1. UPSC Notification for IAS/IPS Civil Services Exam is out
2. LESS vacancies than last year
3. When can I expect UPSC Prelims & Mains Result?
4. No change in Age-Attempt limit (except J&K)
5. No change in structure of the exam
6. No changes in Mains and interview syllabus or marks
7. No change in the syllabus of the exam or Optional Subject
8. Can last semester student apply?
9. How much fees do I need to pay?
10. When will I get the hallticket/admit-card for prelims?
11. Multiple applications by same candidate?
12. Interview Fail Candidates’ biodata to be shared with other recruiting agencies
13. 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 3^rd 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 31^st 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 ☹

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, you’ll 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 2019’s 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 1^st 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.

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 doesn’t 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

No changes in Mains and interview syllabus or marks

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, you’ll have to fillup a new form called “Detailed application form” to appear in UPSC Mains exam. With this form, you’ve 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?

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 don’t send it through post anymore. You’ve 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 you’ll 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 Candidates’ 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 ‘scheme’, if you’re not interested (or are worried about your ‘aadhar-privacy’). Read page no. 3 of the notification for more on this.

Strategy & Booklist for the UPSC Prelims 2020?

It’ll be oversimplification if If I simply give list of 6-7 books. You’ve 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 I’ve 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.Org’s ‘About Us’ 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