Generally the Commission does not enter into any correspondence with the candidates about their candidature.

However, in exceptional cases (which are defined by the Commission in their notification in the Employment News). Candidates may write to the Commission.

Important: All communications to the Commission should invariably contain the following particulars:
(i) Name and year of the Examination.
(li) Application Form No. (8 digit).
(iii) Roll number (if received).
(iv) Name of candidate (in full and in block letters).
(v) Complete postal address as given in the application.

N.B. I: Communications not containing the above particulars may not be attended to by the Commission.

N.B. II: In case there is a change of address, same should be communicated to Commission at earliest opportunity. Although Commission make even effort to take account of such changes they cannot accept any responsibility in matter.

Withdrawal of Application: No request for withdrawal of candidature received from a candidate after he has submitted his application is entertained under any circumstances.

The competitive examination comprises two successive stages:

(i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination; and 1 (ii) Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various services and posts.

2. The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers of Objective type (Multiple choice questions) and carry a-maximum of 450 marks in the subjects set out in sub-section (A) of Section II. This xamination is meant to serve as a screening test only; 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 in the various Services and Posts. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in a year will be eligible for admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.

3. The Main Examination consists of a written examination and an interview test. The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type in the subjects set out in sub-section (B) of Section II. Also see Note (ii) under para I of Section II (B).

4. Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Main Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview for a Personality Test vide sub-section C of Section II. However, the papers on Indian languages and English will be of qualifying nature. Also see Note (ii) Under para 1 of Section II (B). The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking The Number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled. The interview will carry 300 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).

Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine their final ranking. Candidates will be allotted to the various Services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and the preferences expressed bv them for the various services and posts.

Scheme and subjects for the Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers:

Paper I General Studies - 150 marks
Paper II One subject to be selected from the list of optional subjects set out in Para 2 below - 300 marks
Total: 450 marks

2. List of optional subjects for Preliminary Examination:
Agriculture - Law
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science - Mathematics
Botany - Mechanical Engineering
Chemistry - Medical Science
Civil Engineering - Philosophy
Commerce - Physics
Economics - Political Science
Electrical Engineering - Psychology
Geography - Public Administration
Geology - Sociology
Indian History - Statistics
Zoology.

Note:
(i) Both the question papers are of the objective type (multiple choice questions).
(ii) The question papers are set both in Hindi and English,
(iii) The course content of the syllabi for the optional subjects are of the degree level. Details of the syllabi are indicated in Part A of Section III.
(iv) Each paper is of two hours duration. Blind candidates will, however, be allowed an extra time of twenty minutes at each paper.

The written examination consists of the following papers:

Paper I One of the Indian Languages to be selected by 300 marks
the candidates from the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution
Paper II English - 300 marks
Paper III Essay - 200 marks
Papers IV General Studies - 300 marks
and V - for each paper
Papers VI, - Any two subjects to be selected from the 300 marks
VII, VIII - list of the optional subjects set out in para 2
for each paper
and IX below. Each subject will have two papers.

Interview Test carries 300 marks.
Note: (i) The papers on Indian Languages and English are of Matriculation or equivalent standard and are of qualifying nature; the marks obtained in these papers are not counted for ranking.

(ii) The papers on Essay, General Studies and Optional Subjects of only such candidates are evaluated as attain such minimum standard as may be fixed by the Commission in their discretion for the qualifying papers on Indian Language and English.

(iii) The Paper-I on Indian Languages is not, however compulsory for candidates hailing from the North-Eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and also for candidates hailing from the State of Sikkim.

(iv) For the language papers, the script to be used by the candidates will be as under:
Language - Script - Language - Script
Assamese - Assamese : Manipuri - Bengali
Bengali - Bengali : Marathi - Devanagari
Bodo - Devanagari : Nepali - Devanagari
Dogri - Devanagari :Oriya - Oriya
Gujarati - Gujarati :Punjabi - Gurmukhi
Hindi - Devanagari :Sanskrit - Devnagari
Kannada - Kannada :Santali - Devnagari or Olchiki
Kashmiri - Persian :Sindhi - Devnagari/Arabic
Konkani - Devanagari :Tamil - Tamil
Maithili - Devanagari :Telugu - Telugu
Malayalam - Malayalam : Urdu - Persian

Note: For Santali Language question paper will be printed in Devanagari scrip but candidates will be free to answer either in Devanagari scrip or in Olchiki.

2. List of optional subjects for Main Examination:
Agriculture - Management
Animal Husbandry &; Veterinary Sc. - Mathematics
Anthropology - Mechanical Engineering
Botany - Medical Science
Chemistry - Philosophy
Civil Engineering - Physics
Commerce & Accountancy - Pol. Sc. & International Relations
Economics - Psychology
Electrical Engineering - Public Administration
Geography - Sociology
Geology - Statistics
History - Zoology
Law

Literature of one of the following languages: Arabic, Assamese, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Pali, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.

