The Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is one of the most prestigious examinations in the country. Candidates from various academic disciplines put in a lot of hard work to prepare for and succeed in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
UPSC CSE 2023 Calendar is here, and candidates who want to appear in CSE 2023 exam should start their preparation now. As per the UPSC Calendar 2023, the Civil Services Preliminary Examination will be held on May 28, 2023. The following sections contain more information regarding UPSC 2023 exam dates, syllabus, exam pattern, preparation for civil services exam, etc.
UPSC CSE Preparation | |
| UPSC Admit Card | IAS Current Affairs |
Overview of the UPSC Civil Services Examination
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:
- Preliminary examination
- Main Examination
- Interview/Personality Test
- The Preliminary exam is a screening test, which is of objective type. Candidates who clear the prelims exam, qualify for the next stage, i.e. the main examination. Main examination is subjective in nature and comprises Essay, English, General Studies and optional subject papers. The last stage of the examination is the interview or the personality test. More details of the IAS exam pattern are given below.
- Candidates have a limited number of attempts (number of times a candidate can write the UPSC CSE). For instance, the General category candidates have 6 attempts. Therefore, it is imperative for every UPSC aspirant to take this exam seriously from the very beginning.
- The UPSC has laid down a set of eligibility criteria in terms of age limit, educational qualification and other eligibility requirements for CSE. Hence, candidates should carefully go through the UPSC eligibility criteria given in the official notification before applying for the exams.
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.
UPSC CSE 2023 Exam Dates
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 |
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern
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
- It consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Prelims exam comprises Paper 1 and Paper 2.
- Paper 1 focuses on topics pertaining to:
- Current Affairs
- History
- Economics
- Science and technology
- Geography etc.
- Paper 2 comprises questions related to:
- Comprehension
- Logical reasoning
- Basic numeracy
- Data interpretation etc.
- There is a negative marking for Paper 1 and Paper 2, where one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to the question are deducted for every wrong answer.
- GS Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature and candidates have to score a minimum of 33% in it.
UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination Pattern
| S.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 |
UPSC Civil Services Main Examination
- The CSE main examination consists of qualifying papers like Indian Language and English, and candidates have to score at least 25% marks on each paper.
- Papers that are counted for merit include Essay, General Studies and optional papers.
- The total duration of all the papers is 3 hours.
- The Indian Language paper is not compulsory for candidates from the states of Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
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 | |||
| S.No. | Name of the Paper | Subject | Total Marks |
| 1 | Paper A | Indian Language | 300 |
| 2 | Paper B | English | 300 |
| 3 | Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| 4 | Paper II | General Studies I | 250 |
| 5 | Paper III | General Studies II | 250 |
| 6 | Paper IV | General Studies III | 250 |
| 7 | Paper V | General Studies IV | 250 |
| 8 | Paper VI | Optional I | 250 |
| 9 | Paper VII | Optional II | 250 |
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 (b) Precis Writing (c Usage and Vocabulary (d) Short Essays | (a) Comprehension of Given Passages (b) Precis Writing (c) Usage and Vocabulary (d) Short Essays (e) Translation from English to the Indian Language and the Indian language to English |
UPSC CSE Syllabus
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 |
UPSC CSE Apply Online
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:
- Candidates should upload a scanned photograph and signature.
- Aspirants should ensure that they submit the application form before the last date given in the official notification.
- The application fee should be paid, without which the application will not be accepted.
- Candidates should apply for the exam at the earliest as exam centres are allotted on a “first-apply-first allot” basis, and there is a ceiling on the number of candidates allotted to each exam centre except for some.
- Candidates should provide details of any one Photo ID Card (Aadhaar Card or Voter Card or PAN Card or Passport or Driving Licence or any other Photo ID Card) issued by the State/Central Government in the online application form. They also have to upload a scanned copy of the Photo ID while filling in the application form.
Applicants have the option to withdraw their application if they do not wish to appear in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.
UPSC CSE Preparation
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.
To find out about the best coaching centres in the following cities, click the links given below:
Important Tips to Prepare for UPSC CSE
- Past Year Question Papers and Syllabus:
UPSC aspirants should go through the UPSC previous year question papers and syllabus before starting their preparation.
- Study Limited/Relevant Books:
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.
- Reading Newspapers:
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:
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.
- Mock Tests:
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.
UPSC CSE Books and Other Important Resources
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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