Prepare for Civil Services Exams and State PSC

Civil Services Exams select candidates for highly respected government jobs ranging from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to State Administrative, Police, Foreign Services and Revenue Services. These exams are conducted at both national by UPSC and state levels by State PSC to recruit candidates. These posts provide diverse opportunities, immense influence, job security and the chance to contribute directly to the development of nation.

Below is the list of detailed Civil Services Examination which are conducted by UPSC and State PSC. We have provided notes, guides, previous year questions, mock tests and analysis for all the listed examinations. You can browse course by selecting your preferred examinations.

Select Exam to Start Preparation

List of Major Indian Civil Services Examinations along with description:

Exam Name	Description
UPSC Civil Services	Union Public Service Commission CSE (IAS, IPS, etc.)
BPSC CCE	Bihar Public Service Commission Combined Competitive Exam
MPPSC SSE	Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission State Service Exam
JPSC CCSE	Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Civil Services Exam
MPSC SSE	Maharashtra Public Service Commission State Services Exam
RPSC RAS	Rajasthan Public Service Commission Rajasthan Administrative Services
UPPSC PCS	Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission Provincial Civil Services
HPSC HCS	Haryana Public Service Commission Haryana Civil Services
HPPSC HPAS	Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service
OPSC OCS	Odisha Public Service Commission Odisha Civil Services
WBPSC WBCS	West Bengal Public Service Commission West Bengal Civil Service
CGPSC PCS	Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission State Services Exam
GPSC GAS	Gujarat Public Service Commission Gujarat Administrative Service
UKPSC Upper PCS	Uttarakhand Public Service Commission Upper Subordinate Services (PCS)
UKPSC Lower PCS	Uttarakhand Public Service Commission Lower Subordinate Services
KPSC KAS	Karnataka Public Service Commission Karnataka Administrative Services
APPSC Group 1	Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission Group 1 Services
TSPSC Group 1	Telangana State Public Service Commission Group 1 Services
Punjab PCS	Punjab Public Service Commission Provincial Civil Services
JKPSC KAS	Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission Kashmir Administrative Service

Exam Structure & Selection Process

Civil Services Exams select candidates for Class-I and Class-II officer posts in central and state administrations. Most exams follow a similar pattern in three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims)

Objective Type (MCQs)

Tests General Studies, Current Affairs and sometimes Aptitude
Qualifies candidates for the Mains exam

2. Main Examination (Mains)

Descriptive/Written Papers

General Studies (History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, etc.)
Optional paper (subject chosen by candidate)
Language papers (English & regional language)

Tests depth of knowledge, analytical skills and written expression

3. Interview/Personality Test

Face-to-face assessment

Evaluates leadership qualities, communication, decision-making and suitability for administrative roles

Note:

Each commission may introduce state-specific sections or third languages.
Some states have additional physical or language proficiency tests for certain posts.

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality: Indian citizen (with exceptions for certain state posts)
Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university
Age Limit: Commonly 21–32 years (relaxations for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD)
Attempt Limit: Varies by category and exam (more attempts for reserved categories)
Domicile/Language: Some state exams require candidates to be domiciled in the state or fluent in the regional language.

What Are Civil Services Examinations?

Civil Services Examinations are conducted at both national and state levels to recruit candidates for administrative, police, revenue, and other high-responsibility government positions. These examinations typically comprise three stages: Prelims (objective), Mains (descriptive), and Interview (personality test).

What is the difference between UPSC and State PCS exams?

UPSC Civil Services is a national-level exam for central services like IAS, IPS, IFS, while State PCS exams select officers for individual states’ administrative and allied services.
Can a candidate apply for both UPSC and State PCS?

Yes, eligible candidates can appear for both national and state-level civil services exams.
Are the exam patterns and syllabus similar for UPSC and State PSC?

The core structure i.e. Prelims, Mains, Interview is similar, but each commission customizes the syllabus and marking based on its administrative needs.
Which services can I join via these exams?

Services range from Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Police, Revenue, Accounts, and other allied services depending on the exam.