UPSC Prelims 2024
According to the UPSC 2024 schedule, the IAS preliminary examination will be conducted on May 26, 2024. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announces the results of the Civil Services preliminary-exam 2023 generally within 20 days of the Prelims Exam. Once the entire examination process, including the final result declaration, is complete, the marks, cut-off marks, and answer keys for the Prelims exam will be made available on upsc.gov.in. The IAS Mains exams 2024 are set to commence on 20 September, 2023.
Following the UPSC Prelims 2023, our faculty thoroughly dissected and analyzed the questions featured in the examination. Candidates now have the opportunity to access the UPSC Prelims 2023 Answer Key and review the analysis of the question paper through the provided link:
UPSC Prelims 2023 Question Paper Analysis
UPSC Prelims 2023 Questions with Answer Key
UPSC Prelims 2024 – Examination Structure
The examination pattern for UPSC Civil Services Prelims, as outlined in the UPSC notifications, is provided below. Any modifications to the forthcoming UPSC CSE Prelims examination structure will be updated here following the release of the CSE 2024 notification. The UPSC CSE 2023 notification was officially published on February 1, 2023. So, we can expect the same for UPSC Prelims 2024 in the coming year.
The UPSC CSE Prelims consists of two objective-type papers, namely General Studies I and General Studies II or CSAT, with a total weighting of 400 marks. Typically, both papers are conducted on the same day in two separate sessions using the offline mode (pen-paper).
The Prelims Admit Card will be made available on the official UPSC website 2-3 weeks before the examination date.
UPSC Prelims 2024 Exam Pattern
General Studies I:
- Number of questions: 100
- Negative Marking: Yes (1/3rd of the maximum marks for the question)
- Negative marking value: -0.66 marks for every incorrect answer
- Duration of exam: 2 hours
- UPSC Prelims 2023 Date of exam: 28th May 2023
- Language of exam: English/Hindi
- Maximum marks: 200
- Cut Off marks: Counted for Merit. Cut-off varies every year.
General Studies II or CSAT:
- Number of questions: 80
- Negative Marking: Yes (1/3rd of the maximum marks for the question)
- Negative marking value: -0.83 marks for every incorrect answer
- Duration of exam: 2 hours
- UPSC Prelims 2023 Date of exam: 28th May 2023
- Language of exam: English/Hindi
- Maximum marks: 200
- Cut Off marks: 33% qualifying criteria (66 marks)
The cutoff score for the Prelims in 2023 will be made known after the exam happens. For the General category candidates, the cutoff for Prelims in 2021 was 87.54.
UPSC Prelims 2024 – What to Study?
Here's a basic overview of what you need to study for the UPSC Prelims exam in 2024:
General Studies Paper-1 Syllabus:
- Current events happening in India and around the world.
- The history of India and the Indian Independence Movement.
- Geography, including physical, social, and economic aspects of India and the world.
- Indian politics and governance, which includes the constitution, political system, and public policies.
- Economic and social development topics like sustainability, poverty, demographics, and social initiatives.
- Environmental issues, biodiversity, and climate change.
- General science.
General Studies Paper-2 (CSAT) Syllabus:
- Comprehension.
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
- Decision-making and problem-solving.
- General mental ability.
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level)
- Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level).
- English language comprehension skills – Class X level.
UPSC Prelims 2024 Preparation Strategy
Here's a strategy to help you do well in the IAS prelims exam:
- Stay Updated: Keep up with current events, and ideally, try to cover the news from the past 12 to 15 months.
- Key Sources: For your UPSC 2024 exam preparation, important sources for current affairs include Yojana Magazine, newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express, Press Information Bureau (PIB), and Economic and Political Weekly (EPW).
- Time-Saving Resources: If you're short on time, Edukemy offers free IAS preparation materials that summarize the important concepts required for Prelims through our Gear Up Initiative!
- Practice with Past Papers: To get a sense of your level for CSAT or General Studies Paper-II in UPSC Prelims, review past years' question papers. The solved question papers can be very helpful.
- Note-Taking: Making your own notes is preferred by some candidates, but it can be time-consuming. So, we've provided links to important notes from NCERTs to save time.
UPSC Prelims 2024 Focus Areas - Subject Wise
UPSC Prelims 2024 - Indian Independence Movement:
- Know key congress sessions, their years, presidents, and important resolutions.
- Familiarize yourself with significant viceroys, their periods, and their important decisions.
- Understand the Government of India Acts of 1909, 1919, 1935, and charter acts.
UPSC Prelims 2024 - Ancient History:
Learn about Hindu philosophy, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Explore the Mauryan and Gupta Period, including art, architecture, and scientific developments during that time.
UPSC Prelims 2024 - Medieval History:
Focus on important kings like Sher Shah, Akbar, etc.
Study the Delhi Sultanate.
