About UPPSC

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) is the state organization approved to direct the Civil Services Examination for entry- level arrangements to the different Civil Services of Uttar Pradesh. The organization's charter is allowed by the Constitution of India. Articles 315 to 323 of Part XIV of the constitution, titled Services under the Union and the States, accommodate a Public Service Commission for the Union and for each state. 

Why being PCS officers from UPPSC is a good career option?

Every year many aspirants want to foray into administrative domain as a career option. Apart from UPSC CSE, many state PCS allow lucrative option for aspirants to jostle for this coveted job. Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) Exam is one such avenue, which is held every year, so as to allow students to realize their cherish dream to serve their State and Country.

The UPPSC exam is conducted through 3 stages i.e. Preliminary, Mains and interview. The UPPSC exam over the period of time is modelled on the patterns of UPSC CSE, hence those aspirants that prepare exclusively for UPSC CSE, can also take plunge in UPPSC simultaneously without much fuss.

The Preliminary stage consists of two Papers, Paper I consists of questions ranging from all subjects like History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Environment and current affairs related to national and international concern. Paper II is only qualifying in nature consisting of questions related to, math’s, reasoning, English, Hindi of basic nature.  The Preliminary stage is followed by Mains, where aspirants write their optional subject apart from four GS papers, Essay and Hindi.

UPPSC exam has been following a fixed calendar for many years now, so gone are the days where uncertainty used to looms large over this prestigious exam. Candidates as such plan and start their preparations at an early stage. After selection one is get recruited to many department of states like Administration, Police, Revenue, Education, Child welfare, Labour etc. With assured career progression apart from pride of serving their state and people, UPPSC Exam is worthwhile to take a plunge.

What are the different posts which come under the UPPSC Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Exam?

Every year UPPSC notifies for state PCS services through Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Exam 2021 and Assistant Conservator of Forest (A.C.F.) / Range Forest Officer (R.F.O.) Services Exam. Through this exam a candidate is recruited to various state services some of them are as listed below:

  • Registrar, Asst. Prosecuting Officer (Transport)
  • District Administrative Officer
  • District Audit Officer (Revenue Audit)
  • Assistant Controller Legal Measurement (Grade-I) / Assistant Controller Legal Measurement (Grade-II)
  • Assistant Labour Commissioner
  • District Programme Officer
  • Senior Lecturer, DIET
  • District Probation Officer
  • Child Development Project Officer
  • Designated Officer / Food Safety Officer
  • Statistical officer
  • Labour Enforcement Officer
  • District Cane Officer, U.P. Agriculture Service Group "B" (Development Branch)
  • ARO
  • Assistant Director (Horticulture)
  • Manager (Administration/ General)
  • Assistant Store Purchase Officer
  • Technical Assistant (Chemistry).

However for many of these post some specific educational eligibility criteria are required like for few services these criteria is needed to be fulfilled:

  • Registrar, Asst. Prosecuting Officer (Transport) - Law Graduate.
  • District Administrative Officer- Post Graduate Degree.
  • District Audit Officer (Revenue Audit) - Commerce Graduate.
  • Assistant Labour Commissioner - Degree in Arts with Sociology or Economics as a subject or Commerce/Law.
  • District Programme Officer - Degree in Sociology or Social Science or Home Science or Social Work.
  • Senior Lecturer, DIET - Post Graduate Degree with B.Ed.
  • District Probation Officer - Post Graduate Degree in Psychology or Sociology or Social Work
  • Child Development Project Officer - Graduate Degree in Sociology or Social Work or Home Science

Note: For ACF/ Range Forest officer a candidate is required to have attained graduation in science/technology subject.

 

What is the standard of papers of UPPSC for different stages of the examination?

As we all know that UPPSC exam conducted via three stages, Pre, Mains and Interview. It becomes utmost important for students to keep themselves abreast with standard of questions that is being asked during exam. Over the years the UPPSC Exam has oriented it towards the pattern of UPSC CSE.

In Preliminary stage, the syllabus is very vast and candidate should be able to get in skin of syllabus should complete it as far as possible. The paper I consists of 150 questions from the subjects mentioned in syllabus e.g. history, polity, economy, current affairs etc. With introduction of negative marking, the general toughness level of exam has gone up. If candidate has studied the syllabus mentioned well enough, they will be able to solve the questions. The varying nature of questions asked from current affairs related to national and state makes the exam a bit uncertain. So if student has covered the current affairs holistically the uncertainty of exam will subside and students can approach the paper in right manner. Students should also take not paper II lightly and should be prepared for that also.

