Key Highlights
Here are the main points you should remember from our guide on UPSC exams:
- The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) runs about 14 major exams each year. These services examinations are for jobs in the government of india.
- The most famous test is the civil services examination. This exam helps choose people for high posts like IAS, IPS, and IFS.
- UPSC gives people chances in a lot of fields. There are options in engineering, medical, defense, and economic services.
- Each services examination has its own exam pattern and eligibility criteria. The things you need to have, like your age or your education, will be different for every exam.
- There are government jobs for people after 12th standard and also after graduation. You can get into the government of india in many ways.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Are you trying to find a job in public service? The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) helps you get jobs in the Government of India. A lot of people think the UPSC is only about the Civil Services Examination. But, that is not all the commission gives.
It does not just run the services examination for civil services. Every year, the UPSC holds a list of exams for different jobs in public service. This guide will show you the full list of exams. This way, you see many choices for work, and not just the well-known IAS and IPS jobs.
Check out what UPSC has for you. You can find a path that fits your skills and what you want to do.
Complete List of Exams Conducted by UPSC
The UPSC is the group that picks people for the top Group A and Group B jobs in a lot of fields. The upsc cse is the hardest test. But the UPSC also holds about 14 major exams. Each one has its own exam pattern and selection process. These exams let people try for jobs in civil administration, defense, engineering, and more.
Some exams, like the Civil Services Exam, happen just one time each year. Other exams take place when the government needs to find new workers. If you know the full services examination schedule, it can help you plan your career in a better way. Below, you can see all the details for the major exams that the UPSC gives.
1. Civil Services Examination (CSE)
The civil services examination is the most well-known test run by UPSC. It is also tough to pass. This exam lets people join top civil services, like the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Foreign Service. Every year, lakhs of people try for a few spots. That is why this is one of the hardest exams in India.
The selection process has several steps. It starts with the UPSC Prelims. This is an objective test. The test has two papers: General Studies Paper I and CSAT. If you pass this, you will go to the UPSC Mains. The UPSC Mains is a written test. It has nine papers.
The last step is the Personality Test, or interview. At this step, the panel sees if a person is right for a job in the civil services. This step is done with care. It makes sure that only the best people get a job in the civil services.
2. Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination
The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Examination is for picking officers who look after the country’s large forests and wild animals. These officers work with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. They help protect nature and make sure we use land, water, and trees the right way. The indian forest service is a special job for people who care about nature and want to take care of our planet.
The UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam has a different selection process. First, you will have to take the Civil Services Preliminary exam. The cut-off for the forest service exam is often higher than civil services. If you clear this stage, you will move to the Main Examination for the Indian Forest Service exam. The main examination will test you on many science and engineering topics.
Candidates choose two optional subject papers. These can be forestry, geology, agriculture, or zoology. The final part is an interview. It checks what you know and if you are ready for the indian forest service. The upsc syllabus for this exam is made to fit the needs of the indian forest service.
3. Engineering Services Examination (ESE)
For people who finish engineering and want a top job in the government, the engineering services examination is a good pick. This exam lets the government hire engineers for places like the Indian Railways, Central Public Works Department, and Border Roads Organisation. It gives all engineering graduates the chance to work in big engineering jobs. If you take the engineering services examination, you can have a strong future in your field.
The selection process for the ESE happens in three steps. It starts with a written test. The first is a preliminary exam. This test has objective questions. After you finish that, you need to do the Mains exam. The mains exam is also a written test. Here, you write long answers. This test checks how much you know about your engineering field.
Candidates who pass both written rounds go to a personality test or interview. This last part checks what they know about the field. It also looks at leadership skills and if they will be good for work in engineering services. The goal is to choose the best people for engineering work in the country.
4. Combined Medical Services (CMS) Examination
The Combined Medical Services (CMS) Examination is for people who have finished medical school. It is to help those who want a job in the government as medical officers. It looks for officers to work with the Railways, Municipal Corporations, and Central Health Services. This test is a good way for any MBBS degree holder to get jobs in medical services or combined medical services. The exam helps people begin a career in these jobs.
The selection process for the medical services examination is easy and has two steps. The first step is a computer test. This test checks your medical knowledge and your general ability. You should stay up to date with current affairs, mainly those about the health sector. This will help you do well in the medical services examination.
