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Hello everyone! I’m Mr. Er. Dularchandra Kushwaha, the owner and author of DcmindUnicorn.com. This is the very first post on my new website, and I’m excited to kick things off with something close to my heart – the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE). If you’re from Ranchi or anywhere in India dreaming of becoming an IAS, IPS, or IFS officer, this is for you. I’ve always believed that understanding the basics is like building a strong foundation for a house. Without it, everything wobbles.
Today, we’re talking about the UPSC exam – often called UPS C or Union Public Service Commission exam. (I think there might be a typo in some places where it’s written as UPS UPS CA, but it’s UPSC!) This exam is tough, but if we break it down step by step, like explaining to a curious child, it becomes less scary. Imagine you’re a kid asking, “Uncle, how does this big exam work?” I’ll answer just like that – simple, clear, and going deep into each part without rushing. We’ll cover how many subjects there are, how many questions are asked, how many marks each question carries, and a holistic analysis of the syllabus. By the end, you’ll feel like you know it inside out.
Let’s start from the beginning, like opening a storybook. The UPSC CSE has three main stages: Prelims (like a qualifying round), Mains (the big writing test), and Interview (a chat to see if you’re ready). We’ll focus on Prelims and Mains since that’s where the subjects, questions, and marks come in. I’ll analyze the syllabus deeply, explaining each topic like steps in a recipe – what it is, why it’s important, and how it connects to real life.
Step 1: Understanding the Prelims – The Entry Gate
Think of Prelims as the first hurdle in a race. It’s objective (multiple-choice questions), and you need to clear it to reach Mains. There are only two subjects/papers here. No essays, just ticking answers. But watch out – there’s negative marking! For every wrong answer, you lose some marks (1/3rd of the question’s value). It’s held once a year, usually in May or June.
Paper 1: General Studies (GS)
How many questions? 100 questions.
How many marks per question? 2 marks each.
Total marks? 200 marks.
Time? 2 hours.
Now, let’s dive deep into the syllabus like exploring a forest. This paper tests your knowledge of the world around you. It’s holistic – connecting history, current news, and nature. Imagine a child asking, “What happened in the past? What’s happening now?” Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
Current Events of National and International Importance: This is like reading the newspaper every day. Why? Because UPSC wants to know if you understand what’s happening in India and the world – like elections, wars, or new laws. In exams, 15-20 questions might come from here. To study: Read daily news, but connect it to bigger pictures, like how a global event affects India.
History of India and Indian National Movement: Step back in time. Start with ancient India (Harappa, Vedas – like old stories of kings and cultures), move to medieval (Mughals, temples), then modern (British rule, freedom fighters like Gandhi). The National Movement is the hero’s journey – from 1857 revolt to Independence. Questions: Around 10-15. Think holistically: History isn’t just dates; it’s why people fought for freedom, linking to today’s democracy.
Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic: Like a map adventure. Physical: Mountains, rivers, climates (why does it rain more in Cherrapunji?). Social: People, cultures, populations. Economic: Resources like coal or oil. World part: Continents, oceans. 10-15 questions. Child-like tip: Draw maps, imagine traveling – it makes it fun and deep.
Indian Polity and Governance: This is the rulebook of India. Constitution (like a family’s rules), government structure (President, PM, courts), rights (freedom of speech). Also, panchayats and welfare schemes. 10-15 questions. Holistic view: It’s not memorizing; understand how it keeps society fair, like a game where everyone plays by rules.
Economic and Social Development: Money and people. Economy: GDP, budgets, poverty. Social: Health, education, sustainable development. 10-15 questions. Step-by-step: Start with basics (what’s inflation? Like prices rising), connect to real life (why jobs matter).
General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change: Nature’s story. Ecology: Ecosystems, animals. Biodiversity: Variety of life. Climate: Global warming, pollution. 10-15 questions. Deep analysis: Think minor details like how cutting trees affects rain, holistically linking to human survival.
General Science: Basic school science – biology (human body), physics (gravity), chemistry (acids). 5-10 questions. Easy if you recall childhood experiments.
