FAQ

Ans.  The civil services examination consists of three stages:
A)Prelims
B)Mains 
C)Interview 

From the year 2011 CSE exam pattern is likely to be changed. Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) will be included replacing the optional paper from prelims examination. 

Thus there will be two objective papers in the prelims:
A)General Studies
B)CSAT 

The detailed structure, marks, syllabus and duration of prelims papers is not yet declared by UPSC.

The mains exam has nine papers of conventional essay type. Following is the structure of Mains exam:

  
General Studies Paper I - 300 Marks
General Studies Paper II - 300 Marks

Optional I Paper I - 300 Marks
Optional I Paper II - 300 Marks

Optional II Paper I - 300 Marks
Optional II Paper II - 300 Marks

Essay - 200 Marks

Total = 2000 Marks

Compulsory Paper(Marks not Considered in Ranking)
English - 300
Regional Language - 300

The interview is of 300 marks and the final merit list is made from total of mains and interview marks, i.e. out of 2300.

Ans.  There is only one application form for all the services listed in the civil services ie, IAS, IPS, IFS (Foreign) and other Central Services.

Ans.  Yes, provided it is a recognized University and he possess the educational qualifications prescribed for the exam and is otherwise eligible

Ans.  Yes.

Ans.  No. An attempt is counted only if a candidate has appeared in at least one paper in CS (P) Examination.

Ans.  Cadre allotment is applicable only in the case of IAS and IPS. 
Cadre is allotted based on the rank and availability of seats/ vacancies in a particular state.
Number of vacancies and reservations are also considered in the allotment of the cadre. 
One has to fill his/ her Cadre choice in the main application. So student's preference is also taken into consideration for cadre allotment.
Sometimes successful student with top rank also doesn't get his home cadre/ cadre of his/ her choice because of "No vacancy" Position. So there are many factors involved in getting the Cadre of one's choice.

Ans.  Tie-breaking principle is applied to decide inter se merit among candidates having the same overall marks. The principles adopted for each Examination are:

TIE BREAKING PRINCIPLE Wherever the two or more candidates have secured equal aggregate marks, the tie(s) is/are resolved in accordance with the principles approved by the Commission, viz., 

(i)	Candidate securing more marks in the Compulsory Papers and the Personality Test put together is to be ranked higher
(ii)	In case where the marks mentioned at (i) above are equal, the candidate senior in age is to be ranked higher
(iii)	In case where the (i) and (ii) above are same, then the candidate getting more marks in the compulsory papers is to be ranked higher

Ans.  Last date of receipt of the applications always mentioned in the notification issued by the UPSC. The notification is normally published in the Employment News. 
You will get the latest alerts from UPSCMantra.com

Ans.  The place where you will get application form will be mentioned in notification by UPSC. Also you will get free alerts from UPSC Mantra.com regarding this.

Ans.  Centres of Examination : The examination is held at the following centres :
AGARTALA	GANGTOK	PATNA
AHMEDABAD	HYDERABAD	PUDUCHERRY
AIZWAL	IMPHAL	PORT BLAIR
ALIGARH	ITANAGAR	RAIPUR
ALLAHABAD	JAIPUR	RANCHI
AURANGABAD	JAMMU	SAMBALPUR
BANGALORE	JODHPUR	SHILLONG
BAREILLY	JORHAT	SHIMLA
BHOPAL	KOCHI	SRINAGAR
CHANDIGARH	KOHIMA	THIRUVANATHAPURAM
CHENNAI	KOLKATA	TIRUPATI
CUTTACK 	LUCKNOW	UDAIPUR
DEHRADUN	MADURAI	VISHAKHAPATNAM
DELHI	MUMBAI	
DHARWAD	NAGPUR	
DISPUR	PANAJI (GOA)	

The centres and the dates of holding the examination as mentioned above are liable to be changed at the discretion of the commission. While every effort will be made to allot the candidates to the centre of their choice for examination, the commission may, at their discretion allot a different centre to a candidate, when circumstances so warrant. blind candidates will, However, be required to take the Examination at the any one of seven centres, viz. Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Dispur and Mumbai only. Candidates admitted to the Examination will be informed of the time table and place or places of examination.

The candidates should note that no request for change of centre will normally be granted. However when a candidate desires a change in centre from the one he had indicated in his Application Form for the Examination, he must send a letter addressed to the Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, giving full justification as to why he desires a change in centre.

