The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Sunday conducted the civil services preliminary examination across the country for around about 782 vacancies. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Sunday conducted the civil services preliminary examination across the country for around about 782 vacancies. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, a number of students who appeared in the prelims exam found the first paper (general studies) a bit tough. A Bhopal student who claimed to have cleared UPSC civil services (mains) examination last year said, “The CSAT paper was different this year. English section was okay but maths was a bit difficult. Aptitude test was easier to tackle last year." The questions on National Sample Survey Organisation was of the document that was published four years ago, a student told The Indian Express. The civil services examination is conducted by the UPSC annually in three stages - preliminary, main and interview - to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. This year, the exam was conducted in two shifts at various centres across the country. Candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified for admission to the Civil Services (Main) Examination will have to apply online again, in the Detailed Application Form which would be made available to them.<doc-sep>Congratulations! You have successfully cast your vote Login to view result Section Questions History, Art and Culture 19 Economy 17 Polity 14 Environment and Ecology 14 Geography 12 Others (science & technology, international organization, current affairs) 24 Total 100 NEW DELHI:The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the Civil Services Preliminary Exam (CSE) 2018 in many centres across the country.The prelims happened in two parts with Paper-I was conducted in the morning (9:30 to 12:30) and Paper-II conducted in the afternoon (2:30 to 4:00).The candidates just need to clear the Paper-II, in which minimum 66 marks are required to be scored, after which on the basis of their Paper-I scores they will be selected for the mains. The UPSC 2018 mains exam will be held on October 28.This year too, UPSC lived up to its reputation among students of being the 'Unpredictable service commission'. In GS Paper-I, the areas from which questions are usually asked was different for many questions.The most of the students, coming out from one of the examination centres, termed the difficulty level of the exam as "bit difficult". "Traditional topics like polity, which were asked conceptually in 2017, were this time around asked with a much different focus in mind. Some questions such as the one on National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) also tested allied knowledge of students. Conceptual questions types too saw an innovation in the form of a paragraph based question on Internet-of-things. The dominance of environment based questions ebbed as this year we saw around 14 environment based questions, the same as polity, which stood at 24! So, the questions were more well distributed across topics and subtopics this time around. This played a positive role as candidates were not rewarded or punished based on his/her individual strength or weaknesses," said Aditya Jagtap, mentor, Career Launcher.There were several changes in GS Paper-II. Candidates are expected to clear this hump before their scores in Paper-I are checked and some who went in fully unprepared were in for a surprise. "There were no Verbal Logic questions and only 26 Reading Comprehension based questions were asked. Data interpretation and Analytical Reasoning had 11 questions each. Those candidates who could use question selection strategies could significantly ease the solving process," Jagtap analysed.According to Jagtap, the level of difficulty has increased and this will have an effect on the cut-off marks as well. There could be a 2-3 points drop from 105.3 marks, which was the cut-off for Prelims 2017, but it is difficult to say as there are some questions in Paper-I where many answer keys could be wrong.Now, the most important thing for candidates, especially in a year where the prelims exam was of this nature, is to take a short break and resume studies for Mains 2018 with gusto. Speculation regarding answer keys should lead to 'analysis paralysis' for candidates as 2 8 th October will be here before we know it!The CSE is conducted in three stages - preliminary, main and interview. The exam is held to select officers for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) and other departments of the Govt of India.The successful candidates would be sitting for the main examination that will be conducted on Monday, October 28, 2018.The main exam would be followed by the interview and in due course the Commission would declare the results for the Civil Service Exam 2018 by publishing the combined scores of the candidates obtained in written and interview tests on the official website.Paper I is of 200 marks and contained the following sections.