Friday, August 7, 2009

>>PLAN OF UPSC EXAMINATION

UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION
(WEB SITE: http://www.upsc.gov.in/)
(Telephone no. 011-23385271, 011-23381125, 011-23098543

Plan of examination

The Civil Services examination will consist of two successive stages.
1. Civil Services Preliminary examination (objective type – negative marking 1/3rd ) for the selection of the candidate for the Main examination; and
2. Civil Services Main examination (written and interview) for the selection of the candidate for the various services and posts.

Schedule of the UPSC Civil Services examination

· The forms for the Preliminary examination are available in the months of December and January each year.
· The Preliminary examination will be held in the mid month of May each year.
· The result of the Preliminary examination will be declared by the UPSC in the last week of July or first week August.
· The Main examination forms will have to be submitted by the qualified candidates by the August last.
· The Main examination will be conducted by the UPSC in the months of October and November.
· The result of the Main examination will be declared by the UPSC in the month of March, next year.
· Interview/Personality test will be conducted in the months of March, April and May.
· The Final result will be notified by the UPSC in the month of May itself before the next Preliminary examination.

Eligibility
Academic Eligibility for IAS Exams
· A degree of any of the 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 a Deemed University under the UGC Act, 1956, or an equivalent qualification.
· Candidates who have appeared or intend to appear for the qualifying examination and are awaiting results are also eligible to appear for the Preliminary Examination. All such candidates who qualify to appear for the Civil Services Main Examination must produce proof of having passed the said examination along with their application for the Main Examination.
· The UPSC may in exceptional cases treat a candidate without the foregoing requisite qualification as an eligible candidate if he / she has passed an examination conducted by other institutions, the standard of which justifies his / her admission in the opinion of the Commission.
· Candidates with professional and technical qualifications recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees.
· Candidates who have passed the final year of MBBS or any Medical Examination but are yet to complete the internship can also appear for the Main Examination. However they must submit along with their Main Examination application, a certificate from the concerned authority of the University / Institution that they have passed the final professional medical examination. At the Interview stage they must then produce a certificate from a competent authority that they have completed (including internship) all the requirements for the award of the Medical Degree.
Other Eligibility Conditions for IAS Exams
(1) Nationality
i. Only Indian nationals are eligible for IAS and IPS. ii. For other services a candidate can be either of the following:
a. a citizen of India, b. a subject of Nepal, c. a subject of Bhutan, d. a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or e. a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vietnam, Zaire or Zambia with the intention of permanently settling in India. Candidates belonging to either categories of b., c., d. or e., must produce an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India. Those who belong to either of b., c., or d., categories are not eligible for appointment to the Indian Foreign Service.
(2) Age Limit
i. A candidate must have attained 21 years and not be over 30 years on August 1 of the year of examination. ii. The upper age limit is relaxed in specific cases as mentioned below:
· upto a maximum of 5 years if the candidate belongs to SC/ST.
· upto a maximum of 3 years if the candidate belongs to Other Backward Classes.
· upto a maximum of 5 years if the candidate had been domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir during the period between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989.
· upto a maximum of 3 years in the case of Defence Services personnel disabled during hostilities with foreign countries or in a disturbed area and consequently released.
· upto a maximum of 5 years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs / SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on August 1 of the year of examination and have been released:
o on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from August 1 of the year of examination) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or
o on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service, or on invalidment.
· upto a maximum of 5 years in the case of ECOs / SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment (5 years Military Service) as on August 1 of the year of examination and whose assignment has been extended beyond 5 years. Such candidates will have to provide a certificate from the Ministry of Defence stating that they can apply for civil employment and they will be released on a notice of 3 months, upon selection, from the date of receipt of offer of appointment.
· upto a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and orthopaedically handicapped candidates.

Application procedure
The Application Procedure for the Civil Services Examination is pretty simple. Electronically scannable Application Forms along with the Information Brochure can be obtained from the designated Head Post Offices / Post Offices throughout the country.
The duly filled in Application Form with the acknowledgement card should be sent to - Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi - 110011. For more details regarding Syllabi, Examination Centres and other clauses, interested candidates are advised to check UPSC's Notification issued during December in 'Employment News' and all major newspapers
The Application Procedure for the Civil Services Examination is pretty simple. Electronically scannable Application Forms along with the Information Brochure can be obtained from the designated Head Post Offices / Post Offices throughout the country. The duly filled in Application Form with the acknowledgement card should be sent to - Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi - 110011. For more details regarding Syllabi, Examination Centres and other clauses, interested candidates are advised to check UPSC's Notification issued during December in 'Employment News' and all major newspapers.
Misconception about UPSC Civil Services Examination among students
There is general feeling amongst the aspirants that;
· The UPSC Civil Services is beyond the reach of ordinary and average students.
· UPSC discriminates against the candidates belonging to the minority community.
· UPSC discriminates against the aspirants with Hindi as their medium of examination.
· It will take years of preparation for the aspirants to clear this examination.

