{"id":14896,"date":"2023-11-06T10:17:48","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T10:17:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/?p=14896"},"modified":"2024-08-30T06:55:46","modified_gmt":"2024-08-30T06:55:46","slug":"upsc-exam-pattern-ias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/","title":{"rendered":"UPSC Exam Pattern 2024 &#8211; Edukemy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <strong>UPSC Exam Pattern<\/strong> is a crucial aspect for anyone preparing for the prestigious civil services examination in India. The <strong>UPSC Exam Pattern 2024<\/strong> remains consistent with its structured approach, designed to assess a candidate\u2019s knowledge, analytical skills, and overall suitability for a career in public service. It includes three stages: the Preliminary Exam (Prelims), the Main Exam (Mains), and the Personality Test (Interview). Each stage is designed to test different abilities, from general awareness in the Prelims to in-depth understanding and writing skills in the Mains, and finally, the personality traits and decision-making abilities in the Interview. Understanding the <strong>UPSC Exam Pattern 2024<\/strong> is essential for effective preparation and success in this highly competitive exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/upsc\/upsc-cse-gs-integrated-course?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Banner&amp;utm_campaign=GS+Integrated\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-42401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8.png 1280w, https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8-1170x274.png 1170w, https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/8-585x137.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e5e87c9026a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e5e87c9026a\"  \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#What_is_the_UPSC_Exam_Pattern\" title=\"What is the UPSC Exam Pattern?\">What is the UPSC Exam Pattern?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#The_UPSC_Exam_has_three_stages\" title=\"The UPSC Exam has three stages:\">The UPSC Exam has three stages:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#UPSC_Exam_Pattern_Overview\" title=\"UPSC Exam Pattern Overview&nbsp;\">UPSC Exam Pattern Overview&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#UPSC_Exam_Pattern_%E2%80%93_Prelims\" title=\"UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Prelims\">UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Prelims<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#UPSC_Prelims_Negative_Marking\" title=\"UPSC Prelims Negative Marking\">UPSC Prelims Negative Marking<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#UPSC_Exam_Pattern_%E2%80%93_Mains\" title=\"UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Mains\">UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Mains<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#UPSC_Exam_Pattern_%E2%80%93_Optional_Subjects\" title=\"UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Optional Subjects\">UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Optional Subjects<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#UPSC_Pattern_for_Interview\" title=\"UPSC Pattern for Interview\">UPSC Pattern for Interview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#1_What_is_the_UPSC_selection_process\" title=\"1. What is the UPSC selection process?\">1. What is the UPSC selection process?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#2_For_how_many_marks_will_the_UPSC_personal_interview_stage_be\" title=\"2. For how many marks will the UPSC personal interview stage be?\">2. For how many marks will the UPSC personal interview stage be?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#3_What_are_the_papers_under_the_UPSC_prelims_examination\" title=\"3. What are the papers under the UPSC prelims examination?\">3. What are the papers under the UPSC prelims examination?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#4_What_is_the_prelims_exam_pattern_in_the_UPSC_exam\" title=\"4. What is the prelims exam pattern in the UPSC exam?\">4. What is the prelims exam pattern in the UPSC exam?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#5_What_is_the_marking_scheme_for_the_UPSC_mains\" title=\"5. What is the marking scheme for the UPSC mains?\">5. What is the marking scheme for the UPSC mains?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#6_What_is_the_exam_pattern_for_the_interview_round_in_the_UPSC_examination\" title=\"6. What is the exam pattern for the interview round in the UPSC examination?\">6. What is the exam pattern for the interview round in the UPSC examination?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#7_In_which_languages_will_the_scripts_be_available\" title=\"7. In which languages will the scripts be available?\">7. In which languages will the scripts be available?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#To_get_free_counselingsupport_on_UPSC_preparation_from_expert_mentors_please_call_9773890604\" title=\"To get free counseling\/support on UPSC preparation from expert mentors please call 9773890604\">To get free counseling\/support on UPSC preparation from expert mentors please call 9773890604<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/upsc-exam-pattern-ias\/#Visit_our_YouTube_Channel_%E2%80%93_Here\" title=\"Visit our YouTube Channel \u2013 Here\">Visit our YouTube Channel \u2013 Here<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_UPSC_Exam_Pattern\"><\/span>What is the UPSC Exam Pattern?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The UPSC exam has different parts to pick the right people for civil services jobs. There are three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. Each stage checks different skills and knowledge to make sure candidates are good for public service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_UPSC_Exam_has_three_stages\"><\/span>The UPSC Exam has three stages:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Stage I &#8211; Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination<\/li><li>Stage II &#8211; Civil Services (Mains) Examination<\/li><li>Stage III &#8211; Interview Process<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Exam_Pattern_Overview\"><\/span>UPSC Exam Pattern Overview&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To become an IAS officer, you have to go through three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Each stage has different marks. You start with Prelims, and if you clear that, you can go on to Mains and then the Interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Stages<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Name<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>No. Of Papers<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Type Of Exam<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Marks<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stage 