The official notification from the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has outlined the revised UPPSC Exam Pattern 2023. All PCS exam aspirants must have a comprehensive understanding of the exam pattern to formulate an effective study strategy. The UP PCS exam, known for its intense competition, aims to identify qualified individuals for provincial civil services. The UPPSC exam pattern encompasses three distinct stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interviews, with each stage having its unique structure.
The UPPSC exam pattern underwent modifications in the latest UPPSC 2023 notification. To excel in the examination, candidates must delve into the updated exam pattern. While the UPPSC Prelims pattern remains unchanged, the Mains exam now includes two compulsory General Studies papers instead of two optional subjects.
Consequently, the UPPSC exam pattern for the Mains exam now comprises 6 GS papers. Among these, 2 papers are dedicated to testing candidates’ knowledge of the state of Uttar Pradesh, as per the new Mains exam pattern. Additionally, there will be the customary two papers evaluating candidates’ proficiency in Hindi and essay writing.
- As outlined in the UP PCS exam pattern, the Prelims stage will feature two General Studies papers, each carrying 200 marks.
- Candidates will have 2 hours for each paper in the Prelims exam.
- The second paper in the UPPSC Prelims pattern, GS-2, is of qualifying nature, requiring only 33% marks to progress to the next stage.
For aspirants preparing for the Uttar Pradesh PCS exam, a comprehensive understanding of the recent UPPSC exam pattern is pivotal for achieving a high score.
UPPSC Exam Pattern
The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), the exam conducting body, has recently released an updated UPPSC Exam Pattern. Familiarity with this pattern is crucial for candidates to strategize their preparation effectively. Notably, changes have been introduced in the UPPSC Mains exam pattern, replacing optional subjects with two compulsory General Studies papers. This modification brings the total count of GS Papers to 6, complemented by two additional papers on Hindi and essay writing. The UPPSC exam pattern is structured into the following sections:
- Prelims – 2 papers (objective type)
- Mains – 8 papers (essay/descriptive type)
- Interview
The Prelims stage will consist entirely of an objective-type exam featuring multiple-choice questions, while the Mains exam will follow a descriptive pattern.
UPPSC Prelims Pattern
The first stage of the UP PCS exam is the Prelims. This exam is conducted to screen the best candidates to appear for the Mains exam. UPPSC Prelims pattern comprises two papers: General Studies 1 and General Studies 2. Candidates are to appear in both papers for evaluation. Paper 2 or the UPPSC CSAT is a qualifying exam.
- All the questions as per the UPPSC exam pattern for Prelims will be objective.
- The Prelims stage carries a total of 400 marks.
- General Studies-2 is qualifying in nature.
- 33% of marks will only be required in GS-2 to qualify for the exam.
- General Studies-1 is considered for screening for the Mains.
- The UPPSC Prelims pattern also mentions a negative marking which will be applied to GS Papers 1 and 2.
- For every wrong answer, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to the question shall be deducted. However, there is no negative marking for unattempted questions.
| Paper | Duration | No. of Questions | Marks |
| General Studies 1 | 2 hrs | 150 | 200 marks |
| General Studies 2 (Aptitude, Hindi, English) | 2 hrs | 100 | 200 marks |
UPPSC Prelims Exam Marking Scheme
Paper I will determine the exam cutoff and merit ranking
Paper II i.e., CSAT Paper is qualifying in nature so, candidates must score at least 33% marks in paper II.
Every wrong answer will lead to a negative marking of 0.33%. For instance, if a question has a maximum mark limit of 2, answering it incorrectly will cost you 0.66 marks.
Multiple circles being filled in on the OMR sheet for the same question would be regarded as an improper answer, and a negative marking would result.
Not answering a question results in no marks being deducted
UPPSC Exam Pattern for Mains
The Mains exam is the 2nd stage of the UPPSC PCS selection process. Candidates who clear the Prelims exam shall be called to appear for the Mains, which will form a strong base for their final selection. There shall be 8 papers as per the updated UPPSC exam pattern for Mains.
- The nature of the UPPSC Mains exam is the Subjective/Descriptive type.
