What does it mean by UPSC or IAS exam?

Union Public Service Commission conducts Civil Service Exam (CSE) for total 21 groups ‘A’
& group ‘B’ central services.

What will be required Educational Qualification and Age limit for UPSC
Exam?

Age limit as on
Category Attempts Education
1st August 2020

General 21-32 6
- Candidate has completed graduation or

As on January 2020
OBC 21-35 9
- Candidate is in final year/semester and will
Till upper get his mark sheet/degree before July-2020
SC/ST 21-37
age

Explain UPSC Exam Structure and Syllabus

Month Stage Marks

1st Feb.’23 to
Publish UPSC Exam Advertisement (Dates for online application)
21st Feb’23
1. Prelim Exam: Paper -1: General Studies ,
28th May’23 Paper-2 : Aptitude 400
MCQ exam, Negative marking for wrong answer
15th Sept.’23 2. Mains Exam : Essay/ Descriptive writing exam 1750
Jan’2024 to
3. Interview : Interview can be given in English, Gujarati, Hindi 275
Onwards

What is SPIPA and how it helps in preparation of UPSC exam?

Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) is mainly an Apex Training Institute
(ATI) to give foundation training to state government employees. In 1992, SPIPA

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 established a UPSC study centre to increase the representation of Gujarat in the elite
services, by providing training through experts and experienced faculties for all the three
stages of UPSC civil services examination to students. Till date a total of 244 candidates of
SPIPA have successfully cleared UPSC civil services examination and have joined various
cadre of All India Services.

What will be age limit and Educational Qualification for SPIPA Entrance
Exam 2023 for UPSC CSE Trg. Prg. 2023-24?
Educational Qualification: Graduation Compulsory

Within age limit candidate can attempt for exam as much time as per his/her wish

Age limit on
Category Who can apply for SPIPA Entrance Exam?
1stAugust 2024

General 21-32 - Mother tongue is Gujarati or

- Has passed secondary/higher secondary exam from
SEBC 21-35 Gujarat or
- Has completed graduation from GUJARAT or
SC/ST 21-37
- Has been resident of Gujarat (5 years or more)

When will be SPIPA Entrance Exam held? What is structure of exam?

SPIPA invites candidates for Entrance Exam mostly in May/June. Candidate has to apply
online (ojas.gujarat.gov.in) for SPIPA Entrance Exam

Stage -1 Prelim Exam will be held in July/August 2023 and its structure will be as per UPSC
Prelim Exam

Duration
Month
Stage Paper (IN Marks
(estimate)
hours)

Paper 1 : General Studies (100 questions) 2.00 200

July/August 1
’23 Prelim
Paper 2 : Aptitude (50 Questions) 1.30 100

August/Sept 2 Essay (English/Gujarati)

3.00 100
’23 Essay (2 essays of 50 marks each)

Total Marks 400

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 After Stage 1 exam merit will be prepared on total marks of paper 1 and paper 2. Only
candidates who are in merit will be called for stage 2 essay exam.

After stage 2 exam results are declared merit will be prepared on total 400 marks (stage1 +
stage 2). Admissions will be given as per state reservation policy.

Approximately training classes will be started from December.

What will be fee structure of SPIPA?

As on January 2020
No fees are taken by SPIPA.

Only candidate has to give refundable deposit

1) Training Deposit: Rs 1000/-

2) Library Deposit Rs 2,200

3) Reading Room Deposit Rs. 3000/- * (Applicable to Ahmedabad Center’s Candidates only)

Any Incentive/Stipend will be given during training? What will be

duration of training at SPIPA?

Students Duration of Training Incentive Details

Training for prelims and mains to the Per Candidates
December to June Rs.2,000/- (Maximum 7
students who are selected in entrance
exam (approximately) Months)
Male – Rs.25,000/-
Training for mains after clearing UPSC July to September
Female – Rs.30,000/-
prelims (approximately)
Male – Rs.25,000/-
Training for interview after clearing UPSC January to March
Female – Rs.30,000/-
mains (approximately)
Male – Rs.51,000/-
After selection in UPSC final
Female – Rs.61,000/-

With an aim that more students qualify for UPSC Civil Services Exam candidates who
took admission at SPIPA will not be allowed to do any job/ other studies outside spipa
during this training program.

What facilities will student get during training?

1) Training by Lectures, Group Discussion, Mock Test and Mock Interview 2) Reading Room
3) Library 4) Free Wi-Fi facilities and 5)Incentive

