The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Exam Mains GS 4, a mandatory paper assessing Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude for entry into prestigious All-India Services. Candidates qualify for the Mains stage by clearing the Prelims, with the final selection based on the cumulative score of the Mains exam and the Personality Test. The examination evaluates decision-making, moral reasoning, and conflict resolution skills for senior administrative roles. Successful candidates are recruited into Group A and Group B services under the Government of India, with salary structures governed by the 7th Pay Commission, starting at Level 10 pay scales.
The UPSC Civil Services Examination offers a prestigious career path with high administrative authority and social impact. Officers are recruited into the All India Services and Central Services (Group A and B).
The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination General Studies Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) is a descriptive paper conducted as part of the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination. The paper evaluates the candidate's attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life, and problem-solving abilities.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Vacancies | As per annual UPSC Civil Services notification |
| Important Dates | As per UPSC Annual Exam Calendar |
| Application Fees | Rs. 100 (Exempted for SC/ST/PwBD/Female) |
| Age Limits | 21-32 Years (General Category) |
| Attempt Limits | 6 (General), 9 (OBC), Unlimited (SC/ST) |
The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination, specifically General Studies Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude), follows the guidelines prescribed in the latest official UPSC Notification. Candidates must adhere to the 250-mark syllabus covering theoretical concepts and case studies. There are no changes to the static syllabus for the upcoming cycle. Official updates are exclusively hosted at upsc.gov.in under the 'Examination' tab. Candidates are advised to monitor the 'What's New' section on the official portal for specific scheduling of the Mains examination dates.
Access the official UPSC Civil Services Examination notification by following these steps:
| Event | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | January/February |
| Mains Exam Dates | September/October |
| Result Declaration | Post-evaluation period |
The UPSC Civil Services Examination conducts recruitment for various All India Services and Central Civil Services. Total vacancies are updated annually in the official notification. GS Paper IV is a mandatory component for all candidates appearing in the Mains stage, regardless of the specific service vacancy count.
| Year | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1056 |
| 2023 | 1105 |
| 2022 | 1011 |
| Category | Departments | Pay Level |
|---|---|---|
| All India Services | IAS, IPS, IFoS | Level 10 |
| Group A Services | IRS, IA&AS, IRAS | Level 10 |
| Group B Services | DANICS, DANIPS | Level 8 |
The application fee for the Civil Services Examination is INR 100. Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted from fee payment. Payments are accepted via SBI Net Banking, Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit cards, or cash at SBI Bank branches.
The minimum age limit is 21 years and the maximum age limit is 32 years as of August 1st of the year of the examination.
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification. There is no specific subject requirement for the GS Paper IV exam; however, a deep understanding of Ethics and Human Interface is essential.
| Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper IV (Ethics) | 250 | 3 Hours |
Entry-level officers (Level 10) receive a basic pay of INR 56,100 per month, excluding Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and Transport Allowance as per the 7th Central Pay Commission.
Admit cards are issued 3 weeks prior to the examination via upsconline.nic.in. Candidates must carry a printed e-Admit Card and a valid original photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, or Voter ID) to the examination hall.
UPSC releases the official answer key for the Preliminary examination only. For the Mains GS Paper IV, no official answer key is released as it is a descriptive paper; performance is evaluated based on the official UPSC evaluation criteria.
The final merit list is prepared based on the total marks obtained in the Mains Examination (including GS Paper IV) and the Personality Test. The commission does not disclose the normalization process for descriptive papers.
Focus on the Keywords of the Syllabus (Integrity, Probity, Emotional Intelligence). Use Real-life Examples and Case Studies to substantiate theoretical answers. Practice answer writing daily to improve speed and clarity. Ensure your responses reflect administrative ethics and constitutional morality.
The following data represents the official cut-off marks for the UPSC Civil Services (Mains) Examination, specifically for General Studies Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude), as sourced directly from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) official result archives. Please note that UPSC does not publish individual paper-wise cut-offs for the Mains stage; the commission publishes the aggregate cut-off marks for the Written Examination (Mains) and the Final Selection (Mains + Interview).
| Year | General (UR) | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 741 | 706 | 712 | 694 | 692 |
| 2022 | 748 | 715 | 714 | 699 | 706 |
| 2021 | 745 | 713 | 707 | 700 | 700 |
| 2020 | 736 | 687 | 698 | 680 | 682 |
| 2019 | 751 | 696 | 718 | 706 | 699 |
| 2018 | 774 | - | 732 | 719 | 719 |
| 2017 | 809 | - | 770 | 756 | 749 |
| 2016 | 787 | - | 761 | 745 | 739 |
| 2015 | 676 | - | 630 | 622 | 617 |
| 2014 | 689 | - | 654 | 649 | 644 |
| 2013 | 564 | - | 525 | 527 | 519 |
Source: Official UPSC Civil Services Examination Result Write-ups (2013-2023), published by the Union Public Service Commission. Note: GS Paper IV was introduced in the 2013 exam cycle; individual paper-wise cut-offs are not disclosed by the commission.