Few of the very important facts about UPSC Civil Services examination.

· It is very much within the reach of ordinary and average minds.
· The main paper I have one section about the statistics, which has nothing to do with the Mathematics. It is the only exam n the country which does not have any question on pure Mathematics. So those students coming from weak mathematics background would have no problem in this section.
· The command over the language comes with the knowledge of the subject. And the knowledge becomes easier when the dynamics of learning are put together. Here comes the role of a professionally motivated faculty.
· Attraction to the English is a national complex. Recent experience tells us that UPSC is mot the victim of this complex. It is more the dearth of sufficient study materials in other language. In the recent years almost 25% students had other than English language as their medium in the UPSC examination.
· It6 takes not more than two years to qualify this examination provided that the candidates are properly guided and given a genuine direction in this regard.
· Lastly, let us prove that the UPSC is not biased in selection procedure.
· A since early and effective coaching programme and mechanism to motivate students can produce the desired results.

Scheme of examination
1.
Preliminary examination:
It will consist of two papers of the objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 450 marks in the subjects mentioned for preliminary by the UPSC. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit.
The Preliminary examination will consist of two papers;
PAPER I
GENERAL STUDIES
150 objective type multiple choice questions with 1/3rd negative marking
Each question carries one marks
150 marks
PAPER II
One subject to be selected from the list of optional subjects permitted by the UPSC.
120 objective type multiple choice questions with 1/3rd negative marking
Each question carries 2 ½ marks
300 marks
450 marks (Total)
Subjects offered by UPSC for the Preliminary test;

Agriculture
Animal Husbandry and veterinary science
Botany
Chemistry
Civil engineering
Commerce
Economics
Electrical engineering
Geography
Geology
Indian history
Law
Mathematics
Mechanical engineering
Medical science
Philosophy
Physics
Political science
Psychology
Public administration
Sociology
Statistics
Zoology

Question paper will be of objective type, multiple choice questions.
The question papers will be set both in Hindi and English. The course contents of the syllabi for optional subjects will be of the degree level.
Each paper will of two hours duration. Blind candidate will; however, be allowed an extra time of 20 minutes at each paper.

1. Main examination:
The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main examination will be about 12 to 13 times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year in the various services and the posts.
The Main examination will consist of a written examination and an interview test. The written examination will consist of nine papers of conventional essay type in the subjects mentioned by UPSC. Each paper will be of three hours duration. Blind candidates will; however, be allowed an extra time of 30 minutes at each papers. The candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers, except the languages papers viz. paper I and II mentioned below, in any of the language included in the 8th schedule of the constitution or in English.

The written (Main) examination will consist of the following papers;

Paper I
One of the Indian languages to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the 8th schedule to the constitution. 300 marks (Qualifying only)
Paper II English 300 marks (Qualifying only)
Paper III Essay 200 marks
Paper IV & V General Studies 300 marks for each paper (Total 600)
Paper VI, VII, VIII and IX Any two subjects to be selected from the list of the optional subjects offered by the UPSC. 300 marks for each paper (Total 1200)

Subjects offered by the UPSC for Main examination.

Agriculture
Animal Husbandry and veterinary science
Anthropology
Botany
Chemistry
Civil engineering
Commerce and accountancy
Economics
Electrical engineering
Geography
Geology
History
Law
Management
Mathematics
Mechanical engineering
Medical science
Philosophy
Physics
Pol. science and International relations
Psychology
Public administration
Sociology
Statistics
Zoology
Literature of one of the following Languages
Arabic
Assamese
Bodo
Bengali
Chinese
Dogari
English
French
German
Gujrati
Hindi
Kannad
Kashmiri
Konkani
Maithili
Malayalam
Manipuri
Marathi
Nepali
Oriya
Pali
Persian
Punjabi
Sanskrit
Santhali
Sindhi
Tamil
Talugu
Urdu

Note; a candidate will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects.
· Political science and International relations and Public Administration
· Commerce & accountancy and Management
· Anthropology and Sociology
· Mathematics and Statistics
· Agriculture & animal Husbandry and Veterinary science
· Management and Public Administration
· Of the engineering subjects; viz. Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering-not more than one subject.
· Animal husbandry and Veterinary science and Medical science

2. Interview/Personality test:
The candidates, who obtained such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the main examination as may be fixed by the commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview/personality test.
The candidate will be interviewed by a board that will have before a record of his/her career. He/she will be asked questions on the matters of general interests. The object of the interview is to access the personality suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental caliber of a candidate. In broad term this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interests in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety and depth of interests, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.
The technique of the interview is not that of strict cross examination but a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
The interview test is not intended to be a test either of specialized or general knowledge of candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to have an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of the academic studies but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own state or country as well as modern currents of thoughts in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of the well educated youth.
UPSC Interview Questions
UPSC Interview questions range from questions about your choice of subject to why you want to join the civil services. It is good to answer honestly but at the same time avoid clichés like wanting to do service to the nation etc. Questions on your hobbies are imperative so prepare well as they expect some in-depth knowledge on that. Questions relating to your name, your college or school name are also a big possibility. If someone well-know shares one of these names please also prepare on that. Also learn up about important events on the year or date of your birth. As you can see, UPSC Interview questions are mainly from what you have filled in your form including your subject but here it is more a test of logic and presentation and awareness rather than pure subject knowledge. In the UPSC interview many questions are situational like what will you do if a Tsunami strikes your district and you are the DM/Collector/SP. Questions on your choice of service preference also need to be prepared. Current affairs analysis is important too.

