MMA IAS Academy

Madras Management Association & Synergy Siddarth IAS Academy

Everything you want to know about Civil Services Examination (UPSC –

IAS/IPS/IFS)

WHAT IS UPSC AND CIVIL SERVICES EXAM?

UPSC, Union Public Service Commission, a Constitutional body mandated to recruit candidates for Group A & Group B Services

The Civil Services Examination is a national competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to higher Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and Indian Police Service, etc,

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE EXAM:

NATIONALITY:

For the IAS, IFS, and IPS, candidates must be Indian citizens For all other services, candidates must be one of the following:

An Indian citizen 1. A citizen of Nepal 2. A citizen of Bhutan 3. A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India

4. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India

6.

5. Candidates in categories 2), 3), 4), and 5) must have a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Candidates who need a certificate of eligibility may be admitted to the examination, but they will not be offered a position until they have received the necessary certificate from the Government of India

CIVIL SERVICES EXAM AGE LIMIT:

Candidates must be at least 21 years old and not have reached 32 years old

The upper age limit is relaxed for the following categories:

Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST): 5 years

Other Backward Classes (OBC): 3 years

Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area: 3 years

MINIMUM EDUCATION QUALIFICATION FOR UPSC CSE EXAM

Candidates must hold a graduate degree from any of the following:

A university incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India

An educational institution established by an Act of Parliament

An institution declared to be deemed as a university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956

Candidates who have appeared at a qualifying examination but have not yet received their results, or who intend to appear at such an examination, are also eligible to apply. However, all candidates who are declared qualified by the Commission for the Civil Services (Main) Examination will be required to produce proof of passing the requisite qualifying examination along with their application for the Main Examination Candidates who fail to do so will not be admitted to the Main Examination.

In exceptional cases, the Commission may treat a candidate who does not have any of the foregoing qualifications as eligible, provided that the candidate has passed an examination conducted by any other institution the standard of which in the opinion of the Commission justifies admission to the Civil Services Examination

Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications which are recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees are also eligible for admission to the Civil Services Examination.

WHY DOES AN ASPIRANT REQUIRE COACHING INSTITUTES FOR CIVIL

Structured Guidance: The IAS exam is one of the most competitive exams in India with a vast syllabus. Coaching institutes provide a structured approach to cover the entire syllabus effectively, saving aspirants from the overwhelming task of self-study.

Expert Faculty: Coaching institutes employ experienced faculty members who have in-depth knowledge of the exam pattern, syllabus, and relevant study materials Their guidance helps aspirants understand complex topics, gain insights, and develop effective strategies

Time Management: IAS aspirants need to manage their time efficiently to cover the vast syllabus within a limited timeframe Coaching institutes provide study plans, schedules, and time-management techniques to help aspirants balance their preparation for different subjects

Comprehensive Study Material: Coaching institutes provide comprehensive study material, including books, notes, and online resources, curated by experts. These materials cover all aspects of the exam, ensuring that aspirants have access to relevant and updated content.

Practice and Mock Tests: Regular practice is crucial for success in the IAS exam. Coaching institutes conduct mock tests, practice papers, and previous years' question papers to help aspirants assess their preparation level, improve speed and accuracy, and identify areas of weakness.

Personalized Attention: Coaching institutes offer personalized attention to aspirants, providing feedback, guidance, and mentoring based on their strengths and weaknesses This personalized approach helps aspirants overcome challenges and perform better in the exam

Peer Learning: Coaching institutes bring together a community of aspirants preparing for the same exam Interacting with peers, participating in group discussions, and sharing knowledge and experiences can enhance learning and motivation among aspirants.

8.

Motivation and Inspiration: The journey of preparing for the IAS exam can be long and challenging. Coaching institutes provide motivation, inspiration, and encouragement to aspirants, helping them stay focused, positive, and determined throughout their preparation.

