UPSC 101: Everything You Need to Know About UPSC
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An all-encompassing guide answering your UPSC-related questions to help you #PrepareWell.
What is UPSC?
The Civil Services Examination (CSE), or popularly known as the UPSC exam, is a national competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
UPSC Exam Structure
It is conducted in 3 phases, namely:
1. Preliminary examination (Prelims) - Consists of two papers (Paper I consisting of General Studies and Paper II, referred to as the Civil Service Aptitude Test or CSAT). The prelims are objective.
2. Main examination (Mains) - Consists of four General Studies papers, two Optional papers, one Essay paper, one compulsory Indian Language paper, and one English Language paper. These are all subjective.
3. Interview – A final personality test then follows the two phases.
Section-wise Syllabus Breakdown for UPSC 2024
Syllabus for GS Paper (Prelims Paper I)
· Current events of national and international importance.
· History of India and Indian National Movement.
· Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World.
· Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
· Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
· General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.
· General Science
Syllabus for General Studies paper- II
· Comprehension
· Interpersonal skills including communication skills
· Logical reasoning and analytical ability
· Decision-making and problem solving
· General mental ability
Syllabus for Mains
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
| Paper-I | Essay (can be written in the medium of the candidate's choice) | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies-I(Indian Heritage & Cultural, History & Geography of the World & Society) | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies-II(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-III(Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies-IV(Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject - Paper I | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject - Paper II | 250 |
How to #PrepareWell for UPSC 2024?
1. Choose the right resources.
#PrepareWell for UPSC with books that are strictly syllabus-oriented books and are in sync with the recent exam pattern. Pearson has collaborated with renowned authors packing expertise, experience and knowledge to bring you titles which are specifically tailored to your UPSC preparation. These authors have endeavored to help aspirants by striking a balance between the static portion of the syllabus along with the dynamic part (Current Affairs) to ensure that your preparation process flows smoothly.
Pearson titles include Indian Economy by Sriram Srirangam (Founder of Sriram’s IAS), Indian Economy by Gaurav Agrawal IAS AIR-1, Internal Security by Rajarshi Varma, IPS Officer, Science and Technology, IAS, The Constitution of India Vol.-1 by Bhagyawan Ghaturkar, State GST Officer, Geography of India by Neeraj Nachiketa, Indian Culture, Art and Heritage authored by Devdutt Pattanaik, International Relations by IAS Saumitra Mohan and Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude written by IRS Mukul Kulkarni and IRS Akshay Patil, all present content in an easy, quick, concise, and comprehensive manner to make sure that you develop a solid understanding of the core concepts.
Specific titles like Prelims Prep General Studies (CSAT) by Showick Thorpe and IAS Prelims Previous Years’ Paper Exam are learning resources for UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam.
While dealing with extensive subjects such as history where the focus is on rote learning, seasoned authors like Dr. Ajeet Jha and Dr. Sujata Menon in Ancient History and Medieval History, and Raj Malhotra in Modern History, and, World History by Shivlal Gupta have opted to present historical facts in a less bulky and more info-graphic manner for an enhanced learning and retention experience.
Assisting you throughout your USPC journey with special attention to such minor details, Pearson titles are your #PrepareWell partners.
2. Embrace the preparation journey.
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) or UPSC exam is considered one of the most difficult national exams. It is extremely exhaustive, so you must mentally and physically prepare yourselves.
Be sure to enjoy the journey, the highs and the lows of it to keep yourselves motivated throughout. Always keep your goals in mind so that you are consistently working towards achieving them.
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