UKPSC Exam Pattern and Syllabus (Uttarakhand)

The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC) conducts the State Civil/Upper Subordinate Services Examination to recruit candidates for various administrative positions within the Uttarakhand government.

The recruitment process follows a strict three-tier structure:

1. Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Screening)
2. Stage II: Mains Examination (Written/Subjective)
3. Stage III: Interview/Personality Test

Stage I: Preliminary Examination Pattern

The Preliminary examination is the initial screening stage. It consists of two objective-type papers. While Paper I determines the cutoff for the Mains, Paper II is qualifying in nature.

Feature	Paper-I: General Studies (GS)	Paper-II: General Aptitude Test (CSAT)
Number of Questions	150	150
Total Marks	150 Marks	150 Marks
Duration	2 Hours	2 Hours
Marking Scheme	1 Mark per question	1 Mark per question
Negative Marking	0.25 (1/4) marks deducted per wrong answer	0.25 (1/4) marks deducted per wrong answer
Qualifying Criteria	Marks used for merit ranking to entry Mains	Mandatory 33% (approx. 50 marks) to qualify

Preliminary Syllabus

Paper I: General Studies

1. Indian History, Culture, and National Movement

• Pre-Historic Period: Harappa Civilization, Vedic Civilization, and Sangam Age. Mahajanapadas and the rise of Magadh.
• Religious Movements: Jainism, Buddhism, Bhagavatism, and Shaivism.
• Ancient Empires: Mauryan Empire (Chandragupta, Ashoka’s Dhamma, Administration, Economy, and Art). Kushanas and Greek contacts.
• Gupta Empire: Foundation, Consolidation, and Decline. Detailed study of Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II, and Skandagupta. Focus on Administration, Literature, and Art.
• Post-Gupta Period: Harshavardhan, Pal, Pratihara, Rashtrakuta, Chola, Pallava, Chandel, Paramar, and Chauhan dynasties. Socio-economic development between 650 A.D. and 1200 A.D.
• Advent of Islam: Delhi Sultanate (Iltutmish, Balban, Alauddin Khalji, Tughlaqs, Lodis). Administration, society, and Indo-Islamic Architecture. Bhakti and Sufi movements.
• Mughal Empire: Babar to Aurangzeb. Focus on Mansabdari and Jagirdari systems, Art, Architecture, and Literature. Rise of Marathas, Sikhs, and Jats.
• European Expansion: Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British East India Company. British administration (1758–1857). Economic impact of British rule.
• National Movement: 1857 War of Independence. 19th-century Socio-religious reforms. Indian National Congress (Moderates and Extremists). Gandhian Era (Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India). Government of India Acts (1858, 1919, 1935). Indian Independence Act 1947 and Partition.

2. History and Culture of Uttarakhand

• Pre-historic and Proto-historic periods of the region.
• Ancient tribes: Kuninda and Yaudheya.
• Regional Dynasties: Kartikepur, Kattyuri, Parmar (Garhwal), and Chand (Kumaon).
• Gorkha Invasion and their rule.
• British Rule and the Tehri Estate.
• Role of Uttarakhand in the National Movement and regional People’s movements.

3. Indian and World Geography

• World Geography: Solar System, Lithosphere (Latitudes, Longitudes, Rotation, Revolution), Hydrosphere (Currents, Tides, Salinity), Atmosphere (Layers, Humidity). Global Agriculture, Minerals, Population, and International boundaries.
• Geography of India: Relief, Structure, Drainage systems, Climate, Vegetation, Soils, and Water Resources. Population, Urbanization, and Scheduled Castes/Tribes.
• Geography of Uttarakhand: Geographical location, Relief, Climate, Drainage, Wild life, Irrigation, and Natural hazards.

4. Indian Polity and Constitution

• National: Parliamentary system, Coalition politics, Regionalism, Casteism, and Communalism. Welfare provisions for SC/ST/OBC and Minorities. Gender politics and Electoral reforms. Governance institutions and Planning machinery (NITI Aayog/Planning Commission).
• Constitution of India: Constitutional Development, Preamble, and Basic Features.
• International Affairs: United Nations, Environmental concerns at the global level, Regional groups (SAARC, ASEAN, BRICS). India’s approach to Disarmament, Human Rights, and Globalization.

