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UPSC Prelims 2024 - Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Date Postponed

by Vajiram & Ravi

UPSC Prelims 2024, also known as the Civil Services Preliminary Examination, is the first stage of the selection process for various prestigious civil services in India, including the IAS, IPS, and IFS, among others. The exam is objective in nature. It consists of two papers: General Studies and Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT). The General Studies paper covers a wide range of topics, including Indian history, geography, polity, economy, and science and technology. The CSAT paper tests the candidate's reasoning ability, comprehension, and decision-making skills.

As per the latest update, UPSC Prelims 2024 will now be conducted on 16 June 2024, due to the clash with Lok Sabha elections. Earlier, the exam was scheduled for 26 May.

UPSC Prelims 2024 Exam Date

The UPSC Prelims Exam is going to be held on 16 June 2024. Only those candidates who qualify the Prelims Exam are eligible to appear for the Mains Exam, which is a descriptive test. The Mains Exam is followed by an interview. The final ranking of candidates is based on their performance in the Mains Exam and the interview.

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is a challenging exam, but it is also a rewarding one. Successful candidates get to serve the nation in various capacities and make a difference in the lives of millions of people. If you are appearing for the UPSC Prelims 2024, you should start your preparation early. The syllabus is vast and it takes time and effort to master it. There are many resources available online and in libraries to help you prepare for the exam. You can also join a coaching institute if you need guidance and support.

UPSC Prelims Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the UPSC Prelims exam, a candidate must meet the following criteria:

Nationality: Indian citizen or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan.
Age: Candidates must be at least 21 years old and not more than 32 years old (as of August 1st of the examination year) for the General category. Age relaxations are provided for candidates from reserved categories.
Education Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification. Final year students of a Bachelor's degree course are also eligible to apply, but they must produce proof of passing the examination before the Mains Exam.

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

UPSC Prelims Exam is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination. The nature of the Examination is Objective-based and is divided into two parts. It is important for candidates to appear for both the Prelims Examination.

General Studies Paper -1	200 marks	100 Questions	1/3rd Negative Marking
General Studies Paper-2 (CSAT)	200 marks	80 Questions	1/3rd Negative Marking

UPSC Prelims 2024 Syllabus

Following is the UPSC Syllabus to appear for UPSC Prelims 2024:

Paper I - General Studies Paper 1 (200 marks):

Current events of national and international importance.
History of India and Indian National Movement.
Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.
Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights, Issues, etc.
Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.
General Science.

Paper II- CSAT (200 marks):

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);

How to Apply for UPSC CSE Prelims?

To apply for the UPSC Prelims Examination 2024, you need to follow these steps:

Visit the official UPSC website (https://upsc.gov.in/).
Click on the "Apply Online" tab.
Click on the link available for "Civil Services Part-I registration".
Read the application form instructions carefully and click on "Yes".
Fill in all basic information in the Part I application form such as Name, Date of birth, Category, Gender, Email ID, Contact number, Permanent address, Marital status, Parents' names, Community, Educational qualification, etc.
Once all the details are filled in, click on "Continue".
You will be redirected to the Part II application form.
Fill in all the required details in the Part II application form.
Upload your scanned photograph and signature.
Pay the application fee.
Review your application and submit it.

Application Fee for UPSC Prelims 2024

The application fee for the UPSC Prelims Examination 2024 is as follows:

General and OBC candidates: INR 100
SC/ST candidates: NIL
Women candidates of all categories: NIL

You can pay the application fee online using a debit card, credit card, or net banking. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email. You should keep this email safe as it will contain important information such as your application number and exam center.

Recommended Books for UPSC Prelims Preparation

The Foundation and the First Line of reading while preparing for the UPSC Preliminary Exam are the 18 Volumes of ‘Yellow Books’ on General Studies and the Monthly Current Affairs Magazine published by Vajiram & Ravi. Apart from these Volumes, the aspirants should study the following books:

History

Basic Books:

NIOS course books for classes XI and XII on - Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India, National Movement & Contemporary World and Culture of India. (All these are available in PDF format on internet)

Advance Level Books:

India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma
History of Medieval India (800–1700 AD) by Satish Chandra
History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra
World History:
The Story of Civilization, Part 2 by Arjun Dev, NCERT
Contemporary World History for class XII (Old NCERT Book)

Geography

Certificate Physical & Human Geography (Oxford) by Goh Cheng Leong ( Amazon Link )
NCERTs from Class 6th to 12th
School Atlas - Orient Black Swan

Indian Polity

Constitution of India at Work (Class XI) NCERT Publication
Indian Polity by Laxmikanth
International Relations
India’s Foreign Policy Since Independence by V.P. Dutt
The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper

Indian Economy

Indian Economic Development XI Standard NCERT
Indian Economy by Jayant Parikshit
Introductory Macroeconomics XII Standard NCERT
The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper
Economic Survey Highlights

Ecology & Environment

Certificate Physical & Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
XII Standard NCERT Book on Biology (Chapters pertaining to Ecology)

Science & Technology

VIII, IX, X Standard NCERT books on Biology
The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper
Monthly Magazine ‘Science Reporter for Science & Technology

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers

UPSC Prelims previous year question papers can help you understand the exam pattern and help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.

UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Question Papers

UPSC CSAT Previous Year Question Papers

UPSC Prelims Cut Off

The UPSC Prelims cut off is the minimum marks that a candidate needs to score in order to qualify for the UPSC Mains Exam. The cut-off is different for each category. The official cut-off marks for Prelims are released after the final results are out. Check the last 5 years cut off for UPSC Prelims for different categories from the following table:

Category	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
General	88.22	87.54	92.51	98	98
OBC	87.54	89.12	89.12	95.34	96.66
ST	69.35	70.71	68.71	77.34	83.34
SC	74.08	75.41	74.84	82	84
PWD 1	49.84	68.02	70.06	53.34	73.34
PWD 2	58.59	67.33	63.94	44.66	53.34
PWD 3	40.40	43.09	40.82	61.34	40.00
PWD 4	41.76	45.80	42.86	61.34	45.34
EWS	82.83	80.14	77.55	90	------

UPSC Prelims 2024 Answer Key

The UPSC Prelims 2024 answer key will be released by the Union Public Service Commission after the exam is conducted. The exam is scheduled to be held on 16th June 2024. The answer key will be released on the UPSC website and will be available for download by all candidates who appeared for the exam.

The UPSC Prelims answer key will contain the correct answers to all the questions asked in the exam. Candidates can use the answer key to calculate their estimated scores and to identify the areas where they need to improve.

How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims 2024?

To prepare for the UPSC Prelims 2024, you should follow these steps:

Understand the syllabus and exam pattern. The UPSC Prelims syllabus is vast and covers a wide range of topics, including Indian polity, history, geography, economy, science and technology, and current affairs. The exam pattern is objective and consists of two papers: General Studies and Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT).
Collect the right study materials. Choose study materials that are relevant to the syllabus and that are written in a clear and concise style. You can also refer to our study material section on our website for UPSC Free Study Material. You can get access to the following Notes:
Make a study plan. Create a study plan that is realistic and achievable. Make sure to allocate enough time to each subject and to revision.
Start studying early. Don't wait until the last minute to start studying. The UPSC Prelims is a challenging exam and it takes time and effort to prepare for it.
Be consistent. Make sure to study regularly and consistently. Even if you can only study for an hour each day, it will make a difference in the long run.
Revise regularly. Revision is essential for retaining the information that you have studied. Make sure to revise your notes and practice answering questions.
Solve previous year's papers. Solving previous year's papers is a great way to get familiar with the exam pattern and the types of questions that are asked.