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 How to start preparations for UPSC/SPIPA?
As candidate starts preparation for UPSC exams, preparations for SPIPA will be done. One can
start preparation with help of below books/material. Books will be available on online shopping
sites and at Shops under Gandhi bridge, relief road, Ahmedabad.
Topic Material/Books/References
Many MCQs are from NCERT textbooks of CBSE board; refer std 7 to 12 Social science,
NCERT
History, Geography text books. Candidates can also download it free.
Old Question Last 27 years topic wise CSAT paper set by Disha Publication.
Papers (Available in English & HINDI also)
Paper – 1 (General Studies)
Lectures and Power Point presentations of successful candidate of SPIPA–UPSC exam
Geography
(https://goo.gl/c34anQ)
Environment National Institute of Open Studies (NIOS)PDF Material
Shri Mrunal Patel, Faculty of Spipa, lectures and ppts from
Economy (youtube.com/user/TheMrunalPatel). You can also download video (2.30 hrs)
showing details about UPSC and how to do preparations.
Polity (બંધારણ) “Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth” (by McGraw-Hill). (Available in English &Hindi).
(Book) Moreover for new fills, Amendments kindly visit prsindia.org
Ancient and Medieval India : “Lucent GK”, NCERT text books std 7 to 12
History
Movement of Independence : “Brief History of Modern India”: Raijv Ahir Spectrum
(Book)
publication
Lectures and Power Point presentations of successful candidate of SPIPA–UPSC exam
Kum. Ishani Pandya. (https://goo.gl/c34anQ)
Culture
National Institute of Open Studies (NIOS) PDF Material
(available on Mrunal.org/download )
Current Newspaper: At least 1 English newspaper- Indian Express or The Hindu. (Any one)
Affairs Magazine: Frontline, Yojana
Science NCERT class 7-10: Science Textbook (All Chapters) and English Newspaper
GS/CSAT manual published by Tata McGraw-Hill’s, Spectrum, Unique, Pearson,
GS Manual
Arihant, Chronicle etc. Publishers.
Paper – 2 (Aptitude)
1. Maths : Fast track to Objective Arithmetic (Rajesh Verma, Arihant Publication)
(Any one Book)
Aptitude
2. Reasoning : Analytical Reasoning (MK Pandey, BSC Publication) (Any One Book)
3. Comprehension: Practice passages from online resources & mock papers

Web resource:
upsc.gov.in (syllabus & Past papers), spipa.gujarat.gov.in (notification & past papers),
mrunal.org (Current Affairs & GS), ncert.nic.in (Textbooks),thehindu.com,
prsindia.org (Polity), idsa.in (Diplomacy), epw.in (social issues),
indiabix.com (Aptitude)

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 Annexure 1: Structure of UPSC exam and syllabus
Stage 1 : Prelims Exam
Paper-I (General Studies) Paper-II (Aptitude)
200 marks, 2 hrs 200 marks, 2 hrs.
Candidates will be selected for mains on merit of Candidates require to score only 33%
this exam qualifying marks. Marks not counted for merit
(1) Current events of national and international (1) Comprehension
importance. (2) Interpersonal skill including
(2) History of India and Indian national communication skills
movement. (3) Logical reasoning and analytical ability
(3) Indian and World Geography – physical, (4) Decision making and problem solving
social, economic geography of India and the (5) General mental ability
world. (6) English Language comprehension skills
(4) Indian Polity and governance – constitution, (Class X level).
political system,Panchayati Raj, public policy, (7) Basic numeracy (numbers and their
Rights Issues, etc. relations, orders of magnitude etc
(5) Economic and social development – (Class X level),
sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, (8) Data interpretation (charts, graphs,
demographics, social sector initiative, etc. tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X
(6) General issues on environmental ecology, level)
bio-diversity and climate Change – that do not
require subject specialization.
(7) General Science.
Stage 2 : Mains exam
For Detailed Syllabus visit https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-CSP-22-engl-020222F.pdf

Marks of below 2 language papers will not be considered for merit

Paper Marks
but compulsory to score 25 % marks
A One of the Indian Language(Essay Comprehension, Grammar etc.,) 300
B English: Précis, Comprehension, Grammar 300

Marks of below papers will be considered for merit

1 Essay 250
2 General Studies–I
250
(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
3 General Studies –II
250
(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
4 General Studies –III(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity,
250
Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
5 General Studies –IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 250
6 Optional Subject (1)– Paper 1 250
7 Optional Subject (1)– Paper 2 250
Total : 1750
Optional Subject (Any One) (1) Agriculture (2) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science (3)

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Anthropology (4) Botany (5) Chemistry (6) Civil Engineering (7) Commerce and Accountancy
(8) Economics (9) Electrical Engineering (10) Geography (11) Geology (12) History (13) Law
(14) Management (15) Mathematics (16) Mechanical Engineering (17) Medical Science (18)
Philosophy (19) Physics (20) Political Science and International Relations (21)Psychology (22)
Public Administration (23) Sociology (24) Statistics (25) Zoology (26) Literature of any one of the
Indian Regional Language and English.

Stage 3 : Interview
Candidate will be asked questions on basis of his hew bio data, graduation, state, hobby, current
affairs. One can answer in Hindi/Gujarati/English.

Final Merit will be prepared on basis of marks obtained in Mains (1750) + Interview
(275) = 2025 mark

Total 21 Cadres under UPSC CSE:-

1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS) 13. Indian Defence Estates Service

2. Indian Police Service(IPS) 14. Indian Information Service (Junior

Grade)
3. Indian Foreign Service(IFS)
15. Indian Trade Service, Group 'A' (Gr.
4. Indian P & T Accounts & Finance
III)
Service
16. Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
5. Indian Audit and Accounts Service
17. Armed Forces Headquarters Civil
6. Indian Revenue Service (Customs and
Service (Section Officer's Grade)
Central Excise)(IRS-C&CE)
18. Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands,
7. Indian Defence Accounts Service
Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and
8. Indian Revenue Service (I.T.) (IRS-IT)
Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service
9. Indian Ordnance Factories Service
19. Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands,
(Assistant Works Manager,
Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and
Administration)
Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service
10. Indian Postal Service
20. Pondicherry Civil Service
11. Indian Civil Accounts Service
21. Pondicherry Police Service
12. Post of Assistant Security
Commissioner in Railway Protection
Force

Best Wishes
UPSC Study Center
SPIPA, Ahmedabad
As on January2020

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