The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is now accepting online applications for the 2024 Civil Services Examination (CSE), also known as the IAS/IFS exam. This competitive test opens doors to prestigious careers in administration, diplomacy, and various central government services.
The UPSC organizes the Civil Services Examination to fill top-level positions, such as Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and more. The UPSC Application Form 2024 link became active on February 14, 2024, on the official website upsconline.nic.in. You can submit your application before the March 5, 2024 deadline if you meet the eligibility criteria.
What is the difference between IAS and IFS?
IAS: IAS stands for Indian Administrative Service and oversees different aspects of public administration at the district, state, and central levels.
IFS: IFS stands for Indian Forest Service and is tasked with safeguarding and overseeing the management of forests, wildlife, and the environment.
UPSC IAS/IFS Notification 2024 Overview
| Organization Name | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | UPSC IAS 2024 Exam |
| Vacancies | 1206 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Registration Starts | February 14, 2024 |
| UPSC 2024 admit card | To Be Released |
| Last Date of Application | March 05, 2024 |
| Application Modification Date | March 06 to 12, 2024 |
| Last Date for Fee Submission | March 05, 2024 |
| Pre Exam Date | May 26, 2024 |
| Selection Process |
|
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Exam Type | Objective Type |
| Job Location | India |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Post Wise Detail
| Post Name | Total Post |
| Indian Administrative Service IAS (Civil Services) | 1056 |
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) | 150 |
| Total Post | 1206 |
UPSC IAS/IFS Application Form 2024
The 2024 UPSC IAS/IFS Application Form is currently open for submission, signaling the start of the application period for the Indian Forest Service exam at upsc.gov.in. Applicants can find the form on the official UPSC website and are required to submit it by the given deadline.
Ensure precise and comprehensive information, including educational qualifications and necessary documents, is provided. The application process includes paying the examination fee, and candidates should adhere to the instructions outlined in the form.
| Notification Civil Services | Click Here |
| Notification Forest Services | Click Here |
| Registration Login | Click Here |
Documents Required to Fill the Application Form
Before applying, aspirants must check the Civil Services exam registration details. The details and documents required to apply online for the UPSC IAS/IFS 2024 exam are below.
- Valid email ID and mobile number.
- Scanned photograph and signature as per dimensions mentioned by the UPSC.
- Valid photo ID card details.
- Other required documents (if applicable).
- Personal and academic details
- Fee payment details: debit/ credit card, etc.
How do you apply for UPSC IAS/IFS 2024?
To apply for the UPSC Civil Services IAS IFS recruitment, follow these steps:
- Go to the official website of the Union Public Service Commission.
- Read the entire notification by clicking on the notification in the notification bar.
- Click the ‘Recruitment’ button in the menu bar and select ‘Apply Online.’
- Register by clicking on the registration button.
- Log in and complete the form by clicking on the respective button.
- Upload your photo and signature, and submit the form.
- Make an online payment for the form, and remember to take a printout.
UPSC 2024 Admit Card
Candidates preparing for the UPSC 2024 exam will receive an electronic admit card from the UPSC approximately three weeks before the exam starts. The admit card can be easily downloaded from the official website.
You need to check the below information in your UPSC 2024 admit card.
- Name of candidate
- Roll Number
- Photograph of the candidate
- Venue of examination
- Exam timings and shift details
- Subject and subject code
- Important instructions
Steps to download the UPSC e-admit card
Here are the steps to download the UPSC e-admit card 2024
- Visit the official website.
- Click on the e-Admit Card link
- Click on e-Admit Cards for various examinations of UPSC
- Enter the Roll number or Registration number
- Download the prelims/mains admit card and print a copy to carry to the exam venue.
Application Fee
Category wise fee is given below.
| Category | Application Fee |
| General, OBC, EWS (Male) | Rs. 100/- |
| SC, ST (Male) | Rs. 0/- |
| PH (Male) | Rs. 0/- |
| Female (All Category) | Rs. 0/- |
Eligibility Criteria UPSC IAS/IFS
Educational Qualification
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Bachelor’s Degree in Any Stream in Any Recognized University in India.
