The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a all India level entrance examination in India. This is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India.
How to apply for Civil Services exam?
The Union Public Service Commission releases the notification for the Civil Services Examination (CSE). Usually it is announced in the month of January or February. It usually ends in the first week of March.
Application process and form is available on the official websites, upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in. The applicants usually have a total of six attempts at the examination.
CSE Schedule:
Notification February
Prelims Exam June
Mains Exam September/October
Interviews February/March
Final Result March/April of the following year
CSE Application Process:
Step 1: One has to go to the official website upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in
Step 2: Click on the UPSC civil services examination link
Step 3: Register
Step 4: Fill both the form I and form 2
Step 5: Make payments
Step 6: Submit
UPSC Civil Services Exam Eligibility
Should be from 21 to 32 years of age
An undergraduate level degree is required to apply
Different criteria are for reserved category candidates
UPSC Civil Services Exam pattern
UPSC preliminary exam has two papers. Part I has 100 questions and part II. Each part is for 200 marks and total is of 400 marks. For every wrong answer, one-third of the marks are deducted.
One has to clear both UPSC Prelims and Mains and then can get a seat in All-India Services and central civil services including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and IRTS
Civil Services Exam Pattern
Prelims Exam or First Paper
This is the first stage of the Civil Services Exam process, which a student has to undertake. One can call it a screening test to shortlist the students for the further selection process. The Prelims examination consists of two objective type papers of 200 marks each. Students who manage to score more than the cut off as decided by UPSC for that particular year will be allowed to take the next level of examination. Marks scored in the Prelims will not be taken into account for arriving at the final merit list.
Mains Exam or Second Exam
Mains Exam is the second test in the entire process of selection for the Civil Services. Mains exam comprises of nine descriptive type papers which includes:
One Essay paper
Four General Studies Papers
Two Optional Papers (to be selected from the Civil Services Exam Optional Subjects)
Two language papers (marks scored in language papers are not included to calculate the final merit – but, candidates need to have a score of at least 25% in each paper to qualify).
Civil Services Exam Pattern and marks For Mains
| Papers | Subjects | Marks |
| Paper A | One of the Indian languages (listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India) to be selected by the candidate (Qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper B | English (Qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I includes Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II has Governance, constitution, polity, social justice and international relations | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III which consists of Technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV has ethics, integrity and aptitude | 250 |
| Papers VI, VII | Subjects to be selected by the candidate from the list of optional subjects below (250 marks for each paper) | 250 |
| Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 | |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 | |
| Total Marks | 2025 |
This article gives a bird eyes view of the entire selection process for selection for civil services. Once you have made up your mind for this stream, you will have to prepare well as the competition is stiff. Of course, hard work always pay. Best of Luck.
Also See : Civil Service Exam
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