<doc-sep>The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the civil services preliminary examination across the country on Sunday. A large number of candidates who appeared in the examination found the paper tougher than the last year. Even the experts felt the same way. UPSC CSE prelims 2018: Here’s what students and experts told Hindustan Times after the examination:- Purshottam Mishra who appeared for the examination in Patna said, “There were many applied questions and the questions were a bit tricky.” Another Patna student Shashikant Kumar said, “Most of the questions were form environmental science and economics. The questions were time consuming.” “CSAT questions were tougher than last year. But the language was direct and simple enough and an average student who would have covered the syllabus can qualify,” said Guru Rahman, a teacher of Patna’s Rahman coaching institute from which every year many students qualify in the examination. Sunil Murmu, who travelled almost 400km from Sahibganj to Ranchi in Jharkhand for the examination at Ursline Convent School said, “It was my second attempt and overall the examination was good. The paper of general studies was easy but reasoning was partially tough.” Similarly, Abhijit Bilung from Ranchi’s Hatia area, said, “Both the papers were average. But the paper of general studies was comparatively easy.” Sashwat Guha, a law graduate from Calcutta University, who appeared for examination found the first paper (general studies) quite complicated. “This year the pattern of the first paper was totally different from what it used to be in previous years. The second paper which is on civil services aptitude test was comparatively easier. This is for the first time that I have appeared for the examination and I am keeping my fingers crossed.” Vaidehi Shaw, a graduate in sociology from Calcutta University found both the paper quite tough and totally different from those during the previous years. “So suggestions and being a bookworm really did not work. Science students might be comfortable with the questions. But for students coming from other streams like arts or commerce, the questions are quite difficult,” Vaidehi said. Both Sashwat and Vaidehi coached at Kolkata’s Vinson IAS which specializes in preparing candidates for UPSC examinations. A number of students who appeared in the UPSC prelims exam from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh found the first paper (general studies) a bit tough. Abhishek Tiwari from Chhatarpur in Bundelkhand region said, “Usually the first paper is not so tough in UPSC’s prelims examination but this year proved to be an exception.” Ashita Saini from Bhopal said, “There was much focus on history related questions in the first paper which was quite unusual. There was a change in the pattern too.” Premnath Sherke said, “The questions were ok but asked in a roundabout manner particularly in the section related to environmental science in the first paper.” Sriram Srirangam, Director of SRIRAM’S IAS, a coaching institute for IAS aspirants in New Delhi said Paper 1 is widely seen to be difficult compared to last many years for many reasons. “History questions are of very high standard and above optional level and so are the questions from Geography,” Srirangam said. He also said that questions from Indian Constitution and polity were straight from current developments like last year but the number of questions was less. “International issues are of same standard as last year- topical and headline-based, and very well formulated,” Srirangam said. He also felt that questions on the Indian economy and general economic concepts were of very good standard and analytical while the ecology and environment section was extensively covered and some questions were unusually tough. In Paper 2, Srirangam said CSAT paper was tougher than last year while English component (reading and comprehension) was of Class 12 standard. “Cut off could be about 10 marks less than last year - about 105,” he said. The civil services examination is conducted by the UPSC annually in three stages - preliminary, main and interview - to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. The examination is being held to fill approximately 782 vacancies. (With inputs from Nandini in Patna, Sanjoy Kumar Dey in Jharkhand, Sumanta Ray in Kolkata, Abdul Mujeeb Faruqui in Bhopal )<doc-sep>UPSC is all set to commence the initial and qualifying stage of India's most coveted Civil Services examination - the preliminaries, scheduled for June 3, 2018. With just a few hours left for the highly competitive Civil Services examination, you must be wondering how to effectively utilise the last day and turn the situations in your favour? Here are 3 simple rules, applying which will see you excel in your quest: 1. Eliminate negativity and anxiousness: Aiming for Civil Services examination is a big responsibility, because the moment you decide to go for these extremely responsible services, you are dedicating your entire life to a vast and unpredictable society. You will be on a constant mission to serve the diverse society effectively and for the benefit of mankind, which makes you deserve high appreciation and kudos on taking up this noble service as your career choice. It is obvious that nearing the exam for Civil Services, you will be quite anxious, stressed and negativity will find its ways to enter your mind. Give it all a flip and tell yourself that 'I am a diamond and will be polished to decorate my Nation. Nothing can break me or my decision, down! '. Yes, that's right! The moment you took this extremely mature decision of being a Civil servant, you gave yourself the title of an Administrator; and the one who is working hard to become an able administrator to serve the nation is indeed a diamond. Nothing can break you down if you are dedicated in your efforts. If that is the power of the job you are soon going to live, why not practice the positivity and mental strength from this very moment? Remove the space for all the negative thoughts and start making positive affirmations from today; say to yourself every day that 'You Can Do It'. Tip: Smile more often, cultivate kindness in you, spend time doing things that amuse you and be with people you love. This will lighten your burden to the extent of extinction. 