UPSC Prelims 2024 - Admit Card, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Books & Preparation tips

UPSC CSE Prelims 2024: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s premier central recruiting agency responsible for conducting examinations for appointments to various civil services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and others. 

According to the official schedule, the UPSC CSE prelims exam was held on June 16, 2024 for about 1,056 vacancies. The e-Admit cards was released by the examination authority on June 7, 2024. The UPSC has released the UPSC DAF-1 form online at upse.gov.in and candidates who qualified for the prelims exam were allowed to fill out their DAF forms by July 12, till 6 pm. Earlier, the examination conducting body announced the UPSC CSE Prelims result on July 1, 2024.

Latest Updates:

• The UPSC has revised the annual calendar for session 2025. As per the revised dates, the CSE Prelims exam will be conducted on May 25, 2025.

The UPSC Prelims is the first hurdle that candidates need to cross in their journey towards becoming a civil servant. A systematic approach to studying, coupled with regular practice and staying updated with current affairs, can significantly increase the chances of success in this highly competitive examination.

UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2024 - Download PDF

UPSC CSE Prelims Exam 2025 Dates

Candidates can check the important dates related to the Civil Services Examination (Prelims) 2025 exam in the table given below. 

UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2024 Official Notice

Candidates can have a look at the official press release of the declaration of the UPSC Civil Services Exam (Prelims) result 2024 provided below - 

UPSC Prelims 2024 Admit Card

The UPSC released the UPSC prelims admit card 2024 on June 7 for the UPSC prelims which was held on June 16, 2024. The UPSC prelims 2024 was set to be held on May 26, 2024, but was postponed due to impending General Elections 2024. Candidates can download their admit card on the official website of UPSC using their registration ID and roll number.

UPSC Admit Card 2024 Direct Link 

The direct link to download the UPSC CSE admit card 2024 was activated on the official portal - upsconline.nic.in. Candidates can have a look at the UPSC CSE prelims admit card 2024 login window below.

UPSC Prelims 2024: Dates

Candidates can check the important dates related to the UPSC CSE prelims exam 2024 in the table mentioned below. 

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024 

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, commonly known as UPSC Prelims, serves as the first stage in the selection process. This stage of the exam is conducted for 400 marks. The Prelims consist of two objective-type papers, 200 marks each:

1. General Studies Paper-I (200 marks): 

The General Studies paper-I tests candidates on a variety of subjects, including:

• Current Events of National And International Importance 
• History of India and Indian National Movement
• Indian And World Geography
• Indian Polity And Governance
• Economic And Social Development 
• Environmental Ecology
• Biodiversity
• Climate Change
• General Science 

The paper is designed to test the general awareness and analytical skills of the candidates.

2. General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) (200 marks): 

The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) is a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks set at 33%. This paper includes: 

• Questions on Comprehension
• Interpersonal Skills Including Communication Skills 
• Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
• Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
• General Mental Ability 
• Basic Numeracy

UPSC CSE 2024 Exam Pattern

The UPSC CSE exam includes two papers i.e., General Studies paper-I and CSAT paper-II of two hours each and are set in both Hindi and English. The marks obtained in the General Studies Paper-I are counted for qualifying for the Mains examination, whereas Paper-II is a qualifying exam.

UPSC Prelims 2024: Proven Strategies for candidates 

UPSC aspirants who are appearing for the UPSC IAS examination can check the UPSC CSE preparation tips and proven strategies for the UPSC Civil service examination mentioned below. 

• Understanding the Syllabus: A thorough understanding of the syllabus is crucial. Aspirants should meticulously go through each topic and sub-topic mentioned in the syllabus and create a study plan accordingly.
• Regular Reading: Keeping updated with current affairs is essential. Reading newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express, and magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra regularly can help in staying updated with current events and understanding their implications.
• Practice with Mock Tests: Regularly practicing mock tests and previous years' question papers can enhance speed and accuracy. It also helps in understanding the pattern of questions and time management.
• Revision: Given the vast syllabus, regular revision is crucial to retain the information. Creating short notes for revision can be highly beneficial.
• Time Management: Efficient time management is essential for covering the entire syllabus. Allocate specific times for each section of the syllabus and stick to the schedule.

