IAS Mains Exam

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The UPSC has revised the pattern of Civil Services Main examination from 2015.

Now there are 7 + 2 = 9 papers to be answered in the main examination. All of them are of descriptive type. There are two qualifying papers 1) any modern Indian language 2) English are of 300 marks each. Their marks will not be counted in the main examination.

The candidate is allowed to use any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or English as the medium of writing the examination.

According to the new pattern there are "FOUR" General Studies paper each comprising of 250 Marks with a total of 1000 Marks. The scope of the syllabus of General Studies is of degree level.

There is only "ONE" optional subject to choose from the list of subjects. It comprises of two papers each of 300 marks. So the total of optional paper is 600 marks. Candidate is allowed to take up literature as an optional subject "without the conditionality of having to do his/her graduation in that language's literature. The scope of the syllabus of optional paper is higher than the bachelor's degree but lower than the master's level.

Interview/Personality Test is of 275 Marks. Candidate can give preference of the language in which they may like to be interviewed. UPSC will make arrangement for the translators.

The total mark of the written examination is 1750 Marks.

The Interview/Personality Test will be of 275 marks.

The Grand Total 2025 Marks

Paper - I
Language -300 Marks
Candidate can take any Modern Indian language but this paper is of qualifying nature
Paper - II
English -300 Marks
This paper is of qualifying nature
Paper - III
Essay - 250 Marks
Can be written in the medium or language of the candidate's choice
Paper-IV
General Studies-I 250 Marks
(Indian Heritage and Culture,
History and Geography of the World and Society)
Paper-V
General Studies -II: 250 Marks
(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
Paper-VI
General Studies -III 250 Marks
(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
Paper-VII
General Studies -IV 250 Marks
(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
Marks carried by General Studies was 4X 250=1000
Paper-VIII
Optional Subject - Paper 1 -250 Marks
Paper-IX
Optional Subject - Paper II -250 Marks
Candidate is allowed to take up literature as an optional subject "without the conditionality of having to do his/her graduation in that language's literature.
Sub Total (Written test) 1750 Marks
Marks of English and Language will not be counted so total marks for Written exam will be 1750 Marks Only
Interview/Personality Test - 275 marks
Candidate can give preference of the language in which they may like to be interviewed.
UPSC will make arrangement for the translators.
Grand Total 2025 Marks
A candidate is allowed to use any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or English as the medium of writing the examination.

Detailed Mains Exam Syllabus

* Languages are: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Marathi, Malayalam, Manipuri, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.

** Optional Subjects for the Main Examination: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce & Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science & International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology, Literature of one of the following languages: Arabic, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Marathi, Malayalam, Manipuri, Nepali, Oriya, Pali, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.

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