Academic Qualification
To apply for UPSC Civil Services (IAS/IPS) Examination, a candidate….
- Must be a graduate. No minimum %, grade or CGPA required in college. (But don’t prepare UPSC by neglecting college because in RBI/CAT-exams they consider college marks)
- There are Toppers with ATKT, failures in college/school exams. UPSC doesn’t care. They only need final graduation certi/marksheet.
- Undergraduate in last year, last semester can apply.
- American degrees valid but have to get equivalent cert. from AIU.
- Distance education degree valid- IF recognized by UGC/AICTE/any Law
- MBBS must have completed internship before UPSC Interview-stage comes.
[cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px 6px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column id=”1red” bg_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 100%)” fade=”true” fade_animation=”in-from-top” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ class=”cs-ta-center” style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”calendar-check-o”]Age / Attempt limit in UPSC IAS/IPS?[/x_feature_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column id=”1red” bg_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 100%)” fade=”true” fade_animation=”in-from-top” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/4″ class=”cs-ta-center” style=”padding: 0px;”][x_counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”32″ num_speed=”1500″ num_prefix=”” num_suffix=”” num_color=”hsl(0, 100%, 49%)” text_above=”General & Creamy OBC” text_below=”/ 6 Attempts” text_color=””][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/4″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”35″ num_speed=”1500″ num_prefix=”” num_suffix=”” num_color=”” text_above=”Non-Creamy OBC ” text_below=”/ 9 Attempts” text_color=””][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/4″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_counter num_start=”0″ num_end=”37″ num_speed=”1500″ num_prefix=”” num_suffix=”” num_color=”” text_above=”SC | ST” text_below=”Unlimited
Attempts” text_color=””][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/4″ style=”padding: 0px;”][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column id=”1red” bg_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 100%)” fade=”true” fade_animation=”in-from-top” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ class=”cs-ta-center” style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text][clear][line]
- Age is counted on the 1st August of the given year.
- Physical Disabled candidates’ age limits: PH-Gen: 42, PH-OBC (non-Creamy): 45 years; PH-SC/ST: 47 years. This is cumulative ST ex-serviceman who was disabled: 32 +5 (ST) +5 (Ex serviceman) + PH (10)=52 years. But such cumulative effect will apply till maximum upper age limit 56 years, as per this DoPT Notification.
- * PH (GEN | OBC) = 9 attempts while PH (SC | ST) = Unlimited Attempts, till upper age.
- Ex-serviceman: addl. +5 years| Attempt depend on category.
J&K domicile = addl. +5 yearremoved from 2020 exam-cycle.
[line][/cs_text][x_feature_list animation_offset=”50″ animation_delay_initial=”0″ animation_delay_between=”300″ style=”color:black;”][x_feature_box title=”Apply online: 7th Feb to 3rd March 2018″ title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”circle” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”#2ecc71″ align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”11px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”#272727″ graphic_icon=”mouse-pointer” graphic_animation=”fadeInLeft”]
- You’ve to indicate optional subject in online Prelim-form. You can’t change it afterwards during Mains form.
- Marksheet, Caste Certi not required at this stage.
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Stage1- Prelims / CSAT: 3rd June, 2018″ title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”circle” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”#2ecc71″ align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”11px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”#272727″ graphic_icon=”check-square-o” graphic_animation=”fadeInLeft”]
- Multiple choice Question (MCQ) Test. Two papers 1) General Studies 2) Aptitude. No optional paper here.
- Question paper is set in English and Hindi.
- if you apply online but remain absent in prelims, then your attempt is not counted.
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Stage2- Mains: 29th Sep. 2018 onwards (five days)” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”circle” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”#2ecc71″ align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”11px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”#272727″ graphic_icon=”pencil-square” graphic_animation=”fadeInLeft”]
- When you clear prelims, You’ll have to fill up a new separate (online) form called “Detailed Application form” (DAF).
- In this online DAF-form, Your optional subject will be pre-selected from prelim form, hence you can’t change.
- Along with DAF-you’ll have to give proof of graduation, caste, PH.
- Mains contains Seven Descriptive Papers; including one optional subject paper.
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Stage3- Interview, Dates undecided” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”square” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”#2ecc71″ align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”11px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”#272727″ graphic_icon=”comments-o” graphic_animation=”fadeInLeft”]Can be given in any language. But advisable to give in Hindi/English otherwise 1) Leaves Poor impression 2) Translator eats up time/ reduces impact of your answer.[/x_feature_box][/x_feature_list][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 15px 0px 45px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”lightbulb-o”]How to start Prelim Preparation?[/x_feature_headline]
- Coaching / Delhi-Stay is NOT essential to clear Prelims. Many toppers managed without coaching, by self study!
- First, Start with NCERT Textbooks Topicwise (Free Download)
- Observe Previous years Topicwise Papers; so unnecessarily Time is not wasted in wrong direction.
