Q. What is the pattern of civil services Examination?
Ans. The civil services examination consists of three stages:
A)Prelims
B)Mains
C)Interview
From the year 2011 CSE exam pattern is likely to be changed. Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) will be included replacing the optional paper from prelims examination.
Thus there will be two objective papers in the prelims:
A)General Studies
B)CSAT
The detailed structure, marks, syllabus and duration of prelims papers is not yet declared by UPSC.
The mains exam has nine papers of conventional essay type. Following is the structure of Mains exam:
General Studies Paper I - 300 Marks
General Studies Paper II - 300 Marks
Optional I Paper I - 300 Marks
Optional I Paper II - 300 Marks
Optional II Paper I - 300 Marks
Optional II Paper II - 300 Marks
Essay - 200 Marks
Total = 2000 Marks
Compulsory Paper(Marks not Considered in Ranking)
English - 300
Regional Language - 300
The interview is of 300 marks and the final merit list is made from total of mains and interview marks, i.e. out of 2300.
Q. Do I need to buy different applications for different posts?
Ans. There is only one application form for all the services listed in the civil services ie, IAS, IPS, IFS (Foreign) and other Central Services.
Q. Can a candidate who has completed his education from an open school/ University apply for Commiss
Ans. Yes, provided it is a recognized University and he possess the educational qualifications prescribed for the exam and is otherwise eligible
Q. Can a candidate choose an optional subject, which he has not studied at graduate/PG level?
Q. If applied for the CS (P) Exam but not appeared at any paper in the CS(P) will attempt counted
Ans. No. An attempt is counted only if a candidate has appeared in at least one paper in CS (P) Examination.
Q. How cadres are allotted?
Ans. Cadre allotment is applicable only in the case of IAS and IPS.
Cadre is allotted based on the rank and availability of seats/ vacancies in a particular state.
Number of vacancies and reservations are also considered in the allotment of the cadre.
One has to fill his/ her Cadre choice in the main application. So student's preference is also taken into consideration for cadre allotment.
Sometimes successful student with top rank also doesn't get his home cadre/ cadre of his/ her choice because of "No vacancy" Position. So there are many factors involved in getting the Cadre of one's choice.
Q. If the overall marks of two or more candidates are equal, how relative merit between is decided
Ans. Tie-breaking principle is applied to decide inter se merit among candidates having the same overall marks. The principles adopted for each Examination are:
TIE BREAKING PRINCIPLE Wherever the two or more candidates have secured equal aggregate marks, the tie(s) is/are resolved in accordance with the principles approved by the Commission, viz.,
(i) Candidate securing more marks in the Compulsory Papers and the Personality Test put together is to be ranked higher
(ii) In case where the marks mentioned at (i) above are equal, the candidate senior in age is to be ranked higher
(iii) In case where the (i) and (ii) above are same, then the candidate getting more marks in the compulsory papers is to be ranked higher
Q. Where I can get information about the applications deadlines?
Ans. Last date of receipt of the applications always mentioned in the notification issued by the UPSC. The notification is normally published in the Employment News.
You will get the latest alerts from UPSCMantra.com
Q. From Where I can get the application form for UPSC Exams?
Ans. The place where you will get application form will be mentioned in notification by UPSC. Also you will get free alerts from UPSC Mantra.com regarding this.
Q. Where the examinations of UPSC prelims and mains are held?
Ans. Centres of Examination : The examination is held at the following centres :
AGARTALA GANGTOK PATNA
AHMEDABAD HYDERABAD PUDUCHERRY
AIZWAL IMPHAL PORT BLAIR
ALIGARH ITANAGAR RAIPUR
ALLAHABAD JAIPUR RANCHI
AURANGABAD JAMMU SAMBALPUR
BANGALORE JODHPUR SHILLONG
BAREILLY JORHAT SHIMLA
BHOPAL KOCHI SRINAGAR
CHANDIGARH KOHIMA THIRUVANATHAPURAM
CHENNAI KOLKATA TIRUPATI
CUTTACK LUCKNOW UDAIPUR
DEHRADUN MADURAI VISHAKHAPATNAM
DELHI MUMBAI
DHARWAD NAGPUR
DISPUR PANAJI (GOA)
The centres and the dates of holding the examination as mentioned above are liable to be changed at the discretion of the commission. While every effort will be made to allot the candidates to the centre of their choice for examination, the commission may, at their discretion allot a different centre to a candidate, when circumstances so warrant. blind candidates will, However, be required to take the Examination at the any one of seven centres, viz. Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Dispur and Mumbai only. Candidates admitted to the Examination will be informed of the time table and place or places of examination.
The candidates should note that no request for change of centre will normally be granted. However when a candidate desires a change in centre from the one he had indicated in his Application Form for the Examination, he must send a letter addressed to the Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, giving full justification as to why he desires a change in centre.
Q. What is the restriction on number of attempts in Civil Service Examination?
Ans. Numbers of attempt are as given below:
• General-4
• OBC-7
• SC/ST- No restriction till age of 35 year
Q. Can a candidate needs to be included in the Central list of OBCs for age relaxation, reservation?
Ans. Yes, Only candidates belonging to communities which are included in the Central list of OBC’s are eligible for such concessions.
