Rachit Kumar
Rachit Kumar Saxena
Manager-Editorial
Updated on Jun 14, 2024 23:56 IST
The UPSC prelims exam will be conducted on June 16. The exam will be conducted in two sessions. The candidates can see here UPSC exam timing, session (shift) timing and reporting time. The Commission mentioned these details on the UPSC admit card. The Commission released the UPSC admit card 2024 on May 28.

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_Exam_Timing_Check_Pre_Exam_Shift_Timing

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.

Table of contents
  • 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:

Q:   When was the IAS 2024 Notification released?
A:

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.

Q:   What is IAS 2025 Prelims Exam Date?
A:

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.

Q:   How was the IAS 2023 Prelims Exam?
A:

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.

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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:

Q:   How many exam centres are there in UPPSC Prelims exam 2024?
A:

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission is planning to conduct the UPPSC Prelims exam 2024 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 UPPSC 2024 prelims exam will be conducted on December 7 & 8, 2024. The Commission is expected to release the UPPSC 2024 admit card on November 27, 2024 in its official website - uppsc.up.nic.in.

Q:   When will IAS 2025 notification be released?
A:

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.

Q:   What is the IAS 2025 Prelims Exam Date?
A:

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

About the Author
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Rachit Kumar Saxena
Manager-Editorial
 
Role : Editorial Project Manager, Problem Solver & Test Prep Expert
 
Education: A Delhi University Alumni and a Science Graduate from Lucknow University
 
Rachit Kumar Saxena is a Ed-tech professio
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Answered Yesterday

No, the Commission do not mention any Minimum Qualifying Marks for the General Studies Paper 1. But there is a criteria of Minimum 33 % for the General Studies Paper 2 (Aptitude) paper. 

N

Nitesh Singh

Beginner-Level 5

Answered Yesterday

The IAS Prelims exam is conducted offline in the pen and paper mode. There is no sectional cutoff in the IAS prelims exam because the number of questions from a section is not fixed and they vary year to year.

S

Saakshi Kumar

Beginner-Level 5

Answered Yesterday

The Union Public Service Commission conduct the Civil Service (IAS) main (written) exam offline in pen and paper mode. This exam is a descriptive type exam where the candidates are required to breach this cutoff score to get a call for the interview phase.

R

Rashmi

Beginner-Level 5

Answered Yesterday

The IAS prelims cutoff means the minimum marks required to clear the prelims exam in the category of the candidate. The Union Public Service Commission conduct the IAS prelims exam to filter the candidates and limit the numbers for the main (written) exam. The Commission conduct the prelims in offli

...Read more

A

Aashi Tiwari

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 6 days ago

No, the number of IAS vacancies is fixed to 180. Every year, the Commission recommend 180 candidates for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS). In case of any change, the Commission will notify.

M

Manori Malhotra

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a week ago

The Union Public Service Commission is expected to conduct the UPSC Civil Service (IAS) interviews till March/April 2026. The Commission is expected to release the UPSC CSE (IAS) Final Result in April 2026. 

A

Akanksha

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 3 weeks ago

A: BEL 2022 recruitment applications were started on February 22, 2022.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 3 weeks ago

A: BEL accepted the applications till March 16, 2022, only.

M

Mamona Gupta

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

The Union Public Service Commission released the Civil Service (IAS) Main result 2025 on its portal - upsc.gov.in. The Commission selected 2,736 candidates for the interview stage. The Commission will start conducting the interviews in December 2025.

78438844
Rachit Kumar Saxena

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

The Union Public Service Commission conduct the Civil Service Exam every year to recruit the candidates for the All India Services and Central Civil Services. There are around 25 Central Civil Services whose exam is combinedly conducted as Civil Service Exam. 

R

Rashmi

Beginner-Level 5