UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination
The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination consists of two papers of objective type (multiple choice questions) carrying a maximum of 400 marks. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only.
Important Note
The marks obtained in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will not be counted for determining the final order of merit. This examination is only for screening candidates for the Main Examination.
Examination Pattern
| Paper | Duration | Maximum Marks | No. of Questions | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I - General Studies | 2 hours | 200 | 100 | 1/3rd (0.66 marks) |
| Paper II - CSAT | 2 hours | 200 | 80 | 1/3rd (0.83 marks) |
Note: Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature with minimum qualifying marks of 33% (66 marks out of 200).
Paper I - General Studies (200 marks)
Syllabus
Current events of national and international importance.
History of India and Indian National Movement.
Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.
General Science.
Paper II - Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) (200 marks)
Syllabus
Comprehension
Interpersonal skills including communication skills
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision making and problem solving
General mental ability
Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level)
Important Instructions
- • Paper II is qualifying in nature with minimum qualifying marks of 33%
- • It is mandatory for candidates to appear in both papers of the Preliminary Examination
- • Candidates will be disqualified if they do not appear in both papers
- • Question papers will be set in both Hindi and English
Exam Guidelines
- Duration of each paper is 2 hours
- All questions are of multiple choice objective type
- Negative marking of 1/3rd for wrong answers
- Medium of examination: Hindi and English
- Qualifying nature of Paper II (33% minimum)
Selection Process
- Approximately 12-13 times the number of vacancies are selected for Mains
- Only Paper I marks are considered for Prelims ranking
- Prelims marks are not counted in final merit
- Serves as screening test for Main Examination
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is it mandatory to appear in both papers of Preliminary Examination?
Yes, it is mandatory for candidates to appear in both papers of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination for the purpose of evaluation. Candidates will be disqualified if they do not appear in both papers.
Q2. What is the minimum qualifying marks for Paper II (CSAT)?
The minimum qualifying marks for Paper II (CSAT) is 33% i.e., 66 marks out of 200 marks. This paper is qualifying in nature and marks obtained are not counted for final merit ranking.
Q3. Are Preliminary Examination marks counted in final merit?
No, the marks obtained in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will not be counted for determining the final order of merit. The Preliminary Examination is only for screening candidates for the Main Examination.
Q4. If I appear in only one paper, will it count as an attempt?
Yes, if a candidate appears in any one paper of the Preliminary Examination, it will count as an attempt towards the maximum number of attempts allowed.