The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Prelims GS Paper 1 as the initial qualifying stage for prestigious Group A and Group B civil services positions. Candidates require a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university and must be Indian citizens aged 21 to 32 years. This objective-type screening test evaluates candidates on history, geography, polity, economy, science, and current affairs. Successful qualifiers advance to the Civil Services Mains examination. Selected officers receive pay scales starting at Level 10 of the Seventh Central Pay Commission, commensurate with roles like IAS, IPS, and IFS.
The Civil Services Examination recruits officers for the All India Services and Central Civil Services, offering a structured career path with significant social responsibility.
The UPSC Civil Services Prelims GS Paper 1 is an objective-type examination conducted annually to shortlist candidates for the Main examination.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Vacancies | As notified in the annual UPSC Gazette |
| Important Dates | As per UPSC Annual Exam Calendar |
| Application Fees | INR 100 (Exempt for SC/ST/PwBD/Female candidates) |
| Age Limits | 21 to 32 years (Relaxations applicable as per rules) |
| Attempt Limits | 6 (General), 9 (OBC), Unlimited (SC/ST) |
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) annually to recruit for All India Services and Central Civil Services. The Prelims GS Paper 1 consists of 100 objective-type questions covering current events, history, geography, polity, economy, and environment. Candidates must note that 1/3rd of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect answer. Official updates are exclusively hosted on upsc.gov.in. Aspirants are advised to monitor the 'What's New' section on the official portal for the latest exam calendar and notifications.
Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in. Navigate to the 'Examination' tab and select 'Active Examinations'. Click on the 'Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination' link. Download the official 'Notice' PDF containing detailed instructions, syllabus, and guidelines. Verify the document using the official UPSC seal and notification number provided in the file header.
| Event | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | January/February |
| Application Window | 21 Days from Notification |
| Prelims Exam Date | May/June |
| Admit Card Release | 3 Weeks before Exam |
Total vacancies for the Civil Services Examination are announced annually in the official notification. The distribution is as follows:
| Year | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1056 |
| 2023 | 1105 |
| 2022 | 1011 |
| Service Name | Pay Level |
|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service (IAS) | Level 10 |
| Indian Police Service (IPS) | Level 10 |
| Indian Foreign Service (IFS) | Level 10 |
| Central Services Group A/B | Level 8-10 |
The application fee for the UPSC Civil Services Prelims is Rs. 100. Female candidates, SC, ST, and Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) candidates are exempted from payment of fees. Payment can be made via SBI Net Banking, credit/debit cards, or through cash at any SBI branch.
Candidates must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August of the year of examination.
A candidate must hold a Bachelor's degree from any recognized university or possess an equivalent qualification. Candidates in the final year of their degree program are also eligible to apply, provided they produce proof of passing at the time of the Main Examination.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS Paper 1 | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
| CSAT (Qualifying) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Negative Marking: 0.66 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
The starting basic pay for entry-level Civil Servants (Level 10) is Rs. 56,100 per month, excluding Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance.
Admit cards are released on upsc.gov.in. Candidates must download the e-Admit Card and carry a valid original photo ID (Aadhar Card, PAN, Voter ID, or Passport) to the examination venue.
The official answer key is released by UPSC on its website only after the final results of the entire examination cycle are declared. No objection portal is provided for the Prelims stage.
Results are determined based on the performance in GS Paper 1. CSAT is qualifying in nature with a mandatory 33% requirement. Final merit is prepared by the Commission based on the official answer key and final vetting of questions.
Focus on NCERT textbooks for foundational knowledge. Prioritize Current Affairs from the last 18 months. Practice previous years' question papers to understand the UPSC trend. Maintain a strict schedule for revision and mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.
The following data represents the official cut-off marks for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, General Studies Paper-I, as declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in their official result write-ups. These figures represent the marks secured by the last recommended candidate in the respective categories.
| Year | General (UR) | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | PwBD-1 | PwBD-2 | PwBD-3 | PwBD-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.41 | 68.02 | 74.75 | 59.25 | 47.82 | 40.40 | 47.13 | 40.40 | 33.67 |
| 2022 | 88.22 | 82.83 | 87.54 | 74.41 | 69.35 | 49.83 | 45.79 | 43.09 | 43.77 |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 80.14 | 84.85 | 75.41 | 70.71 | 43.77 | 46.46 | 40.40 | 41.75 |
| 2020 | 92.51 | 77.55 | 89.12 | 74.84 | 68.71 | 68.71 | 63.95 | 40.82 | 42.86 |
| 2019 | 98.00 | 90.00 | 95.34 | 82.00 | 77.34 | 53.34 | 53.34 | 44.00 | 40.00 |
| 2018 | 98.00 | N/A | 96.66 | 84.00 | 83.34 | 73.34 | 68.66 | 40.00 | 53.34 |
| 2017 | 105.34 | N/A | 103.34 | 88.66 | 88.66 | 61.34 | 74.66 | 40.00 | 40.00 |
| 2016 | 116.00 | N/A | 110.66 | 99.34 | 96.00 | 75.34 | 72.66 | 40.00 | 40.00 |
Source: Official UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination Result Write-ups (2016-2023). Note: EWS category was introduced in 2019. PwBD categories are aligned with the specific sub-categories defined in the respective year's official notification.