- There shall be a General Hindi paper and an essay writing paper.
- After the changes made to the UPPSC exam pattern for Mains, there will now be 6 GS papers.
- Out of the six GS papers, two will be based on testing the General Knowledge of the candidates of their state of Uttar Pradesh.
| Paper | Duration | Marks |
| Hindi | 3 hrs | 150 marks |
| Essay | 3 hrs | 150 marks |
| General Studies Paper-1 | 3 hrs | 200 marks |
| General Studies Paper-2 | 3 hrs | 200 marks |
| General Studies Paper-3 | 3 hrs | 200 marks |
| General Studies Paper-4 | 3 hrs | 200 marks |
| General Studies Paper-5 | 3 hrs | 200 marks |
| General Studies Paper-6 | 3 hrs | 200 marks |
| Total Marks | 1500 Marks |
UPPSC Interview
Once candidates successfully navigate through the UPPSC PCS Prelims and Mains examinations, they will progress to the UPPSC Interview/Personality Test. Candidates must attend the interview, as non-appearance leads to exclusion from the merit list. According to the UPPSC exam pattern, the cumulative scores from the Mains exam and the Interview will determine the candidates’ final results.
The UPPSC Interview holds a weightage of 100 Marks, assessing candidates’ analytical abilities. This phase evaluates aspects like General Awareness, character, expression of power/personality, intelligence, and overall suitability. Following the conclusion of all phases, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission will unveil the final merit list, reflecting candidates’ performance in UPPSC PCS Mains and Interviews.
UPPSC Exam Pattern FAQS
1. What are the key stages of the UPPSC exam, and how is it structured?
The UPPSC exam consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interviews. Each stage has a unique structure, with Prelims featuring objective-type questions, Mains comprising descriptive papers, and Interviews assessing candidates’ personalities and analytical abilities.
2. What changes have been made to the UPPSC Mains exam pattern in the latest notification?
The recent UPPSC notification has replaced optional subjects in the Mains exam with two compulsory General Studies papers, increasing the total GS papers to 6. Additionally, there are papers dedicated to testing candidates’ knowledge of Uttar Pradesh, along with Hindi and essay writing papers.
3. Can you provide details about the UPPSC Prelims pattern?
Certainly! The UPPSC Prelims include two papers: General Studies 1 and General Studies 2. GS-2 is qualifying, requiring only 33% marks. General Studies-1 is for screening candidates for the Mains. There is negative marking for incorrect answers.
4. What is the marking scheme for the UPPSC Prelims exam?
Paper-I determines the cutoff and merit ranking. Paper-II (CSAT) is qualifying, with candidates needing at least 33% marks. Negative marking of 0.33% applies for incorrect answers. Not answering a question results in no marks being deducted.
5. How is the UPPSC Mains exam structured, and what subjects does it cover?
The UPPSC Mains exam consists of 8 papers, including General Hindi, Essay, and 6 General Studies papers. Two GS papers focus on testing candidates’ knowledge of Uttar Pradesh.
6. What is the duration and marking scheme for the UPPSC Mains exam?
Each paper in the UPPSC Mains exam is of 3 hours duration. The total marks for the Mains exam amount to 1500 marks.
7. What weightage does the UPPSC Interview hold, and what does it assess?
The UPPSC Interview carries a weightage of 100 marks. It assesses candidates’ analytical abilities, general awareness, character, expression of power/personality, intelligence, and overall suitability.
8. How are the final results determined in the UPPSC exam?
The final results are determined by combining the scores from the Mains exam and the Interview. Non-appearance in the Interview leads to exclusion from the merit list.
9. Are there any changes to the UPPSC Prelims and Mains exam pattern in the recent notification?
The UPPSC Prelims pattern remains the same, but the Mains exam pattern has been updated to include two compulsory General Studies papers, replacing optional subjects.
10. What is the purpose of the UPPSC Prelims exam?
The UPPSC Prelims exam serves to screen candidates for the Mains exam, with General Studies-1 considered for this purpose. GS-2 is qualifying in nature.
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