- Indian Forest Service (IFS)
Bachelor’s Degree as One Subject Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Botany, Geology, Statistics & Zoology, Physics, Chemistry Mathematics, Agriculture OR Equivalent.
Age Limit
| Category | Age Limit |
| General | 21-32 years |
| SC/ST | 26-37 years |
| OBC | 24-35 years |
| Defence Services Personnel | 24-35 years |
| Ex-servicemen | 26-37 years |
| PwBD | 31-42 years |
Attempts limit
| Category | Attempts Limit |
| General | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC/ST | Till within the upper age limit |
UPSC Exam Pattern
The UPSC exam consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination.
- Main Examination.
- Personality Test/Interview Round.
UPSC Civil Service Exam Pattern – Prelims
| Paper | Type | No. of Questions | UPSC Total Marks | Duration | Negative Marks |
| General Studies I | Objective | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | Yes |
| General Studies II (CSAT) | Objective | 80 | 200 | 2 hours | Yes |
| Total Marks | – | – | 400 | – | – |
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern – Mains
| Paper | Subject | Duration | IAS Total Marks |
| Paper A | Compulsory Indian Language | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper B | English | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional I | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional II | 3 hours | 250 |
UPSC Interview
The UPSC interview is of 275 marks, thus bringing the total marks for UPSC Mains and Interview for the merit list consideration to 2025.
UPSC Syllabus
The UPSC syllabus is vast and comprehensive as it has a lot of topics for Prelims and Mains.
| Category | Subcategory | Topics |
| UPSC Prelims Syllabus | General Studies | Indian Polity, Geography, History, Indian Economy, Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology, International Relations |
| CSAT | Reasoning and Analytical, Reading Comprehension, Decision Making | |
| Important Topics in GS – Paper 1 | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| Important Topics in CSAT – Paper 2 | Comprehension | |
| Interpersonal skills, including communication skills. | ||
| Logical reasoning and analytical ability. | ||
| Decision-making and problem-solving. | ||
| General mental ability. | ||
| Candidates can download the detailed UPSC Prelims syllabus from the linked article. | ||
| UPSC Mains Syllabus | Compulsory Indian Language – paper A | |
| Paper B – English | ||
| Essay | ||
| General Studies I | Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society | |
| General Studies II | – Governance, Constitution, Welfare Initiatives, Social Justice & International Relations | |
| General Studies III | – Technology, Economic Development, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management | |
| General Studies IV | – Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude | |
| Optional Subject – Paper I | ||
| Optional Subject – Paper II |
UPSC 2024 Exam Preparation Tips
The UPSC 2024 exam will be highly competitive. Aspirants must start their preparation early to achieve success. To begin the UPSC 2024 preparation, candidates must first understand the exam pattern and syllabus and then build their knowledge base.
The detailed preparation strategies for the UPSC 2024 Exam Preparation are given below.
- Aspirants need a strong understanding of the marking scheme, exam pattern, and syllabus for effective exam preparation.
- The preparation strategy for the UPSC Exam varies across three levels: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview.
- The Prelims exam in UPSC 2024 assesses analytical and aptitude skills, requiring candidates to stay updated on minor and major syllabus information.
- The Mains exam evaluates candidates’ descriptive knowledge of each topic in the syllabus, emphasizing the importance of in-depth understanding.
- Good study materials, such as NCERT, are recommended to better grasp concepts from the basics. Apart from this, books also play an essential role in preparation.
- Making notes on topics and referring to them during revision is crucial for effective organization and sequential study of concepts from the vast UPSC syllabus.
- Reading newspapers daily is a non-negotiable aspect of UPSC exam preparation to stay informed about current affairs, which is beneficial in all three stages of the exam.
- The preparation strategy for the UPSC Exam should be tailored to the specific requirements of each level, considering the unique demands of Prelims, Mains, and the Interview.
- Candidates should focus on developing strong analytical and aptitude skills for success in the Prelims exam.
- The ability to recall concepts easily during the exam is facilitated by creating and referring to well-organized notes on the topics studied.
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