UPSC 2017

The entrance for Civil Services comprises of two successive stages:

• Preliminary Examination (objective type with negative marks)
• Main Examination (Written and Interview)

The details follow :
A. Preliminary Examination

Paper	Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
I	General Studies	2 hours	200
II	CSAT	2 hours	200
Total			400

• Both papers will consist of Objective (multiple choice answer) Type questions only.
• Question Papers will be set both in Hindi and English.
• Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks (to qualify for Main Exam) in any or all the subjects of the examination.
• The marks obtained in the Preliminary exam will not be counted in the final merit list/rank.

For the Syllabus of the Preliminary Exam check "Prelims" under Study Guide.
The Study guide also provides, syllabus, suggested readings, books, sathya and previous years question papers for all subjects.
For more detailed exam instructions for Conventional and Objective type papers go through Exam Instructions.
B.1. Main Examination ::

Paper	Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
I	One of the Indian Languages chosen from the prescribed list	3 hours	300
II	English	3 hours	300
III	Essay	3 hours	250
IV	General Studies paper - I	3 hours	250
V	General Studies paper - II	3 hours	250
VI	General Studies paper - III	3 hours	250
VII	General Studies paper - IV	3 hours	250
VIII	Optional Subject - Paper 1	3 hours	250
IX	Optional Subject - Paper 2	3 hours	250
Total			1750

• The papers on Indian Languages and Englishwill be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature; the marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
• The paper on Indian Languages will not, however, be compulsory for candidates hailing from the North-Eastern States of Arunachanl Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and also for candidates hailing from the State of Sikkim.
• All the papers will consist of Conventional (essay) Type questions only.
• All Question Papers, other than language papers, will be set both in Hindi and English.
• Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks (to qualify for the Interview/Personality test) in any or all the subjects of the examination.
• Candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers, except the language papers viz. Papers I and II above in any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution or in English.
• Candidates exercising the option to answer papers III to IX in any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution may, if they so desire, give English version within brackets of only the description of the technical terms, if any, in addition to the version in the language opted by them.

For the list of optional subjects and syllabus for the Main Exam check “Mains” under Study Guide.
The Study guide also provides, syllabus, suggested readings, books, sathya and previous years question papers for all subjects.
For more detailed exam instructions for Conventional and Objective type papers go through Exam Instructions.
B.2. Interview

• The interview will carry 275 marks.
• The number of candidates called for Interview will be twice the number of vacancies
• Total marks obtained by the candidate in the Main Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine his/her final ranking.

Eligibility :
Nationality
A candidate must be either:
(a) A citizen of India, or
(b) a subject of Nepal, or
(c) a subject of Bhutan, or
(d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India. or
(e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Srilanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and 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.
Age Limits
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on 1st August of notification year.
The upper age limit prescribed above will be relaxable in the follwing cases:

• Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe: upto a maximum of five years.
• Other Backward Classes: upto a maximum of three years.
• State of Jammu & Kashmir(Domiciled during the period from the 1st January, 1980 to 31st December, 1989: upto a maximum of five years.
• Defence Services personnel : upto a maximum of five years

(disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof)

• Ex-servicemen including Commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1st July of notification year and have been released (i) on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from 1st July of notification year) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or (ii) on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service, or (iii) on invalidment: upto a maximum of five years.
• ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Service as on 1st July of notification year 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 month's notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment : upto a maximum of five years.
• Blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons: upto a maximum of ten years.

NOTE I

Cumulative Age relaxation
Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes who are also covered under other clauses mentioned above will be eligible for grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both the categories.
Ex-servicemen eligibility
The term ex-servicemen will apply to the persons who are defined as ex-servicemen in the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979, as amended from time to time.
The age concession will not be admissible to Ex-Servicemen and Commissioned Officers including ECOs/SSCOs, who are released on own request.

NOTE II

Date of Birth Certificate
The date of birth accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University, which extract must be certified by the proper authority of the University or in the Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination certificate.
No other document relating to age like horoscopes, affidavits, birth extracts from Municipal Corporation, service records and the like will be accepted.
Once the date of birth is recorded in the Commission, no change is allowed subsequently (or at any other Examination of the Commission) on any grounds whatsoever.
Educational Qualifications
The candidate must hold a degree of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions 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.

NOTE

• Candidates who have appeared at an examination which would educationally qualify them for the UPSC examination but have not received the the results will also be eligible for admission to the Preliminary Examination. They will have to produce the proof of passing the requisite examination with their application for the Main Examination.
• In exceptional cases, UPSC may treat a candidate who has not any of the foregoing qualifications as a qualified candidate, provided that he has passed examination conducted by other Institutions, which UPSC deems fit.
• Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications, recognised by Government as equivalent to professional and technical degree would also be eligible for admission to the examination.
• Candidates who have passed the final professional M.B.B.S. or any other Medical Examination but have not completed their internship by the time of submission of their applications for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, will be provisionally admitted to the Examination. They will however, have to submit a copy of a certificate from the concerned authority of the University/Institution that they have passed the requisite final professional medical examination with their application. In such cases, the candidates will be required to produce original Degree or a certificate from the University/Institution at the time of their interview .

