UKPCS Exam 2025: Forms, Age, Pattern & Full Syllabus

If you want a one-stop plan for the UKPCS Exam journey, this guide keeps things simple: when forms usually appear, who can apply, how the exam is structured, and exactly what to study for each stage. I’ve also added practical question-wise distribution for Prelims so you can prioritize topics smartly for Uttarakhand PCS.

When do the forms usually come?

The notification for UKPCS Exam generally falls in the April–June window in most cycles. Treat early May as your “check for updates” period and keep your documents ready. Application windows are short, so prepare scans and certificates in advance. For Uttarakhand PCS, it’s smart to set a personal reminder in late April so you never miss the start of registrations.

Age limit and basic eligibility

• Age limit: 21 to 42 years (with statutory relaxations for reserved categories as per government norms).

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Some posts may require specific qualifications; read the post-wise details when the notice is out.

• Other conditions: Usual rules on nationality, character, and medical fitness apply.

These are standard benchmarks for UKPCS Exam and they rarely change dramatically. If you are close to the age boundary for Uttarakhand PCS, plan your attempt count and timelines right now so you can maximize opportunities.

Stages at a glance

UKPCS Exam has three stages: Preliminary Examination (objective), Main Examination (descriptive), and Interview (personality test). The Prelims screens candidates, the Mains tests depth and writing, and the Interview checks suitability for public service in Uttarakhand PCS roles.

Overall UKPCS exam pattern

Friendly tip: For UKPCS Exam, Prelims is about breadth + speed, Mains is about depth + clarity, and Uttarakhand PCS Interview rewards authenticity and state awareness.

Prelims pattern (with practical question distribution)

Paper-1: General Studies (GS)

• Questions: 150

• Marks: 150

• Duration: 2 hours

• Negative marking: ¼ for each wrong answer

• Merit: Only this paper counts toward the Prelims merit list for UKPCS Exam.

Indicative distribution (adds up to 150 questions):

Note: Commissions never promise an exact split; the table shows a sensible, balanced plan that matches what a well-designed 150-question GS paper for Uttarakhand PCS typically feels like.

Paper-2: General Aptitude (CSAT)

• Questions: 100

• Marks: 150

• Duration: 2 hours

• Qualifying: Minimum 33% required

• Negative marking: ¼ for each wrong answer

• Role: Qualifying only; UKPCS Exam merit in Prelims comes from GS.

Smart working split (adds up to 100 questions):

Even though CSAT is qualifying in Uttarakhand PCS, don’t ignore it. A 20–30 minute daily routine prevents last-minute panic.

Prelims syllabus — topic-by-topic (easy words)

GS Paper-1 covers:

• History & Culture: Ancient to modern India, art forms, literature, freedom struggle, social reformers.

• Geography: Physical (landforms, climate, soils), human (population, migration), economic (agriculture, industries), maps.

• Polity & Governance: Constitution basics, Parliament, State legislatures, judiciary, local governance, rights, key policies.

• Economy: Growth, budgeting, planning, sectors, inclusion, poverty, inflation, basic banking/financial awareness.

• Environment & Ecology: Biodiversity, ecosystems, pollution, climate change, conservation efforts, disaster basics.

• Science & Tech: Everyday science, health, IT, space, biotech in simple terms.

• Current Affairs: National, international, reports, indices, committees, sports and awards.

• Uttarakhand-Specific: History, culture, festivals, art, geography, economy, and state development programs.

CSAT Paper-2 covers:

• Comprehension & Communication: Reading passages, grammar, vocabulary, sentence improvement.

• Reasoning: Verbal and non-verbal patterns, puzzles, coding–decoding, series, direction sense.

• Quant: Arithmetic basics, number operations, percentages, averages, profit–loss, time–work, time–distance.

• Data Interpretation: Charts, graphs, and table-based calculations.

• Decision-Making: Practical, ethical choices with limited info—answer with balance and clarity.

Mains pattern (8 papers, 1500 marks)

• Paper I (Hindi) often has a minimum qualifying threshold; take it seriously.

• Final merit for UKPCS Exam = Mains (1500) + Interview (150).

Mains syllabus — paper-wise easy breakdown

Paper I: General Hindi

Paper II: Essay

For Uttarakhand PCS, pepper your essays with state-specific examples (tourism, disaster management, mountain agriculture, migration, hydropower).

Paper III: GS-I (Heritage, Culture, History & Geography)

Paper IV: GS-II (Polity, Governance, Social Justice, IR)

Paper V: GS-III (Economy, Tech, Environment, Security, Disaster Mgmt)

Paper VI: GS-IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude)

Paper VII: GS-V (Uttarakhand Focus)

Paper VIII: GS-VI (Uttarakhand Focus)

Interview (Personality Test)

The interview for UKPCS Exam is about judgment, clarity, integrity, and awareness. Expect conversations on your form, work/education, and state-specific issues. Balanced opinions, precise facts, and a calm tone matter more than flashy jargon. For Uttarakhand PCS, prepare a crisp “Why public service in Uttarakhand?” answer with real experiences and local understanding.

Smart 90-day starter plan

1. Prelims-first approach: Split your weekday routine between GS and CSAT; weekends for full-length mocks. This rhythm suits UKPCS beginners and repeaters alike.

2. State notebook: Maintain a small, evolving notebook for Uttarakhand PCS facts—schemes, geography, and recent state developments.

3. Write early for Mains: Pick any GS topic and write a 200-word note daily. Clear intros and bullet-point bodies will carry you far in UKPCS Exam Mains.

4. CSAT mini-drill: 20–30 minutes daily keeps quant and comprehension sharp. This is the quiet eliminator in Uttarakhand PCS.

5. Revision loops: Every Sunday, revise the week’s notes, retake the hardest MCQs, and update your weak-topic list for UKPCS Exam.

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Final word

Cracking UKPCS Exam is about consistency, not perfection. Keep your plan lean, your notes short, and your practice regular. If you steadily build fundamentals and add state-specific depth, Uttarakhand PCS becomes less intimidating and more about disciplined execution. Remember: active recall beats passive reading, timed drills beat casual browsing, and honest self-review turns weaknesses into marks. Stay patient, refine your approach every two weeks, and you’ll feel the shift both in confidence and in scores for UKPCS Exam.

Quick recap tables (one-look revision)

Prelims Overview

Mains Overview