UPSC Exam Timing: See CSE (IAS)Pre Exam Shift Timing 2024
Indian Administrative Services 2026 ( IAS )
Registration - 4 Feb '26 - 24 Feb '26
The UPSC Pre 2024 will be conducted at the designated exam centres across the nation in two sessions. The Union Public Service Commission mentioned the UPSC exam timing in the official admit card. The candidates can see here the UPSC pre-exam timing, reporting time and important exam day instructions as mentioned in the admit card.
UPSC Pre 2024 Exam Timing
UPSC Exam Timing: The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the UPSC Civil Service (IAS) prelims exam on June 16, 2024. The Commission released the UPSC prelims admit card 2024 on June 7 for the candidates to inform the candidates about the UPSC exam timing. The candidates should strictly follow the UPSC pre-exam timing so they can appear in the prelim exam without any hassle.
Also Read: UPSC Answer Key 2024 Live Updates
- UPSC Pre-Exam Timing
- Reporting Time for UPSC Prelims Exam 2024
- Important UPSC Prelims Exam Instructions
- UPSC 2024 Exam Day Instruction
- UPSC IAS Prelims Exam Pattern
UPSC Pre-Exam Timing
The candidates should note that the Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC Prelims exam timetable on its official website just before the release of the UPSC admit card but this year, it was not released. The Commission mentioned the UPSC exam timing in the official UPSC admit card 2024. The candidates can see below the UPSC 2024 exam timing:
The Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC IAS 2025 prelims and main exam date. The Commission released the IAS 2025 notification online on January 22, 2025. The last date for the IAS 2025 application was February 21, 2025. The Commission will conduct the IAS 2025 prelims exam on May 25, 2025.
The IAS main exam 2025 will be conducted from August 22, 2025. The Commission preponed the main exam by one month.
The IAS 2023 Prelims exam was held on May 28th, 2023. The exam was moderately to difficult overall, with the General Studies Paper 1 being moderate to difficult and the GS Paper 2 CSAT being very lengthy. The exam also included more questions from the Environment and Geography section, and fewer questions from current affairs and international relations. The exam pattern changed, with altered Assertion and Reason questions, and a new format for multiples.
The cut-off for the exam was expected to be between 82 and 85, compared to 88 in 2022. Only 14,624 students scored above the cut-off and were eligible to proceed to the Mains round.
Some students who took the CSAT paper said it was very difficult, and some even approached the courts against the UPSC. Even some candidates files a petition against the difficulty level of the IAS prelims GS-2 (CSAT) paper.
| Session | Paper Timing | Paper Name |
|---|---|---|
| Morning Session | 9.30 AM to 11.30 AM | General Studies Paper 1 |
| Noon Session | 2.30 PM to 4.30 PM | General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) |
The candidates should note that there will be a gap of three hours between the two papers. The Union Public Service Commission also print the QR code on the UPSC admit card so that its details can be verified online just by scanning the QR code.
Upcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
31 Mar '26
30 Aug '26
31 Aug '26
Reporting Time for UPSC Prelims Exam 2024
The candidates should note that the Union Public Service Commission mentions in its official admit card that the “Entry to the Examination Venue shall be closed 30 minutes before the commencement of the examination in each session. No candidate shall be allowed entry into the examination venue after the closure of entry”. As per the official UPSC admit card, the reporting time for each session can be summarised below:
| Session | Paper Timing | Reporting Time |
|---|---|---|
| Morning Session | 9.30 AM to 11.30 AM | 9.00 AM |
| Noon Session | 2.30 PM to 4.30 PM | 2.00 PM |
It implies that the candidates cannot afford to be late for the examination otherwise the examination centre can deny their entry. Although it does not happen in reality.
Important UPSC Prelims Exam Instructions
The Union Public Service Commission mention the most important exam instructions in the UPSC admit card itself. The candidates can see below the important instructions as mentioned in the UPSC admit card 2024:
The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission conducted the UPPSC Prelims exam in 41 districts of the state. There are 75 districts in the State. Last year, the UPPSC PCS prelims exam was conducted in 51 districts. Earlier the UPPSC prelims exam was conducted in around 25 cities in the state.
The Union Public Service Commission released the IAS 2025 notification on January 22, 2025. The IAS notification notifies the number of vacancies, syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility, age limit and other rules which will govern the exam. The last date to apply online for the IAS 2025 exam will be February 11, 2025.
