The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts about 14 different types of exams. These exams are important for people who want to work in top government jobs like IAS, IPS, IFS, and others. Some well-known UPSC exams are the Civil Services Examination, Engineering Services Examination, and Combined Defense Services Examination.
Each exam has a strict process to select candidates based on their skills and suitability for different roles in India’s government.
How Many Exams are there in UPSC?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts several examinations to recruit candidates for various prestigious government positions in India. Here is a list of some of the major examinations conducted by UPSC:
- Civil Services Examination (CSE)
- Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS)
- Engineering Services Examination (ESE)
- Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS)
- National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)
- Combined Medical Services Examination (CMS)
- Indian Economic Service Examination (IES)
- Indian Statistical Service Examination (ISS)
- Central Armed Police Forces Examination (CAPF)
- Combined Geo-Scientist Examination
- Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) Examination (discontinued)
- CISF AC (Executive) LDCE
- Combined SO/Steno (Grade B/Grade-I) LDCE
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Sub-Inspector Examination
Stages in UPSC Exams
The UPSC conducts its examinations through multiple stages, varying depending on the specific exam. Here is an overview of the general stages in UPSC exams:
- Preliminary Examination: This is the first stage, conducted as an objective type test with multiple-choice questions. It tests candidates on General Studies and Aptitude. Marks scored in the Prelims are qualifying in nature and do not count towards final selection.
- Main Examination: The second stage involves nine descriptive-type papers covering subjects like languages, general studies, and optional subjects. It assesses candidates’ comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the subjects.
- Personality Test/Interview: This final stage evaluates candidates personality traits, communication skills, and suitability for the position through an interview conducted by a panel comprising UPSC members and domain experts.
Each exam may have a different number of stages and components. For instance, the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) comprises Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Indian Forest Service Examination includes Prelims and Mains, while the Engineering Services Examination consists of Prelims, Mains, Interview, and Medical examination. These stages are important in determining candidates’ eligibility and readiness for various prestigious government positions.