Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) had changed the PCS Exam Pattern from UPPSC Prelims 2018 onward. UPPSC syllabus is based on the new PCS exam pattern. In this article, we will provide you with the latest UPPSC syllabus and exam pattern for Prelims and Mains 2024.
Latest Update:
On February 25, 2023, it was announced by the Uttar Pradesh State Government that two papers in the UPPSC PCS Mains on an optional subject will be replaced with two new general knowledge papers that will test the candidates’ knowledge about the state of Uttar Pradesh. The decision was made in the light of candidates who used UPPSC as a backup for the Union Public Service Commission exam (IAS exam). Candidates would prepare for both the exams as the syllabus for both were quite similar.
This move will ensure that candidates who will put UPPSC as a first preference will be the first pick for the State Government.
UPPSC Syllabus 2024 | Salient Points of UPPSC Exam Pattern
UPPSC conducts the PCS Exam for recruiting Group A and Group B officers in the administrative services of the state government. UPPSC Prelims 2018 onwards, the PCS exam pattern has been changed.
The salient points of the UPPSC new exam pattern are:
- Introduction of 0.33% negative marking in the Prelims Exam
- The UPPSC mains will have 4 GS papers and only one optional subject (2 papers) along with the Essay and General Hindi paper.
- Two papers for options will be replaced with two general knowledge papers about the state of Uttar Pradesh
- The interview will be for 100 marks
The new PCS exam pattern is closely modeled on the lines of the UPSC IAS Exam.
UPPSC Exam Pattern 2024
The UPPSC conducts the PCS Exam in three stages:
- Prelims – 2 papers – objective type questions (MCQs)
- Mains – 8 papers – essay/descriptive type
- Interview
UPPSC PCS Prelims Exam Pattern
The PCS exam pattern for UPPSC Prelims is given below:
Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (General Recruitment/Physically Handicapped – Backlog/Special Recruitment) (Preliminary) Examination
Two;
Paper 1 – General Studies I
Paper 2 – General Studies II (CSAT)
Prelims 2024 – Expected to be in March 2024
Prelims 2023 – 14th May 2023
Prelims 2021 – 23rd September 2023
2 hours each;
Both papers are conducted on the same day;
Paper 1 – 9.30 AM – 11.30 AM
Paper 2 – 2.30 PM – 4.30 PM
Both Papers will be of 200 marks each.
However, only Paper 1 will be considered for merit ranking
Paper 2 is a qualifying paper on the lines of IAS Prelims (33% qualifying criteria)
Paper-I: 150 questions
Paper-II: 100 questions
Offline (Pen-paper) OMR sheets
All questions will be of Objective type (MCQs)
As per the new UPPSC exam pattern, there will be 0.33% negative marking for every incorrect answer.
For e.g., if the maximum marks allotted for a question is 2, then answering it incorrectly would incur a penalty of 0.66 marks
Filling multiple circles on the OMR sheet for the same question would be treated as an incorrect answer
There is no negative marking for leaving a question blank
UPPSC PCS Mains Exam Pattern
The PCS Exam pattern for UPPSC Mains 2024 is given below. The same pattern is followed in UPPSC Mains 2023 too:
Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (General Recruitment/Physically Handicapped – Backlog/Special Recruitment) Main (Written) Examination
Eight;
- General Hindi
- Essay
- General Studies I
- General Studies II
- General Studies III
- General Studies IV
- General Studies V
- General Studies VI
- Mains 2024 – ___
- Mains 2023 – September 23, 2023 onwards
- Mains 2022 – September 27, 2022 onwards
- Mains 2021 – January 28, 2022 onwards
- Mains 2020 – January 22, 2021, onwards (UPPSC Admit Card for Mains 2020 )
- Mains 2019 – September 22, 2020, onwards
3 hours each;
- Papers will be conducted over a week’s duration;
- Morning Session – 9.30 AM – 12.30 AM
- Afternoon Session – 2 PM – 5 PM
- General Hindi – 150 marks
- Essay – 150 marks
- All General Studies papers and Optional subject papers will be of 200 marks each
- Total – 1500 marks
Offline (Pen-paper)
Essay/descriptive type
As per the new UPPSC exam pattern, candidates have to select only one optional subject (2 papers) now, from the list given.
UPPSC PCS Interview
The UPPSC Personality Test/Viva-Voce/Interview is held for the candidates who clear the Main stage of the PCS Exam. The interview (in the new PCS exam pattern) is for 100 marks and tests the general awareness, character, expression of power/personality, intelligence and general suitability for the service.
- The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission has introduced changes in the PCS Interview. Earlier subject experts, IPS and IAS officers would consist in the interview panel. Now officers like former judges, brigadiers and eminent educationists will also be called for interview. This change has extended the scope of the interview board.
- This change has been introduced to improve the process of the interview and raise the level of interviews. It has also been decided that there must be at least 2 members in the panel of the Interview Board.
UPPSC Syllabus 2024 – PCS Exam Syllabus
The UPPSC syllabus overlaps significantly with the UPSC CSE Syllabus for the IAS Exam.
With the new PCS exam pattern and UPPSC syllabus, candidates preparing simultaneously for the Civil Services Exam and the state civil services exam will have a slightly easier task
UPPSC Prelims Syllabus
The Prelims syllabus for Paper 1 and Paper 2 is given below.
Paper 1:
- Current events of National & International importance
- Indian History and National Movement
- Indian and World Geography – Socio-economic, Physical geography
- Indian Governance and Polity – Political System, Constitution, Public Policy, Panchayati Raj, Rights issues, etc.
- Social and Economic Development – Demographics, Sustainable Development, Poverty Inclusion, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- Environmental Ecology, Climate Change, and Biodiversity – general issues that do not require subject specialization
- General Science
Note: – Candidates are expected to have general awareness about the above subjects with special reference to Uttar Pradesh.
There will be questions on the above topics with special reference to Uttar Pradesh. The official syllabus will be given in the UPPSC Notification. Given below is the syllabus from the official notification.
The detailed UPPSC syllabus for PCS Prelims Paper 1 is :
Paper 2:
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills (including communication skills)
- Analytical Ability & Logical Reasoning
- Problem Solving & Decision Making
- General Mental Ability
- Elementary Mathematics (class X level – Algebra, Statistics, Geometry and Arithmetic)
- General English (Class X level)
- General Hindi (Class X level)
The detailed UPPSC syllabus for Maths, English, and Hindi sections of PCS Exam Prelims Paper 2 is:
UPPSC Mains Syllabus – 2024
In the changed pattern, the UPPSC Mains comprises the following
