“UPSC CSE 2024: A Comprehensive Exploration of 1056 Vacancies and Exam Structure”

1. Eligibility Criteria:

   • Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens.
   • Age Limit: Generally, candidates must be between 21 and 32 years old as of August 1 of the exam year, with certain relaxations for reserved categories.
   • Educational Qualification: A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university is required. Final year students can also apply.
   • Upper age limit relaxations: OBC – 3 years, SC/ST – 5 years, PWBD – 10 years
   • Number of attempt: General – 6,OBC – 9,SC/ST– unlimited,PWBD-9

2. Exam Stages:

   • Preliminary Examination (Prelims): Objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are asked to assess candidates’ general awareness, aptitude, and comprehension skills. It consists of two papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT).
   • Main Examination (Mains): It consists of nine papers, out of which seven are merit-based and two are qualifying in nature. The merit-based papers include Essay, General Studies (GS) Papers I, II, III, and IV, and Optional Papers I and II. The qualifying papers are Indian Language Paper and English Language Paper.
   • Personality Test (Interview): Candidates who qualify the mains examination are called for a personality test (interview), which assesses their suitability for a career in the civil services.

3. Syllabus:

   • Prelims: General Studies Paper-I covers topics such as Indian Polity, History, Economy, Geography, Science and Technology, Environment, and Current Affairs. Paper-II (CSAT) tests comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, and analytical ability.
   • Mains: The syllabus is comprehensive, covering various subjects including Indian Heritage and Culture, Governance, International Relations, Ethics, and optional subjects chosen by candidates.

4. Marking Scheme:

   • Prelims: Each correct answer carries one mark, and there’s a penalty (negative marking) for incorrect answers.
   • Mains: The mains exam is descriptive in nature, with each paper carrying different marks as specified by UPSC.

5. Optional Subjects:

   • Candidates can choose one optional subject from a list provided by UPSC. The list includes subjects such as History, Geography, Public Administration, Sociology, Political Science, etc.

6. Selection and Appointment:

   • Final selection is based on the cumulative score of the mains exam and the interview.
   • Successful candidates are allotted services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), etc., based on their rank and preference.

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