UPSC Prelims 2024 - Polity:
- Stay updated on current events like changes in the constitution, new acts, and amendments, and government schemes.
- Understand Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
- Learn about the committee system, parliament, and parliamentary proceedings.
- Get familiar with the judiciary and constitutional bodies.
UPSC Prelims 2024 - Science & Technology:
- Refer to NCERT books for basic science concepts, and focus on current affairs.
- Environment and Ecology:
- Know about important declarations and conventions.
- Be aware of IUCN's Red List, Biosphere Reserves, Tiger Reserves, and international bodies.
UPSC Prelims 2024 - Geography:
- Learn about the solar system, latitudes, longitudes, atmospheric layers, atmospheric wind patterns, cyclones, pressure belts, and seasonal changes.
- Understand monsoons, types of rainfall, Koeppen classification, jet streams, ocean currents, El Nino, La Nina, India's physical geography, rivers, hills, soil, mineral resources, and the geological history of India.
- Basics of agriculture (NCERT) and map-related knowledge.
UPSC Prelims 2024 - Economy:
- Stay updated on current events like new bills and important committees.
- Focus on fundamental concepts like economic growth, development, poverty, unemployment, inflation, and the state of the national and global economy.
- Keep an eye on major committees and bills, as well as the latest budget and economic survey.
UPSC Civil Services Prelims – Understanding Trends
UPSC has earned a reputation for its unpredictability. Therefore, candidates should view the trends as a general guideline rather than drawing firm conclusions.
Here's a breakdown of the UPSC Prelims question papers from 2019 to 2023:
UPSC Prelims 2023 GS Paper 1 Subject-Wise Analysis:
- History: 14 questions
- Economy: 14 questions
- Polity: 15 questions
- Environment & Ecology: 14 questions
- Geography: 16 questions
- Science & Technology: 12 questions
- International Relations: 11 questions
- Miscellaneous: 4 questions
- Total: 100 questions
UPSC Prelims 2022 GS Paper 1 Subject-Wise Analysis:
- History: 10 questions
- Economy: 16 questions
- Polity: 11 questions
- Environment & Ecology: 17 questions
- Geography: 10 questions
- Science & Technology: 14 questions
- International Relations: 14 questions
- Miscellaneous: 3 questions
- Total: 100 questions
UPSC Prelims 2021 GS Paper 1 Subject-Wise Analysis:
- History: 20 questions
- Economy: 10 questions
- Polity: 14 questions
- Environment & Ecology: 11 questions
- Geography: 10 questions
- Science & Technology: 8 questions
- Current Affairs: 27 questions
- Total: 100 questions
UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper 1 Subject-Wise Analysis:
- History: 18 questions
- Economy: 14 questions
- Polity: 16 questions
- Environment & Ecology: 17 questions
- Geography: 10 questions
- Science & Technology: 10 questions
- Current Affairs: 15 questions
- Total: 100 questions
UPSC Prelims 2019 GS Paper 1 Subject-Wise Analysis:
- History: 17 questions
- Economy: 14 questions
- Polity: 15 questions
- Environment & Ecology: 11 questions
- Geography: 14 questions
- Science & Technology: 7 questions
- Current Affairs: 22 questions
- Total: 100 questions
UPSC Prelims 2024 - Study Material
Preparing for the UPSC Prelims 2024 exam involves choosing the right study materials. Opting for the finest Civil Services Prelims Books can enhance your efficiency and effectiveness. NCERT textbooks are essential for both UPSC Prelims and Mains due to their reliability and easy-to-understand content.
You can access and download the required NCERT books for UPSC Prelims preparation by going through our article - NCERT Books PDF
Check Edukemy's PDF Notes to study for UPSC Prelims 2024 FROM SCRATCH!
Frequently Asked Questions about the UPSC Prelims 2024
Q1: Is the UPSC prelims exam only qualifying in nature?
Yes, the IAS prelims exam is purely qualifying. The General Studies Paper-1 has a variable cutoff each year, while the CSAT paper requires a minimum of 33% to qualify.
Q2: What is the syllabus for the UPSC prelims exam?
The GS Paper 1 covers current affairs, History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, Economic and Social Development, Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and General Science. The CSAT paper assesses analytical skills, reasoning ability, and interpersonal skills. You can find the detailed syllabus for UPSC Prelims 2023 in the linked article.
Q3: How many exams are there in UPSC Prelims?
The IAS preliminary examination comprises two papers: GS Paper 1 and GS Paper 2 (CSAT). Each paper carries a maximum of 200 marks, with 100 questions in GS Paper 1 and 80 questions in GS Paper 2.
Q4: What is the educational qualification to apply for the civil services prelims exam?
To apply for the civil services exam, you need to hold at least a Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
Q5: Is the IAS prelims an offline or online paper?
The UPSC prelims exam is conducted in offline mode, which means it is a pen-and-paper examination.
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