Are you UPSC Aspirant who’s dreaming of serving the nation. You Probably heard about the UPSC Prelims Exam. But what exactly is it? It is the first hurdle on your journey to becoming an IAS, IPS, or any other esteemed civil servant. In this blog we talk about the everything you need to about the UPSC Prelims.
Understanding the UPSC Prelims Exam
The UPSC Prelims exam is the entry gate to the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ( UPSC). Prelims is made up of two papers – General Studies Paper -1 and General Studies Paper – 2 (also Known as CSAT).
In Paper-1 covers various topics like history, geography, politics, economics, environment, science and current affairs.
In Paper-2 focuses more on your comprehension, logical reasoning and analytical skills.
Upsc Prelims Exam – Syllabus
General Studies Paper – 1 Syllabus
- Current affairs of importance on a national and worldwide scale.
- India’s history and the Indian National Movement.
- The physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world.
- Indian politics and governance, including the political system, public policy, rights issues, panchayati raj, and constitution.
- Economic and Social Development: Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Sustainable Development, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General Concerns like biodiversity, climate change, and environmental ecology that don’t call for subject specialization.
- General Science.
General Studies Paper – 2 (CSAT) Syllabus
- Comprehension.
- interpersonal abilities, such as those in communication;
- Analytical skills and Logical thinking.
- Making decisions and resolving issues.
- General mental ability.
- Fundamental numeracy (numbers and their relationships, magnitude orders, etc.) (at the level Class- X)
- Class X level data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc.).
- English language proficiency at the Class X level.
Preparation Strategies : UPSC Prelims Exam
1. Know the Syllabus – Get familiar with the UPSC Prelims Exam. Your syllabus is also your roadmap for preparation. Break it into smaller sections and take it one step at a time.
2. Build a Strong Base – Think like Building a house. You need a strong base, Right? Similary,First you start with basics. Use Simple textbooks and NCERT books to understand the core concepts of UPSC.
3. Stay Updated – Read newspapers, watch news channels, keeps your eyes and ears open for what’s happening around you. Follow reliable online sources to stay updated on current affairs, Daily Events.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice – Practice makes a man Perfect, they say! Solve previous years question papers and mock test also. Its helps to understand the exam pattern, it also helps to check your exam timing. Also boosts your confidence.
5. Revise Regularly – Revise what you’ve learned. Going over your notes-Revise Key concepts,solve more questions and make sure it sticks.
6. Understand, Don’t Just Memorize – Try to understand concepts, Don’t just memorize. It’ll help you answer tricky questions and apply your knowledge effectively.
7. Current Affairs – Updated with current affairs from sources like newspapers, magazines, and online portals or websites. Make notes to aid revision.
8. Revision Strategy – For reinforce of your learning, Develop a systematic revision strategy. For revising key concepts, formulas, and current affairs notes, allocate dedicated time slots.
9. Resource Selection – To build a strong foundation, choose your study material wisely. Opt for standard textbooks, reference materials, and current affairs magazines.
10. Practice Tests – Practice test are essential for assessing your preparation level and improving time management skills. Solve previous years question papers and to stimulate exam conditions take mock tests.
UPSC Prelims Exam Criteria 2024
Nationality
1. To apply for positions in the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and Indian Police Service, candidate should be an Indian citizen.
2. Candidate must be born in India.
3. Bhutanese or Nepalese both nationality is required for the position.
4. A person has to be a Tibetan refugee who entered India before January 1, 1962, in order to be considered securely settled in India.
5. One of the following nations—Zambia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Malawi, Myanmar, Kenya, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zaire, or Tanzania—must have sent a person of Indian heritage to India.
Educational Qualification
1. For the role, a bachelor’s degree from an reputable university is necessary.
2. The preliminary exam is open to candidates who have completed the qualifying test and are awaiting results as well as those who have not yet completed the competency test. These candidates will need to submit proof that they passed the applicable test in order to be eligible for the Main Examination.
3. Applicants with recognised professional and technical qualifications from the government, or those who meet the requirements, may also be taken into consideration.
4. Candidates who have done their internship but not yet finished their MBBS final year test or any other medical exam are also qualified to take the main exam. They need to get a certificate from the appropriate institution to demonstrate that they have passed the primary specialized medical assessment.
Age Limit
1. Five years of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST)
2. Three Years of Other Backward Classes (OBC)
3. Three years for the Employees in the Defense Services
4. Ex-service members, including Commissioned Officers, ECOs, and SSCOs, who had served in the military for at least five years as of August 1, 2022.
5. Five years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs
6. People with orthopedic disabilities, the blind, and the deaf, aged ten
7. Five Years-If, as of August 1, 2022, an ECO or SSCO has completed an interim phase of assessment of five years of military service and their task has been extended beyond that time, the Defense Ministry will issue a confirmation letter indicating that they are eligible to work in the civil workforce and that they will be shortlisted and given three months’ notice upon acceptance of the proposal for appointment.
Roles and Responsibilities of an IAS Officer
IAS officials play a very reverend and demanding profession that demands significant responsibility and respect. To withstand the pressure of the job without giving in, an officer must be both physically and mentally well.
The following responsibilities are assigned to an IAS officer:
1. Managing government operations that require developing and implementing policies together with the relevant Minister.
2. Monitoring the execution of policies and making visits to the sites where the approved policies will be implemented.
3. As part of putting policies into practice, money must be distributed under close control.
4. The duties and responsibilities change based on a person’s career stage. They answer to the Parliament, as well as the State and Federal Legislatures, if they are violated while they are doing their duties.
UPSC Prelims Exam Highlights
The UPSC holds the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every two years to choose candidates for over twenty positions, including as IPS, IFS, and IAS. Approximately five lakh candidates apply for the IAS exam on average, out of a total of over eight lakh that take the test.
Currently for this year, recruitment will take place from June to April. The candidates will be selected by three exams: the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the questionnaire test. The list of selected applicants by the CSE will be released to the public in May.
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam | Civil Services Examination |
| Exam type | Pen and paper-based (offline) |
| Organizing Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Number of Attempts | 6 Attempts |
| Number of Services | 24 |
| Admit Card | Online |
| Number of Vacancies | Approximately 720 |
| Expected Registrations | More than 8 Lakh |
Conclusion
The UPSC Prelims is the first step to achieving your goals of becoming a civil servant. You can clear this exam if you study with proper preparation, dedication and a positive attitude. Keep in mind, consistency is essential and don’t forget to take mental breaks to refresh yourself. All the best for your exam from AGIAS.
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