Main Papers and Interview
Qualifying Papers in UPSC Main exam (Total two Papers)
Paper I One of the Indian languages to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the 8th schedule to the constitution. (Qualifying in nature) (it would be of 300 marks one need to score 33% marks unless his other Papers will not be evaluated)
Paper II English (Qualifying in nature) (it would be of 300 marks one need to score 33% marks unless his other Papers will not be evaluated)

Main Papers whose marks are counted for the final ranking (Total seven Papers)
Paper III
Essay, marks 200
Paper IV General Studies (Paper I), marks 300
Paper V General Studies (Paper II), marks 300
Paper VI Optional I (Paper I) (Any two subjects to be selected from the list of the optional subjects offered by the UPSC.), marks 300
Paper VII Optional I (Paper II) (Any two subjects to be selected from the list of the optional subjects offered by the UPSC.), marks 300
Paper VIII Optional I) (Any two subjects to be selected from the list of the optional subjects offered by the UPSC.), marks 300
Paper IX Optional II (Paper II) (Any two subjects to be selected from the list of the optional subjects offered by the UPSC.), marks 300
Total marks in written Main exam 2000
InterviewIt will be conducted by the board of the five members. and will carry 300 marks
Grand total marks of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2300 marks
Simple target to qualify for the Interview is to score the 50% marks in the Main written examination i.e. 1000 marks out of 2000 written marks. But for the final selection in the UPSC Civil Services examination one has to add 70 and more marks in the 50% marks. So in any case you have to score 1070 and more marks in the written exam. Always remember that any addition of marks in the Main written exam by you will neutralize and minimize the greater role for the Interview marks in your final selection. So by scoring handsome marks in the Main written examination “You win the race before you end the race”.
For this purpose you either have to score 55% marks in all papers or you have to score exellently in one or two papers so that to reach the magic target of above 1070 marks in the Main exam. Main marks in percentage seems to be an easy task but according to the patern of UPSC paper evaluation process it is really a daunting task for which a proper preparation is needed with every care on all the aspects where a handsome marks can be secured.
Ultimate achievable goal;
After successfully competing in the examination, the candidates are rank wise selected in the final list of the UPSC Civil Services. And thereafter they are allotted services by the Department of Personnel and Training according to the vacancies notified. Following services are filled by the UPSC civil Services examination;
· Indian administrative services
· Indian foreign services
· Indian police services
· Indian P&T Accounts and Finance services, Group ‘A’
· Indian Audit and Account Services, Group ‘A’
· Indian Revenue Services (Customs and Central Excise), Group ‘A’
· Indian Defence Accounts Services, Group ‘A’
· Indian Revenue Services (IT), Group ‘A’
· Indian Ordnance Factories Services, Group ‘A’ (Assistance work manager, non-technical.
· Indian Postal Services, Group ‘A’
· Indian Railway Traffic Services, Group ‘A’
· Indian Railway Accounts Services, Group ‘A’
· Indian Railway Personnel Services, Group ‘A’
· Post of Assistance Security Officer in Railway Protection Force, Group ‘A’
· Indian Defence Estate Services, Group ‘A’
· Indian Information Services (Junior Grade), Group ‘A’
· Indian Trade Services, Group ‘A’ (Grade-III)
· Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer Grade)
· Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadar & Nagar Haveli Civil Services, Group ‘B’
· Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadar & Nagar Haveli Police Services, Group ‘B’
· Pondicherry Police Services, Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadar & Nagar Haveli Civil Services, Group ‘B’

Among these services IAS and IPS are the all Indian civil services. Candidates selected in the IAS and IFS are not allowed to reappear in the examination. Rest of the services is categorized as Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ services, and the candidates selected in the Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ services are allowed by the UPSC to reappear to improve their rank.

Job Prospects:
Depending upon his rank, a candidate is recruited to services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and other departments including Finance, Post and Telegraph, Revenue, Secretariat and so on. The appointment offers executive power. Promotions are time bound and increases in privileges are automatic. Selected candidates are first put through a training session for a short period. He is usually sent to an academic staff college associated with the service to which he is allocated. The greatest thing about civil service is the job security. Special facilities include subsidized accommodation, telephone and transport facilities, medical benefits, leave travel concession, etc. After retirement, there are very good social welfare facilities. Last but not the least is the immense satisfaction one derives at being able to participate in the development process of the country.

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