[line][/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;background:white;”][x_feature_list animation_offset=”50″ animation_delay_initial=”0″ animation_delay_between=”300″ style=”color:#333;”][x_feature_box title=”Paper-I: General Studies- Syllabus, Structure” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”70px” graphic_shape=”circle” graphic_color=”hsl(0, 9%, 12%)” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(62, 80%, 53%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”12px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(128, 29%, 82%)” graphic_border=”border-width: 2px 2px 2px 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: hsl(69, 68%, 42%);” graphic_icon=”object-group” connector_animation=”swing”]
- 100 MCQs x 2 marks = 200 Marks
- -0.66 Marks penalty for wrong answers
- Duration: 2 hours
- Marks Counted for Mains selection, but not in final selection
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Geography” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”70px” graphic_shape=”circle” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(10, 90%, 21%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”12px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(128, 29%, 82%)” graphic_icon=”globe” connector_animation=”swing”]
- NCERT (free)
- Ms. Rajtanil Solanki (Rank-367) Lectures
- School Atlas
- India Yearbook 2018 Ch.1: English | Hindi
- Not required:
Goh Che Leong
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Environment-Biodiversity & Agriculture” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”70px” graphic_shape=”badge” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(145, 65%, 30%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”12px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(128, 29%, 82%)” graphic_icon=”leaf” connector_animation=”swing”]
- NIOS & NCERT Topicwise PDFs (free)
- ShankarIAS Environment Book
- Science and Technology by Ravi Agrahari (Mcgraw-hill) English | हिंदी
- India Yearbook 2018 ch.12: English|Hindi
- Mrunal’s Lectures on Environment
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Economy | अर्थव्यवस्था” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”70px” graphic_shape=”hexagon” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(0, 63%, 49%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”12px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(128, 29%, 82%)” graphic_icon=”inr” connector_animation=”swing”]
- NCERT Class11-12
- Mrunal.org/Economy
- Budget & Economic Survey
- India Yearbook 2018 Ch.7,13,14,19,21: English | Hindi
- Not required:
Mishra Puri, Dutt Sundara, Uma Kapila
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Polity & Constitution (राज्यव्यवस्था)” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”70px” graphic_shape=”badge” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(298, 72%, 33%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”12px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(128, 29%, 82%)” graphic_icon=”gavel” connector_animation=”swing”]
- NCERT Class11-12 Socio & Pol.Sci
- M.Laxmikanth’s Indian Polity: Hindi / English
- Mrunal.org/polity
- PRSIndia.org: latest Bills & Amendments
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”History & Culture” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”70px” graphic_shape=”circle” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(145, 1%, 16%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”12px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(128, 29%, 82%)” graphic_icon=”history” connector_animation=”swing”]
- New-NCERT, TN-Class:11/12, NIOS (Free)
- Nitin Singhania’s Book on Culture: Hindi/English
- Ms.Ishani Pandya (Rank-502) Lectures on Culture
- Pratik Nayak’s Lectures on Freedom Struggle
- Spectrum: Modern History (Hindi | English)
World History, Post-Independence: They’re in Mains. First finish pre-syllabus. don’t bite more than you can chew.
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Sci-Tech” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”70px” graphic_shape=”hexagon” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(30, 88%, 54%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”12px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(128, 29%, 82%)” graphic_icon=”flask” connector_animation=”swing”]
- NCERT Class7-10 (All)| 11-12 (Selective)
- LucentGK:(HindiEnglish)
- GS Manual (any publication/ Used old edition also fine)
- Newspaper: TheHindu / Indianexpress
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Current Affairs (समसामयिकी)” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”70px” graphic_shape=”hexagon” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(237, 63%, 49%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”12px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(128, 29%, 82%)” graphic_icon=”newspaper-o” connector_animation=”swing”]
- Mrunal ‘s PIN (Persons In News series)
- Newspaper: TheHindu | Indianexpress
- Magazines: Yojana | Kurukshetra | DrishtiIAS
[/x_feature_box][/x_feature_list][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_list id=”column-csp-p2″ style=”padding-left:10px;”][x_feature_box title=”Paper-II: Aptitude- Syllabus, Structure” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”circle” graphic_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 0%)” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(60, 100%, 50%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”9px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 97%)” graphic_icon=”object-group”]
- 80 MCQs x 2.5 marks = 200 Marks
- -0.83 Marks penalty for wrong answers
- Duration: 2 hours
- Marks Not counted in Mains-Selection. Only 33% passing marks have to be scored.
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Maths, Data Interpretation” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”square” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(352, 63%, 49%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”9px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 97%)” graphic_icon=”superscript”]
- If very weak: NCERT: Class7 to 11 Mathematics textbook
- Else Fast Track Objective Arithmetic
- Full Strategy Link
- Mrunal.org/Aptitude
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Reasoning, Arrangement, Blood Relations” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”hexagon” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(235, 47%, 56%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”9px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 97%)” graphic_icon=”sort-amount-desc”]
- High level reasoning: Analytical Reasoning by M.K.Pandey (BSC Publication)
- Routine Topics: R.S.Aggarwal OR Reasoning by B.S. Sijwalii (any one)
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Comprehension, Inferences” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”square” graphic_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 20%)” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 100%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”9px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 97%)” graphic_icon=”file-text-o”]
- Analytical Reasoning by M.K.Pandey
- Newspaper, Magazines, Old Papers
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”Decision Making, Communication Skill” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”badge” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”#2ecc71″ align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”9px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 97%)” graphic_icon=”shield”]
- Not asking these days. but you can go through
- 23 Years CSAT Paperset by Disha Publication Hindi or English
- Any CSAT Paper-2 Manual (even second hand used copy will work)
[/x_feature_box][x_feature_box title=”English Language, Verbal Ability” title_color=”” text_color=”” graphic=”icon” graphic_size=”60px” graphic_shape=”rounded” graphic_color=”#ffffff” graphic_bg_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 50%)” align_h=”left” align_v=”top” side_graphic_spacing=”20px” max_width=”none” child=”true” connector_width=”9px” connector_style=”solid” connector_color=”hsl(0, 0%, 97%)” graphic_icon=”language”]Not asking since the agitation by Hindi Madyaam candidates. But has to be prepared for Compulsory English Paper @Mains-stage anyways. [/x_feature_box][/x_feature_list][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_blockquote cite=”Mrunal” type=”right”]Difficult to explain all the nuances of UPSC Prelims-Cum Mains preparation, Notes making, Time management etc. in a single web-page! Please go through following Lecture for detailed strategy :)[/x_blockquote][x_video_embed no_container=”false” type=”16:9″][/x_video_embed][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]