UPSC Civil Service (IAS) 2025 will be conducted on May 25, 2025. The Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC Civil Service (IAS) 2025 notification was released on January 22, 2025. The Commission activated the IAS 2025 online application form on its official website - upsc.gov.in.
The last date to apply for the IAS 2025 application form was February 21, 2025.
- The candidates will be required to carry the same photo identity proof whose details are mentioned in the UPSC admit card.
- The candidates are required to bring a black ball-point pen to mark the answers in the OMR sheet.
UPSC 2024 Exam Day Instruction
The Union Public Service Commission mentioned the standard exam day instructions which apply to all of its exams. The candidates can see below some of the most important instructions below:
- Candidates are required to bring their UPSC e-admit card, along with the original photo identity card whose number is specified on the admit card, to each examination session to gain entry to the centre. The UPSC IAS admit card must be kept safe until the final results of the Civil Services exam 2024 are announced
- Candidates should be aware that any omissions, mistakes, or discrepancies in encoding or filling in details on the OMR answer sheet, particularly regarding the roll number and test booklet series code will result in the rejection of the answer sheet.
- Candidates are advised to enter the exam hall well in time for frisking
- They must read the "Special Instructions for Candidates Admitted to the Examination" found in the "Rules for the Examination" in the notice, as well as the "Poster" containing instructions displayed outside the centre
UPSC IAS Prelims Exam Pattern
There are two papers in the UPSC (IAS) prelims exam. The candidates are required to appear and clear both papers to get selected. The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the UPSC Prelims exam offline at the designated exam centres across the nation. The candidates can see below the UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2024:
| Paper |
Questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper- I |
100 |
200 |
| General Studies Paper-II (Aptitude Test) |
80 |
200 |
| Total |
400 |
|
Note: The questions in both the papers (I and II) will be set in English and Hindi languages. Paper II of the UPSC IAS prelims exam will be a qualifying paper with 33% is the minimum qualifying mark.
Also Read: UPSC IAS Syllabus 2024
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, the UPSC IAS Notification 2026 was postponed due to administrative reasons. The Commission released the notification on its official website - upsc.gov.in on February 4, 2026. The last date to apply online for the Civil Service (IAS) exam is February 24.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The Union Public Service Commission will release the IAS Prelims Answer Key 2026 in May 2027. The Commission releases the official answer key after the declaration of final result.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the IAS prelims exam on May 24, 2026. The Commission will release the IAS prelims result 2026 in the first week of June.
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The Cadre Controlling Authority for Indian Foreign Service is the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It is recruited through the Civil Service Exam.
Contributor-Level 9
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The Cadre Controlling Authority for Indian Police Service is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It comes directly under the supervision of Home Minister of India.
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Beginner-Level 5
Answered 3 weeks ago
The Union Public Service Commission notified 933 UPSC Civil Service vacancies in the official notification. The number of vacancies for IAS is 180 and for IPS it is 150. Rest of the vacancies are notified for the Central Civil Services.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
The Union Public Service Commission mention the age limit in the official notification. The upper age limit for the General Categoary candidates is 32 years. The Commission provides age relaxation to certain reserved categories.
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 weeks ago
No, the Indian Foriegn Service is a Central Civil Service. It is organised and controlled by the Ministry of External Affairs. It is recruited through the UPSC Civil Service Exam conducted annually.
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Beginner-Level 5
Answered 3 weeks ago
The Union Public Service Commission released the Civil Service (IAS) notification 2026 on its official website - upsc.gov.in. The Commission notified 933 vacancies (tentative) in the notification.
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Yes, the UPSC IAS previous year question papers are very important because they provide a clear picture of the exam. The UPSC IAS PYQs hints about the most frequently asked topics in the exam. It also provides the tentative weightage of the sections in the UPSC IAS syllabus.
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Beginner-Level 5
The UPSC IAS 2024 notification was released on February 14, 2024. The notification included important dates, the number of vacancies, the syllabus, and all the criteria for appearing in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Candidates can apply for the UPSC IAS application form until March 5, 2024. There are 1056 UPSC vacancies in the IAS 2024 exam.
The IAS Exam for 2024 prelims phase will take place on May 26, 2024. The minimum age to fill the IAS 2024 application is 21 years and the maximum age is 32 years. Age relaxation is provided to candidates belonging to certain categories.