1. Preliminary Examination (OBJECTIVE)
   The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 400 marks and serves as a screening test. Its primary purpose is to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. The Prelims exam consists of two papers: General Studies Paper-I (GS Paper-I) and General Studies Paper-II (GS Paper-II), also known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT).
SYLLABUS:
The syllabus for the Preliminary Examination is broad and covers a wide range of subjects. The GS Paper-I focuses on areas such as history, geography, polity, economics, science and technology, ecology and environment, and current affairs. The GS Paper-II (CSAT) assesses candidates' aptitude, logical reasoning, analytical ability, comprehension, and basic numeracy.
EXAM PATTERN
Both GS Paper-I and GS Paper-II are objective-type (MCQs) exams.
Each paper is of 200 marks.
GS Paper-I consists of 100 questions, while GS Paper-II has 80 questions.
The duration for each paper is two hours.
MARKING SCHEME:
There will be negative marking for incorrect answers as detailed below:
(i) There are four alternatives for the answers to every question. For each question for which a wrong
answer has been given by the candidate, one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will
be deducted as penalty.
(ii) If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the
given answers happen to be correct and there will be same penalty as above for that question.
(iii) If a question is left blank i.e. no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that
question.

   2. Main Examination (DESCRIPTIVE)
       The second stage of the exam is the Mains. The Civil Services (Main) Examination will consist of a Written Examination and an Interview/Personality Test. The Written Examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type out of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature.
The Written Examination will consist of the following papers:
QUALIFYING PAPERS:
Paper-A (One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution).  300 Marks
PAPER-B ENGLISH 300 Marks                                                            
PAPERS TO BE COUNTED MERIT :
PAPER 1 Essay  250 marks                                                      
PAPER 2 General Studies 1: 250 marks (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society).      
PAPER 3 General Studies 2: 250 marks (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations).  
PAPER 4 General Studies 3: 250 marks (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management).
PAPER 5 General Studies 4: 250 marks (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 
PAPER 6 Optional Subject: Paper 1: 250 marks                                         
PAPER 7 Optional Subject-Paper 2: 250 marks                                      
Sub Total (Written test) -  1750 Marks
Personality Test  - 275 Marks
Grand Total -  2025 Marks        
Candidates may choose any one of the optional subjects from amongst the list of subjects given in para below:
Note
(i) The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
(ii) Evaluation of the papers, namely, ‘Essay’, ‘General Studies’ and Optional Subject of all the candidates would be done simultaneously along with evaluation of their qualifying papers on ‘Indian Languages’ and ‘English’ but the papers on Éssay’, General Studies and Optional Subject of only such candidates will be taken cognizance who attain 25% marks in ‘Indian Language’ and 25% in English as minimum qualifying standards in these qualifying papers.
(iii) The paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
(iv) The paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for Candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disability (only Hearing Impairment sub-category) provided that they have been granted such exemption from 2nd or 3rd language courses by the concerned education Board/University. The candidate needs to provide an undertaking/self declaration in this regard in order to claim such an exemption to the Commission.
(v) Marks obtained by the candidates for the Paper I-VII only will be counted for merit ranking. However, the Commission will have the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all of these papers.

List of optional subjects for Main Examination:
(i) Agriculture
(ii) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
(iii) Anthropology
(iv) Botany
(v) Chemistry
(vi) Civil Engineering
(vii) Commerce and Accountancy
(viii) Economics
(ix) Electrical Engineering
(x) Geography
(xi) Geology
(xii) History
(xiii) Law
(xiv) Management
(xv) Mathematics
(xvi) Mechanical Engineering
(xvii) Medical Science
(xviii) Philosophy
(xix) Physics
(xx) Political Science and International Relations
(xxi) Psychology
(xxii) Public Administration
(xxiii) Sociology
(xxiv) Statistics
(xxv) Zoology
(xxvi) Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.
Note :
(i) The question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.
(ii) Each paper will be of three hours duration.
   3. Interview (Personality Test)
The third and final stage of the Exam is the Personality Test. The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of the candidate’s career. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the Interview/Personality Test is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers.
The Interview/Personality Test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and 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. The technique of the Interview/Personality Test 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.
The Interview/Personality Test is not intended to be a test either of the specialized 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.