Candidates who clear the written test will then be asked to come for a personality test or interview. At this last step, he or she will be checked to see how you speak, what you know, and if you can work as a government medical officer. You have to meet the eligibility criteria. The main rule is you need to have an MBBS degree from a known place or college.
5. Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination
The Combined Defence Services exam, or CDS, takes place two times in a year. This test is a good chance for people who have finished graduation. It lets you join the Indian armed forces as an officer. You can get picked for the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or the Officers’ Training Academy in this exam. The CDS exam gives you a way to start a good career in defence services.
The selection process begins with a written test. This test has different topics based on the academy you want to join. Most of the time, the written test will have English, General Knowledge, and basic math. If you plan to join the air force or the navy, you need to meet special education rules for those.
After you pass the written test, you will go for a Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. The SSB lasts five days. During this time, they see how you think and do group work. You also have a one-on-one interview. The purpose is to find out if you can be a good leader in the armed forces.
6. National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination
The National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination is a good chance for students after finishing 12th grade. You can join the armed forces. That means you could be in the Army, Navy, or Air Force wings at the national defence academy. You also have a way to get into the indian naval academy by passing this exam. The naval academy and national defence academy exam happens two times every year. This lets you start a job in defence services right out of school. It is not like UPSC CSE, which you take later. This exam helps you step into the world of defence early.
The selection process starts with a written exam. The test has two papers. One is for Mathematics. The other paper is the General Ability Test. The questions are based on the 10+2 curriculum. This makes things easy for students who have just finished school.
Candidates who pass the written exam will be called for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. This interview is for five days. In this time, the board looks at how you think, your leadership skills, and if you are fit. If you pass this, you will go on to train at the chosen academy. After your training is done, you will become an officer in the Indian armed forces.
7. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) Assistant Commandant Examination
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) Examination helps to hire Assistant Commandants in several armed police forces. These forces be the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). If you want a good job that is also hard, this exam can help you get into national security with the central armed police forces.
The CAPF exam pattern includes several steps in its selection process. It begins with a written test that has two papers. The first paper tests your General Ability and Intelligence. The second paper is about General Studies, Essay, and Comprehension.
For the eligibility criteria, you need to have a graduation degree from a recognized university to apply for this exam.
After you finish the written test, you also have to pass a physical test and a medical standards test. If you clear these steps, the next stage is an interview or a personality test. At this point, the armed police forces want to see if you are a good fit for a leadership role.
8. Indian Economic Service (IES) / Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Examination
The Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS) exam is for people who want to work as economists or statisticians. You will be working in various government departments if you clear this test. This path is good for you if you have studied these subjects well and have a strong background.
The selection process begins with a written exam. If you want to join the IES, you must have a postgraduate degree in Economics. For the ISS, you need a degree in Statistics or something similar. The exam has six papers. These cover General English, General Studies, and four papers about the main subject.
Candidates who clear the written test, called the main examination, will get a call for the personality test or interview. This test will check what they know about the subject. It also checks how they think and if they would be good for a job in the Indian Economic Service or Indian Statistical Service.
9. Combined Geo-Scientist Examination
The Combined Geo-Scientist Examination is a services examination given by UPSC. It is used to pick people for jobs like Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, and Hydrogeologist. They work in groups like the Geological Survey of India and the Central Ground Water Board. Not many take this exam, but it matters a lot for people who want science jobs with the government.
The exam pattern has three stages in the selection process. The first part is known as the preliminary examination. In this stage, you get questions with choices. These questions will be about the scientific post that you want. To meet the eligibility criteria, you need to have a Master’s degree in the correct subject, such as Geology or Chemistry.
Candidates who clear the prelims move on to the main examination. The main examination has written questions on the subject. The final part of the selection process is the personality test or interview. At this stage, their technical knowledge will be tested. This part also sees if they will be a good fit for a job in geo-scientific services.
10. Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) Examination
The Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) Examination was a famous test by UPSC. It chose students for Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. After the course, these students would get jobs. They went on to be top officers in the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers.
The selection process for the SCRA exam was very tough. First, you had to take a written test. After this, there was an interview. The exam pattern checked your knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and General Knowledge. This test was at the same level as other tough engineering entrance exams.
