3.2a.
Prelims-cum-Mains Programme
Prelims-cum-Mains Programme:
The entrance for Civil Services comprises of two successive stages:
• Preliminary Examination (Written)
• Main Examination (Written and Interview)
The Prelims Examination is only a qualifying Exam for selection to Mains and the marks
obtained in Prelims will not count for the final selection. The details as follows:
A. Preliminary Examination
General Studies Duration Questions Maximum Marks
Paper - I 2 hours 100 200
Paper - II 2 hours 80 200
The Prelims Examination, which is mainly meant to filter a large number of
applicants whose marks will not be considered for final selection but qualifies for
appearing for Mains Exam.
• There are two objective Papers, paper I is for general studies and Paper II is
meant for testing the aptitude. Each Paper has a weightage of 200 Marks, with
Paper I consisting of 100 questions and Paper II will have 80 questions. Paper-
II is only qualifying, and the marks obtained in Paper-I only will be considered
for selection to Mains Exam.
• These is no optional Paper in Prelims since 2011, in the new pattern and all
candidates have to answer the same Papers, to have equal competition for all
irrespective of the discipline in which they pursued for their graduation.
Negative Marking
UPSC has taken a right step introducing negative marking to filter out candidates who
get selected on the basis of smart guess and luck. So, the serious candidates should
cheer up now. Negative marking makes paper more complex. But it is easy for well-
prepared students and gives an extra benefit to genuine candidates.
How to tackle negative marking?
• For every wrong answer one third (0.66) mark will be deducted from total.
• Identify the areas of your strength in the question paper. Solve questions from
these areas first. Solving easy question will boost your confidence.
• Don’t waste your time for particular questions. Leave time consuming questions
to take up in the end.
• The definition of intelligent guessing changes now with negative marking. You
should tick only those answers which you feel at least 70% correct.
• Don’t play any blind and stupid game of guessing. Don’t attempt all questions.
Leave the questions which you do not know totally
• Practice…practice…practice…Mock tests reduce mistake in the exam and
prepare you to face real environment in which you can tackle & solve the
questions within time limit.
• Mock tests provide you a platform where you can check your own weakness,
mistakes and errors and develop a better understanding for solving different
types of questions.
B. Main Examination
New Pattern for Mains Examination is introduced since CSAT – 2013. The
following table shows the subject wise questions Papers with duration and
Marks. Which will be considered for final selection.
Maximum
Paper Subject Duration
Marks
One of the Indian Languages chosen from the
A 3 hours 300 *
prescribed list
B English 3 hours 300 *
I Essay 3 hours 250
General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and
II Culture, 3 hours 250
History and Geography of the World and
Society)
General Studies-II (Governance,
III Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and 3 hours 250
International relations)
General Studies-III (Technology, Economic
IV Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, 3 hours 250
Security and Disaster Management)
General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and
V 3 hours 250
Aptitude)
VI Optional Subject – Paper 1 3 hours 250
VII Optional Subject – Paper 2 3 hours 250
Sub Total (Written Test) 1750
Personality Test 275
Total 2025
* Papers A & B are qualifying tests; marks will not count for overall selection of
the candidates.
Medium of Instruction
The Question Papers and course material are in the English medium hence the
classes will be taught in English medium. And only students who can follow our
lessons in English medium should apply for enrolment. A select Bibliography of
additional source material is also included for the student’s reference separately.
Selection of Optional:
Selection of optional need not be from the subject in which a candidate passed for his
academic qualification. The selection of optional for Civils Mains Exam should be
careful and in which the candidate has confidence that he can prepare well within the
time available. Careful analysis of syllabus, previous years papers, your calibre and
comfort levels should be taken care of while choosing the options.
The students must remember that the standard for the main exam is of the Honours /
Post Graduate level. The student is therefore acquiring the standard in the chosen
subjects in order to compete with those who have studied these subjects at the
Graduate or Post graduate level.
Major criteria, which should guide you in choosing options, are:
1. Interest in the subjects and in which the student is already familiar to a large
extent. This is quite important for sustaining the momentum in studies and
completing the huge syllabus.
2. Availability of guidance-in the form of seniors/Institute, coaching, material
etc.
3. Performance of the optional in the last few years.
4. Availability of guidance, which reduces the efforts to a large extent.
5. The knowledge of optional may help in GS. Essay and interview.
6. They are also relevant for an administrative career.
T.S. Study Circle offers coaching for selected and specific options in which adequate
number of candidates would be available. The following optional are likely to be
available.
1) Public Administration 3) Geography
2) History 4) Telugu
Optional coaching may vary according to the number of students in each batch opt
for optimum number required to organize coaching for the optional.
If the candidate chooses any other optional, he/she has to prepare themselves. As the
present course is meant for Prelims-Cum-Mains, coaching