Number of attempts
The maximum number of attempts restriction is effective from the examination held in 1984. In case other eligibility conditions apply:

• General candidates: four attempts.
• Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates: No restriction.
• Other Backward Classes: seven attempts.

NOTE 1

• An attempt at a Preliminary Examination is considered an attempt at the examination.
• If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination, he is considered to have made 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.

NOTE 2: Restrictions on reapplying for the examination

• A candidate who is appointed to the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Foreign Service on the results of an earlier examination and continues to be a member of that service will not be eligible to compete at this examination.
• If a candidate is appointed to the IAS/IFS after the Preliminary Examination of Civil Services Examination, 2007 is over and he/she continues to be a member of that service, he/she shall not be eligible to appear in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2007 notwithstanding his/her having qualified in the Preliminary Examination, 2007.
• If a candidate is appointed to IAS/IFS after the commencement of the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2007 but before the result thereof and continues to be a member of that service, he/she shall not be considered for appointment to any service/post on the basis of the result of this examination viz. Civil Services Examination, 2007.

How to Apply

Application form

• The application form is common for all their examinations which will be processed on computerized machines.
• The application packet contains, the application form, information brochure, an acknowledgment card, and an envelope for sending the application.
• The Application is available at designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices throughout the country. The form should be purchased from the designated Post Offices only.
• The cost of the Applications is Rs. 20/- (Rupees twenty only).
• This form can be used only once and for only one examination.
• A photocopy/reproduction/unauthorized printed copy of the form is not allowed.
• Acknowledgment cards with a postage stamp of Rs. 6/- should accompany the application form.
• The name of examination, should be written on the envelope.
• The application packet will contain the detailed instruction for filling the application form.

NOTE 1

(A) Submit the application directly to the commission
All candidates, whether already in Government Service, or in Government owned industrial undertakings or other similar organizations or in private employment should submit their applications direct to the Commission.
(B) Information to the Head of Department of your Employer
Persons already in Government service, whether in a permanent or temporary capacity or as workcharged employees other than casual or daily rated employees or those serving under Public Enterprises are required inform (in writing) to their Head of Office/Department that they have applied for the Examination.
(C) Employer's permission for the examination
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 canceled.

NOTE 2

Only one application for one examination
While filling in his/her application form, the candidate should carefully decide about his choice for the centre and optional subjects for the Examination. More than one application from a candidate giving Different centres and/or optional subjects will not be accepted in any case.

NOTE 3

(A) No submission of certificates is required with the application
Candidates are not required to submit along with their applications any certificate(s) in support of their claims regarding Age, Educational Qualifications, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes and Physically disabled etc.
(B) The certificates will be required only after the results of the written examination
Candidates are requested to keep ready the attested copies of the following documents for submission to the Commission soon after the declaration of the result of the written part of the examination.

1. Certificate of Age.
2. Certificate of Educational Qualification.
3. Certificate in support of claim to belong to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes/Physically Disabled where applicable.
4. Certificate in support of claim for age/fee concession, where applicable.

Application Fees

• A Rs. 100/- application fees (Rs. 50 for SCRA, NDA/NA and Civil Services) should be paid to the Commission through a single Central Recruitment Fee Stamp of the requisite denomination. The stamp can be obtained from the post office.
• Candidates residing abroad should deposit the prescribed fee in the office of India's High Commissioner, Ambassador or representative abroad as the case may be for credit to account head "051-Public Service Commission-Examination Fees" and attach the receipt with the application.
• Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes are not required to pay any fee.
• OBC Candidates do not have fee exemption and they are required to pay the prescribed full fee.
• Physically disabled persons are exempted from the payment of fee. They are required to submit along with his/her detailed application form, a certified copy of the certificate from a Government Hospital/Medical Board in support of his/her claim for being physically disabled.

NOTE

• 'Postage Stamps' will in no case be accepted instead of ‘Central Recruitment Fee Stamp’.
• Indian Postal Orders, Bank Draft, Money Order, Crossed Cheque, Currency notes or Treasury Challan etc. will not be accepted by the Commission. .
• Fee will not be refunded in any case:whether your candidature is rejected, you want to withdraw your application or you were not selected.
• Candidate who took the Examination held in 2006 and wish to apply for admission to this examination, he must submit his application so as to reach the Commission’s Office by the prescribed date without waiting for the results or an offer of appointment.

Receipt of Application

The completed application form should reach the following address:
Secretary, Union Public Service Commission,
Dholpur House,
Shahjahan Road,
New Delhi-110069
Last date relaxation

• For candidates residing in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir, Lahaul and Spiti District and Pangi Sub-Division of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands or Lakshadweep or abroad, there is relaxation last date for receipt of applications. Please check the “Important Dates” section for the exact dates.
• The benefit of extended time will be available only if the application is received by post/speed post
• Candidate should clearly indicate incolumn 13 (II) of the application form, the area code of the particular area or region where they are residing to claim the benefit of extended time will not be allowed to them.

NOTE

• Commission will in no case be responsible for non-receipt of their application or any delay in receipt thereof on any account whatsoever.
• All the late applications will be rejected.
• Candidates can also deliver their applications personally at the Commission's counter.
• Applications received through Couriers or Courier Services of any type shall be treated as having been received "By hand" at the Commission's Counter.