How Should You Start CSE Preparation as a Beginner?

Clarity of Purpose

• Find out your true motivation for pursuing a career in the Civil Services. You should consider the "genuine reason(s)" as to why you wish to become a civil servant.
• Go ahead and write out your reasons in your diary, and then consider how you will be able to do them.
• There may be numerous motivations for becoming a civil servant. It might simply be the amazing opportunity it offers to take action on issues you care deeply about.
• For example, in general, every Indian feels that the Indian roads are very dangerous to drive on and traffic mismanagement has resulted in many avoidable road accidents over the years.
• Do you know who plays a crucial role in solving this problem and numerous other problems that we face? Yes, it is the civil servants.

If you also have a burning desire and passion to solve the problems of the society, then you should join the IAS.

• IAS officers play an important role in policy formulation and implementation. These policies, when implemented, bring in the desired change. As a civil servant you can significantly contribute to the country’s development.
• Just to prompt some ideas, do you want to become a civil servant:

Because it’s a very good career choice as compared to other jobs/careers? Simply to uplift humanity? For the sake of Authority as you’ve heard that “IAS rule the country”? For money as civil servants “make a lot of it”? For contributing positively to the society? For your near or dear ones as everyone needs someone “well connected”? As it’s the best combination of power and prestige? To be a role model to your peers, friends, siblings etc.?

• These are only a few of the numerous possible motives and reasons for you to pursue the IAS. It could be "the one" reason or a number of them. It's possible that once you've done it, you'll approach the Civil Services Exam (CSE) with a newfound zeal.
• This is the main idea behind goal-setting. Compared to a secretly held resolve, speaking it out loud will motivate you more to follow through.
• Remember, a civil servant can make a significant contribution to the growth of the country by introducing new policies, advising the government to take baby steps, and spending the monies provided wisely and effectively without misusing them.

Eligibility Criteria

• The aspirant should be a graduate in any subject. Candidates who are in the final year of graduation and meet other eligibility criteria can also apply.
• Number of Attempts:
  • For General Category: There are six attempts between ages 21-32.
  • For SC/ST Category: There is no attempts limit; the maximum age limit is 37 years.
  • For OBC Category: There are nine attempts; the maximum age limit is 35 years.

Pattern of Exam

UPSC conducts the Civil Service Examination in three phases namely: Preliminary Examination; Main Examination and Personality Test (Interview).

Prelims

1. UPSC CSE Prelims consists of two papers, namely General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (Civil Services Aptitude Test).
2. While CSAT is qualifying in nature, the marks obtained in the General Studies paper determine your selection in the Prelims.
3. It means your score in the General Studies Paper will be considered for the Prelims cut-off.
4. Additionally, there is negative marking for the wrong answers. 1/3rd of the marks allotted for the question would be deducted as a penalty for marking the wrong answer. However, if you do not attempt the question, there will be no deductions.
5. The score obtained in the Prelims will not be added to the final score. Prelims exam is just a screening test.
6. The question paper of Prelims will be bilingual. It will have questions written both in Hindi and English Language.

Main Examination: The UPSC Exam Pattern for the Mains Exam is tabulated below. The IAS Mains Exam consists of two types of papers, viz. qualifying and merit-ranking. Paper A and Paper B, namely the regional language paper and English paper will be qualifying in nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be added to the final score. But you must clear these two papers. All other papers will be evaluated for merit purposes.

Paper	Subject	Duration	Total marks	Nature of paper	Type of Paper
Paper A	Compulsory Indian Language	3 Hours	300	Qualifying	Descriptive
Paper B	English	3 Hours	300	Qualifying	Descriptive
Paper I	Essay	3 Hours	250	Merit	Descriptive
Paper II	General Studies I	3 Hours	250	Merit	Descriptive
Paper III	General Studies II	3 Hours	250	Merit	Descriptive
Paper IV	General Studies III	3 Hours	250	Merit	Descriptive
Paper V	General Studies IV	3 Hours	250	Merit	Descriptive
Paper VI	Optional I	3 Hours	250	Merit	Descriptive
Paper VII	Optional II	3 Hours	250	Merit	Descriptive

Personality Test (Interview): The interview process is the last and final stage of the selection process. The interview consists of 275 marks which makes the grand total of maximum marks 2025. Some of the qualities that the board assess in a candidate are:

1. Mental acuity
2. Critical thinking
3. Analytical thinking
4. Risk assessment skills
5. Crisis management skills
6. Ability to become a leader
7. Intellectual and moral integrity