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The Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is one of the most coveted examinations in the country. Over the years, the exam has become more competitive, and aspirants from different fields of study leave no stone unturned to prepare and ace the UPSC Civil Services examination.
The UPSC CSE 2023 calendar is out, and the candidates who wish to appear in the CSE 2023 exam should kick-start their preparation right away. As per the UPSC calendar 2023, the Civil Services Preliminary examination will be conducted on May 28, 2023. The following sections are more details related to the UPSC 2023 exam dates, syllabus, exam pattern, Civil Services exam preparation, etc.
UPSC Civil Services examination is also known as the IAS examination. The CSE is conducted once every year. Lakhs of candidates appear for the UPSC examination every year, but only a few get selected. The CSE is a three-stage examination, which comprises:
For more information on UPSC CSE, refer to the UPSC notification, which comprises all the details related to the UPSC posts, number of vacancies, application process etc.
The UPSC Civil Services examination will be held on May 28, 2023. Important dates related to the UPSC IAS examination are given in the table below. More information pertaining to the release of UPSC CSE 2023 admit cards, main examination timetable etc., will be updated here as soon as the UPSC releases the information.
UPSC CSE 2023 Exam Dates | ||
---|---|---|
S.No. | Events | Important Exam Dates |
1 | Date of Release of UPSC CSE 2023 Notification | 01.02.2023 |
2 | Last Date for receipt of UPSC CSE 2023 Applications | 21.02.2023 |
3 | Date of commencement of the UPSC CSE 2023 Preliminary Exam | 28.05.2023 |
4 | Date of Commencement of Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2023 | 15.09.2023 |
An overview of the UPSC Exam Pattern is given below. It is important that aspirants understand the nature of UPSC CSE questions and exam patterns before starting their preparation.
UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination Pattern
UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination Pattern
Sl. No. | Paper | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | General Studies Paper I | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
2 | General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
UPSC Civil Services Main Examination
More information related to the UPSC exam pattern, i.e. total marks allotted for each paper, duration of the exam etc., is given in the table below.
UPSC CSE Main Exam Pattern | |||
---|---|---|---|
Sl. No. | Name of the Paper | Subject | Total Marks |
1 | Paper A | Indian Language | 300 Marks |
2 | Paper B | English | 300 Marks |
3 | Paper I | Essay | 250 Marks |
4 | Paper II | General Studies I | 250 Marks |
5 | Paper III | General Studies II | 250 Marks |
6 | Paper IV | General Studies III | 250 Marks |
7 | Paper V | General Studies IV | 250 Marks |
8 | Paper VI | Optional I | 250 Marks |
9 | Paper VII | Optional II | 250 Marks |
General Studies Paper I, II, III and IV
The topics that are part of UPSC main exam General Studies papers are given in the table below.
Overview of the UPSC Main General Studies Exam Topics | |
---|---|
General Studies Papers | Name of the Topic(s) |
General Studies I | Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society |
General Studies II | Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations |
General Studies III | Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management |
General Studies IV | Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude |
Optional Subject Papers I & II
For the UPSC CSE Main examination, candidates can select any one of the optional subjects given in the table below.
Optional Subject Papers for UPSC Main Examination
Agriculture | Botany | Anthropology | Economics | Mechanical Engineering |
Zoology | Civil Engineering | Chemistry | Mathematics | Public Administration |
Management | Law | Geography | Commerce and Accountancy | Electrical Engineering |
Geology | Physics | History | Statistics | Philosophy |
Medical Science | Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science | Sociology | Psychology | Political Science and International Relations |
The literature of any one of the following languages can be selected: | ||||
Assamese, Bodo, Dogri, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Santhali, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English, Bengali, Gujarati, Konkani, Nepali, Sindhi and Sanskrit. |
Question Paper Pattern of English and Indian Language
Question Paper Pattern of English and Indian Language is given in the table below.
