UPSC Mains Exam Pattern – IAS Exam 2024
The UPSC Mains examination mainly consists of a written examination and a personality test(interview). It consists of nine papers, out of which seven are counted for ranking purposes. The papers include Essay, General Studies I, II, III, and IV, and two optional subjects chosen by the candidates. The optional subjects are chosen from a wide range of disciplines, including literature, history, political science, geography, and more. Let’s take a look at the exam pattern.
Written Examination
- It consists of nine papers in total.
- All papers are descriptive in nature.
- Each paper is of 250 marks, except for Paper-A (Indian Language) which is qualifying in nature.
- The total marks of the written examination are 1750.
- The papers are conducted over a span of five to seven days.
a) Compulsory Papers: These include Essay Writing, English Language Comprehension, Precis Writing, and General Studies (four papers covering diverse topics such as Indian Heritage and Culture, Governance, International Relations, Ethics, and Integrity).
b) Optional Papers: Candidates need to choose two optional subjects from a list of available disciplines, such as History, Geography, Public Administration, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, and more.
Stage |
Papers |
Subject |
Marks |
---|---|---|---|
Written Examination |
Paper A |
Indian Language (Qualifying) |
300 |
Paper B |
English Language (Qualifying) |
300 |
|
Paper I |
Essay |
250 |
|
Paper II |
General Studies – I(Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) |
250 |
|
Paper III |
General Studies – II(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) |
250 |
|
Paper IV |
General Studies – III(Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) |
250 |
|
Paper V |
General Studies – IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) |
250 |
|
Paper VI |
Optional Subject – Paper 1 |
250 |
|
Paper VII |
Optional Subject – Paper 2 |
250 |
|
Personality Test (Interview) |
– |
– |
275 |
Personality Test (Interview)
- Candidates who qualify for the written examination are called for the personality test.
- The interview carries 275 marks.
- The interview assesses the candidate’s personality traits, communication skills, and overall suitability for a career in civil services.
UPSC Mains 2024- Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Admit Card
The UPSC Mains Examination is a crucial step in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, which opens doors to various prestigious positions such as the Indian Administrative (IAS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). To prepare for this examination, candidates must have a thorough understanding of the UPSC exam pattern, syllabus, and admit card, among other critical details. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to UPSC Mains that aims to provide aspiring candidates with in-depth knowledge of exam patterns, Syllabus, and Admit card that is required for exam preparation.
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