UPSC Mains Examination Pattern
The UPSC Main Examination is a descriptive examination that checks the aspirant’s in-depth knowledge and deep understanding of different subjects. 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.
The Main Examination consists of nine papers:
- Two compulsory language papers (one of your choice and English)
- Seven optional papers (you can choose any four)
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.
The language papers are of 300 marks each, while the optional papers are of 250 marks each. The questions are essay-type.
UPSC Mains Marks Distribution
The marks distribution for the Main Examination is as follows:
- Language papers: 600 marks
- Optional papers: 1000 marks
- Total: 1600 marks
Paper | Subject | Marks |
---|---|---|
Paper – I |
Essay |
250 |
Paper – II |
General Studies – I |
250 |
Paper – III |
General Studies – II |
250 |
Paper – IV |
General Studies – III |
250 |
Paper – V |
General Studies – IV |
250 |
Paper – VI |
Optional Subject – Paper I |
250 |
Paper- VIII |
Optional Subject – Paper II |
250 |
UPSC Civil Services Exam Pattern: IAS Prelims, Mains Paper Pattern
UPSC Exam Pattern: The Union Public Service Commission conducts the examination which is one of the most toughest and prestigious examinations for competitive exams in India. Before starting with the exam preparation you need to understand the UPSC Exam Pattern. It is annually conducted and it is observed that major changes were not done in the paper pattern since 2013. To crack this highly competitive exam, candidates must have a clear and better understanding of the UPSC Exam Pattern, which will play an important role in their preparation strategy.
The UPSC Examination serves as a main gate to the different reputed authorities that include the Indian Administrative (IAS), Indian Foreign Services(IFS), and Indian Police Service(IPS). In this article, we will aim to provide you with an overview of the UPSC exam pattern and the other components that are important for the preparation.
Table of Content:
- UPSC Exam Pattern
- Exam Pattern for UPSC Prelims
- UPSC Mains Examination Pattern
- Exam Pattern for UPSC Mains Optional Subjects
- UPSC Interview (Personality Test) Pattern
- Negative Marking in UPSC
- UPSC Exam Strategy
- FAQs on UPSC Exam Pattern
Contact Us