Detailed Syllabus for UPSC Prelims 2024

The detailed UPSC CSE Prelims syllabus 2024 is designed to test the breadth of knowledge and analytical abilities of the candidates. Understanding the syllabus in-depth is crucial for effective preparation.

General Studies Paper-I

• Current Events of National and International Importance: This section covers significant events in India and around the world. It includes political, social, economic, and environmental events that have an impact on national and international levels. Candidates are expected to be aware of major developments and their implications.
• History of India and Indian National Movement: This includes ancient, medieval, and modern history. Key events, movements, and personalities of the Indian freedom struggle are important areas of focus. Topics such as the Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Age, Mauryan and Gupta empires, Mughal period, and British colonization are covered. The national movement and its leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, and others, are crucial for understanding the socio-political landscape of modern India.
• Indian and World Geography: This encompasses physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world. Topics include physical features, climatic conditions, vegetation, natural resources, and population demographics. Geographical phenomena such as earthquakes, cyclones, and their effects on the environment are also covered. 
• Indian Polity and Governance: This section focuses on the Indian Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues, and governance. Key areas include the structure and functioning of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, fundamental rights, duties, and directive principles, as well as key amendments and landmark judgments.
• Economic and Social Development: Candidates need to understand concepts related to sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, and social sector initiatives. This includes policies and schemes related to agriculture, industry, and services sectors, along with human development indicators and social welfare programs.
• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change: General issues related to environmental ecology, biodiversity, and climate change that do not require subject specialization are included. Topics cover conservation efforts, environmental pollution, global warming, and international environmental agreements.
• General Science: Basic concepts and phenomena in science, including physics, chemistry, biology, and everyday science. Understanding the application of scientific principles in day-to-day life, along with current developments in science and technology, is essential.

General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)

• Comprehension: This involves reading passages and answering questions based on them. It tests the ability to understand, interpret, and analyze written content.
• Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills: This evaluates the ability to communicate effectively and interact positively with others. It includes verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability: This section tests the capacity to logically reason through problems and analyze information to make sound judgments. Puzzles, syllogisms, and logical deductions are common types of questions.
• Decision Making and Problem Solving: Situational judgment tests where candidates must choose the best course of action in given scenarios. This assesses decision-making skills and ethical considerations.
• General Mental Ability: Basic cognitive skills such as numerical ability, spatial reasoning, and pattern recognition. Topics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation.
• Basic Numeracy: Questions are based on numbers and their properties, orders of magnitude, ratios, percentages, averages, and interpretation of data presented in various forms such as tables, graphs, and charts.

Resource Material for UPSC Prelims 2024

Candidates who are appearing for the UPSC IAS exam 2024 can check the resource material or IAS books for the preparation of their UPSC CSE prelims exam. 

General Studies Paper-I

Current Events of National and International Importance:

   - Newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express, and magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra.

   - Websites like PRS India, PIB, and Rajya Sabha TV for government releases and debates.

History of India and Indian National Movement:

   - NCERT textbooks (Class 6 to 12) for a basic understanding.

   - Books by Bipan Chandra for modern Indian history.

Indian and World Geography:

   - NCERT textbooks (Class 6 to 12) for conceptual clarity.

   - Books by Goh Cheng Leong and Majid Hussain for Indian and world geography.

Indian Polity and Governance:

   - NCERT textbooks (Class 9 to 12) for fundamentals.

   - Books by M. Laxmikanth for Indian polity.

Economic and Social Development:

   - NCERT textbooks (Class 9 to 12) for basic economics.

   - Books by Ramesh Singh for Indian economy.

   - Websites like NITI Aayog, Economic Times, and PRS India for policy insights.

Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change:

   - NCERT textbooks (Class 6 to 12) for environmental science.

   - Websites like MoEFCC, IPCC, and WWF for reports and updates.

General Science:

   - NCERT textbooks (Class 6 to 10) for basic science concepts.

   - Books by Lucent and Arihant for general science.

General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)

For General Studies Paper-II (CSAT), focus on practicing comprehension passages from various sources including previous year question papers. Additionally, solve mock tests and practice questions from books specifically designed for CSAT preparation. 

General Studies Paper I Distribution 

UPSC Prelims 2024 is set to be conducted on June 16th, 2024. Understanding the proper weightage of the number of questions according to the subjects is very important to keep yourself updated with the trend of the questions asked in the UPSC Prelims 2024. 

*Please note that some questions may overlap categories.