UPPSC PCS Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern 2023

UPPSC exam pattern is decided by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC). Going through UPPCS Syllabus, UP PCS Exam Pattern 2023 and Previous Year Question Papers is very crucial before starting the preparation for UPPSC PCS Exam. We will discuss in detail the UPPSC exam pattern 2023 which will give you an insight into how to plan your Uttar Pradesh PCS exam preparation. UPPCS Exam is both objective and descriptive in nature. A candidate has to go through the following stages to clear UPPCS Exam. These stages are:

1. UPPSC PCS Prelims Exam

2. UPPSC PCS Mains Exam

3. UPPSC PCS Personality Test-Viva Voice

The exam pattern for UPPSC PCS or UPPCS Prelims and Mains is given below:

UPPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2023

Paper-1 and Paper-2 both are objective and Paper-2 will be qualifying in nature. For qualifying in UPPCS Prelims CSAT paper, a candidate has to score a minimum of 33% of the total marks alloted for Paper 2. There will be negative marking of 0.33 for each wrong question or giving more than one answer. If a question is left blank by the candidate, then there will be no penalty for that question.Both papers are conducted on the same day in two different shifts i.e. Paper-1 will be conducted from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and Paper-2 will be conducted from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. The cut off for UPPCS Prelims will be determined on the basis of Prelims GS Paper-1 only. The candidate clearing the cut off will be eligible to take up the UPPCS Mains written exam. On the basis of the UPPCS Prelims Result, fifteen times candidates to the number of vacancies shall be declared successful for the main examination

Click here to read about UPPCS Prelims Syllabus

Important points about UPPSC Exam Pattern for Prelims are as follows:

1. UPPSC PCS Prelims Paper 1 is used for selecting candidates for the UPPSC Mains exam.
2. UPPSC PCS Prelims Cut off will be based on the UPPCS Prelims Paper 1 only. But qualifying Paper 2 is a must.
3. UPPSC PCS Prelims CSAT paper is of qualifying nature only. A candidate scoring 33% or above in the UPPCS CSAT exam will be selected for the UPPSC Mains exam if he clears UPPCS Prelims Cut off.
4. If a candidate clears the UPPCS Prelims cut off and fails to qualify CSAT paper, then he/she will not be considered for the UPPSC Mains exam.

UPPSC Mains Exam Pattern for PCS and ACF/RFO

UPPCS Mains Exam is conducted on different days. Until now, there were a total of 8 descriptive UPPCS Mains papers, which included 6 compulsory UPPSC PCS papers (one is an Essay paper, another is General Hindi Paper and 4 General Studies papers) along with 2 optional subject papers according to UPPSC Mains Exam Pattern.

But in a UP Cabinet meeting, it has been decided to scrap the optional papers and instead of them UP GK papers will be there. So now, according to new UPPSC Mains Exam Pattern, a candidate has to attempt 8 descriptive papers including General Hindi paper, Essay paper, 4 General Studies paper and 2 UP GK papers. 

For General Hindi Paper, a candidate has to obtain minimum marks as decided by the Commission. A candidate who will be able to clear the Cut off for UPPCS Mains Exam will be called for the next phase of the selection, i.e., the Personality Test. The number of candidates called for the UPPCS Interview will be three times the number of vacancies for the UPPCS Exam.

The given below is the old exam pattern. The new exam pattern is yet to be released. 

List of Optional Subjects for UPPCS Mains (Old pattern)

Earlier, the candidate had the option to choose subjects for optional papers from the given below list. There were two papers of the chosen UPPSC PCS optional subject and each question paper had two sections and each section included Four questions. Candidates were required to answer only Five questions while they must select a minimum of two questions from each section.

1. Agriculture
2. Botany
3. Mechanical Engineering
4. Civil Engineering
5. Electrical Engineering
6. Zoology
7. Law
8. Chemistry
9. Animal Husbandry
10. English Lit.
11. Physics & Veterinary Science
12. Urdu Lit.
13. Mathematics
14. Statistics
15. Hindi Lit.
16. Geography
17. Management
18. Sanskrit Lit.
19. Economics
20. Political Science & International Relations
21. Commerce & Accountancy
22. Sociology
23. Philosophy
24. History
25. Public Administration
26. Geology
27. Anthropology
28. Medical Science
29. Psychology

UPPSC PCS Personality Test/ UPPCS Interview

A total of 100 marks are allotted for the UPPCS Interview. The test will relate to the matter of general interest keeping the matter of academic interest in view and for general awareness, intelligence, character, expression of power/ personality and general suitability for the service. A final merit list will be then prepared on the basis of marks obtained in UPPCS Mains and Interview. The candidates whose name will appear on the list stands selected for UP state civil services.