The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has postponed the Civil Services IAS and Forest Service IFS Preliminary Examination 2024 that was originally scheduled for May 26, 2024. The new date for the prestigious recruitment exam for 1206 posts has been announced as June 16, 2024. This postponement will impact thousands of aspirants preparing for these highly coveted government jobs.
Important Details
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam | Civil Services (IAS) and Forest Service (IFS) Preliminary Exam 2024 |
| Old Exam Date | May 26, 2024 (Postponed) |
| New Exam Date | June 16, 2024 |
| Total Vacancies | 1206 Posts (IAS - 1056, IFS - 150) |
| Application Dates | February 14 - March 6, 2024 |
Vacancy Breakdown
The UPSC recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 1206 vacancies across various prestigious civil services. The major portion comprises 1056 vacancies for the elite Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Additionally, there are 150 openings for the Indian Forest Service (IFS). Numerous other Group A and Group B services like IPS, IRS, IPoS are also being recruited through this exam.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the IAS, candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree from any recognized university in India. For the IFS, the essential qualification is a Bachelor's degree with one subject from select streams like Botany, Chemistry, Zoology, Agriculture, etc. The age limit for both services is 21-32 years as on August 1, 2024, with relaxations for reserved categories.
Application Process
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Application Dates | February 14 - March 6, 2024 |
| Exam Fee (Gen/OBC/EWS) | ₹100 |
| Exam Fee (SC/ST/PwD/Women) | Exempted |
| Correction Window | March 7 - 13, 2024 |
Interested and eligible candidates can apply online at the UPSC website from February 14 to March 6, 2024. The exam fee of ₹100 is applicable for General/OBC/EWS categories, while SC/ST/PwD and all female candidates are exempted. A correction window from March 7-13 allows editing the application form.
Exam Pattern
The Civil Services examination is conducted in three stages - Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Prelims is an objective-type screening test comprising two papers of 200 marks each. Qualifying candidates are eligible for the grueling Mains exam covering nine theory papers. Finally, those who clear the Mains are summoned for the Personal Interview round.
Preparation Strategy
Securing a rank in the merit list of this highly competitive exam requires strategic and focussed preparation. Experts recommend starting with building a strong conceptual base through NCERT books. Current affairs coverage from quality sources like PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express is crucial. Previous years' question papers analysis helps identify weightage of topics and difficulty levels.
Conclusion:
The UPSC Civil Services IAS and Forest Service IFS Preliminary Exam 2024 has been postponed from May 26 to June 16, 2024 due to administrative reasons. With over 1200 vacancies on offer, this prestigious recruitment drive attracts lakhs of aspirants each year. Thorough preparation aligned to the dynamic exam pattern is the key to cracking this extremely challenging examination.
UPSC IAS/IFS Prelims 2024 - Important Links
FAQ:
Q1: What is the new exam date for the UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2024?
A1: The new exam date is June 16, 2024. The Civil Services Prelims exam was earlier scheduled for May 26, 2024 but has been postponed by UPSC.
Q2: How many vacancies are being filled through this UPSC recruitment?
A2: A total of 1206 vacancies are to be filled through this UPSC Civil Services and Forest Service recruitment drive in 2024. This includes 1056 IAS vacancies and 150 IFS vacancies.
Q3: What is the eligibility criteria for IAS in the UPSC CSE 2024?
A3: To be eligible for the IAS, candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree from any recognized Indian university. The age limit is 21-32 years as on August 1, 2024 with applicable reservations.
Q4: When is the application window for UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024?
A4: The online application window is open from February 14, 2024 to March 6, 2024. There is also a correction period from March 7-13, 2024 to edit the application form.
Q5: What is the examination fee for the UPSC CSE Prelims 2024?
A5: The examination fee for General/OBC/EWS categories is ₹100. SC/ST/PwD and all female candidates are exempted from paying any fee for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary exam.
Q6: What preparation strategy should be followed for the UPSC CSE?
A6: Building a strong conceptual base through NCERT books, extensive coverage of current affairs, and analysis of previous years' papers is recommended for the UPSC Civil Services exam preparation. Focussed efforts aligned to the dynamic exam pattern are crucial.
