UPSC CSE 2024: Every year, Union Public Service Commission regulates Civil Services Examination (CSE) at the national level. It is known to be one of the most desired examinations in India. Candidates all over the nation participate in this reputed examination. Over the years, the UPSC CSE exam has become more competitive, consequently, its level has increased. It has become one of the toughest exams and aspirants from different fields of study prepare well and hard to ace the UPSC Civil Services examination.
The UPSC CSE calendar will soon be out on the official website by its official authorities, and the candidates who wish to appear in the CSE exam must start their exam preparation immediately. As per the UPSC notification, the Civil Services Preliminary examination may take place in the first week of June 2024. There will be a few stages for UPSC CSE Exam which the candidate has to clear for the final selection. The stages include the preliminary exam, main exam, and interview.
UPSC CSE 2024 Overview
| Organization Name | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Service Exam (CSE) 2024 |
| Exam Level | National level |
| Vacancy | Announced Shortly |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Exam Stages | Prelims, Main Exams, Personal Interview |
| Education Qualification | Graduates or relevant degree |
| Age Limit | 21 years to 32 years |
| Exam Frequency | Once in a year |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CSE 2024 Important Dates
| Events | Dates (Tentative) |
| UPSC Exam Notification Release Date | First week of February 2024 |
| Exam Registration Date Starts on | First week of February 2024 |
| Last Day to Apply for UPSC Exam | Fourth week of February 2024 |
| Withdrawal of Application | 1st week of March 2024 |
| Release of UPSC Admit Card | Second week of May 2024 |
| Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination | First week of June 2024 |
| UPSC CSE Prelims Result | July 2024 |
| UPSC Mains Admit Card Issue | August 2024 |
| Civil Services (Main) Examination | Third week of September 2024 |
Eligibility Requirements
Every UPSC aspirant must check his/ her eligibility before appearing for the CSE exam. There are a number of factors including nationality, age limit, number of attempts and academic qualifications, and more regarding the UPSC CSE Exam. All the applying aspirants ensure that they meet all the eligibility criteria as mentioned below.
Nationality:
For Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), an aspirant must hold Indian nationality. However, for all other services, a candidate can either be a citizen of India or Bhutan/ Nepal, a Tibetan refugee who came to India to permanently settle in India before January 1, 1962. An individual of Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Zaire, Zambia, and Malawi with the goal of permanently settling in India.
Note: Candidates of Nepal/ Bhutan or Tibetan refugees can not apply for Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Age Limit:
The candidate’s minimum and maximum age limit must be 21 years and 32 years on 1st August 2024.
Educational Qualification:
Aspirants have to pass their graduation from any of the state or central universities incorporated by an Act of the State or Central Legislature in India or other educational institutions/ universities established by an Act of Parliament.
Number of Attempts:
General category candidates in the UPSC exam can take it 6 times. While the number of attempts is 9 for the candidates of the OBC category. SC/ ST candidates can appear for the exam as many times as want, thus there is no restriction on the number of attempts for them. It must be clarified that if candidates had appeared as many times as the number of attempts allowed in UPSC CSE Prelims, then they can not take up the UPSC IAS exam further.
UPSC CSE 2024 Application Form
- Firstly, open the official web page of Union – www.upsc.gov.in.
- Secondly, search the link for the UPSC IAS Application form and click on it.
- The application form containing part-1 and part 2 will appear in front of the applicants.
- Now, complete the registration by entering the applicant’s personal details such as name, contact number, DOB, email id, etc.
- Soon a registration id and password will be generated. The candidate can log in using these credentials and fill out the rest of the form.
- Upload all the required certificates and documents in the form along with the passport size photograph and signature in the prescribed forms.
- Review the details before submitting and pay the necessary application fee.
Application Fee:
| Category | Application fee |
| For General/ OBC/ EWS category | Rs. 100/- (for the preliminary exam) and Rs. 200/- (for the main exam) |
| For Female SC/ ST/ PH category | Nil |
Exam Pattern
Preliminary Exam:
| Paper | Total Ques. | Marks | Time Duration |
| Paper 1 General Studies | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper 2: GS (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Mains Exam:
| Paper | Name of Paper | Time Duration | Marks |
| Paper A | Indian language (objective) | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Paper B | English (objective) | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Paper I | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Paper-II | 3 Hours | 250 |
| Total | 1750 | ||
| Interview | 275 | ||
| Grand total | 2025 |
Selection Process
The selection procedure of the UPSC Civil Services Exam will be completed in two phases – Preliminary Exam (MCQ type), Mains Exam (descriptive type), and Personal Interview.
Qualified candidates of preliminary examination will have to take up mains examination followed by personal interview round for the eventual selection.
UPSC CSE 2024 Result
The result of the CSE exam for all the phases will be announced on the official website of the Union Public Service Commission after the completion of each stage. Participants can enter their registration id and password to obtain the outcome of each stage.