Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on UPSC Civil

Services Exam
Clear IAS Team wishes to personally respond to the hundreds of queries we get via
comments, emails, Facebook messages etc every day but due to time constraints
this can never be practical. Hence, we decided to compile the Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) on UPSC Civil Services Exam in this article so that aspirants can
look at a comprehensive source to clarify the common queries. Most of the
repeated queries regarding all stages of the exam Prelims, Mains and Interview
are clarified here.

About Civil Services:

Qn: What are the civil services? How to get into civil services of India?
Civil Services are jobs like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS etc. directly related with public service
and are widely considered prestigious in India. UPSC (Union Public Service
Commission) conducts Civil Service Exams for Central Government job vacancies.
Click to know more about Civil Services Exam.

About IAS:
Qn: What is IAS?How To Clear IAS Exam and Become an IAS Officer?
IAS is the short form of Indian Administrative Service. Click to know more about
IAS.

Qn: What is the salary of an IAS officer?

IAS salary structure consists of different Pay Scales:Junior Scale, Senior Scales,
Super Time Scale, Above Super Time Scales etc.Each of the pay scales further
consists of different pay bands.. Click to know more about the salary of an
IASofficer.

Eligibility Criteria:
Qn: What are the age limit and number of attempts permitted to write
UPSC Civil Services Exam?
Click to know about the eligibility criteria for IAS exam.Details about the number of
attempts and age Limits in UPSC Civil Services Exam is available in the link given.

Exam syllabus:
Qn: What is the latest syllabus for IAS exam?
Click to read the revised syllabus for IAS exam.

Exam preparation:
Qn: I am just about to begin UPSC Civil Services Exam preparation. How
should a fresher begin IAS exam preparation?
If you are a beginner, then the best place to start should be the article How to start
IAS Preparation: Guidance for beginners.

Qn: Whatare the books to read for each subject in Prelims and Mains?
You can buy online the Recommended list of IAS Books: Prelims+Mains from the
links given in this website.

Qn: Does clearias.com offer free study materials?

Yes, we offer free online study materials, mock tests, toppers interview etc. in
addition to the numerous articles on guidance. Clear IAS was started with a
vision of quality, butaffordable online education, giving stress to self-study. Click to
browse our free online study materials.

Qn:Can I clear IAS exam without attending classroom coaching?

Yes. You can, particularly if you are good at self-study. We are not against
classroom coaching. There are good institutes and teachers who help aspirants
save a lot of time and effort. But not all coaching institutes provide quality service,
so if you wish to join one, do that after proper research. It should also be noted
that with the advent of technology, guidance and study materials can be sought
online. Our website (www.clearias.com) and mobile app (Clear IAS) provides free
guidance and study materials to lakhs of aspirants who cant afford classroom
coaching. Learn and compete with thousands of aspirants across India by
attempting our full length timed online mock test series with negative marking for
UPSC Prelims.Read our article Can I Clear IAS Exam Without Coaching Classes? to
get an overall idea.

Qn: What are the useful websites for IAS exam preparation?
Check the list of Useful Websites for IAS Preparation.

Qn:Can I get previous year UPSC question papers online?

Yes. Check the linkUPSC Previous Year Question Papers.

Prelims:
Qn: What is the structure of UPSC Civil Service Prelims Exam? (2015
Pattern)
Prelims exam is objective in nature. There will be two papers 200 marks each.
Paper 1 is related to General Studies and Paper 2 is related to Mental Ability and
Aptitude. For selection to the main exam, only marks of Paper 1 will be counted,
provided the candidate has 33 percent marks in Paper 2.

Qn: Will there be individual cut-off for two papers in Civil Service
Prelims?
The minimum cut off marks for Paper 2 is 33 percent. Commission may fix a
minimum cut-off mark for Paper 1 too.

Qn: Will there be negative marks or different marks for Preliminary

Questions?
There will be negative marking for incorrect answers for all questions except some
of the questions where the negative marking will be inbuilt in the form of different
marks being awarded to the most appropriate and not so appropriate answer for
such questions.

