UPSC Full Form 2024: Exam, Notification, Vacancy, Salary, Functions & Recruitment

May 5, 2024 by Penny Gusner

Established under the Government of India Act 1935, the Federal Public Service Commission evolved into the Union Public Service Commission, gaining constitutional status on January 26, 1950. Today, the UPSC CSE is a popular exam with numerous aspirants each year aspiring to become IAS officers. To succeed in this exam, thorough preparation and passion are essential. Stay tuned for detailed insights on UPSC’s full form, functions, notification, exam pattern, syllabus, job profile, salary, booklist, admit card, question papers, results, and more.

What is the Full form of UPSC?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is an independent organization responsible for recruiting Level A and Level B employees. Established on October 1, 1926, UPSC’s headquarters is located in New Delhi. It conducts the Civil Services Examination annually in the country for 24 services under the Central and State Government. Find more details and the full form of UPSC on their official website at https://www.upsc.gov.in/.

UPSC Functions

The UPSC has been assigned numerous roles and duties. According to Article 320 of the Indian constitution, the Union Public Service Commission is responsible for conducting exams for filling different positions at the Union level. Additionally, the UPSC provides advice on various issues.

• On methods of recruiting candidates for various civil services posts
• To make appointments for civil services and other posts.
• Promotion and Transfer of officers from service to another
• Checking the suitability of candidates for such appointments, promotion or transfers
• On taking disciplinary actions against a civil servant serving in a civil capacity including petitions or memorials in such matters.

UPSC IAS Exam 2024 Overview

The UPSC examination is held annually to select individuals for different civil services within the Indian central government. Commonly referred to as the IAS exam, it consists of three stages – Prelims, Mains, and a personal interview – that candidates must pass to become an IAS officer.

UPSC CSE (IAS) Basic Information
Exam Name	IAS Exam (UPSC CSE)
Post	Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Organisation Name	Government of India (GOI)
Exam Types	Offline Examination
Application Fees	General Male Candidates – Rs 100/- Everyone Else – Rs. 0/- (free)
Selection Process	Phase 1: Prelims Phase 2: Mains Phase 3: Interview
Job Location	India

IAS Salary 2024

An IAS officer’s job involves overseeing government schemes and dealing with emergencies like disasters, riots, and accidents. The starting monthly salary is Rs. 56,100 as per the 7th Pay Commission. This amount excludes additional allowances and perks given by the government. Depending on these extras, an IAS officer’s total monthly pay can reach up to Rs. 1,50,000 or even more. For instance, a deputy secretary who previously worked as an undersecretary for 4 years earns a basic monthly salary of Rs. 67,700. At the highest rank of Cabinet Secretary after over 37 years of service, the basic monthly pay is about Rs. 2,50,000.

States and Capitals

UPSC CSE Notification 2024

Latest Update: – UPSC exam 2024 notification released on 14th February 2024. Applications open until 5th March 2024 for 1056 vacancies. Prelims on 26th May 2024, Mains from 20th September 2024 for 5 days. UPSC calendar announced on 10th May 2023.

Important events	Dates
Date of Notification	14th February 2024
Online Application Window	14th February – 05th March 2024 (till 6:00 PM)
Date of Commencement of Prelims	26th May 2024
Duration of Prelims Exam	One Day
Result Date of Prelims Exam	TBA
Date of Commencement of Mains	20th September 2024
Duration of Mains Exam	Five Days

Post under UPSC Exams

UPSC conducts examinations for nearly 100 posts, with the following four being the most renowned.

Post	Full Form
IAS	Indian Administrative Service Indian Administrative Service
IPS	Indian Police Service Indian Police Service
IFS	Indian Foreign Service Indian Foreign Service
IRS	Indian Revenue Service

UPSC Recruitment 2024

Each year, many UPSC jobs are available in various fields. For civil service job applications, consider:

• The UPSC examination consists of three stages, i.e., Prelims, Mains and the Interview.
• The UPSC CSE serves as a common recruitment process to fill up the annual UPSC vacancy strengths of other officer posts such as that of IPS, IFS, and IRS officers.
• This annual UPSC recruitment process lasts for duration between 9 months to a year.

UPSC IAS Exam Vacancy 2024

The UPSC revealed details about the 2024 IAS Exam Vacancy. A total of 1056 vacancies were announced, with 40 reserved for a specific disability category.

• 09 vacancies are reserved for candidates with locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy;
• 13 vacancies are reserved for candidates with multiple disabilities;
• 06 vacancies for candidates with low vision and blindness and
• 12 for candidates with deafness and low on hearing.

UPSC 2024 Application Form

To join UPSC 2024, complete the form online. The process begins after the notification and ends on a vital date. Here are the application steps.

• Visit the official website.
• Register and create a profile.
• Fill out the application form with accurate information.
• Preview for errors before submission.
• Pay the application fee online.
• Submit the form, receive confirmation, and note the registration number.
• Take a printout for future reference.

UPSC Application Fee

Category	Application Fees
General/OBC	Rs. 100
SC/ST/PwD/Female	Exempt

UPSC IAS Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024

It is crucial to pay attention to the UPSC Eligibility criteria as it determines whether you can take the exam or not. Make sure to thoroughly review all the Eligibility Criteria before applying for the UPSC exam in 2024.

1. Nationality

In order to qualify for the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Foreign Service, and the Indian Police Service, candidates must hold Indian citizenship. Nationality requirements differ for other services, which can be explored further on my blog regarding eligibility criteria (link available below).

