UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Civil Servants

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of India’s most prestigious and challenging exams. It is the gateway to a coveted career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFS), and various other Central Services.

Cracking the UPSC CSE requires meticulous planning, unwavering dedication, and a thorough understanding of the syllabus. This comprehensive guide to the UPSC prelims syllabus 2024 will equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate your UPSC preparation journey effectively.

UPSC Syllabus for CSE Prelims

The IAS Prelims is the initial stage of the Civil Services Examination. In 2023, over 11 lakh candidates applied for the UPSC Prelims, while approximately 10 lakh candidates applied in 2022.

Understanding the syllabus for IAS Prelims is crucial as it serves as a screening test that qualifies candidates for the next stage, the Mains. All UPSC exam aspirants must familiarize themselves with the exam pattern and IAS Exam syllabus before beginning their preparation.

Aspirants preparing for the UPSC 2024 should ideally start their preparation by February 2023. A year-long preparation period is essential for scoring well in the UPSC 2024 exam. This timeline is critical for a planned and smooth preparation phase, allowing aspirants to strengthen their concepts and resolve any doubts related to the topics.

UPSC Syllabus for GS Paper (Prelims Paper I)

Current events of national and international importance.
History of India and Indian National Movement.
Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation.
General Science.
UPSC Syllabus for CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper-II)

Comprehension
Interpersonal skills including communication skills
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision-making and problem solving
General mental ability
Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)

Detailed syllabus of mains examination as per UPSC official syllabus

The Mains test is the second step of the Civil Services Exam. Only after passing the prelims test applicants will be permitted to appear for the main exam.

The Mains exam assesses the candidate’s academic skills in depth as well as his or her ability to articulate his or her understanding in accordance with the requirements of the question in a timely way.

The rank of a candidate in the UPSC Civil Service Exam is determined by the marks obtained in the Main and Interview.

Pattern and marking scheme of main examination

The UPSC Mains exam has nine papers for a total of 1750 marks. Out of nine papers, two papers are qualifying, 300 marks each.

The two qualifying papers are as follows:

Any Paper in the Indian Language
Language Paper in English
A candidate must qualify in these language papers to ensure that the marks obtained by such candidates will not be considered or counted. Candidates can write Paper I to Paper VII in English or any of the languages mentioned in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Paper I to Paper VII will be taken for evaluation only if the candidate obtained 25% of the marks in Paper A and Paper B. There are 48 Optional Subjects in the UPSC exam. The candidate has to select any one subject among them. Two papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) will be conducted from that for 250 marks each.

How Does Generative AI Test Applicants More Thoroughly Than Conventional Exams

Traditional examinations have been the main means of evaluating pupils’ knowledge and comprehension for many years. Personalized feedback, flexibility, and practical skills evaluation have been significantly lacking due to their emphasis on definitions and memorization. To effectively represent students’ diverse talents, assessment methods must change as education progresses.

The Static Character of Customary Exams
Traditional paper tests use prepared questions that may not accurately assess a student’s comprehension or problem-solving skills. These tests’ static character restricts the evaluation to a small range and omits important facets of a student’s capability.

Generative AI: An Innovative Approach to Assessment
The revolutionary approach of generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) seems to solve the problems with traditional tests. In contrast to conventional techniques, Generative AI makes use of sophisticated algorithms to provide dynamic, adaptive tests that surpass simple memory.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Practical Skills
The capacity of Generative AI Assessment to assess practical skills is one of its main benefits. This method better assesses students’ practical skills by mimicking real-world situations and dynamically creating questions that demand knowledge. A comprehensive picture of a student’s skills is given by Generative AI tests, which include everything from coding tasks to situational problem-solving.

Adaptability and Personalization in Assessment
Conventional tests often use a one-size-fits-all approach, ignoring the differences in each student’s learning style and speed. Conversely, Generative AI Assessment adjusts to the unique skills of every learner. The technology dynamically tailors questions depending on replies to match student competency. This flexibility promotes a fair and more individualized assessment procedure.

Quick Feedback for Ongoing Development
The delay in feedback delivery is one of the main drawbacks of conventional tests. However, Generative AI Assessment provides immediate and thorough feedback. This lets teachers pinpoint certain areas that may need more attention, in addition to helping pupils quickly recognize their errors. Continuous improvement is facilitated and the learning process is enhanced by the real-time feedback loop.

