According to the UPSC IAS exam pattern, the UPSC IAS exam recruitment process consists of three stages: prelims, mains, and interview. UPSC provides the UPSC exam pattern separately as UPSC prelims exam pattern, UPSC mains exam pattern, and UPSC IAS personality test in the notification. Candidates can plan their UPSC IAS preparation using the UPSC IAS exam pattern 2022. Read the full article below to learn more.
Table of Contents
Overview of UPSC IAS Exam Pattern
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Name of exam |
Civil Services Exam (UPSC CSE) |
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Organising Body |
Union Public Service Commission |
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Mode of Exam |
Offline (UPSC Paper Pattern for Prelims- MCQ-based) (UPSC Paper Pattern for Mains – Descriptive) (Personality Test – Interview in front of board members) |
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Number of Stages |
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Number of papers in UPSC Exam |
Prelims: 2 Mains: 9 |
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UPSC Prelims exam pattern: Marking scheme |
Paper 1: +2 marks Paper 2: +2.5 marks Negative marking: One-third of marks allotted to each question |
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Time Duration of UPSC CSE exam 2022 |
Prelims: 2 hours (Each paper) total 4 hours |
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Mains: 3 hours (Each paper) total 27 hours conducted across various days |
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Type of questions |
Prelims: Objective type |
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Mains: Subjective type |
UPSC IAS Exam Pattern for Prelims
According to the CSE exam pattern, prelims is the first qualifying stage of the UPSC IAS selection process. The preliminary exam will consist of two papers, according to the UPSC prelims exam pattern. According to the IAS paper pattern, candidates must meet the UPSC IAS cut off for Paper 1 and it is mandatory to secure 33 percent for Paper 2 which is CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) to meet the requirements. Here are the highlights of the UPSC CSE prelims exam pattern.
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Number of papers |
GS 1: Based on Indian History, Economics, Indian and World Geography, Science and Technology, Indian Polity, Current Affairs and Environment. |
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GS 2: Based on Reasoning, Aptitude and Quantitative |
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Language of paper |
English |
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Hindi |
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Duration of exam |
4 hours (2 hours each) |
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Number of questions |
General studies paper 1: 100 General studies paper 2: 80 |
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Maximum marks |
400 (200 each) |
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Qualifying marks |
33% for Paper 2 |
Marking Scheme for UPSC IAS Prelims
- According to the UPSC IAS 2022 exam pattern, each question in the prelims exam GS paper 1 will be worth 2 marks, while GS paper 2 will be worth 2.5 marks.
- According to the IAS paper pattern, one-third of the marks will be deducted as negative marking for each incorrect answer.
- If a candidate attempts more than one answer, it will be counted as negative marking.
- There will be no penalty for unanswered questions.
- To qualify for GS paper 2, candidates must score at least 33%.
UPSC IAS Exam Pattern for Mains
According to the UPSC IAS 2022 exam pattern, candidates who pass the prelims exam are eligible to take the UPSC IAS mains exam. The UPSC mains exam pattern indicates that the IAS mains exam will consist of nine papers. Candidates must score at least 25% in their optional subject as well as the remaining subjects. All languages listed in the constitution’s 8th Schedule will be considered for language papers. Here are the highlights of the UPSC CSE main exam pattern.
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Number of papers |
9 |
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Language of paper |
English |
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Hindi |
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Descriptive paper: Candidates can appear for language paper in 22 languages mentioned in schedule 8 of the Indian constitution |
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Duration of exam |
3 hours each |
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Subjects |
Compulsory Indian language English Essay
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Number of questions |
Part A and B: 300 each General studies and optional paper: 250 each |
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Sub Total (Mains) |
1750 marks |
| Personality Test | 275 marks |
| Grand Total | 2025 marks |
Marking Scheme for UPSC IAS Mains
- The IAS Mains exam is of 1750 marks.
- Each subjective paper in the mains exam is of 300 marks.
- In the mains exam, candidates can select two optional papers.
UPSC IAS Exam Pattern for Interview
The interview round is the final stage of the UPSC IAS recruitment and one of the most important goals to achieve if one wishes to work for the Indian government as an administrative officer. Thousands of candidates applied for the UPSC IAS exam, but only a few thousand made it to the interview and only a few hundred qualified. According to previous years’ trends, no specific IAS exam pattern exists for the UPSC IAS interview round.
Candidates must be well-versed in their subject as well as current events. By asking open-ended questions, the UPSC IAS interview panel would assess the candidates’ mental and social abilities. Some of the qualities that the board seeks are mental alertness, critical capacities of absorption, clear and logical exposition, a balance of judgement, range and depth of interest, aptitude for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral purity.
Benefits of Knowing UPSC IAS Exam Pattern
- Students will be able to understand the number of questions asked in the prelims and mains exams by using the Civil Services exam pattern.
- The qualifying criteria for the UPSC CSE exam prelims and mains are detailed in the IAS paper pattern.
- Candidates will not be provided with a scribe to write the UPSC IAS exam, according to the exam pattern. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in the categories of blindness, locomotor disability (both arm affected – BA), and cerebral palsy, on the other hand, will be provided with the facility of scribe, if desired, under Section 2 (r) of the RPWD Act, 2016.
- Before beginning their UPSC IAS exam preparation, candidates should review the detailed UPSC CSE exam pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. The UPSC CSE will consist of 11 papers that you must complete. Aside from that, an interview will be held, and a final list of candidates will be prepared.
Ans. The Union Public Service Commission has provided the UPSC IAS exam pattern.
Ans. Yes, one year of hard work and dedication can help you easily pass the UPSC CSE exam. You can devote the first six months to optional and answer writing, and the last six months to prelims. Furthermore, there are numerous good resources on the internet that students can use to prepare for the UPSC CSE.
Ans. The UPSC CSE Prelims syllabus is a subset of the UPSC CSE Mains syllabus. In addition to the GS from prelims, you must complete an Indian language paper, an English language paper, an ethics paper, and an optional subject paper in Mains. Furthermore, there will be no main aptitude tests.
Ans. Current affairs, Indian history, geography, Indian politics, economics, and general science are among the most important subjects for UPSC CSE prelims, mains, and interviews.