1<\/td><td>UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern<\/td><td>2 Papers (GS 1 &amp; CSAT Papers)<\/td><td>Objective<\/td><td>400<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stage 2<\/td><td>UPSC Mains Exam Pattern<\/td><td>9 Papers<\/td><td>Descriptive<\/td><td>1750<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stage 3<\/td><td>UPSC Interview<\/td><td>\u2013<\/td><td>Personality Test<\/td><td>275<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Marks<\/td><td>UPSC Mains + Interview Marks<\/td><td>2025 Marks<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Exam_Pattern_%E2%80%93_Prelims\"><\/span>UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Prelims<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Prelims Exam was scheduled for May 26, 2024<\/strong>. <em><strong>Due to the Lok Sabha Elections, the preliminary exam will be held on June 16, 2024<\/strong><\/em>. You can find free study materials and preparation strategies for UPSC Prelims on <a href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/upsc-cse-prelims-resource-centre\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Edukemy&#8217;s Platform.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Preliminary stage of the UPSC exam, there are two papers held on the same day. Both papers have multiple-choice questions. The Prelims is like a screening test for the main exam. The marks from this stage don&#8217;t count in the final score, but it&#8217;s important to do well because the cutoffs can vary. Here are the details of the UPSC Prelims pattern:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table><tbody><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Stages<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Name<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>No. Of Papers<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Type Of Exam<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Marks<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stage 1<\/td><td>UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern<\/td><td>2 Papers (GS 1 &amp; CSAT Papers)<\/td><td>Objective<\/td><td>400<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stage 2<\/td><td>UPSC Mains Exam Pattern<\/td><td>9 Papers<\/td><td>Descriptive<\/td><td>1750<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Stage 3<\/td><td>UPSC Interview<\/td><td>\u2013<\/td><td>Personality Test<\/td><td>275<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Marks<\/td><td>UPSC Mains + Interview Marks<\/td><td>2025 Marks<\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/upsc\/upsc-csat?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Banner&amp;utm_campaign=Blog+CSAT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"300\" data-src=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Attempt-our-Daily-Weekly-Current-Affairs-Quiz-now-6-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-42381 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Attempt-our-Daily-Weekly-Current-Affairs-Quiz-now-6-1.png 1280w, https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Attempt-our-Daily-Weekly-Current-Affairs-Quiz-now-6-1-1170x274.png 1170w, https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Attempt-our-Daily-Weekly-Current-Affairs-Quiz-now-6-1-585x137.png 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1280px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1280\/300;\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Prelims_Negative_Marking\"><\/span>UPSC Prelims Negative Marking<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In both GS Paper 1 and GS Paper 2, if you answer a question wrong, they&#8217;ll take away 1\/3rd of the marks for that question. For the Prelims stage of the UPSC exam, each question in GS Paper 1 is worth 2 marks, and each question in GS Paper 2 (CSAT) is worth 2.5 marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have a look at the negative marking scheme for the Prelims exam stage in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Prelims Paper<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>No. of Questions<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Total Marks<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Negative Marking Scheme<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>General Studies-1<\/td><td>100<\/td><td>2 * 100 = 200<\/td><td>0.66<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>General Studies-2 (CSAT)<\/td><td>80<\/td><td>2.5 * 80 = 200<\/td><td>0.83<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This table shows the Negative Marking Scheme for UPSC Prelims, including the number of questions, total marks, and the deduction for wrong answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-test-series?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Blog-%20PTS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Prelims-Test-Series-eng-and-hindi-1280\u00d7330.svg\" alt=\"UPSC Prelims Mock Test - ECONOMY 2\" class=\"wp-image-24924 lazyload\" width=\"779\" height=\"199\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 779px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 779\/199;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Exam_Pattern_%E2%80%93_Mains\"><\/span>UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Mains<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The <strong>UPSC Mains Exam<\/strong> is on <strong>20th September 2024<\/strong>, according to the official notice.<\/li><li>To take the Mains exam, candidates need to score the cut-off marks in the <strong>Prelims GS-1 Paper and at least 33% in the Prelims GS-2 Paper (CSAT)<\/strong>.<\/li><li>The <strong>Mains Exam Pattern<\/strong> has <strong>9 papers<\/strong>, including a <strong>compulsory Indian language paper, an English paper, an essay paper, and four general studies papers <\/strong>(GS1, GS2, GS3 &amp; GS4).&nbsp;<\/li><li>There are also <strong>two optional papers<\/strong>. All the Mains papers are descriptive, and each paper has a <strong>3-hour duration. Blind candidates get an extra 30 minutes<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Marks from the Mains exam count in the final merit list. The language papers (Mains Paper A &amp; Paper B) are just for qualification.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Paper A is <strong>not needed for candidates from certain states and those with hearing impairment<\/strong>, but they have to confirm the exemption from their university or board.<\/li><li>Candidates can pick <strong>one optional subject from the list of 48<\/strong> provided by UPSC.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a look at the table below to easily understand the <strong>UPSC Mains paper pattern.