Qn: Can you clarify some common doubts regarding UPSC Civil Services
Prelims Application?
Most of the doubts aspirants raise while filing Prelims application is discussed
here.

Mains:
Qn: What is the structure of UPSC Civil Service Mains Exam? (Latest
Pattern)
The Main Examination will consist of written examination and an interview test. The
written examination will consist of 9 papers of the conventional essay type. Two
papers (out of 9) will be of qualifying in nature. Marks obtained for all the
compulsory papers (PaperI to Paper-VII) and Marks obtained in Interview for
Personality Test will be counted for ranking. Read UPSC Civil Services Exam syllabus
to know more.

Qn:Which optional subject should I choose for UPSC Mains?

UPSC has given a list of around 50 optional subjects to choose from. Read our
article How to select IAS Mains optional subject? for more details.

Qn: Which stream/subject should I choose for graduation to clear UPSC

exam?

Most of the questions in the general studies paper in Prelims and Mains are related
to Humanities background. But it is neither necessary nor advisable to take
Humanities as your graduation stream just to clear UPSC exam. Graduation should
be based upon your taste it can be humanities, science, engineering, literature or
management. For graduation, select any stream you like to study for 3-4 years. You
are free to choose any optional subject for UPSC Mains and it may not be the one
you studied for graduation.

Qn: Will there be minimum qualifying marks for UPSC Mains Compulsory
Papers?
The Commission has the discretion to fix qualifyingmarks in any or all the subjects
of the examination. For 2015, the minimum mark is 25% for Indian language and
English language. For GS1, GS2, GS3 and GS4 the minimum mark expected is 10%.

Qn: Will UPSC deduct marks for bad handwriting?

If a candidates handwriting is not easily legible, adeduction will be made on this
account from the total marksotherwise accruing to him.

Qn: Can you clarify some common doubts regarding UPSC Civil Services
MainsApplication (Detailed Application Form)?
Civil Service Mains Application Form (DAF) Checklist is given here.

Qn: What are the check-list items for Mains Exam hall?
Main exam hall check-list is given here.

Interview:
Qn:Can you provide a check-list for the candidates attending UPSC
interview?
Please read the article:Check List For The Candidates Attending UPSC Interview.

Qn: Will there be minimum qualifying marks for UPSC Interview?

The interview will carry 275 marks (with nominimum qualifying marks).

Ranking:
Qn: If the overall marks of two or more candidates are equal, how is
relative merit between such candidates decided?
Theprinciples for tie-breaking in various exams conducted by UPSCis explained in
the linked post.PS: Youmay also browse the wholeFAQ in UPSC websiteby clicking
on the link.

General Queries:
Qn: Can candidates use calculators in UPSC Civil Services Exam?
Not for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam. But candidates will be allowed the
use of Scientific(Non-Programmable type) Calculators at the conventional(Essay)
type examination of UPSC, ie Mains Exam. Programmable typecalculators will
however not be allowed and the use of suchcalculators shall tantamount to
resorting to unfair meansby the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of
calculatorsin the Examination Hall is not permitted.It is also important to note
that candidates arenot permitted to use calculators for answering objectivetype
papers (Test Booklets). They should not thereforebring the same inside the
Examination Hall.

Qn: Can you brief about the other exams conducted by UPSC apart from
Civil Services Exam? What are the exam dates?
CheckUPSC Exams, Results, Dates, Useful Links and FAQs here.
Disclaimer: Though every effort is made from our end to keep the details upto
date, due to frequent changes in syllabus or pattern, the actual data might be
different. Candidates are always advised to cross-check the information given in this
website with the official UPSC website, ie www.upsc.gov.in.

Related

Civil Service Prelims: 6

Month Strategy - Part 1
In "Civil Services Prelims"

Strategy and Books for

Early Birds To Clear IAS
Exam
In "Civil Services Prelims"

Number of Attempts for

UPSC IAS Exam | Age
Limits
Number of attempts, age
limits, qualification
requirements etc are
among the frequently
asked questions about
In "UPSC Exams"

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