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UPSC CSE exam pattern 2024 is three-tier exam. There will be a preliminary examination followed by the main examination. Candidates who qualify for the main examination will go through a series of interviews.UPSC CSE 2024 exam pattern is decided by UPSC board. Candidates are advised to go through the exam pattern and syllabus before exam preparation. Keep reading to know more about UPSC CSE 2024 exam pattern.
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2024 Highlights
The exam pattern for UPSC CSE includes the following things:
Plan of the Examination
The Civil Services Examination will consist of two successive stages (vide Appendix I Section-I)
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the selection of candidates for the Main Examination and
- Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts noted above.
Stages of Qualification
The stages of examination that a candidate needs to qualify are:
- Candidates have to clear the Preliminary Examination to appear in the Mains Exam.
- Candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified for admission to the Civil Services (Main) Examination will have to apply online again, in the detailed application form the main examination will be held in September 2024.
Preliminary Examination
UPSC CSE 2024 preliminary exam pattern is discussed below.
- UPSC CSE Preliminary Exams consist of two papers and both the papers have to be cleared.
- For UPSC CSE Prelims, a negative marking scheme is followed.
- Paper 2 or CSAT is mere qualifying. i.e. candidate has to score a minimum 33 per cent to clear paper 2
- After the Candidates have cleared UPSC CSE Prelims, they can appear in the Mains and the Personal Interview.
- All the questions are MCQs in UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam.
Mains Examination
UPSC CSE 2024 mains exam pattern is discussed below
- The Main Examination will consist of a written examination and an interview test.
- The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type out of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature. Also, marks obtained for all the compulsory papers (Paper-I to Paper-VII) and Marks obtained in the Interview for Personality Test will be counted for ranking.
- Candidates who obtain 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 for a Personality Test.
- The number of candidates to be summoned for an interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled.
- The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).
- Candidates will be allotted to the various Services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and the preferences expressed by them for the various Services and posts.
| UPSC CSE Exam | ||||
| Level | Paper | Name | Marks | Total |
| Prelims | I | General Studies | 200 | 400 |
| II | CSAT | 200 | ||
| Mains | A (Qualifying Nature) | Language | 300 | 600 |
| B (Qualifying Nature) | English | 300 | ||
| 1 | Essay | 250 | 1750 | |
| 2 | General Studies I | 250 | ||
| 3 | General Studies I | 250 | ||
| 4 | General Studies I | 250 | ||
| 5 | General Studies I | 250 | ||
| 6 | Optional Subject-I | 250 | ||
| 7 | Optional Subject-II | 250 | ||
| Personal Interview | 275 | |||
