UPSC conducts various recruitment examinations on a yearly basis. One of the most prominent exams in India is the UPSC Entrance IAS ( Indian Administrative Services) Exam, also referred to as the Civil Services Examination (CSE). The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts it in order to choose applicants for a variety of civil service jobs, such as those in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).

UPSC Entrance IAS Exam complete in following Levels :

The IAS Exam complete in 3 Level is:

1. Level I: Preliminary Examination (IAS Prelims)
2. Level II: Mains Examination (IAS Mains)
3. Level III: UPSC Personality Test (IAS Interview)

Important Dates, exam pattern and syllabus of the UPSC Entrance IAS ExamThe latest news regarding the UPSC exams in 2024 includes updates to the annual calendar and important exam schedules. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released a revised calendar, affecting several exams in 2025, including the Civil Services Examination (CSE). The Civil Services Mains Examination Date scheduled for September 20, 2024.

1.UPSC Preliminary Examination (IAS Prelims) Dates and Syllabus:

This is the first step, comprising two objective-type papers—General Studies and Civil Services Aptitude Test. Though the marks obtained in this are not accounted for in the final result, one has to qualify it to get into the second stage.

Exam Date : Sunday – 26th May 2024 Postponed to 16 June 2024

UPSC Entrance IAS Prelims Exams Pattern:

UPSC Entrance IAS Exam Syllabus for General Studies Paper-I

It has 100 questions broadly covering the following topics, carrying a maximum of 200 marks to be solved in 2 hours.

• Current events of National & International importance.
• History of India & Indian National Movement.
• Indian & World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World.
• Indian Polity & Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic & Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity & climate change – that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science.

UPSC Entrance IAS Exam  Syllabus for General Studies Paper-II

It comprises of 80 questions from the following topics carrying a maximum of 200 marks to be solved in 2 hours.

• Comprehension.
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
• Logical reasoning & analytical ability.
• Decision making & problem solving.
• General mental ability.
• Basic numeracy (numbers & their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)

UPSC Entrance IAS Mains Dates and syllabus :

- Mains Examination: There are nine descriptive papers at this level, with only seven of those finally considered for the merit ranking. Papers would comprise one Indian language and English, essay, general studies, and optional subjects.

Exam Date : 20 september 2024 (Friday)
- Personality Test (Interview): Only those who succeed in the Mains get an interview call. This round will evaluate personality, expertise, and suitability for a career in civil services.

UPSC Mains Syllabus : download free pdf -UPSC-Syllabus-2024-PDF

Civil Services Main Examination consists of written examination and interview (personality test). Civil Services Main Examination consists of following papers divided into 2 categories – qualifying & papers to be counted for merit.

Important Points:

• The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and paper B) will be of qualifying nature and the marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
• The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard.
• The papers on Essay, General Studies and Optional Subject of only such candidates will be taken cognizance who attain 25% marks in ‘Indian Language’ and 25% in ‘English’ as minimum qualifying standards in these qualifying papers.
• Marks obtained by the candidates for the Paper I-VII only will be counted for merit ranking.
• The question papers for the main examination will be of conventional (essay) type and each paper will be of 3 hour duration.
• Candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers, except the Qualifying Language Papers, Paper-A and Paper-B, in any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India or in English.
• The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English only.
• Compensatory time of twenty minutes per hour shall be permitted for the Blind candidates and the candidates with locomotor disability and cerebral palsy where dominant (writing) extremity is affected to the extent of slowing the performance of function (minimum of 40% impairment) in both the Civil Services (Preliminary) as well as in the Civil Services (Main) Examination.

UPSC IAS Syllabus for Qualifying Papers (Indian Languages and English)

The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:

English Language:

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Precise Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays.

Indian Languages:

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Precise Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays.
• Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

UPSC IAS Essay Syllabus

Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics.

They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

UPSC GS 1 Syllabus

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
• The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
• History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• Salient features of world’s physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

UPSC IAS Syllabus for Mains GS Paper 2

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

• Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
• Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.
• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora - their structure, mandate.

UPSC IAS GS 3 Syllabus

Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System-objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Investment models.
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
• Achievements of Indians in science & technlogy; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
• Disaster and disaster management.
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

GS Paper 4 Syllabus

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society.

Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects.

The following broad areas will be covered:

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
•  Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
• Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on above issues.

UPSC Entrance IAS Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification: The candidate should possess a graduate degree from any recognized university.
Age Limit: General age limit is 21 to 32, with relaxation in upper age limit for candidates of reserved categories.

 Preparation:

UPSC is an intensive study-oriented exam that requires devotion of time. Candidates must have good current affairs knowledge, history, geography, political science, and other subjects.
Many candidates seek coaching institutes or follow a self-study plan, using standard books, newspapers, and online resources to prepare.

Competition:

The competition is tough—lakhs of aspirants take these exams every year against a few hundred seats. This will call for a combination of knowledge, strategic preparation, and resilience for success in the Career.

Passing the IAS exam will not only secure a candidature in the various services of the civil services, but it will also give wings to an overall fulfilling career by making contributions to the nation-building process in varied capacities, ultimately developing policies and leaving a strong impact on society.
The UPSC IAS is not merely a test of knowledge but of decision-making ability, integrity, and commitment to public service.