Ans.  Numbers of attempt are as given below:

•	General-4
•	OBC-7
•	SC/ST- No restriction till age of 35 year

Ans.  Yes, Only candidates belonging to communities which are included in the Central list of OBC’s are eligible for such concessions.

Ans.  No, Candidates have the option to write their answers either in English or in any one of the Eighth schedule languages.

Ans.  This is not done at any stage of the evaluation process

Ans.  Mixing of the answer books received from different venues is done. 
Then these answer books are send for evaluation. 
Computer-based randomized code no. is given to each answer-book before evaluation.
The booklets sent for evaluation does not have mention of roll number or center of examination.

Ans.  If a candidate opts an Eighth schedule language for the CS (Main) Examination he will have the option to take the interview in same language or in English.

Ans.  No. Before evaluation, the Roll no. written on every answer book is detached and computer-based randomized fictitious code no. is given. At no stage of the evaluation process (including the moderation stage) is the actual Roll no./identity of the candidate known to any of the Examiners/officials associated in the process.

Ans.  01  SC and ST	             5 years
02  OBC	                     3 years
03  Blind, deaf-mute         10 years
    and Orthopaedically 
    handicapped persons.	    

04  Blind, deaf-mute and     15 years
    Orthopaedically 
    handicapped persons
    + SC/ST	
05  Blind, deaf-mute and     13 years
    Orthopaedically handicapped 
    persons+ OBC	
06  Defence Services Personnel  3 years  
    disabled in operations 
    hostilities with during            
    any foreign country or in 
    a disturbed area and 
    released as a consequence thereof.
07  Defence Services Personnel 
    (as against Code No. 06)    8 years 
    + SC/ST	
08  Defence Services Personnel 
    as against  Code No. 06)    6 years
    + OBC	
	
09  Ex-Servicemen including     5 years
    Commissioned Officers and 
    ECOs/ SSCOs who have rendered 
    at least five years Military 
    Service as on 1st August, 2010 
    and have been released 
    (i) on completion of assignment
    (including those whose assignment
    is due to be completed within 
    one year from 1st August, 2010) 
    otherwise than by way of dismissal 
    or discharge on account of misconduct 
    or inefficiency; or (ii) on account 
    of physical disability attributable 
    to Military Service; or (iii) on 
    invalidment.

10  Ex-Servicemen including        10 years
    Commissioned  officers and 
    ECOs/SSCOs(as against Code No. 09) 
    + SC/ST

11  Ex-Servicemen including        8 years
    Commissioned officers and 
    ECOs/SSCOs(as against Code No. 09) 
    + OBC
For more refer UPSC notification

Ans.  For the physical requirements (including vision problems, disability, height etc.) for IPS please refer notification from UPSC. 
Long sight problem candidates are not eligible for IPS.

Ans.  The number of vacancies of IAS and IPS varies from year to year. It depends upon the requirements submitted by the various State Governments to the Department of Personal and Training, Government of India and also requirement by the Central Government itself.

Ans.  There is no quota for defense persons in UPSC exams. But they are given relaxation in the ex-service man category in maximum age limit. Defense Services Personnel get 5 Year relaxation in all categories as ex-service person.

Ans.  You are eligible only when you fulfilled the age criteria for UPSC. 

If you satisfy the same then you need to submit your degree certificate/ provisional certificate before the main examination if you clear preliminary. The photocopy of degree certificate/ provisional certificate has to attach with the main application.

Ans.  No. There is no such relaxation available for government employees in the Civil Services Examination.

Ans.  No. All the papers should be written in the same Language only. 

You can write in one medium only if you are selecting any Indian language as a medium.

Ans.  You can only apply from abroad. For the Exams, you have to come to India.

Ans.  One have to have a UGC recognized degree only. Degree marks doesn't have any significance in the civil services.

Ans.  Syllabus is issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year in the notification of exam. It is published on the UPSC website and the same is published in the Employment News too.

Ans.  In civil services, the seats are reserved for physically challenged candidates every year. It is also on rotation basis. They are also allotted to few services. It is also decided in advance. 

A physically challenged student also comes through open competition without reservation. But he/she will be given that specified service only. Physically challenged student get age relaxation also.