Note: (i) Candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects:

(a) Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration;

(b) Commerce & Accountancy and Management;

(c) Anthropology and Sociology;

(d) Mathematics and Statistics;

(e) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science;

(f) Management and Public Administration;

(g) Of the Engineering subjects, viz., Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engg. -not more than one subject.

(h) Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Science, (ii) The question papers will be of conventional (essay) type.
(iii) Each paper will be of three hours duration. Blind candidates will however, be allowed an extra time of thirty minutes at each paper.
(iv) Candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers, except the language papers viz. Paper I and II above in any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution or in English.
(v) Candidates exercising the option to answer papers III to IX in any one of the language included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution may, if they so desire, give English version within brackets of only the description of the technical terms, if any, in addition to the version in the language opted by them.
Candidates should, however, note that if they misuse the above rule, a deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to them and in extreme cases, their script (s) will not be valued for being in an unauthorised medium.
(vi) The question papers other than languages papers will be sent both in Hindi and English.
(vii) The details of the syllabi are set out in Part B of Section III.

(i) Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances, will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them. However, blind candidates will be allowed to write the examination with the help of a scribe.

Note (1): The eligibility conditions of a scribe, his/her conduct inside the examination hall and the manner in which and extent to which he/she can help the blind candidate in writing the Civil Services Examination shall be governed by the instructions issued by the UPSC in this regard. Violation of all or any of the said instructions shall entail the cancellation of the candidature of the blind candidate in addition to any other action that the UPSC may take against the scribe.

Note (2): For purpose of these rules the candidate shall be deemed to be a blind candidate if the percentage of visual impairment is 40% or more

Note (3): For availing of the concession admissible to a blind candidate, the candidate concerned shall produce a certificate in the prescribed proforma from a Medical Board constituted by the Central/State Governments along with his application for the Main Examination.

Note (4): (i) The concession admissible to blind candidates shall not be admissible to those suffering from Myopia.

(ii) The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.

(iii) If a candidates handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to him.

(iv) Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.

(v) Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.

(vi) In the question papers, wherever required, SI Units will be used.

(vii) Candidates should use only International form of Indian numerals (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 etc.) while answering question papers.

(viii) Candidates will be allowed the use of scientific (non-programmable type calculators at the conventional (essay) type examination of UPSC. Programmable type calculators will however not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the examinational hall is not permitted. It is also important to note that candidates are not permitted to use calculator for answering objective type papers (Test Booklets).

1. The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his career. He will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

2. The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.

3. The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own state or country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.

Agriculture, its importance in national economy; factors determining agro-ecological zones and geographic distribution of crop plants.

Importance of crops Plants, cultural practices for cereal, pulses, oilseed, fibre, sugar, tuber and fodder crops and scientific basis for these croprotation; multiple and relay cropping, intercropping and mixed cropping.

Soil as medium of plant growth and its composition, mineral and organic constituents of the soil and their role in crop production; chemical, physical and microbiological properties of soils. Essential plant nutrients (Macro and Micro) - their functions, occurrence-cycling in soils principles of soil fertility and its evaluation for judicious fertilizer use. Organic manures and bio-fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, integrated nutrient management.

Principles of plant physiology with reference to plant nutrition, absorption, transaction and metabolism of nutrients.

Diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies and their amelioration photosynthesis and respiration, growth and development, auxins and hormones in plant growth.

Cell and cell organelles. Cell division. Reproductive cycle, Principles of genetics, gene-interaction, sex determination, linkage and recombination, mutation, extra chromosomal inheritance, polyploidy. Origin and domestication of crop plants. Genetic resources-conservation and utilization. Floral biology in relation to selfing and crossing.

Genetic basis of plant breeding pureline selection, mass selection, male sterility and incompatibility and their use in plant breeding. Pedigree selection, back-cross method of selection. Heterosis and its exploitation. Development of hybrids, composites and synthetic. Important varieties, hybrids, composites and synthetic of major crops. Seeds and seed-production techniques.

Important fruit and vegetable crops of India, method of propagation - Sexual and asexual. Package and practices and their scientific basis. Crop rotation, intercropping, companion crops, Fole of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, post-harvest handling and processing of fruits and vegetables. Landscaping and ornamental horticulture, commercial floriculture. Medicinal and aromatic plants. Serious pests and diseases affecting major crops. Principles of control of crop pests and diseases, integrated management. Proper use and maintenance of plant protection equipment.

Principles of economics as applied to agriculture. Farm planning and optimum resource-use efficiency and maximising income and employment. Farm systems and their spatial distribution, their significant roles in regional economic development.