All About Civil Service Exams

The Civil Services Examination is a competitive exam conducted nationwide every year under the Union Public Service Commission’s supervision. The candidates who successfully pass the exam are recruited for various All India Civil Service and Central posts, including Indian Revenue Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Administrative Service, and Indian Police Service officers.

Right strategies and proper approach are essential to crack the attempt. But application procedure, eligibility criteria, and pattern are crucial things you should observe before getting started with the preparation. In this article, we have highlighted all the necessary details relevant to the UPSC Exam.

Civil Service Examination Posts

The exam posts are divided into two – 1) Group ‘A’  2) Group ‘B.’

1. Group ‘A’ includes the prestigious All India Services along with 18 other posts listed below:

All India Services

• Indian Forest Services
• Indian Administrative Services
• Indian Police Services

Additional Posts

1. Indian Post and Telecommunication Accounts & Finance Service
2. Indian Foreign Service
3. Indian Revenue Service (Central and Customs Excise)
4. Indian Revenue Service
5. Indian Information Service
6. Indian Defense Accounts Service
7. Indian Corporate Law Service
8. Indian Ordnance Factories Service (Administration, Manager-Assistant Works)
9. Indian Audit and Accounts Service
10. Indian Postal Service
11. Indian Railway Traffic Service
12. Indian Revenue Service
13. Indian Civil Accounts Service
14. Indian Railway Accounts Service
15. Railway Protection Force (Assistant Security Commissioner)
16. Indian Railway Personnel Service
17. Indian Defense Estates Service
18. Indian Trade Service

2. Group ‘B’ includes the following five posts:

• Section Officer - Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
• Pondicherry Police Service
• Pondicherry Civil Service
• Nagar Haveli and Dadra, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Diu and Daman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service
• Nagar Haveli and Dadra, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Diu and Daman, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service

Civil Services Exam Date

Listed below are the details of the Civil Services Exams schedule –

Notification by UPSC – February

Prelims Examination – June

Mains Examination – September/October

Interview Round – February/March

Declaration of Result – April/May (following year)

Civil Services Examination Pattern

The exam is divided into the following three stages -

Stage 1 - Prelims Exam

The exam process begins with the Prelims, a screening test designed to select the potential candidates for the next two levels. Aspirants will need to clear two papers (objective type). Each set will be of 200 marks. Individuals who manage scoring above the cut-off rate (as decided by the Union Public Service Commission) make it to the next stages of the exam. Note that the marks secured in Stage 1 aren’t taken into consideration for the final result.

Stage 2 - Mains Exam

To crack the second stage of the selection process, candidates have to clear nine papers (descriptive type). One will be an Essay paper, 4 papers for General Studies, two papers for Optional Subjects (selected by the candidate from the given options), two papers for language. Candidates must secure a minimum of 25% in every paper for qualifying for the Mains examination.

Stage 3 – Personality Test / Interview

It is the third and final round of the Civil Services Exams – the door to your bright future. The aspirants who crack the mains examination by securing the above cutoff get a call letter for attending the interview. This stage of the selection process is designed to test the candidate’s suitability for the Civil Services. In other words, the experts determine whether the aspirant is a right fit for the job through the interview.

The individuals are assessed for their moral and intellectual integrity, judging capabilities, decision-making skills, etc. Marks secured in Stage 3 are added to the Mains Exam marks of the candidate, and the final merit list is prepared accordingly.

Civil Services Exam Eligibility

If you wish to take the Civil Services Exam, it is mandatory to fulfil the eligibility terms of qualification, nationality, and age. The minimum age requirement for the exam is 21 years, while the maximum age limit is 32 years. Plus, you must have a bachelor’s degree (any stream) from a UGC approved university. Note – there are age exemptions for various categories, including disabled, SC/ST, etc.

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FAQs

Q. Which time of the year is suitable for submitting an online application form for Civil Service Exams?

Ans: Aspirants should fill the online form for a particular exam as and when the Union Public Service Commission releases the notification. Interested candidates can find the information in some prominent Newspapers as they publish brief extracts of the notification/ exam info. Detailed and complete exam info can be found on the official website , which is the official website of the Commission.

Q. What is the minimum educational qualification required for appearing in Civil Service Exams?

Ans: The applicant must be a graduate (distant or regular in any discipline). The degree must be certified from any University incorporated under the Act of State or Central Legislature in India or an Act of Parliament or recognised under the University Grants Commission Act 1956 (Section-3).

Q. Are the graduation marks taken into consideration for UPSC final exam results?

Ans: No, there are no minimum score requirements for submitting the UPSC exams application. Also, the candidate’s graduation marks don’t affect the final result of the exam. (Note that if you apply for the IAS examination in the final year of your Undergraduate program and fail to clear the exam, there is no provision for re-appearing for Indian Administrative Services).

Q. What are the minimum and maximum age limits for appearing in Civil Service exams?

Ans: 21 years is the minimum age limit, while the maximum age limit for general category applicants is 32 years. There are age relaxations for categories - For Other Backward Castes - 35 Years, Physically Disabled applicants - 42 Years and ST/SC - 37 Years.

Q. Am I eligible for Civil Service Exams if I have a Diploma Degree?

Ans: No, a Diploma degree isn’t equivalent to a graduation degree. Hence, it doesn’t make the candidate eligible for the examination.

Q. What is the minimum marks requirement in Standard 12th for UPSC?

Ans: The eligibility criteria consider the graduation degree and not that of class 12th. There isn’t any minimum score requirement in Standard 12th for appearing in UPSC.

Q. Which certificate or document is needed for claiming reservation exemptions/ relaxations?

Ans: Applicants that are looking forward to relaxation/reservation benefits offered to Other Backward Classes/ Scheduled Tribes/ Scheduled Castes/ Financially Weaker Sections of the Society / Ex-Servicemen/ Disabled need to prove their entitlement to such relaxation/reservation as per the eligibility rules detailed in the notification released by the Commission. The candidates should have all the required certificates in the format prescribed in the notice/rules. The documents should not be dated of the UPSC exam application closing date, but of some earlier date as specified in the exam notice/rules.

Q. I am a Physically Disabled / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste/ Female candidate and filled my application form. Where do I submit the application fee?

Ans: Physically Disabled / Scheduled Tribe / Scheduled Caste/ Female applicants need not pay the fee as they are exempted from it.

Q. What options do I have if my name exceeds 30 characters (the given space limit in the application form)?

Ans: Candidates with names exceeding over 30 characters need to abbreviate their name in the application form’s Name Column, followed by pressing the TAB key. The Full Name column that is displayed below facilitates the applicants to write their full name. Plus, post a signed letter either by Fax on- 011-23387310 or by post to Joint Secretary (Examination), UPSC, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110069. Mention all the necessary details/reasons for your full name and abbreviation. Doing so will eliminate the possibilities of candidature/application rejection at any of the later stages.

Q. Is there any medical fitness eligibility for appearing in UPSC?

Ans: No, there aren’t any weight, height, or fitness specifications for Civil Service aspirants. But stable physical and mental health is needed for both Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ postings. Note that the medical examination will be conducted at government medical centers. In case the candidate seems disproportionate, they will have to take additional tests.