optional Subject Paper II |
250 |
|
CSE (IAS) Mains Total |
1750 |
|
|
CSE (IAS) Interview (Personality Test) |
275 |
|
|
Total |
2025 |
|
UPSC CSE (IAS) Interview (Personality Test)
The qualifying candidates from the IAS mains will be called for the interview and in the interview, their subject knowledge is tested and most questions are of analytical nature and from the personal life of the candidate. The interview is of 275 marks.
UPSC CSE (IAS) Final Merit List
The final selection of the candidates is made on the basis of the marks of the CSE (IAS) Mains and Interview because the CSE Prelims marks do not count for the final selection. So, the maximum number of marks allotted for the final selection is 2025 marks. The UPSC publishes the final merit list with the rank and name of the candidates.
Read Here: About UPSC CDS Exam