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Paper<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Subject<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Nature Of Paper<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Time Allotted<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Total Marks<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper A<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Compulsory Indian language<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Qualifying (75 Marks required, i.e., 25%)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>300<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper B<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>English<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>300<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper I<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Essay<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Final Merit (Marks will be counted in the final merit list)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>250<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper II<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>General Studies I<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>250<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper III<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>General Studies II<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>250<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper IV<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>General Studies III<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>250<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper V<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>General Studies IV<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>250<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper VI<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Optional I<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>250<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Paper VII<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Optional II<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>3 hours<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>250<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>UPSC Mains Total Marks<\/strong><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><\/td><td><strong>1750<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Exam_Pattern_%E2%80%93_Optional_Subjects\"><\/span>UPSC Exam Pattern &#8211; Optional Subjects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned earlier, the UPSC Mains Exam has two optional papers, each worth 250 marks. You get to choose your favorite subject for Paper VI &amp; Paper VII. You can pick any subject from the list of 48 optional subjects given in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Optional Subjects List<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Agriculture<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Anthropology<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Botany<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Chemistry<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Civil Engineering<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Commerce and Accountancy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Economics<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Electrical Engineering<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Geography<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Geology<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>History<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Law<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Management<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mathematics<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mechanical Engineering<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Medical Science<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Philosophy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Physics<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Political Science and International Relations<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Psychology<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Public Administration<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Sociology<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Statistics<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Zoology<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Anyone literature in the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and English (As per the languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/upsc\/upsc-gs-advance-and-mentorship-program-ampcsat?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Link&amp;utm_campaign=GS+Advanced\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"300\" data-src=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Attempt-our-Daily-Weekly-Current-Affairs-Quiz-now-8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-43397 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Attempt-our-Daily-Weekly-Current-Affairs-Quiz-now-8.png 1280w, https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Attempt-our-Daily-Weekly-Current-Affairs-Quiz-now-8-1170x274.png 1170w, https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Attempt-our-Daily-Weekly-Current-Affairs-Quiz-now-8-585x137.png 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1280px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1280\/300;\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>For languages and literature, candidates should use the following scripts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>S.No<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Language<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Script<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Assamese<\/td><td>Assamese<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Bengali<\/td><td>Bengali<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Gujarati<\/td><td>Gujarati<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Hindi<\/td><td>Devanagari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td>Kannada<\/td><td>Kannada<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>Kashmiri<\/td><td>Persian<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td>Konkani<\/td><td>Devanagari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td>Malayalam<\/td><td>Malayalam<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9<\/td><td>Manipuri<\/td><td>Bengali<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10<\/td><td>Marathi<\/td><td>Devanagari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11<\/td><td>Nepali<\/td><td>Devanagari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12<\/td><td>Oriya<\/td><td>Oriya<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>13<\/td><td>Punjabi<\/td><td>Gurumukhi<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>14<\/td><td>Sanskrit<\/td><td>Devanagari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15<\/td><td>Sindhi<\/td><td>Devanagari or Arabic<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>16<\/td><td>Tamil<\/td><td>Tamil<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>17<\/td><td>Telugu<\/td><td>Telugu<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>18<\/td><td>Urdu<\/td><td>Persian<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>19<\/td><td>Bodo<\/td><td>Devanagari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>Dogri<\/td><td>Devanagari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>21<\/td><td>Maithili<\/td><td>Devanagari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>22<\/td><td>Santhali<\/td><td>Devanagari or Olchiki<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UPSC_Pattern_for_Interview\"><\/span>UPSC Pattern for Interview<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The personal interview is the final stage of the UPSC exam.