UPSC Exam process and full procedure.
The UPSC Selection process happens in 3 stages: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) and Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written) and Interview (Personality Test)
UPSC Prelims Examination
Preliminary Exam will be a 4-hour Objective Type paper.
It comprises of two papers of multiple choice questions of maximum 200 marks each from various subjects including General Awareness, English Language, Numerical Aptitude, Reasoning, etc.
UPSC Mains Examination
Candidates who have qualified in the Prelims round will only be called to attend the Mains round.
The mains round consists of written exam which is followed by personality test.
Candidates who have cleared the mains round will be appointed as civil servants.
Mains exam involves written exam and personality test.
The examination consists of
Qualifying papers:
Paper I - An Indian language selected by the candidates
Paper II – English
Papers to be counted for merit:
Essay (Paper III)
General Studies (Paper IV-VII)
Optional Subjects (Paper VIII-IX)
Interview
Officially called the "Personality Test", the objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to evaluate the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms, this is really an assessment of not only a candidate's intellectual qualities, but also social traits and interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.
The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination, but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation that is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
The interview is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidate, which has been already tested through written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study, but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own state or country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of all well-educated youth.
UPSC releases its exam calendar a year before the exam. A candidate should start his/her preparation at least a year before the prelims exam he/she is planning to appear in.
Before starting preparation you should through the Syllabus of both prelims and mains exam.
Further a candidate should go through the past few year’s questions papers of both prelims and main exam.
Start reading a news paper regularly. Relevant articles can be identified with the help of syllabus. It is better to make short notes based on issues.
First go through the basic NCERT books as given in the Vajiram & Ravi’s website and then go through university- level standard text books.
It is important that you keep your preparation simple rather than going for multiple books. Only read bare minimum books and revise them multiple times.
You can make short notes(helps save time during revision) in whichever way you feel comfortable either online or in hard copy for both general studies and optional paper.
Make sure that you also are comfortable with CSAT paper and practice few past year papers to ensure that you can clear qualifying paper of CSAT. Otherwise also make plans for learning/practicing CSAT paper.
Make a timeline of objectives to be achieved. Both long term and of daily goals to complete the syllabus. These goals should be realistic and enough time should be accounted for other activities and exigencies also. Keep track of it and update and adjust with the new information and corrections as and when required.
After covering basics from NCERTs, go through standard books and cover syllabus of mains exam of both general studies and optional subject with proper revision. Make sure that it covers your prelims syllabus also.
If you are attending coaching, then attend classes regularly and be ready for class session in advance as well as revise the content after class.
Make use of internet and social media for your preparation carefully and not waste time needlessly.
Start learning basics of answer writing as well.
Keep going through previous year question papers from time to time.
You can form discussion/answer writing groups to help each other.
Revise regularly the content you have been reading at least on weekly basis.
To keep abreast of your of preparation, join prelims test series and regularly attempt question paper under exam conditions.
Start focusing exclusively on prelims at least before 3 months before the prelims exam.