UPSC Civil Services Examination - Beginner's Guide

I had been receiving many questions on the pattern of the examination. Here I am trying to summarize the details about the examination. More perspectives and views will be added later. It is just to understand the structure of the examination. Let us begin.

From 2011, UPSC has changed the pattern and structure of examination. As before, there are three stages of examination but the pattern has changed for preliminary examination. The stages are-

1. Preliminary Examination, now known as Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
2. Mains Examination
3. Personality Test (or Interview)

1. Preliminary Examination (or CSAT):-

 CSAT is objective type test divided into two papers:- General Studies Paper 1 and General Studies Paper II.

General Studies Paper 1 is the traditional GS type paper but with changed syllabus. In 2011, there were 100 objective type questions, each carrying equal marks and 0.3 negative marking.  For syllabus, you can visit my blog: – http://palakmathur.wordpress.com/notes/general-studies/civil-services-aptitude-test-syllabus/

General Studies Paper 2 is what you would like to call CAT-like aptitude-type exam. In 2011 paper, the concentration was more on English and Hindi Comprehension, and graph reading abilities and not on quantitative and hard-core logical reasoning questions. Thus, it gave equal opportunity to people who might be from non-mathematics or non-engineering background. You can check the syllabus at the above link.

Check the book-list for General Studies here.

2.     Mains Examination: - 

The written examination will consist of the following papers:

Paper I (300 marks)-  One of the Indian languages to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

Paper II (300 marks)- English

Paper III (200 marks)- Essay

Paper IV (300 marks) – General Studies Paper 1

Paper V (300 marks)- General Studies Paper 2

Paper VI (300 marks) – Optional 1 – Paper 1

Paper VII (300 marks)– Optional 1 – Paper 2

Paper VIII (300 marks)– Optional 2 – Paper 1

Paper IX (300 marks) – Optional 2 – Paper 2

Notes: – (i) The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature; the marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.

(ii) Evaluation of the papers, namely,’Essay, ‘General Studies’ and Optional Subjects of all candidates would be done simultaneously along with evaluation of their qualifying papers on ‘Indian languages’ and English’ but the papers on ‘Essay’, General Studies’ and ‘Optional Subjects’ of onlysuch candidates will be taken cognizance of as attain such minimum standard as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion for the qualifying papers on ‘Indian language’ and ‘English’ and, therefore, the marks in ‘Essay’ ‘General studies and Optional subjects’ will not be disclosed to those candidates who fail to obtain suchminimum qualifying standard in ‘Indian language and ‘English’.

List of optional subjects for Main Examination

Agriculture
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
Anthropology
Botany
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Commerce and Accountancy
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Geography
Geology
History
Law
Management
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Science
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science and International
Relations
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
Statistics
Zoology
Literature of one of the following languages:
Arabic, Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, Chinese, Dogri, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Pali, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.

NOTE (i) Candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combinations of subjects:–

(a) Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration;
(b) Commerce & Accountancy and Management;
(c) Anthropology and Sociology;
(d) Mathematics and Statistics;
(e) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science.
(f) Management and Public Administration;
(g) Of the Engineering subjects, viz., Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering–not more than one subject.
(h) Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Science.

 3.   Personality Test (or Interview):- 

Interview test is of 300 marks

For rest of the information you can visit the link(s) below:-
1. Examination Notification for CSE 2011. Click here.