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Those who pass the main exam are invited for the interview.<\/li><li>During this interview, <strong>the board assesses the candidate&#8217;s mental and social qualities by asking questions of general interest<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li><li>They look for traits like <strong>mental alertness, critical thinking, clear communication, good judgment, diverse interests, leadership ability, and moral integrity<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Candidates get selected based on their scores in the <strong>main exam and the interview<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The interview carries a total of <strong>275 marks<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you know the UPSC Exam Pattern, it&#8217;s important to prepare accordingly. The UPSC CSE Exam is tough, and the competition gets tougher each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_What_is_the_UPSC_selection_process\"><\/span>1. What is the UPSC selection process?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0A: The UPSC selection process consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination (Prelims), Main Examination (Mains), and Personal Interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_For_how_many_marks_will_the_UPSC_personal_interview_stage_be\"><\/span>2. For how many marks will the UPSC personal interview stage be?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0A: The personal interview stage in the UPSC exam is conducted for a total of 275 marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_What_are_the_papers_under_the_UPSC_prelims_examination\"><\/span>3. What are the papers under the UPSC prelims examination?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A: The UPSC Preliminary Examination consists of two papers: General Studies (GS) Paper 1 and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_What_is_the_prelims_exam_pattern_in_the_UPSC_exam\"><\/span>4. What is the prelims exam pattern in the UPSC exam?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A: In the UPSC Prelims exam, GS Paper 1 has 100 objective-type questions with a total of 200 marks, and CSAT Paper 2 has 80 questions with a total of 200 marks. There is a negative marking for wrong answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_What_is_the_marking_scheme_for_the_UPSC_mains\"><\/span>5. What is the marking scheme for the UPSC mains?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0A: The UPSC Mains exam consists of nine papers, each carrying different marks. The total marks for the Mains exam are 1750.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_What_is_the_exam_pattern_for_the_interview_round_in_the_UPSC_examination\"><\/span>6. What is the exam pattern for the interview round in the UPSC examination?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0A: The UPSC interview round assesses the candidate&#8217;s mental and social traits. It is conducted for a total of 275 marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_In_which_languages_will_the_scripts_be_available\"><\/span>7. In which languages will the scripts be available?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0A: The scripts will be available in languages such as Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and English, as per the languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/upsc\/upsc-essay?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Banner&amp;utm_campaign=Essay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/UPSC-Essay-Course-1280\u00d7300-1-3.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-42688 lazyload\" width=\"781\" height=\"182\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 781px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 781\/182;\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-e6963b04-cab6-4c30-87bb-2fbbac2c189a\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"To_get_free_counselingsupport_on_UPSC_preparation_from_expert_mentors_please_call_9773890604\"><\/span><strong>To get free counseling\/support on UPSC preparation from expert mentors please call 9773890604<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" id=\"block-0d0ed6e9-ce2e-4b93-8d2b-f04518480f92\"><li>Join our Main Telegram Channel and access PYQs, Current Affairs and UPSC&nbsp; Guidance for free \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/Edukemy4IAS\">Edukemy for IAS<\/a><\/li><li>Learn Economy for free-<a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/+uq2Jq2ezMHE3ZjA1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Economy for UPSC<\/a><\/li><li>Learn CSAT &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/+4hdxnlyVN_swNDNl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CSAT for UPSC<\/a><\/li><li>Mains Answer Writing Practice-<a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/+HS9DZh7PTytkNjJl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mains Answer Writing<\/a><\/li><li>For UPSC Prelims Resources, <a href=\"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/upsc-cse-prelims-resource-centre\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-d43aa89b-d314-4863-a7c4-071ab0c592d5\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Visit_our_YouTube_Channel_%E2%80%93_Here\"><\/span>Visit our YouTube Channel \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@EduKemyforIAS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Here<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding the UPSC Exam Pattern 2024 is essential for effective preparation and success in this highly competitive exam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":25774,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,52],"tags":[232,371,370,213,140],"class_list":["post-14896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs","category-upsc-cse","tag-upsc","tag-upsc-exam","tag-upsc-exam-pattern","tag-upsc-notes","tag-upsc_preparation_strategy"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14896"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45674,"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14896\/revisions\/45674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edukemy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}