UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024 - Check List of Optional Subjects
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024: The UPSC Mains Exam is the crucial second stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Candidates who qualify the UPSC Prelims 2024 will advance to this stage, which plays a significant role in the final merit list.
Understanding the UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024 is essential for candidates. It helps them familiarize themselves with the exam format and the types of questions that will be asked. Continue reading for a detailed overview of the UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024.
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024 Overview
The UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024 assesses candidates' analytical and critical thinking skills, crucial for Civil Services. The UPSC CSE Mains is a descriptive stage consisting of 9 papers. Here’s a brief overview of the exam pattern:
| UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern 2024 | |
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination |
| Stage | Second |
| Type of Exam | Merit-Based |
| Number of Papers | 9 |
| Question Format | Descriptive |
| Total Shifts | Two |
| Time Duration | 3 Hours |
| Total Marks | 1750 |
Also Read: UPSC Mains Time Table 2024
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024 - Detailed Information
The UPSC Mains is the second stage of the examination process, requiring candidates to have cleared the UPSC Prelims. This stage involves answering nine descriptive papers, each allotted 3 hours.
Among the nine papers, two are qualifying papers, each worth 300 marks, while the remaining seven are merit papers, each worth 250 marks. The total of 1750 marks from these papers will contribute to the final merit list. Candidates must score at least 25% (75 out of 300) in the qualifying papers for their other papers to be evaluated. For merit papers, a minimum of 10% of the total marks (25 out of 250) is needed to meet the cutoff.
The nine UPSC Mains papers are:
- Compulsory Indian Language
- English
- Essay
- General Studies I
- General Studies II
- General Studies III
- General Studies IV
- Optional Paper I
- Optional Paper II
Candidates from Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and those with hearing impairments are exempt from the Compulsory Indian Language paper.
| Detailed UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024 | ||||
| Paper | Subject | Nature of Paper | Time Allotted | Total Marks |
| Paper A | Compulsory Indian Language | Qualifying | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper B | English | Qualifying | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | Final Merit | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I | Final Merit | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II | Final Merit | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | Final Merit | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | Final Merit | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional I | Final Merit | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional II | Final Merit | 3 hours | 250 |
| Total Marks | 1750 | |||
Also Check: UPSC Mains Exam Date 2024
UPSC Mains Exam Structure 2024
In the UPSC Mains Exam, candidates appear for nine papers divided into two shifts: forenoon and afternoon. Each paper consists of descriptive-type questions to be answered within three hours. Here's a general breakdown of the UPSC Mains question papers:
- Essay Paper: Candidates write two essays, each worth 125 marks. There are two sections with four topics each, and candidates select one topic from each section.
- General Studies Papers (I, II, III): Each paper features 10 questions worth 15 marks each and 10 questions worth 10 marks each. All questions are mandatory.
- General Studies IV (Ethics Paper): This paper is divided into two sections: Section A includes approximately 15 questions worth 10 marks each, while Section B comprises 6 case studies worth 20 marks each.
- Optional Papers (1 and 2): Each paper contains 8 questions with varying marks: 10, 15, and 20 marks.
| UPSC Mains Exam Structure 2024 | |
| Forenoon Session | Afternoon Session |
| 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon | 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M |
| Paper-I: Essay | No Paper |
| Paper-II: General Studies-I | Paper-III: General Studies-II |
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III | Paper-V: General Studies-IV |
| Next Weekend | |
| Paper-A: Indian Language | Paper-B: English |
| Paper-VI: Optional Paper 1 | Paper-VII: Optional Paper 2 |
Related Links
| Important Links | |
| UPSC Syllabus 2024 | UPSC Admit Card 2024 |
| UPSC Exam Pattern 2024 | UPSC Exam 2024 |
UPSC Mains Optional Subjects List 2024
Candidates appearing for the UPSC Mains can choose from 48 optional subjects, including literature options. For example, if a candidate selects Chemistry, they must take both Chemistry Paper 1 and Chemistry Paper 2.
Below is the updated list of subjects available for the UPSC Mains optional papers according to the latest notification:
| UPSC Mains Optional Subjects List 2024 | |
| Optional Subjects | Literature Langauge Subjects |
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Frequently Asked Questions on UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024
Ans. The UPSC Mains Exam consists of nine papers: two qualifying papers (English and an Indian language) and seven merit-based papers, including essays, general studies, and optional subjects.
Ans. The format of the UPSC Mains Exam includes descriptive type questions, where candidates are required to write essays, and answer questions based on general studies and optional subjects.
Ans. There are a total of nine papers in the UPSC Mains Exam, which include both qualifying and merit-based papers.