UPSC 2021: CSE Prelims Exam Corner

Know your chances of clearing the CSE Prelims'21

Get to know your expected score & chances of qualifying through CL IAS Score Calculator- a one of its kind tool for UPSC CSE Prelims Exam. Also, get to access the Prelims Papers (GS & CSAT) Answer key & exam analysis. Register to get the fastest updates about UPSC CSE 2021 Prelims Exam.

GS Paper 1

Question Paper - (Live Now)

About UPSC

Popularly known as IAS is the short form of Indian Administrative Service. It is one of the prestigious services among the 24 services like IPS, IFS etc for the which the UPSC conduct Civil Services Examination (CSE) for selecting the candidates.

Age/attempt limit in UPSC ( CSE)

Category Upper Age Limit NO. of Attempts
GENERAL & CREAMY OBC 32 years 06 attempts
NON- CREAMY OBC 35 years 09 attempts
SC/ST 37 YEARS Till upper age limit
PH Gen- 42 years, OBC-45 years, SC/ST- 47 years Gen- 0 9 attempts, OBC- 09 attempts, SC/ST- till upper age limit
J&K Domicile Gen- 37 years, OBC- 40 years, SC/ST- 42 years, PH – 47 years
Till upper age limit
Disabled servicemen Gen - 37 years, OBC - 38 years, SC/ST - 40 years Till upper age limit

Academic Qualifications

  • Must be a graduate. No minimum %, grade or CGPA required in college.
  • They only need final graduation certificate/marksheet.
  • Undergraduate in last year, last semester can apply.
  • Foreign degree valid but have to get equivalent cert. from AIU
  • Distance education degree valid- IF recognized by UGC/AICTE/any Law
  • MBBS must have completed internship before UPSC Interview-stage comes

Application Process

  • Mode: online
  • UPSC CSE'21 Prelims- 10th Oct 2021. UPSC CSE'21 Main Exam starts : 7th Jan 2021
  • You've to mention your optional subject in online Prelim application form. You canâ??t change it afterwards during Mains detailed application form (DAF).
  • Marksheet ,caste certificate not required at this stage.

UPSC Civil Services Exam pattern

STEP 1 - PRELIMS - 10th Oct 2021

General studies (Paper-1)

  • 100 MCQs x 2 marks = 200 Marks
  • -0.66 Marks penalty for wrong answers
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Marks Counted for Mains selection, but not in final selection.

Syllabus

  • Current events of national and international importance.
  • History of India and Indian National Movement.
  • Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
  • Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • Economic & Social Development - Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social initiatives, etc.
  • General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change , General Science

Aptitude/CSAT (Paper-2)

  • 80 MCQs x 2.5 marks = 200 Marks
  • -0.83 Marks penalty for wrong answers
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Marks not counted in Mains -Selection.
    Only 33% passing marks have to be scored.

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

For UPSC CSE Main exam pattern & syllabus, click here

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