The Mains stage is less uncertain than the preliminary stage, although question paper has become more dynamic over years. However a good grasp over optional and analytical mind for GS and essay papers will allow one to sail through mains stage.

How it is different from UPSC?

Pattern

From 2018, there will be a change in the UPPCS Mains Exam pattern. Now, the pattern is similar to that of the UPSC. There will be four papers of GS carrying 200 marks each. There will be an Optional Paper of 400 marks. A paper of General Hindi will also be there for 150 marks and a paper of essay writing for 150 marks too.

Syllabus and level of examination

Talking about the GS Paper I, there will be History, Geography and Indian Society in the context of UP. In GS Paper II, there is Polity and International Relation. In GS Paper III, there is Agriculture, Internal Security, Diversity and Disaster Management. GS Paper IV is of Ethics.

The Paper I is conventional in nature. It is similar to the paper of Prelims Exam. It is not dynamic in nature while Paper II and III are dynamic. The topic of International Relation is based on Current Affairs, Indo-Pak relation, Role of SAARC and ISRO, trade war of America & China etc. the candidates should stay updated for getting more marks.

Paper III is based on Economy. We see new budget every year, new information based on economic policy and Stats, new schemes & visions. What we need to do as a candidate is to use all these information while writing the answer in the exam. There are policy changes in NITI Aayog which also adds to the substance in writing the answer.

Disaster Management is such a topic where one time reading is enough. The topic of internal security is also one such. As I said that Paper II and III are dynamic in nature. In the course of preparation, internet is very important. The candidates should read newspapers and they should also refer to the magazines.

Paper IV is of Ethics. The candidate should read a good book on this subject like of D Subba Rao. They should make notes based on this paper. There are two parts of Paper IV- Theory & Case Study. In terms of the suggestion, the candidates should refer to the previous year’s papers of UPSC, so that they can get an idea of the paper in the context of UP, Also it will be beneficial if aspirants read 2nd ARC report.

Optional subjects

For optional candidate is required to choose one subject from list of given subjects. The optional paper consists of two papers and in total carries 400 marks.

Number of attempts and age relaxation

As  far as attempt and age criteria is concerned, there is no attempt limit and candidate should have acquired 21 yrs. of age and must not be older than 40 years as on cut-off date.

 

The issue of scaling and moderation in UPPSC

Over last few years the issues of scaling and moderation in UPPSC mains exam has remained a bone of contention. Scaling was introduced by the commission in 1996 to introduce parity between different subjects.

Scaling is the exercise of putting the marks which are the results of different scales adopted in different subjects by different examiners into a common scale so as to permit comparison of inter se merit. By this exercise, the raw marks awarded by the examiner in different subjects are converted to a 'score' on a common scale by applying a statistical formula. The 'raw marks' when converted to a common scale are known as the 'scaled marks'. Scaling process, whereby raw marks in different subjects are adjusted to a common scale, is a recognized method of ensuring uniformity inter se among the candidates who have taken examinations in different subjects like for say any science subject like mathematics and art subject like history.

In regard to compulsory papers which are of descriptive (conventional) type, valuation is done manually, moderation is applied to bring about uniformity in valuation where several examiners manually evaluate answer-scripts of descriptive/ conventional type question papers in regard to same subject; and that scaling should be resorted only where a common merit list has to be prepared in regard to candidates who have taken examination of different subjects, in pursuance of an option given to them.

But some Examining Authorities, like the UPPSC are of the view that scaling can be used, not only where there is a need to find a common base across different subjects (that is bringing the performance in different subjects to a common scale), but also as an alternative to moderation, to reduce examiner variability (that is where different examiners evaluate answer scripts relating to the same subject), because some examiners can take lenient view where as other examiner will be strict will checking same answers. As such candidate will be left at mercy of examiners.

As such, scaling and moderation is necessary evil, the only concern is ambiguity and secrecy how these process is applied. Often candidates are left bemused when marks are revealed, where marks obtained does not meet candidate’s expectations. Hence need is to bring transparency is the system and Raw marks should also be revealed to gain confidence of aspirants.

Verifying, please be patient.