The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2018 notification was released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on February 7th, 2018. Applications were open from February 7th to March 6th 2018.
The UPSC had announced a total 782 vacancies that its CSE 2018 exam was intending to fill. CSE’s screening test known as the ‘Preliminary Examination’ was later conducted on June 3rd and the next stage, the ‘Mains Examination’, is scheduled for September 28th, 2018. Here we attempt to provide you with all the important details, schedules, and notifications about UPSC Civil Services Recruitment 2018 as well as related news.
UPSC Civil Services 2018 Application Details
| Examination Name | Civil Services Examination 2018 |
|---|---|
| Organized by | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Apply Mode | Online |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| UPSC Notification 2018 Release Date | 7th February |
|---|---|
| Apply Online Starting Date | 7th February |
| Application Form 2018 Last Date | 6th March |
| UPSC CSE Pre Exam Date | 3rd June |
| Civil Services 2018 Main Examination Date | 28th September to 10th October 2018 |
Eligibility Criteria
| Educational Qualification | Graduation from a Government Recognized University |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | Minimum- 21 Years Maximum- 32 Years |
Application Fee
| General / OBC | Rs. 100 |
|---|---|
| ST/SC/PWD | Nil |
Selection Process
| Phase I | Preliminary Examination |
|---|---|
| Phase II | Main Examination |
| Phase III | Personal Interview |
The CSE is conducted each year by the UPSC, the nodal agency for recruitment and training to posts of government officials. The purpose of the examination is to select the best candidates for the administrative services, those who are willing to serve the country with the utmost sincerity and integrity.
The most highly respected and renowned jobs in the administrative services include Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers. The UPSC conducts the CSE for the recruitment in as many as 26 administrative positions in different governmental departments.
The CSE, considered one the toughest exams in the country, is a national competitive exam conducted by UPSC. This exam is conducted in two phases – a preliminary exam and a main examination – followed by an interview round of selection.
The UPSC, formed on October 1st, 1926, is the national level platform that organises various exams such as the CSE, Engineering service examination, Naval Academy Examination, Officers’ Training Academy Examination and Combined Defense Services Examination.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification: The candidate should have a graduation degree from a government recognized college or university or its equivalent.
Age Limit: - Candidate’s age should be between 21 to 32 years as on 1st August 2018 to be eligible to apply for the UPSC Civil Services 2018. Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 1986 and not later than 1st August 1997.
The age limit differs depending on the category, according to the government policies and norms.
| Category | Upper age limit |
|---|---|
| General | 32 years |
| OBC | 35 years |
| SC/ST | 37 years |
| PWD | 42 years |
| J&K Domicile | GEN=37 years, OBC= 40 years, SC/ST=40 years, PH=50 years |
| Disabled servicemen. | GEN=37 years, OBC=40 years, SC/ST=40 years |
Application Form
Here is how to apply online and fill the application form. The first step to apply for the exam is registration. The UPSC Civil services registration closed on March 6th, 2018. Candidates had to apply online on or before the last date. Any mistake in the form can disqualify candidates, so it is important to carefully fill the form.
How to fill the UPSC Civil Services 2018 Application Form
- Visit the official website upsconline.nic.in
- Click on the link for application to various examinations for UPSC.
- Click on the link to apply for UPSC Civil Services Exam.
- Follow the process and apply for the exam.
- Pay the requisite fees for the exam and submit your application.
- Print out the application form after the submission.
UPSC 2018 Application Fee
General category candidates have to pay Rs.100 as application fee, while SC/ST/PWD/female candidates do not have to pay any application fee. Applicants can pay a UPSC Civil Services 2018 Application Fee or registration fee in both online or offline mode.
Online Payment: In online payment mode, the fee can be paid through net banking of SBI branches throughout India or by Visa card, credit card or debit card.
Offline mode: In offline payment mode, the fee can be paid in cash at any branch of SBI throughout India. You will have to attach the e-generated challan during the registration.
These are the two methods by which any candidate can make the UPSC CSE application payment.
UPSC 2018 Exam Pattern
The syllabus is provided by UPSC every year to assist in preparation for the exam.
Preliminary Exam Pattern 2018
| Sections | Number of Questions | Duration per section | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General Studies | 100 | 2 hours | 200 |
| Paper II: Aptitude test | 80 | 2 hours | 200 |
Main Exam Pattern
| Sections | Subjects | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-A | Modern Indian Language skills | 300 |
| Paper-B | English Language skills | 300 |
| Paper 1 | Essay Writing | 250 |
| Paper 2 | General Studies-I | 250 |
| Paper 3 | General Studies-II | 250 |
| Paper 4 | General Studies-III | 250 |
| Paper 5 | General Studies-IV | 250 |
| Paper 6 | Optional Subject Paper-1 | 250 |
| Paper 7 | Optional Subject Paper-2 | 250 |
| Sub-Total Marks | 1750 | |
| Interview | 275 | |
| Total Marks | 2025 |
Selection Procedure
The Selection Procedure comprises three consecutive levels:
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam: This is the first stage to shortlist candidates for the Civil Services Main examination. The CSE Prelim exam comprises of objective-type questions. The marks scored in the Paper I, that is General Studies, are considered while shortlisting candidates for the next stage. Candidates have to score a minimum of 40% in the Aptitude Test, that is the CSAT, in order to have their GS paper evaluated. The marks scored in the Prelim are not counted at the final evaluation stage.
- Civil Services (Main) Exam: This stage, along with the personal interview round, is what gets candidates selected to the coveted civil services. This paper consists of written examination followed by a personal interview with a panel of experts from diverse fields.
- Final Selection: The total number of marks scored by a candidate in the Main examination (both written test and personal interview) will be taken into account for the final merit list. Selection is based on the final merit.
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