Question Paper Pattern of English and Indian Language | |
---|---|
English | Indian Language |
(a) Comprehension of Given Passages | (a) Comprehension of Given Passages |
(b) Precis Writing | (b) Precis Writing |
(c) Usage and Vocabulary | (c) Usage and Vocabulary |
(d) Short Essays | (d) Short Essays |
(e) Translation from English to the Indian Language and the Indian language to English |
Candidates preparing for the CSE should go through the UPSC CSE Syllabus before starting their preparation. The UPSC syllabus and past year papers available on the official website of the UPSC are a must-read for every CSE aspirant. An overview of the UPSC preliminary syllabus is given in the table below.
UPSC Preliminary Exam Syllabus
S.No. | General Studies Paper I | General Studies Paper II |
---|---|---|
1 | General Science | Comprehension |
2 | Current events of national and international importance | General mental ability |
3 | Indian and World Geography- Physical, Social, Economic | Logical reasoning and analytical ability |
4 | Indian Polity and Governance- Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. | Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. — Class X level) |
5 | General issues on Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change ( these topics do not require subject specialisation) | Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level) |
6 | Economic and Social Development- Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. | Decision making and problem-solving |
7 | History of India and Indian National Movement | Interpersonal skills including communication skills |
In order to apply for the UPSC CSE, candidates have to visit the website, i.e. upsconline.nic.in and fill in the online application form. Candidates should go through the official notification and instructions given on upsconline.nic.in website before applying for the exam. Applicants should keep the following things in mind while applying for the exam:
Applicants have the option to withdraw their application if they do not wish to appear in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.
Aspirants who wish to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services examination 2023 can either rely on self-study or join a good IAS coaching centre based on their preference, availability of time etc.
UPSC aspirants should go through the UPSC past year question papers and syllabus before starting their preparation.
Candidates should study only relevant books multiple times, rather than reading many books on a subject. Using relevant NCERT books, other advanced textbooks, and study materials will help candidates revise the content easily.
Candidates should cultivate the habit of reading newspapers every day. They should know how to read a newspaper for UPSC CSE. Aspirants have a limited time; therefore, they should know what to read and what not to read. The UPSC syllabus and previous years’ question papers can help candidates understand the relevant and important topics for UPSC CSE.
Revision is the key to cracking the UPSC IAS examination. Without revising the books and notes multiple times, candidates may find it difficult to recollect important facts and statistics in the exam hall. Therefore, it is imperative that aspirants give due importance to revision.
Candidates should definitely write mock tests and evaluate as well as analyse their answer papers. Writing mock tests in a simulated environment is important for UPSC preparation. By analysing their answer sheets, candidates will be able to understand their weaknesses and learn from their mistakes.
Along with all the study techniques mentioned above, candidates should learn to remain calm. Stressing out, especially during the examination, can be counterproductive. Nervousness and uncontrolled anxiety may hinder your performance during the exams. Therefore, try to cultivate and maintain equanimity throughout the UPSC journey.
The market is flooded with a number of UPSC CSE books; however, aspirants should not get overwhelmed by seeing the number! A very important aspect of UPSC preparation is to read a limited number of books. Candidates can choose at most one or two books for a specific subject that consists of relevant and most of the portions for the exam.
Aspirants who are preparing for UPSC CSE can refer to the important websites, newspapers and other resources given in the table below.
Important Resources for the UPSC Civil Services Examination
S.No. | Names of Important Websites/Newspapers/Magazines/Programmes |
---|---|
1 | Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) |
2 | The Hindu |
3 | Yojana |
4 | Kurukshetra |
5 | The Indian Express |
6 | www.pib.nic.in |
7 | www.vikaspedia.in |
8 | www.idsa.in |
9 | www.rbi.org.in |
10 | www.arthapedia.in |
11 | www.ccrtindia.gov.in |
12 | www.ncert.nic.in |
13 | darpg.gov.in/arc-reports |
14 | www.indiabudget.gov.in |
15 | www.prsindia.org |
16 | www.ndma.gov.in |
17 | AIR Spotlight |
18 | ‘Perspectives’ programme on Sansad TV |
19 | Down To Earth Magazine or www.downtoearth.org.in |
Preparing for the UPSC Civil Services exam for many aspirants is a life-changing decision. Therefore, candidates who want to tread this path should work very hard, remain disciplined, and be dedicated throughout the journey. An aspirant should try their best to clear the exam in the first attempt to save their precious time and resources and avoid stress.
Start early and stay consistent!
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