FAQs

Civil Services Examination is a 3 stage examination. The following is the process:

Stage 1: Prelims

Stage 2: Mains

Stage 3: Interview

To write mains you need to qualify prelims and to attend interview you must qualify mains.

Marking Scheme and pattern for Various stages:

Prelims –  2 Papers

Paper I – General Studies (Merit Paper) – 100 Q – 200 Marks

Paper II – CSAT (Qualifying Paper) – 80Q – 200 Marks 

Qualifying mark for CSAT is 66 marks. CSAT marks will not be counted for deciding cut off.

Mains – 9 Paper

7 Merit Papers

Essay – 2 x 125 = 250 Marks

GS – 4 Papers – 250 x 4 = 1000 Marks

Optional – 2 Papers – 250 x 2 = 500 Marks

2 Qualifying Papers

English – 300 marks – 75 is the qualifying mark

Language Paper (8th schedule) – 300 Marks – 75 is the qualifying mark

Interview – 275 Marks

Total Marks (Merit) – 2025

Here is a list of series of questions which usually pop up in candidate’s minds.

1Q. What are the eligibility criteria for appearing Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by UPSC?

Age: For General Category: Candidate should have attained 21 years of age and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August,20XX where XX = Year of notification

For eg;

A. If you are born on or before 1st August 1997 and appearing for CSE 2018, then you are eligible to appear.

If you are born on or after 2nd August 1997 and appearing for CSE 2018, then you are not eligible to appear

B. If you are born after 1st August 1986 and appearing for CSE 2018, then you are eligible to appear.

If you are born on or before 1st August 1986 and appearing for CSE 2018, then you are not eligible to appear.

Educational Qualification: The candidate must hold a degree of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University Under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.

2Q. How many attempts each candidate is eligible for and what are the age limits?

The following are the attempts and age limit for respective categories:

General – 6 Attempts – 32 Years

OBC (Non-creamy layer) – 9 Attempts – 35 Years

SC/ST – No restriction on attempts – 37 Years

3Q. I scored just 45 % in my degree, Am I eligible to write the examination?

Yes. You are eligible. UPSC has no percentage criteria as a qualification for appearing in CSE.

4Q. I’m in the final year of my engineering, Can I appear for Civil Service Examination?

No. You cannot. You need to have at least passed your final year exams. Same is the case with others.

5Q. Are there any medical standards required for writing UPSC?

Yes. There are.

Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to Civil Services Examination, 2016 as per guidelines given in Appendix-III of Rules for Examination published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 27th April, 2016.

If you any more questions in your mind please feel free to comment below.