2. Mains Stage (Main Examination):
Once the Prelims have been cleared, candidates move on to the Mains examination. The Mains is more detailed and subjective and evaluates a candidate's depth of knowledge and analytical skills. Key features of the Mains are:
Descriptive-type questions: The Mains involves written answers, and the questions are often essay-based or analytical.
9 papers (for UPSC CSE, for example):
Qualifying Papers:
Paper A: Indian Language (usually the candidate’s regional language)
Paper B: English Language
General Studies Papers (1 to 4): These cover a wide array of subjects such as:
GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, Geography of the World and Society
GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations
GS Paper III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-Diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management
GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
Essay Paper: Candidates are required to write essays on given topics, testing their ability to express themselves logically and coherently.
Optional Subject Paper: Candidates choose an optional subject based on their interests, and they are required to answer detailed questions on this subject.
The Mains exam is the primary determinant of whether a candidate will make it to the interview stage (also called the Personality Test), and is more comprehensive, testing not just knowledge but also the candidate’s writing skills, problem-solving ability, and application of concepts.
3. Prelims-cum-Mains Concept:
Integrated Preparation: While the Prelims and Mains are separate exams, they are deeply interconnected in terms of preparation. A candidate preparing for the Prelims often needs to cover a broad range of subjects that are also relevant for the Mains. As a result, many aspirants begin preparing for both stages together, since the content overlap is significant.
Strategic Focus: Some candidates focus on scoring high in Prelims first (as it is the entry point), but they must also have an eye on the Mains preparation. A good Prelims score doesn't guarantee success in Mains, but failure to clear Prelims means automatic disqualification.
Mains as the Decider: In terms of final selection, the Mains exam carries much more weight than the Prelims. After the Mains, candidates who perform well are called for the Interview or Personality Test, and the final merit list is based on the Mains exam score combined with the Interview performance.
Key Points to Remember:
Prelims is the elimination round, and only marks from General Studies Paper I are considered for selection.
Mains is the critical stage that counts heavily towards your final rank.
Integrated preparation is recommended to ensure that one is well-prepared for both stages.
Prelims questions are objective, while Mains questions are subjective and more in-depth.
Both stages test a candidate’s breadth and depth of knowledge, writing skills, and ability to think critically.
In short, the Prelims-cum-Mains structure requires a strategic and well-rounded approach to both objective and descriptive preparation, balancing current affairs, core knowledge, and essay-writing abilities.
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