5. Economic and Social Development

• LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization) and its impact.
• Banking Sector (RBI, NABARD, IDBI).
• Development schemes (MNREGA, NRHM, JNNURM).
• Social Sector initiatives and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

Stage II: Mains Examination Pattern

The Mains examination is a descriptive/written test. This stage is crucial as marks obtained here are combined with the interview marks for final selection. There are eight compulsory papers.

Paper	Subject	Total Marks	Duration
Paper I	Language (Hindi)	150 Marks	3 Hours
Paper II	Essay	150 Marks	3 Hours
Paper III	General Studies I: Indian History, Social Justice, and Culture	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper IV	General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, and IR	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper V	General Studies III: Technology, Economics, Environment, and Security	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper VI	General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper VII	General Studies V: Knowledge of the State of Uttarakhand (Part 1)	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper VIII	General Studies VI: Knowledge of the State of Uttarakhand (Part 2)	200 Marks	3 Hours
Total		1500 Marks

Mains Syllabus

Paper I: Language (Hindi)

This paper tests the candidate’s proficiency in the Hindi language through various exercises:

• General Hindi Grammar and Vocabulary.
• Antonyms, Synonyms, and One-word substitutions.
• Phrases and phrasal verbs.
• Transformation of sentences.
• Letter writing and Official correspondence.
• Comprehension and Précis writing.

Paper II: Essay

Candidates are required to write multiple essays on diverse topics. The assessment focuses on the clarity of thought, expression, and logical flow. Topics generally include:

• Social and political issues.
• Economic trends.
• Environmental challenges.
• Literature and Culture.
• National and International current events.

Paper III: General Studies I (History, Social Justice, and Culture)

• Indian History: Political, Economic, Social, and Cultural history from Harappan civilization to modern times.
• World History: Major events that shaped the modern world.
• Indian Cultural Heritage: Art forms, literature, and architecture from ancient to modern times. Focus on World Heritage sites in India.
• Social Justice: Issues related to vulnerable sections, empowerment, and welfare schemes.

Paper IV: General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, and IR)

• Indian Constitution: Features, amendments, and significant provisions.
• Polity: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States. Parliament and State Legislatures.
• Governance: Transparency, accountability, e-governance, and role of civil services in a democracy.
• International Relations: India’s neighborhood relations and global agreements involving India’s interests.

Paper V: General Studies III (Technology, Economics, Environment, and Security)

• Economy: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, and employment. Government budgeting.
• Science & Technology: Developments and applications in everyday life. Achievements of Indians in S&T.
• Environment: Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation.
• Security & Disaster Management: Internal security challenges, cyber security, and disaster mitigation strategies.

Paper VI: General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, and consequences of ethics in human actions.
• Attitude: Content, structure, function, and its influence on thought and behavior.
• Aptitude: Integrity, impartiality, objectivity, and empathy towards the weaker sections.
• Emotional Intelligence: Concepts and utilities in administration and governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service and philosophical basis of governance and probity.

Paper VII & VIII: General Studies V & VI (Knowledge of Uttarakhand)

These papers are dedicated to the specific study of Uttarakhand state:

• History of Uttarakhand: Regional movements, dynasties, and the struggle for statehood.
• Geography and Economy: Natural resources, forest wealth, tourism, and hydropower potential. Rural development and migration issues.
• Polity and Administrative Setup: Local government, Panchayati Raj in the hills, and state-specific laws.
• Social Structure: Tribes of Uttarakhand, folk arts, traditions, festivals, and cultural heritage.

Stage III: Interview / Personality Test

Candidates who clear the Mains examination are invited for the final stage.

• Total Marks: 150 Marks.
• Evaluation Criteria:
  • Personality: Assessment of the candidate’s overall bearing and confidence.
  • Communication Skills: Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
  • Problem-Solving: Evaluating the candidate’s analytical approach to administrative scenarios.
  • General Awareness: Knowledge of state, national, and international affairs.
  • Intellectual Qualities: Mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, and logical exposition.
  • Social Traits: Integrity, moral courage, and leadership potential.

Final Merit Ranking: The final selection list is prepared by aggregating the marks obtained in the Mains Examination (1500) and the Interview (150), for a total of 1650 marks.