Stage I - Preliminary Examination (usually conducted in May/June, results by August)
Stage II - Main Examination (usually conducted around September/October, results by February/March)
Stage III - Interview (usually conducted over March/April, final results announced a few days before the next preliminary exam).
The Preliminary Exam consists of two objective type papers (multiple-choice questions) for a total of 400 marks – Paper 1 (General Studies) and Paper 2 (CSAT). Each paper has 200 marks each and two hours allotted. However, blind candidates would be provided an extra 20 minutes for each paper.
There will be negative marking (of one-third marks for that answer) for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the objective type question papers.
Only a black ballpoint pen may be used for both writing and marking answers in the OMR sheet (answer sheet). Pens of any other colour, pencils or ink pens are prohibited.
The medium of the question paper is both English and Hindi.
The main examination consists of total 9 papers - 2 qualifying papers and 7 papers to be counted for merit. All the 9 papers will have essay-type questions (each of -three hours’ duration).
Qualifying papers
Paper A (300 marks) - One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution.
Paper B (300 marks) – The papers on Indian Languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
However, paper A on Indian Languages will not be compulsory for candidates hailing from the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
Yes.
The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) are set in Hindi and English.
No, the Candidates have the option to write their answers either in English or in any one of the Eighth Schedule languages except the Qualifying Language papers Paper-A and Paper-B, which they have indicated at the time of filling up of their online application form for the Civil Service (Preliminary) Examination.
The candidates, opting for Indian Language medium for the written part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination may choose either the same Indian Language or English or Hindi as the medium for the interview. The candidates, opting to write the Civil Services (Main) Examination in English, may choose either English or Hindi or any other Indian Language opted by them for the compulsory Indian Language Paper in the written part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination, as the medium for interview. The candidate has to indicate the language medium of interview at the time of filling up of the Detailed Application Form (DAF) However, the candidates, who are exempted from the compulsory Indian Language Paper, will have to choose either English or Hindi as medium of Interview or Personality Test.
The minimum qualifying standards in each of the two Qualifying Papers i.e. English and Indian Languages is indicated in the Examination Rules, is at present 25%.
The Paper A on Indian Language is not compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim. In the Online Application, if a candidate hails from these North-Eastern States, the option for Indian Language will automatically be disabled in the Online Application.
Yes, Paper A on Indian Language is compulsory for candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category. However, it will not be compulsory for the candidates suffering from Hearing Impairment provided they have been granted such exemption from 2nd or 3rd language courses by the concerned education Board/University. The candidate needs to provide an undertaking/self declaration in this regard in order to claim such an exemption to the Commission.
Recruitment is generally made to the following services on the basis of Civil Service Examination:
The Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Group 'A'
The Indian Foreign Service (IFoS), Group 'A'
The Indian Police Service (IPS), Group 'A'
The Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service (IAS), Group 'A'.
The Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAS), Group 'A'.
Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise), (IAS) Gr. "A".
The Indian Defence Accounts Service (IAS), Group 'A'.
The Indian Revenue Service, (IT) Group 'A'.
The Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Group 'A'. (Asstt. Works Manager—Administration).
The Indian Postal Service, Group 'A'.
The Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group 'A'.
The Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group 'A'.
The Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group 'A'.
The Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group 'A'.
Post of Assistant Security Commissioner, Group 'A' in Railway Protection Force.
The Indian Defence Estates Service, Group 'A'.
The Indian Information Service, Junior Grade Group 'A'.
Indian Trade Service, Group 'A' (Gr. Ill).
Indian Corporate Law Service. Group 'A'.
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group 'B' (Section Officer's Grade).
Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep. Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Group 'B'.
Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service. Group 'B'.
Pondicherry Civil Service, Group 'B'.
Pondicherry Police Service, Group 'B'.
The above mentioned services are categorized / classified into (i) Technical Services and (ii) Non-Technical services.
Based on your medical report, you are either eligible/fit only for all nontechnical services (not fit for technical services), both eligible/fit for technical as well as all non-technical services (fit for all services) or eligible/fit for non-technical and some of the technical services or eligible/fit for none of the technical as well as non-technical service (unfit for all services).Those services are treated as Technical Services which require special medical status in terms of vision, height, chest, chest expansion etc.