2. Age Limit

• If you are an aspirant from the general category, your age must not be less than 21 years, or you must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August 2024 of the year of examination.
• Age relaxation up to a maximum of 5 years if you belong to the SC or ST category. So, the upper age limit for SC or ST is 37 years.
• For the OBC category, age relaxation can be granted up to a maximum of 3 years. So, the upper age limit for OBC is 35 years.
• Age relaxation up to a maximum of 10 years if you belong to PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) category. So, the upper age limit of 42 years.
• Here are the UPSC Age Limits for the various categories – Gen:32, OBC:35, SC/ST: 37, PwBD:42.

3. Educational Qualification

To appear for the UPSC CSE (IAS exam), you need to hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognized university. This requires having a bachelor’s degree certificate from an institute established by an Act of the Parliament of India, a university incorporated by an Act of the State and Central Legislature of India, or a deemed university recognized under Section 3 of UGC Act of 1956.

4. Number of Attempts

Category	No. of Attempts
General	6
OBC	9
SC/ST	Unlimited (Up to age limit)
PwBD	9 for GL/EWS/OBC Unlimited for SC/ST

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

Exam Pattern for IAS UPSC CSE Prelims 2023
Two Compulsory Papers	General Studies Paper 1 (Merit)     CSAT (Qualification)
Total Questions	GS Paper 1: 100 Questions     CSAT: 80 questions
Total Marks	GS Paper-I: 200 marks    CSAT: 200 marks   Total Marks: 400
Negative Marking	1/3rd of the total marks determined will be deducted
Time	Two hours for each of the following papers:  gs paper 1  csat

The Prelims exam is designed as a qualifying stage, with the marks not being included in the final merit list. This exam consists of two objective type papers. The General Studies II (CSAT) paper serves as a qualifying paper where scoring a minimum of 33% is necessary. Negative marking is applicable in the Prelims exam, where 1/3 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer.

UPSC Exam Pattern for Mains

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern
Paper Type	Name Of Paper	Syllabus Overview	Score
Qualifying Paper: Paper A	The candidate must choose one Indian language from among the languages mentioned in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution .	Understanding Abstract writing Use vocabulary short essay	300
Qualifying Paper: Paper B	English	Short Essay (100 Marks) Comprehension of the given passage (60 marks) Accurate Writing (60 Marks) Grammar and Language Use (40 marks) Translation: English to Compulsory Language (20 marks) English as Compulsory Language (20 marks)	300
Paper 1	Essay	Candidates can write as per their convenience	250
Paper 2	General Studies 1	Art And Culture History Geography Society	250
Paper 3	General Studies 2	Government Constitution Arrangement of the governance Social Justice International Relation	250
Paper 4	General Studies 3	Science and Technology Economics Environmental Biodiversity Intrinsic Safety Disaster management	250
Paper 5	General Studies 4	Ethics Integrity Skill	250
Paper 6	Optional Subject-Paper 1	The detailed IAS exam syllabus is mentioned in the official notification.	250
Paper 7	Optional Subject-Paper 2	–	250
Total	–	–	1750

The UPSC Mains examination comprises 9 papers, allowing candidates who pass the Prelims to participate. The Mains papers are all descriptive, with the two language papers being for qualification purposes. The UPSC Mains exam spans 5-7 days, with Paper A and B serving as qualifiers, necessitating a minimum score of 25% in each of Paper I to Paper VII.

UPSC Interview

The UPSC exam concludes with the Interview, which alongside the Mains Examination forms the basis for preparing the merit list. The Interview carries a maximum of 275 marks, contributing to a total of 2025 marks for the merit list. During the Interview, the interviewer assesses the candidate’s mental and social attributes through questions of general interest, focusing on qualities such as mental acuity, analytical skills, coherent communication, sound judgment, diverse interests, leadership, and ethical values. The Union Public Service Commission is renowned as a prestigious government body in India dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in the country’s bureaucracy.

UPSC Admit Card 2024

The UPSC 2024 admit card, crucial for the exam, will be available a few weeks prior to the exam. Candidates may obtain it from the official site by using their registration ID and password. The admit card includes important information such as candidate details, exam center information, and guidelines. Verify the accuracy of all information and safeguard the admit card throughout the selection process.

Steps to Download Admit Card

• Go to the official website.
• Select ‘Admit Cards’ and choose the exam.
• Enter the registration ID or roll number.
• Enter the Captcha code.
• Click ‘Submit’ to access the admit card.
• Download and print for exam use.

How to Prepare for UPSC 2024?

Preparing for UPSC 2024 requires a strategic approach:

• Understand Exam Pattern and Syllabus: Know the pattern, syllabus, and marking scheme.
• Make a Study Plan: Tailor a plan based on your learning style and schedule.
• Follow Current Events: Stay updated with news and events for the current affairs section.
• Use Standard Reference Books: Refer to quality study materials and make comprehensive notes.
• Practise Mock Tests: Evaluate performance, identify strengths and weaknesses, and improve time management.
• Stay Motivated: The journey is challenging, so stay motivated and confident in your abilities.

To undertake the UPSC 2024 journey successfully, meticulous planning and dedication are essential. Understanding the exam intricacies, meeting eligibility requirements, and adhering to a strong preparation plan can boost aspirants’ likelihood of success in this esteemed test. Begin early, maintain focus, and ensure each day contributes to realizing your aspiration of serving the nation through civil services.

UPSC 2023 Final Cut Off

Category	UPSC Final Cut offs (out of 2025)
General	953
EWS	923
OBC	919
SC	890
ST	891
PwBD-1	894
PwBD-2	930
PwBD-3	756
PwBD-4	589