- UPSC Notification for IAS/IPS Civil Services Exam is out
- LESS vacancies than last year
- When can I expect UPSC Prelims & Mains Result?
- No change in Age-Attempt limit (except J&K)
- No change in structure of the exam
- No changes in Mains and interview syllabus or marks
- No change in the syllabus of the exam or Optional Subject
- Can last semester student apply?
- How much fees do I need to pay?
- When will I get the hallticket/admit-card for prelims?
- Multiple applications by same candidate?
- Interview Fail Candidatesâ biodata to be shared with other recruiting agencies
- Strategy & Booklist for the UPSC Prelims 2020?
UPSC Notification for IAS/IPS Civil Services Exam is out
- UPSC has released notification for IAS/IPS civil services exam (CSE) 2020 and Indian forest service (IFS) exam-2020.
- Last date to apply is 3rd March 2020, 6PM. But apply at earliest because exam centers are first applying first allot basis. Last year (2019) 22 days given for application. This time only 20 days given for application
- Notification is uploaded here LINK
- Online application link is upsconline.nic.in
- Prelim exam to be held on 31st May 2020, Sunday. (How many days left- just watch the left hand corner green box of our website).
- Helpdesk numbers: No. 011-23385271/011-23381125/011-23098543
LESS vacancies than last year âš

Data taken from the vacancies declared in the official notifications of UPSC
- Compared to last year, vacancies have been DECREASED. 796 this time.
- We can expect barely ~10350 candidates clearing prelims-2020, compared to ~11850 candidates who cleared prelims-2019. (~13 times the ratio)
- Similarly, ~2050 may be called for interviews against ~2300 called for interviews of CSE-2019.
When can I expect UPSC Prelims & Mains Result?
- In CSE-2019, UPSC declared prelim and mains results within ~40 days and ~115 days respectively after the exam. So, if UPSC continues to show the same level of efficiency for CSE-2020 then:
- Prelim-2020 result can be expected in mid-July 2019. [Afterwards, youâll have to file a new detailed application form-DAF, with documentary proofs. So last year / last-semester students eligible to apply, IF they think they can get provisional marksheet of graduation by ~June-July 2020.]
- Mains-2020 result can be expected after mid-January 2021. And Interviews could start from Mid-Feb-2021.
- In 2019âs exam cycle, mains result was delayed due to EWS reservation related court-matter hence mains-result was declared after ~115 days. Otherwise usually mains result is declared by ~70 days.
No change in Age-Attempt limit (except J&K)
- It is same as last year. Minimum age is 21 years.
- Age is counted on 1st August of 2020. i.e. i.e., he must have been born later than 1st August, 1999.
- Candidate already in IAS or Indian foreign service (IFS)- not eligible to appear.
Category |
Maximum Age |
Attempt |
General/EWS | 32 | 6 [must not be born before 2nd August 1987] |
OBC | 32+3=35 | 9 |
SC/ST | 32+5=37 | till upper age |
Physically disabled (Blind, Deaf-mute, Orthopedic) | 32+10=42 |
|
Disabled serviceman discharged from duty | 32+3=35 | same as above |
Ex-serviceman with five years duty
* specific condition on page2 of notification |
32+5=37 | same as above |
Above relaxation are cumulative e.g. OBC candidate who is ex-serviceman and PH, even if you stack all those relaxation… not more than 40 years up upper age limit is allowed.
What doesnât count as an attempt?
- Ans. If you applied in previous exam, but remain absent in BOTH prelim papers, then your attempt is not counted.
- If you fail in prelims, attempt is counted.
No change in structure of the exam
Preliminary exam
Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
general studies (GS) | aptitude / CSAT |
Marks counted for selection in mains examâŚyes |
|
200 marks | 200 marks |
0.33% negative marking | 0.33% negative marking |
20 minutes for blind and locomotors disability | Same |
No changes in Mains and interview syllabus or marks
English | 300. Marks not counted in merit only 25% passing marks required. |
Indian language paper (Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi etc. depending on your choice) | Same as above. |
GS (mains) Paper1, 2, 3, 4 | 250 each x 4 papers = 1000 marks. |
ONE Optional subject | 500 marks. |
Written total | 1750 |
Interview | 275 |
grand total | 2025 |
No change in the syllabus of the exam or Optional Subject
- No change in structure or syllabus or number of optional in the exam.