'When you don't find Sunshine, be that Sunshine' 2. Avoid absorption of new information from static syllabus: Now is not the time to study anything new from the Static portion of your syllabus. Newer content will only add to your anxiousness and confusion regarding the subject. Hence, strictly avoid studying anything you have not already studied because neither you will be able to memorise it now, nor you will be able to give quality time to revise the topics well which you have studied before. So, utilise your existing knowledge as your tool to write effective answers. Tip: Do read current affairs updates, specially related to the topics of static portion, as it will help you frame your answers well covering all the aspects of the topics. Current affairs must be studied until the day you sit for the exams. It is crucial to crack Civil Services Examination. 3. Revision to your rescue: As we mentioned that nothing new should be read now, this last week must be well used to revise everything that has already been studied from the important topics of Civil Services Exam syllabus. This last-minute revision will help you remember all the crucial facts, basic information and relate with anything you have read in the current affairs regarding the concerned topic. Devote your time to the Static syllabus and current affairs updates. Tip: Revise all your self-made notes as they are very research based and contains your understanding about the topic. May your future be bright and you spread the light in favour of those who need it the most! We wish all the future Administrators a very good luck for the upcoming Civil Services Examination 2018! - Article by AK Mishra, Founder and Chairman, Chanakya IAS Academy<doc-sep>
The UPSC Civil Services Main Examination is likely to be held in September 2018. UPSC organised the Civil Services Prelims exam in 73 centres across India which included Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Aizawl, Port Blair, Panaji, Chandigarh and Lucknow among others today. The first paper was held in a morning session while the second paper of the UPSC prelims was held in the afternoon. The UPSC Prelims results will be released on the month of July, 2018. Last year, the commission released the Civil Services Prelims results on the last week of July.As per the initial responses from the candidates, the paper 2 was bit difficult than last year. Some candidates commented in social media that the paper 1 was toughest in last seven years.According to a candidate who appeared from a centre in Kerala, in first paper, compared last year, questions on Government schemes were very less and the questions from current affairs part were not so "recent".He said the commission was able to keep the "unpredictability" of the questions this year also.Meanwhile, various private agencies would release UPSC Civil Services exam answer keys soon.Based on the results of Civil Services examination, the applicants will be employed in various services like Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service and Indian Police Service and among others.Candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified for admission to the Civil Services (Main) Examination will have to apply online again, in the Detailed Application Form which would be made available to them.The Civil Services Examination consists of two successive stages:Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the selection of candidates for the Main Examination; and Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts noted above.The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018 consisted of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carries a maximum of 400 marks in the subjects set out in sub-section (A) of Section II.Both the question papers were of the objective type (multiple choice questions).The General Studies Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination is a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.The question papers were set both in Hindi and English.Each paper was of two hours duration.This prelims examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; according to a the official notification, the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit.The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year through this examination. The number of vacancies to be filled this year is expected to be approximately 782 which include 32 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability Category.Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in the year will be eligible for admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission, to the Main Examination.The Civil Services Main exam will be held in 24 centres. Every candidate appearing at the examination is permitted six attempts at the examination while the restriction on the number of attempts will not apply in the case of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates who are otherwise eligible. The number of attempts permissible to candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes is nine.Click here for more Jobs News