Overall, this paper is balanced – no one subject dominates. Study tip: Like a puzzle, connect topics (e.g., how geography affects economy).
Paper 2: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
How many questions? 80 questions.
How many marks per question? 2.5 marks each.
Total marks? 200 marks.
Time? 2 hours.
Special note: This is qualifying – you just need 33% (66 marks) to pass, not for ranking.
Syllabus analysis: This tests your brain skills, like a fun quiz for kids. Step-by-step:
Comprehension: Reading passages and answering questions. Why? To see if you understand English well. 20-25 questions.
Interpersonal Skills including Communication: How you talk, listen, work with others. Real-life: Like resolving a fight between friends.
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability: Puzzles, patterns. E.g., “If A is taller than B…” 15-20 questions. Child tip: Play games like Sudoku.
Decision-Making and Problem-Solving: Scenarios like “What would you do if…?” No negative marks here! 5-10 questions.
General Mental Ability: Quick thinking, sequences.
Basic Numeracy: Math up to class 10 – numbers, percentages. 10-15 questions.
Data Interpretation: Charts, graphs. Like reading a story from pictures.
Holistic: CSAT is about practical skills, not book knowledge. Practice daily, like exercising your mind.
Step 2: The Mains – The Real Battle
If you clear Prelims, welcome to Mains! Here, there are 9 papers/subjects, but they’re descriptive (write answers like stories). No fixed number of questions every year – it changes, but usually 20 questions per GS paper, split into short (10 marks, 150 words) and long (15 marks, 250 words). Each paper: 3 hours. Total merit marks: 1750 (qualifying papers don’t count for ranking).
Qualifying Papers (Not for merit, just pass with 25% or so):
Paper A: Indian Language (e.g., Hindi, Tamil) – 300 marks. Subjects: Essay, comprehension, precis. Like writing in your mother tongue.
Paper B: English – 300 marks. Similar: Essay, comprehension.
Merit Papers:
Paper 1: Essay – 250 marks. Usually 2 essays (125 marks each). Topics: Social issues, philosophy. Deep tip: Write like telling a personal story, balanced views.
Paper 2: General Studies 1 (GS1) – 250 marks. Subjects: Indian Heritage/Culture, History, Geography. Questions: ~20. Marks per question: 10-15. Syllabus deep dive: Culture (art, literature from ancient to modern – like Taj Mahal’s story). History (modern India, world events like WWII). Geography (society, resources). Holistic: Connects past to present, e.g., how colonialism shapes today’s world.
Paper 3: General Studies 2 (GS2) – 250 marks. ~20 questions, 10-15 marks each. Subjects: Polity, Governance, IR. Deep: Constitution evolution, federalism, welfare schemes, India-China relations. Step-by-step: Start with basics (what’s Parliament?), go to issues (corruption).
Paper 4: General Studies 3 (GS3) – 250 marks. ~20 questions. Subjects: Economy, Science, Environment, Security. Analysis: Growth, farming, tech (AI), disasters. Holistic: Links economy to environment, like green jobs.
Paper 5: General Studies 4 (GS4) – 250 marks. ~12-14 questions + case studies. Subjects: Ethics, Aptitude. Deep: Integrity, empathy, public service. Child-like: “What’s right and wrong in tough situations?”
Paper 6 & 7: Optional Subject (2 papers, 250 marks each). You choose one subject (e.g., History, Geography, Public Admin – 48 options). Questions: Usually 5-8 per paper, 50-60 marks per question (divided). Deep: Go honors-level, like specializing in a hobby.
Step 3: The Interview – The Final Chat
Not subjects here, but a 275-mark personality test. Like talking to elders about your views.
In holistic view, UPSC isn’t just tests – it’s building a well-rounded person. Study smart: Read books, newspapers, practice writing. This is just the start on DcmindUnicorn.com – more on UPSC and BPSC coming!
If this helped, share and comment. Let’s unicorn our minds!
Warm regards,
Mr. Er. Dularchandra Kushwaha
Owner & Author, DcmindUnicorn.com