Please know that the SCRA exam was stopped in 2015. Now, people are chosen for these engineering services jobs through the Engineering Services Examination (ESE). The SCRA exam is not held anymore, but it is still an important part of how UPSC used to pick people for civil services and engineering services roles.
Exams Conducted by UPSC After 12th Standard
Many people say you need a university degree for every UPSC exam. But this is not true for all the tests. Most, like upsc cse, do want you to have finished your graduation. Still, the commission lets students who passed their 12th take some tests. This gives young people a good way to get into a government job early.
The main test for this group is the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination. This exam is important for anyone who wants to join the armed forces. It shows the options that students have after passing 12th grade if they want to work for the nation.
NDA & NA Examination for 12th Pass Candidates
The National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination is the main UPSC exam you can take after you finish your 12th class. This test is held two times every year. It is for picking cadets for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Naval Academy.
This exam is a good way for you to start a job with the Indian armed forces when you come out of school. If you do well in the UPSC exam, you can get a place in the national defence academy, naval academy, or air force.
The rules to take this exam change based on which area you pick. There are some important things you need:
- Army Wing: You have to pass 10+2 in any subject.
- Air Force and Naval Wings: You need to pass 10+2 with Physics and Maths.
- Age Limit: Your age must be between 16.5 and 19.5 years.
The selection process begins with a written test. This test includes questions on Mathematics and General Ability. After this, there is an SSB interview and a physical test. It is a hard exam because the air force and other teams want to find young people who can be leaders. If you do well, you may get a chance to join the Indian Military Academy, Air Force Academy, or Naval Academy.
Other UPSC Exams Open to 12th Pass Students
While the NDA & NA exam is the main chance for students after class 12, you need to know the eligibility criteria for other UPSC exams too. For most services examination held by UPSC, like the civil services exam, engineering services examination, and indian forest service examination, you should have a bachelor’s degree. A student who has just passed class 12 cannot take these exams now, because the bachelor’s degree is needed as the least qualification.
Earlier, there was a SCRA exam to get a job with the government of india. But now, that test is not held anymore. So, people who want to work with the government of india have to take the UPSC exam. Most people do this after they finish graduation. Here is a short summary:
- NDA & NA Exam: This is the main exam for people who have finished the 12th class.
- Most Other UPSC Exams: You need to have a graduation degree for these exams.
Students who want to work in civil services should try to finish their graduation first. At the same time, they should get ready for the exams. It is good to know the selection process and exam pattern well. This helps you do better, and you have a good chance to pass.
Conclusion
It is important to know about the different services examinations that UPSC holds. People who want to take the civil services examination or combined defence services need to understand how each upsc exam is set up. The civil services examination and combined defence services both give you the chance to work in civil services or defence services. Each services examination is made for a special reason and helps the country in its own way.
If you learn more about every upsc exam and read about the eligibility criteria, you can get ready for what comes next. Make sure you check the UPSC exam calendar often. This will help you not miss any key dates or work you need to do.
If you feel good and want to start working toward your dream job in services, feel free to ask for help or support when you need it. This will make your journey toward civil services or defence services better.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many different exams does UPSC conduct each year?
The Union Public Service Commission gives about 14 major exams each year. Some of these tests are the civil services examination and other services examination. People take the exams hoping to get jobs in public service. These jobs are in defense, engineering, medical, and other areas. Each major exam has its own exam pattern. All the exams are made for different public service roles.
Do all UPSC exams have the same eligibility criteria?
No, the eligibility criteria for UPSC exams are not the same. Every services examination there has its own rules. For things like age limit, educational qualifications, and nationality, you must check each exam. The civil services exam wants that you have a graduate degree. The engineering services examination is for people who are engineering graduates. Each exam has different rules, so you have to read the details about civil services or engineering services carefully.
Where can I find the official UPSC exam calendar?
You can see the UPSC exam calendar on the official website of the Union Public Service Commission at upsc.gov.in. The calendar has all the important dates for the public service exam. You will get dates for when they share notifications, when you can send applications, and when the exams will be held. It shows the plan for the whole year. The calendar is the most reliable place to find out about the selection process and upsc exam dates.
