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The preliminary examination for civil services is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. For accurate information about this examination, the latest advertisement published by the Commission should be seen. Here we are giving brief information about the preliminary and main examination of civil services. This information is according to the release of 2024.

The process of selection for civil services is completed by the Union Public Service Commission in three stages. These stages are preliminary examination, main examination and interview.

Minimum educational qualification:

The candidate must have a graduate degree or equivalent qualification of a University incorporated by the Central or State Legislature of India or of any other educational institution established by an Act of Parliament or deemed to be a University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

Number of chances:

Every candidate appearing for this examination, who is otherwise eligible, will be allowed six (6) chances to appear for the Civil Services Examination.

How to apply :

Candidates should apply online using the website http://upsconline.nic.in. It is mandatory for the applicant to register himself on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform available on the website of the Commission and then proceed to fill the online application for the examination. OTR registration has to be done only once in a lifetime. This can be done any time throughout the year. If the candidate is already registered, he/she can directly start the process of filling the online application for the examination.

Exam plan

There are two successive stages in this competitive examination.

(1) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective) for selection of candidates for Civil Services (Main) Examination and

(2) Civil Services (Main) Examination (written and interview/personality test) to select candidates for recruitment to various services and posts.

  • There will be two multiple choice question papers in the preliminary examination of Civil Services.

  • The Commission will prepare a list of candidates qualified for the Civil Services (Main) Examination who will be determined by the Commission on the basis of 33% marks in General Studies Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination and 33% marks in General Studies Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. Will be based on the total qualifying marks of -I.

  • In the question papers, there will be penalty (negative marking) for wrong answers given by the candidate.

  • There are four options for answering each question. For each wrong answer given by the candidate to each question, one third (0.33) of the marks awarded to that question will be deducted as penalty.

  • Will be cut in.

  • Civil Services (Main) Examination will consist of written examination and interview/personality test.

  • 9 of the traditional essay style of the subjects given in the written examination

  • There will be question papers out of which 2 question papers will be of qualifying type.

  • Candidates who appear in the written part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination at the discretion of the Commission

  • Those who obtain the minimum qualifying marks as prescribed,

  • Will be called for interview for testing. of candidates to be called for interview

  • The number will be approximately double the number of vacancies to be filled. Interview/ Personality Test

  • There will be 275 marks (no minimum qualifying marks).

More information :

Union Public Service Commission Notification: Civil Services Notification 2024

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