The Technical services under CSE are as follows.
The Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group 'A'.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) Group A,
Indian Police Service, Gr. A,
Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service. Group 'B'.
Pondicherry Police Service, Group 'B'
Indian Ordinance Factories Service (IOFS) Group A
The Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group 'A', Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise) Gr. "A", Indian Revenue Service, (IT) Group 'A', Indian Postal Service, Group 'A', Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group 'A', Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group 'A', Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group 'A', The Indian Defence Estates Service, Group 'A', Indian Information Service, Junior Grade Group 'A' Indian Corporate Law Service. Group 'A', Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep. Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Group 'B'.
For the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service, a candidate must be a citizen of India.
For other Services, a candidate must be either- -
a citizen of India, or
a subject of Nepal, or
a subject of Bhutan, or
a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India:
Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India:
Provided further that candidates belonging to categories (b), (c) and (d) above will not be eligible for appointment to the Indian Foreign Service.
A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary may be admitted to the examination but the offer of appointment may be given only after the necessary eligibility certificate has been issued to him/her by the Government of India.
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on 1st August of the year of examination if he is a general category student / aspirant. The upper age limit for IAS as well as all services prescribed above is relaxed for OBC, SC, ST and other categories of aspirants. UPSC age limit relaxation for OBC SC/ST Up to a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste (SC) or a Scheduled Tribe (ST). Up to a maximum of three years in the case of candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates. Up to a maximum of five years if a candidate had ordinarily been domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from the 1st January, 1980 to the 31st December, 1989. Up to a maximum of three years in the case of Defence Services personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof. Up to a maximum of five years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1st August and must have been released. On completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from 1st August) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service, or on invalid. Up to a maximum of five years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years Military Service as on 1st August and whose assignment has been extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defence issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three months notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment. Up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and orthopedically handicapped persons.
Yes, except those who have been allocated to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS)/Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Reservation is made for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC and PH candidates in respect of vacancies as may be fixed by the Government.
Candidates seeking reservation/ relaxation benefits available for SC/ST/OBC/PH/Ex-servicemen must ensure that they are entitled to such reservation/relaxation as per eligibility prescribed in the Rules/Notice. They should also be in possession of all the requisite certificates in the prescribed format in support of their claim as stipulated in the Rules/Notice for such benefits, and these certificates should be dated earlier than the due date (closing date) of the application for CSE (Prelims).
Yes. 3% of posts, 1% each for Visually Impaired (VI), Hearing Impaired(HI) and Locomotor Disability and Cerebral Palsy(LDCP) is permissible in services (except those which have obtained exemption from M/o SJ&E) participating in CSE.
Candidates seeking reservation/ relaxation benefits available for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes/ Other Backward Classes/Economically Weaker Sections/Persons with Benchmark Disabilities/Ex-servicemen must ensure that they are entitled to such reservation/ relaxation in accordance with the eligibility prescribed in the Examination Rules/Notice. They should also be in possession of all the requisite certificates in the prescribed format in support of their claims for availing reservation before applying for the examination, and in any case, not later than the closing date for receipt of applications for the examination.
An attempt at a Preliminary Examination shall be taken as an attempt at the Civil Services Examination.
If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination, it shall be taken as an attempt at the Examination.
Notwithstanding the disqualification/ cancellation of candidature, the fact of appearance of the candidate at the Examination will count as an attempt.
No, an attempt is counted only if a candidate has appeared in at least one paper in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.
The candidate must hold a degree of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or any other educational institution established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.
The Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates shall also be required to meet eligibility criteria in terms of physical requirements/functional classifications (abilities/disabilities) consistent with the requirements of the identified Service/Post as may be prescribed by its Cadre Controlling Authorities. The details of physical requirements and functional classifications are given in the Rules/Notice of the Examination.
Persons already in Government Service, whether in a permanent or temporary capacity or as work charged employees other than casual or daily rated employees or those serving under the Public Sector Enterprises, are required to submit an undertaking that they have informed their Head of Office/Department, in writing, that they have applied for the Examination. Candidates should note that in case a communication is received from their employer, by the Commission, withholding permission to the candidates applying for/appearing at the Examination, their applications will be liable to be rejected/candidature will be liable to be cancelled.