Q. Can a candidate write different papers of Civil Service (Main) Examination in different languages?
Ans. No, Candidates have the option to write their answers either in English or in any one of the Eighth schedule languages.
Q. Are answer books segregated/sorted based on category of the candidate?
Ans. This is not done at any stage of the evaluation process
Q. After the written examination, on what criterion is the answer books sent for evaluation?
Ans. Mixing of the answer books received from different venues is done.
Then these answer books are send for evaluation.
Computer-based randomized code no. is given to each answer-book before evaluation.
The booklets sent for evaluation does not have mention of roll number or center of examination.
Q. Can candidate write CSE (Main) in English and take interview in Hindi or any other Indian language?
Ans. If a candidate opts an Eighth schedule language for the CS (Main) Examination he will have the option to take the interview in same language or in English.
Q. Is it possible that evaluation/assessment can be affected by the knowledge of a candidate identity?
Ans. No. Before evaluation, the Roll no. written on every answer book is detached and computer-based randomized fictitious code no. is given. At no stage of the evaluation process (including the moderation stage) is the actual Roll no./identity of the candidate known to any of the Examiners/officials associated in the process.
Q. What are the criteria for age relaxation?
Ans. 01 SC and ST 5 years
02 OBC 3 years
03 Blind, deaf-mute 10 years
and Orthopaedically
handicapped persons.
04 Blind, deaf-mute and 15 years
Orthopaedically
handicapped persons
+ SC/ST
05 Blind, deaf-mute and 13 years
Orthopaedically handicapped
persons+ OBC
06 Defence Services Personnel 3 years
disabled in operations
hostilities with during
any foreign country or in
a disturbed area and
released as a consequence thereof.
07 Defence Services Personnel
(as against Code No. 06) 8 years
+ SC/ST
08 Defence Services Personnel
as against Code No. 06) 6 years
+ OBC
09 Ex-Servicemen including 5 years
Commissioned Officers and
ECOs/ SSCOs who have rendered
at least five years Military
Service as on 1st August, 2010
and have been released
(i) on completion of assignment
(including those whose assignment
is due to be completed within
one year from 1st August, 2010)
otherwise than by way of dismissal
or discharge on account of misconduct
or inefficiency; or (ii) on account
of physical disability attributable
to Military Service; or (iii) on
invalidment.
10 Ex-Servicemen including 10 years
Commissioned officers and
ECOs/SSCOs(as against Code No. 09)
+ SC/ST
11 Ex-Servicemen including 8 years
Commissioned officers and
ECOs/SSCOs(as against Code No. 09)
+ OBC
For more refer UPSC notification
Q. What are the physical requirements for IPS? If have long-sight problem. Am I eligible for IPS?
Ans. For the physical requirements (including vision problems, disability, height etc.) for IPS please refer notification from UPSC.
Long sight problem candidates are not eligible for IPS.
Q. How many seats are there in IAS and IPS respectively?
Ans. The number of vacancies of IAS and IPS varies from year to year. It depends upon the requirements submitted by the various State Governments to the Department of Personal and Training, Government of India and also requirement by the Central Government itself.
Q. Are there any quotas for the defense personnel appearing for the UPSC exams?
Ans. There is no quota for defense persons in UPSC exams. But they are given relaxation in the ex-service man category in maximum age limit. Defense Services Personnel get 5 Year relaxation in all categories as ex-service person.
Q. I am studying in final year. My exams will be in April, am I eligible to write the exam?
Ans. You are eligible only when you fulfilled the age criteria for UPSC.
If you satisfy the same then you need to submit your degree certificate/ provisional certificate before the main examination if you clear preliminary. The photocopy of degree certificate/ provisional certificate has to attach with the main application.
Q. Am I eligible for certain relaxation in upper age limit as my father is a central govt. employee?
Ans. No. There is no such relaxation available for government employees in the Civil Services Examination.
Q. Is it possible to appear for one optional in Hindi medium and other optional in English in mains?
Ans. No. All the papers should be written in the same Language only.
You can write in one medium only if you are selecting any Indian language as a medium.
Q. I am working in abroad (UAE), when exam time should I come in India ?
Ans. You can only apply from abroad. For the Exams, you have to come to India.
Q. Does the percentage of marks in degree level is considered to be eligible for the exam?
Ans. One have to have a UGC recognized degree only. Degree marks doesn't have any significance in the civil services.
Q. Where can I get the UPSC syllabus?
Ans. Syllabus is issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year in the notification of exam. It is published on the UPSC website and the same is published in the Employment News too.
Q. What are reservations for physically challenged persons in CSE?
Ans. In civil services, the seats are reserved for physically challenged candidates every year. It is also on rotation basis. They are also allotted to few services. It is also decided in advance.
A physically challenged student also comes through open competition without reservation. But he/she will be given that specified service only. Physically challenged student get age relaxation also.