What is the exam pattern of UPSC prelims and Mains?

The UPSC Civil Services Examination consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination (Prelims), Main Examination (Mains), and Personality Test/Interview. Here's a detailed overview of the exam pattern for both the Prelims and Mains: Preliminary Examination (Prelims): Paper-I: General Studies: Type of Questions: Objective/Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Total Marks: 200 marks. Duration: 2 hours. Syllabus: Current events of national and international importance. History of India and Indian National Movement. Indian and World Geography. Indian Polity and Governance. Economic and Social Development. Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change. General Science. Paper-II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT): Type of Questions: Objective/Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Total Marks: 200 marks. Duration: 2 hours. Syllabus: Comprehension. Interpersonal skills including communication skills. Logical reasoning and analytical ability. Decision-making and problem-solving. General mental ability. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. - Class X level). Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. - Class X level). Main Examination (Mains): Paper-A: Indian Language: Qualifying nature (minimum 25% marks required). Syllabus: One of the Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Paper-B: English: Qualifying nature (minimum 25% marks required). Syllabus: English language skills. Essay: Total Marks: 250 marks. Duration: 3 hours. Candidates are required to write essays on multiple topics. General Studies Papers (I, II, III, IV): Total Marks for each paper: 250 marks. Duration for each paper: 3 hours. Syllabus: General Studies Paper-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society. General Studies Paper-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations. General Studies Paper-III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management. General Studies Paper-IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. Optional Subject Papers (Paper-I and Paper-II): Total Marks for each paper: 250 marks. Duration for each paper: 3 hours. Candidates choose one optional subject from the list provided by UPSC. The optional subjects cover a wide range of disciplines including Literature, History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Philosophy, etc. Personality Test/Interview: Total Marks: 275 marks. Candidates who qualify the Mains examination are called for a personality test or interview. The interview assesses the candidate's personality, suitability for a career in the civil services, mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety, and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity. The UPSC exam is rigorous and demands comprehensive preparation covering a wide range of topics. Candidates need to be well-versed in current affairs, have a good understanding of the subjects, and possess critical thinking and analytical skills to excel in this examination. read less