The Civil Services Exam (CSE) is a competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. It is a gateway to various prestigious and sought-after careers in the Indian administrative service, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
The CSE consists of two stages:
- The preliminary exam
- The main exam.
Eligibility for Civil Services Exam
To be eligible for the Civil Services Exam (CSE) in India, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: Candidates must be citizens of India.
- Age limit: The age limit for the CSE depends on the category the candidate belongs to. For the general category, the age limit is 32 years. For candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC), the age limit is 35 years. For candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the age limit is 37 years.
- Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- Number of Attempts: The number of attempts a candidate can make at the CSE depends on their category. For the general category, the limit is six attempts. For OBC candidates, the limit is nine attempts. For SC and ST candidates, there is no limit on the number of attempts.
- Physical Standards: Candidates must meet certain physical standards as specified by the UPSC. These include minimum height and weight requirements, and visual acuity standards.
- Other Conditions: Candidates should be of good character and should not have any criminal cases pending against them. They should also be in good mental and physical health.
Exam pattern of civil services exam
Preliminary exam-
The preliminary exam, also known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), consists of two objective-type papers:
General Studies Paper 1: This paper tests the candidate’s knowledge of current affairs, history, geography, Polity, and economics. It also tests the candidate’s analytical and problem-solving skills.
General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT): This paper tests the candidate’s skills in comprehension, communication, interpersonal relations, problem-solving, decision-making, and mental aptitude.
The main exam consists of nine papers, including seven subjective papers and two qualifying papers:
Subjective papers: These include papers on subjects such as history, geography, politics, and economics. The subjects and the number of papers may vary from year to year.
Qualifying papers: These include a paper in the Indian language of the candidate’s choice and a paper in English. These papers are qualifying in nature, and the marks scored in these papers are not counted towards the final rank.
The CSE is a highly competitive examination, and the level of difficulty is high. Candidates are expected to have a thorough knowledge of the subjects covered in the exam and should be able to apply their knowledge in a logical and analytical manner. It is also important for candidates to be well-versed in current affairs and general knowledge.
In addition to the written examination, candidates are also required to appear for a personality test (interview) conducted by the UPSC. The personality test is meant to assess the candidate’s leadership, integrity, and other personal qualities that are considered important for a civil servant. The marks scored in the personality test are added to the marks scored in the main exam to determine the final rank.
Syllabus of Civil Services Exam
The syllabus for the Civil Services Exam (CSE) in India is vast and covers a wide range of subjects. The syllabus for the preliminary exam, also known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), is as follows:
General Studies Paper 1 (CSAT):
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the 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, bio-diversity, and climate change – that do not require subject specialization
- General Science
General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT):
- 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)
The main exam consists of nine papers, including seven subjective papers and two qualifying papers. The syllabus for the subjective papers may vary from year to year, but generally covers the following subjects:
- Essay
- General Studies Paper 1: Indian Heritage and Culture, history, and Geography of the World and Society
- General Studies Paper 2: Governance, constitution, polity, social justice, and international relations
- General Studies Paper 3: Technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security, and disaster management
- General Studies Paper 4: Ethics, integrity, and Aptitude
- Optional Subject Paper 1
- Optional Subject Paper 2
The qualifying papers are:
- Indian language paper (candidate’s choice)
- English paper
It is important to note that the syllabus for the CSE is broad and covers a wide range of subjects. Candidates are expected to have a thorough understanding of the subjects covered in the exam and should be able to apply their knowledge in a logical and analytical manner. It is also important for candidates to be well-versed in current affairs and general knowledge.
How to apply online for the Civil Services Exam
To apply for the Civil Services Exam (CSE) in India, candidates must follow the steps given below:
- Visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at www.upsc.gov.in
- Click on the ‘Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC’ link under the ‘Examination’ tab.
- On the next page, click on the link for the CSE (Preliminary) exam.
- Read the instructions carefully and click on the ‘I Agree’ button to proceed.
- Fill out the online application form with all the required details, including personal details, educational qualifications, and contact information.
- Upload the required documents, such as a recent passport-sized photograph and signature.
- Pay the application fee using a credit card, debit card, or net banking.
- Review the filled-in application form and submit it.
It is important to note that the application process for the CSE is completely online, and hard copies of the application form or documents are not required to be sent to the UPSC.
Candidates are advised to keep a copy of the filled-in application form for their records. They should also ensure that all the information provided in the form is accurate and up to date. Incomplete or incorrect forms may be rejected by the UPSC.