Ethical Considerations and Fair Evaluation
A fair assessment procedure is guaranteed by Generative AI Assessment, which aims to reduce bias. Exams that are based on tradition may unintentionally favor certain learning styles or cultural backgrounds. Data-driven generative AI minimizes such prejudices, creating an inclusive evaluation environment that embraces variety and individual talents.

Preparing Students for the Real World
Critical thinking and flexibility are essential in a world that is changing quickly. Generative AI Assessment tests students’ knowledge application in dynamic scenarios to prepare them for real-world difficulties. Students gain from this in both their academic and professional endeavors, as it gives them the tools necessary to adapt to a rapidly changing work environment.

Conclusion
By solving the shortcomings of conventional tests, Generative AI Assessment offers a revolutionary step in student assessment. Looking forward, the incorporation of Generative AI Assessment has the potential to promote an educational system that is more equitable, inclusive, and productive.

Generative AI Assessment is more than simply a technology advancement; it’s a step toward a more comprehensive and responsive education system that enhances each student’s unique qualities.

How Can Researchers Identify Q1 Journals in Their Area of Study

Q1 journals are highly regarded in the academic community and can boost a researcher’s reputation and help them secure funding or tenure. Additionally, these journals typically have a wider readership and greater visibility than lower-ranked journals.

Fortunately, there are several ways that researchers can identify Q1 journals in their area of study. In this article, we will discuss how to do so using a few different methods.

Ask Your Colleagues or Mentors
If you have colleagues or mentors in your field, they may be able to help you identify a journal that is likely to be of interest. In particular, they can help you understand what criteria are important when selecting a journal.

For example, some people use a journal’s SJR or h-index score to determine whether it is considered top-ranked. Others use a combination of factors, such as the journal’s impact factor and number of citations, to make their selection.

Another metric that can be helpful is the journal’s turnaround time. This metric indicates how long it takes from when an article is first submitted until it is published online.

In general, Q1 journals are those that are in the top 25% of journals in their category or field based on a citation impact factor. You can find this information in bibliographic databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. Alternatively, you can also find it on the publisher’s website.

Look at the Journal’s Website
Often, Q1 journal can be identified by their ranking in the most prestigious academic databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. These databases provide a thorough list of journals in various categories along with their quartile ranking and other important metrics like impact factor and citations.

In general, Q1 journals are those that rank among the top 25% of journals in a particular category or field. This means that publishing in a Q1 journal can help boost a researcher’s reputation and might even assist them in getting funding or tenure.

Researchers can check the quartile rating of a journal by searching the publication list in Web of Sciences or Clarivate’s JCR. Then they can click on a journal title and view the information that is available about that article. The quartile ranking will be indicated in the lower left corner of the article information window.

Look at Journal Citation Reports (JCR)
Q1 journals are considered high-quality in their respective fields. They publish research of interest to the scientific community, are highly cited, and have a broad readership. Publishing in a Q1 journal can help researchers enhance their academic reputation, secure funding and tenure, and advance the field of knowledge.

The Journal Citation Reports (JCR) is a database that provides citation information and other data on journals, articles, authors, and institutions. It also includes a number of metrics and indicators, such as impact factors, Immediacy Index, and Subject Category Rankings. It is available through Clarivate Analytics, which manages the Web of Science and other products for Thomson Reuters.

JCR can be accessed by selecting the appropriate option on our library homepage under the Databases tab, then clicking on the letter J. Once on the Journal Citation Reports website, select a year, edition (SCIE for sciences and SSCI for social science), discipline, and quartile. You can further filter by publisher and other criteria to narrow your search.

Check the Journal’s Impact Factor
Q1 journals are the highest-ranking journals in a field or category based on their citation impact factor. This is a measure of how frequently articles published in the journal are cited by other researchers. It’s important to understand how this ranking is calculated and what factors influence it before using it to guide your journal selection decisions.

A great resource for identifying Q1 journals in your field is the JCR database, which provides metrics and rankings for journals across many topics. You can access JCR through your library or by purchasing a personal subscription. Once you have access, you can search for journals by category or quartile ranking to find the best option for your research.

To check the journal’s quartile rating, click on the journal name in the results list and then select “Journal Citation Reports”. You will be brought to a page that shows the quartile ranking for that journal in different subject categories.