The online application process for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil services preliminary examination will be closed on Monday, March 18. Interested candidates can apply through the official websites upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in.
The exam is scheduled to be conducted on June 2, 2019 for 896 posts including those reserved for PWD candidates. While this is a slight increase from last year, a look at the data of the previous seven years shows the vacancies continue to be low.
Eligibility criteria
Educational qualification: The candidate must hold a degree of any of Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University or equivalent education.
Age limit: A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on August 1, 2019.
How to apply:
Step 1: Visit the official website, upsconline.nic.in
Step 2: Click on the link ‘various application form’
Step 3: Click on ‘click here for part I registration’
Step 4: Read instructions, click ‘yes’
Step 5: Fill form
Step 6: Make payment
Step 7: Select centre, upload images
Step 8: Agree with the declaration
Exam pattern
The preliminary test comprises of Paper-I and Paper-II.
In the objective type, multiple choice questions are asked that carry a total of 400 marks. In the general studies paper – II, a candidate has to qualify with a minimum of 33 per cent marks.
Negative marks for every question are one-third of the marks assigned to that question. The questions in Paper-I come from seven different test areas like-
- Science and technology
- History and culture
- Geography
- Indian Polity
- Indian economy
- Environment and ecology
- Current events of national and international importance
The exam is conducted to select candidates to fill administrative positions in different All-India services and central civil services including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and IRTS.
