Full Form Of UPSC
Full Form UPSC
Most of us have heard the term UPSC many times from our teachers, colleagues, relatives, family and friends. We know it is responsible for conducting all the government jobs examinations but do you know what the full form of UPSC is.
The full form of the prime recruiting firm UPSC is ‘Union Public Service Commission’.
This tutorial will cover the definition, history, eligibility criterion, and much other detailed information regarding the Union Public Service Commission or UPSC.
What is UPSC?
“Union Public Service Commission or UPSC is India's prime fundamental recruiting firm. It holds the responsibilities for government jobs posts and examinations for All India services, appointments for Central Services Group A and B as well as for the Indian Armed Forces.”
The Indian Constitution mandates the UPSC to select the All-India Services and renew, examine, and test different methodologies for these appointments with various departments' inputs. Apart from this, UPSC is also responsible for interfering with the promotion and transfer of civil staff and any disciplinary related matters.
The overviews of UPSC are as follows:
| Overview | Union Public Service Commission |
| Formed at | 1 October 1926 |
| Preceding agencies | Federal Public Service Commission Public Service Commission |
| Headquartered at | Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi |
| Commission executive | Pradeep Kumar Joshi (wed, 7 August 2020) |
| Parent department | Government of India |
| Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
| Facilitation Counter | 011-23098543/23385271/23381125/23098591 |
| feedback-upsc@gov.in | |
| Eligibility criteria | Higher Secondary Pass or a Graduate (in any stream) |
History of UPSC
The concept of Civil service and merit-based modern examinations is a souvenir of Britishers. Initially, the Indian Civil Service exam was started in 1854 in the region of British East India Company. At the time, the examinations were held only in London. The syllabus and the paper were structured so that only white applicants can apply and pass them. In 1864, for the first time in history, an Indian candidate, Shri Satyendra Nath Tagore (brother of Shri Rabindranath Tagore), applied and cracked the exam. Soon after the First World War, India started introducing new reforms, and one amongst those was the beginning of Indian civil service exams to be conducted in India.
Later on, 1 October 1926, India witnessed the official set up of 'The Public Service Commission' for the first time. Sir Ross Barker, the Home Civil Service minister of the UK, was enrolled as PSC's first Chairman. The Public Service Commission was modified into the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after our Indian constitution's launch on 26 January 1950. Henceforth, UPSC or Union Public Service Commission came into the picture as the prime Commission for directing central job examinations.
UPSC CSE Exam
The UPSC conducts the CSE or Civil Services Examination every year. The UPSC CSE includes the following three stages:
- Civil Services Preliminary Examination: Civil Service Examination or the Preliminary Examination is the initial level of UPSC. It involves two papers carrying objective questions.
| Examination | Subject | Total Marks | Exam Duration |
| GS Paper -1 | General Studies | 200 | 2 hours |
| CSAT Paper- 2 | Aptitude Test | 200 | 2 hours |
- GS Paper -1: This paper covers 100 questions and is of 200 marks (2 marks for each question). The paper is not easy as it comprises negative marking as well for choosing wrong answers. Each wrong answer would deduct one-third of the marks awarded for each question. General Science paper includes questions related to general science and subjects, unlike Important National and International Events, Economic, Geography, Politics, Indian History, Ecology, Economics, GDP, Technology and Science. The total marks obtained in this paper will be counted for making the list of applicants who will appear for the CSE mains.
- CSAT Paper or Paper -2: This paper includes only 80 questions, and negative marking is applicable here as well. CSAT paper includes questions related to quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, reading comprehension, etc. To qualify in the CSAT paper, an applicant must score an aggregate of 33 percent (67 marks out of 200) or above. Though this is just a qualifying paper, and the obtained marks scored will not be added to the final merit list.
- Civil Services Mains Examination: CSE Mains Examination is the second round that includes 9 papers, each of 3 hours and with different subjective question types, out of which the 2 language papers are of qualifying nature and the scores of the remaining 7 papers are added in the finals. The marks scored by the candidate will be evaluated to select him further for the PI round.
| Exams | Subjects | Marks | Duration |
| Paper A (Qualifying nature) | The candidate is supposed to choose any one of the Indian languages. | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper B (qualifying nature) | English | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper I | Essay writing | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper II GS-I | Indian Legacy and Culture, World history, and Geography. | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper III GS-II | Indian Government, Constitution, Politics, Laws Justice and International relations | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV GS –III | Technology Development, Economic and GDP, Biodiversity, Atmosphere, Safety and Disaster Management | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper-V General Studies -IV | Aptitude | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VI | Optional Paper 1 | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VII | Optional Paper 2 | 250 | 3 hours |
- Civil Services Personality Test or PI: The PI round is the final and toughest level. Only a few candidates manage to get entry and are summoned for the interview into Personality test interviews as they need to qualify the cut-off determined by the UPSC.
Once the UPSC conducts all three stages, they make the final merit list, summing the candidates' scores in the CSE mains examination and the PI round. Based on their scores, respective candidates are allotted the stage services based on their likings, the merit list, the candidate's category, and the post vacancies in each category.
Eligibility Criteria for UPSC
Every exam conducted by the UPSC has minimum educational qualifications. The candidate must fulfill this eligibility criterion before applying. Check the below table:
| Examination | Minimum Educational Qualification |
| NDA (National Defence Academy) | Higher Secondary (12th pass) |
| ISS (Indian Statistical Service) | Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as the main subject |
| IES (Indian Economic Service) | Post-Graduate Degree with Economics as the main subject |
| IFS (Indian Forest Service) | Bachelor’s degree |
| Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Examination | Master’s degree in Geo subjects |
| ICSE (Indian Civil Services) | Bachelor’s degree |
| IGS (Indian Engineering Services) | Bachelor ‘s Engineering Degree |
| Combined Medical Services | MBBS |
| ACs (Central Armed Police Forces | Bachelor’s degree in any subject |
UPSC Frequently Asked Questions/ FAQs
Question 1: What are the various examinations which are conducted by UPSC?
Answer: UPSC is responsible to appoint or recruit the candidates with the help of following examinations:
- National Defence Academy or NDA Examination
- Indian Statistical Service or ISS Examination
- Indian Forest Service Examination (IFS)
- Geo-Scientist Examination
- Geologist Examination
- Central Armed Police Forces or ACs Examination
- Indian Civil Services or ICS examination for appointing IAS, IPS, officers
- Indian Engineering Services or IES Examination
- Medical Services Examination
- Indian Economic Service or IES Examination
- Combined Defence Services or CDS Examination
- Several examinations for UPSC EPFO, other papers
Question 2: What is the difference between MPSC and UPSC?
Answer: The difference between MPSC and UPSC is as follows:
| MPSC | UPSC |
| The abbreviation MPSC stands for Maharashtra Public Service Commission. | The abbreviation UPSC stands for Union Public Service Commission. |
| MPSC is responsible for recruiting candidates for the Maharashtra state-level services in Grade A and Grade B. | UPSC is responsible for recruiting candidates for all India and Central Services in Grade A and Grade B for the national and central level. |
Question 3: UPSC exams are easy or tough to crack?
Answer: UPSC exams are considered as toughest of all Exams. It is very hard to crack them.