In conclusion, coaching for IAS preparation offers structured guidance, expert faculty support, comprehensive study materials, practice opportunities, personalized attention, and motivation, which are crucial for aspirants to succeed in one of the toughest exams in India While self-study is possible, coaching significantly enhances the chances of success by providing the necessary resources, guidance, and support

WHY MMA-SYNERGY IAS ACADEMY?

MMA with a legacy of 67 years of Management-related training and Synergy Siddharth IAS Academy with 2 plus decades of experience in IAS Training have come together and started MMA SYNERGY IAS Academy to give Effective Coaching to IAS Aspirants

We have done a complete analysis of what UPSC expects from an aspirant and coupled it with Androgogical principles (Teaching methodology for adults, similar to Pedagogy which is Teaching methodology for Children) and designed the course and the delivery process, starting from the foundations and go the higher order concepts, ensuring that learning happens as a by-product of following our process.

We have designed the course (G.S Prelim Cum Main) – the Course structure, Content, and Questions for evaluation (Objective as well as Subjective/Descriptive) based on the current Scheme of UPSC to ensure success in

first attempt.

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT CIVIL SERVICES EXAM

Number of Attempts:

Every candidate appearing at the examination, who is otherwise eligible, shall be permitted six (6) attempts at the CSE However, relaxation in the number of attempts will be available to the SC/ST/OBC and PwBD category candidates who are otherwise eligible The number of attempts available to such candidates as per relaxation is as under:

Unlimited(upto 37years)

Civil Services Exam pattern:

The UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages:

09for GL/EWS/OBC, Unlimitedfor SC/ST

Preliminary Examination (Prelims): It consists of two papers - General Studies (GS) Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (Civil Services Aptitude Test or CSAT). The CSAT paper is of qualifying in nature only The GS paper-I’s mark is only counted to be selected for the main exam

Main Examination (Mains): It includes a written examination consisting of nine papers, including two qualifying language papers and seven merit-based papers.

Personality Test (Interview): Candidates who qualify the Mains examination are called for an interview, which is intended to assess their personality, knowledge, and suitability for a career in the civil services.

UPSC CSE Syllabus: Preliminary, Main, and Interview

UPSC CSE Preliminary Syllabus:

UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024 General Studies Paper-I Syllabus:

It has 100 questions broadly covering the following topics, carrying a maximum of 200 marks to be solved in 2 hours

Current events of National & International importance

History of India & Indian National Movement

Indian & World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World

Indian Polity & Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Economic & Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity & climate change – that do not require subject specialization.

General Science.

GeneralStudiesPaper-II(CSAT)Syllabus:

General Studies Paper-II comprises 80 questions from the following topics carrying a maximumof200markstobesolvedin2hours

Comprehension

Interpersonalskillsincludingcommunicationskills

Logicalreasoning&analyticalability

Decisionmaking&problemsolving

Generalmentalability.

Basic numeracy (numbers & their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Datainterpretation(charts,graphs,tables,datasufficiency,etc.–ClassXlevel)

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern and Syllabus:

Syllabus

oftheIndianLanguagehastobeselectedfromtheListof Languagesincluded intheEighthScheduleoftheConstitution

StudiesPaper-I(IndianHeritageandCulture,Historyand Geographyofthe WorldandSociety)

StudiesPaper-II(Governance,Constitution,Polity,Social Justiceand InternationalRelations)

StudiesPaper-III(Technology,EconomicDevelopment, Biodiversity, Environment,Security,andDisasterManagement)

UPSC Civil Services Exam - Interview/Personality Test:

The objective of the Interview/Personality Test is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers

The Interview/Personality Test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and interest in current affairs Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

The total marks for which the Interview is conducted is 275 Marks. Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written part as well as Interview/Personality Test), for a total of 2025 Marks, will determine their final ranking. Candidates will be allotted to the various Services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and the preferences expressed by them for the various Services and posts.

UPSC Civil Services Exam – Cut-off:

The UPSC Cut Off is an integral component of the Civil Services Examination It plays an important role in determining the fate of thousands of aspirants vying for prestigious positions in the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service, and other elite services UPSC Cut Off 2023 is released on 18th April 2024