- For civil services Click to see this PDF
- For forest services: click to see this PDF
Can last semester student apply?
- Minimum education standard is graduation.
- Candidates from last semester can apply. Once you clear prelims, youâll have to fillup a new form called âDetailed application formâ to appear in UPSC Mains exam. With this form, youâve to submit scanned copies of your graduation Certi / last year mark sheet.
- MBBS candidate must finish internship before interview phase.
How much fees do I need to pay?
General / EWS Male and OBC male | Rs.100 for Prelims, Rs. 200 for Mains. |
Female of any category | No fees |
SC/ ST, PH | no fees |
Bolo, EWS not eligible for fee relaxation.
When will I get the hallticket/admit-card for prelims?
- Hall ticket will be available online, usually 3 weeks before prelim exam. They donât send it through post anymore. Youâve to download and take printout.
- If problem, contact 011-23381125/011-23385271/011-23098543.
Multiple applications by same candidate?
- Every time you apply, you get new registration ID (RID). you must preserve RID because youâll have to quote it again in the Mains application form i.e. DAF form.
- If you applied multiple times (because of computer glitch, fee problem or xyz reason) then when downloading hallticket, you should use higher RID. Because higher RID corresponds to your latest application.
Interview Fail Candidatesâ biodata to be shared with other recruiting agencies
Just like last year, UPSC notification also mentions that those who fail in UPSC Interview⌠their details will be shared with other public and private recruiting agencies so that even those unemployed interview-failed candidates can find a suitable jobs. However, you can opt out of this data sharing âschemeâ, if youâre not interested (or are worried about your âaadhar-privacyâ). Read page no. 3 of the notification for more on this.
Strategy & Booklist for the UPSC Prelims 2020?
Itâll be oversimplification if If I simply give list of 6-7 books. Youâve to know what type of questions asked and how much width and depth required, what was the trend in last five years. So, better you go through the subjectwise detailed analysis and strategy which Iâve shared in following articles in the aftermath of the UPSC Prelims-2019.
- [Answerkey] UPSC Pre19: Overall Impressions: Less Tough Less Lengthy Less CA than 2018, & Solution to Geography MCQs
- [Answerkey] UPSC Prelim-2019: Environment & Agriculture. Intl.Orgâs âAbout Usâ Lunacy over, Guessmaster-giri receding, R&D Prem-resurfaces.
- [Answerkey] UPSC Prelim-2019: Polity & IR solved with Explanations & Analysis. Slightly easier than last year, PolSci Abstract-Prem continued
- [Answerkey] UPSC Prelim-2019: Economy is relatively easier than last year, No Budget-Taxation Fancy Schemes or Apps
- [Answerkey] UPSC Prelim-2019: History & Culture, All Sets with Explanations, Analysis. Tougher but Less Lunatic than last year.
- [Answerkey] UPSC Prelim-2019: Science-Tech, All Sets with Explanations. ICT & Biotech-Prem continued, ISRO se breakup, Difficulty raised
sir woh 2nd august 1988 hoga aapne 1987 galti se likh diya hai attempt wale section mein.
1987 hi hai-
1987 to 2019= 32 years
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August, 2020 i.e., he must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1988 and not later than 1st August, 1999.
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August, 2020 i.e., he must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1988 and not later than 1st August, 1999.
Days of this govt is numbered.
There is no age relaxation for J&K domicile this year.
Y there is not age relaxation for Jammu and Kashmir domicile candidates??
respested sir,
i belong to OBC category 32 year old female ,gave 5 attempt alreay for IAS prelims
now that i got married… my question is do i get OBC NCL category?
my Father’s is > 8 lakh annually
my Husband’s is < 8 lakh.. should i count IAS 2020?
kindly reply sir,Thank you
To belong to OBC NCL category your father should be class-C/Group-III employee even though his salary is >8 lakh annually and about your husband status doesn’t determine the OBC NCL according to my knowledge,better to find out anybody else
Dear Sir,
Kindly confirm whether the Date mentioned here in the General Category is correct. As per UPSC notification it is 01/08/1988 to 31/07/1999
Please verify and let us know.
Can I give my first attempt in general and further attempts obc, because of non availability of obc certificate at this time. ?