These are the unprecedented times, where the Covid 19 pandemic has put the world at standstill. However, the government job aspirants are more agile and aware looking at the uncertainty of jobs in the private sector. Consequently, the competition for government posts has increased. The UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services or the PCS Examination 2021 and Assistant Conservator of Forests (A.C.F.)/Range Forest Officer (R.F.O.) Services Examination 2021 will take place on 24/10/2021. Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in India in terms of population. And UPPSC PCS Exam is the apex exam in the state to get into lucrative posts in the state administration. Hence, one can imagine the competition. Moreover, the exam is held to fill the top posts. And the aspirants wait eagerly for UPPSC PCS Exam to make them dream come true. Though the pandemic has badly affected the schedule, the exam will take place this year.
Here in this article, we have provided every single detail about the examination. The notification, syllabus, vacancies, salary, application fee, eligibility everything is discussed in detail.
The UPPSC or the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission is a constitutional government body. And it is responsible to conduct exams and recruit the Grade A and Grade B officers in the state. UPPSC conducts exams for different departments. It is also consulted on different matters of appointment and recruitment by the state government. It was formed in 1937 and has its headquarter at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The UPPSC will conduct the exam this year for 400 vacancies.
| Abbreviation | UPPSC |
| Type | Constitutional Government Recruitment Body |
| Purpose | Recruitment of Officers in the Government of Uttar Pradesh |
| Location | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Chairman | Shri Sanjay Shrinet (I.R.S. Officer) |
The UPPSC PCS and ACF/RFO examination take place every year to recruit the officers in UP state. And this exam tests the capabilities of aspirants through a three-stage exam process. This exam is held in three successive stages. Preliminary, Main, and Interview. So, different types of subjects and topics are there in the syllabus of UPPSC. As with any other Civil Services Exam in the country, the UPPSC PCS Exam also has a personality test round which is the Interview. Firstly, the commission releases the notification. Then, invites applications. After that, release the admit cards for the preliminary exam. Next, it conducts the exam. Similarly, it conducts the main exam. And in the last stage, it conducts the Personality Test Rounds. Finally, the UPPSC draws the final merit list. In the end, the successful candidates are given the posts as per their ranks, preferences, and reservation applicable.
The process of the UPPSC Exam starts with the release of the official notification of the exam. It is out on the official website. Since the notification contains all the details about the exam, it may be referred to as the guiding light for aspirants to prepare. Eligibility, vacancies, salary, application fee, admit card, result, pattern, syllabus everything is there in the UPPSC Notification. This year the notification for UPPSC PCS and ACF/RFO Exam 2021 notification was out on 05/02/2021. There are four hundred vacancies. Though the exam schedule had to be changed on account of the pandemic, the preliminary exam will take place on 24/10/2021.
The UPPSC PCS Exam is the most sought-after exam in the state and one of the most popular exams in the country. Therefore, aspirants wait eagerly for it. Also, the prestigious posts and the opportunity to serve at the highest level motivate the candidates to prepare for the exam. However, this year the schedule has got disturbed. Due to the pandemic, the commission postponed the exam. So, now the exam as well as the whole process is delayed. However, the UPPSC will inform the candidates about new updates on the website of the commission. Therefore, the aspirants should regularly be in touch with the official website.
| UPPSC PCS and ACF/RFO Exam Notification | UPPSC 2021 Notification |
The UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination 2021 and Assistant Conservator of Forests (A.C.F.)/Range Forest Officer (R.F.O.) Services Examination 2021 will take place on 24 October 2021. Though, earlier the exam was scheduled for 13th June 2021. But due to Covid 19 pandemic, the UPPSC had to postpone it. Also, the main exam will be from 28/01/2022 and the main exam for ACF and RFO Exam will be from 07/03/2022. The UPPSC shall announce the Interview dates later.
| 1 | Date of Preliminary Examination | 24/10/2021 |
| 2 | Date of Main Examination | 28/01/2022 |
| 3 | Date of Main Examination for A.C.F and R.F.O. | 07/03/2022 |
| 4 | Date of Interview | Yet to be announced |
The application fee for UPPSC Exam is relatively less as compared to other exams. So it is quite feasible for the candidates to appear for it. Also, there are reservations applicable for eligible categories. The application fee for the exam is given below for all categories.
| Category | Exam Fee |
| Unreserved, EWS, OBC | Rs.100 + Rs.25 (Online Processing Fee). Total – Rs.125 |
| Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes | Rs.40 + Rs.25 (Online Processing Fee). Total – Rs. 65 |
| Handicapped (Divyang) | Exam Fee Nil + Rs.25 (Online Processing Fee). Total – Rs. 25 |
| Ex-Serviceman | Rs.40 + Rs.25 (Online Processing Fee). Total – Rs. 65 |
| Freedom Fighter families/Women | According to their original category |
The UPPSC has specified the minimum educational qualification for the exam. Accordingly, the candidates should possess a minimum of a graduate degree by any recognized University or equivalent examination up to the last date of receipt of examination forms. However, there are certain additional qualifications required for some posts. The candidates can refer to the notification given above for details regarding it.
The candidates need to be Indian Citizens for appearing in the UPPSC Exam. This is mandatory. So those aspirants who have issues regarding citizenship on account of their stay outside India for any period of time can contact the commission for any clarification.
Candidates should have completed the age of 21 years and should not have crossed the age of 40
years on July 1, 2021, i.e. they should not have been born earlier than 2nd July 1981 and not later than July 1, 2000. For PH Category candidates, there is a relaxation of fifteen years. Thus, they should have not been born before 02 July 1966.
Relaxation in Upper Age Limit –
UPPSC will conduct the PCS and ACF/RFO Exam on 24/10/2021. The total number of vacancies for the PCS Exam is four hundred. The vacancy for Assistant Conservator of Forests (A.C.F.) is one. And the total number of posts of Range Forest Officer (R.F.O.) is fifteen. However, these vacancies can increase or decrease according to the requirements.
| Post | Vacancies |
| PCS Posts | 400 |
| A.C.F | 1 |
| R.F.O | 15 |
The PCS posts consist of vacancies from different departments. Posts like Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and other posts as given in the notification.
The salary given to the newly recruited officers is amongst the highest. This is in line with the prestige, responsibility these posts carry. Below, we have provided the details about the salary which the successful candidates will draw while joining.
The salary for UPPSC Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination carries the pay scale as per the 6th pay commission.
A Pay Scale of Rs. 9300-34800 and Grade Pay Rs 4600 (but except the Naib Tehsildar whose grade pay is Rs. 4200) to Rs. 15600-39100 and Grade Pay Rs. 5400.
| Sr. No. | Name of The Post | Pay Scale and Grade Pay / Status of Post |
| 1 | Assistant Conservator of Forest | Rs. 15600 to Rs. 39100 and Grade Pay 5400/(Level 10 in the pay matrix group) Group “B”, Gazetted |
| 2 | Range Forest Officer of Forest | Rs. 9300 to Rs. 34800 and Grade Pay 4800/(Level 8 pay matrix 47600 – 151100) Group “B”, Gazetted |
The syllabus for UPPSC Exam is somewhat similar to most of the other State PSC Exams. Considering the high stature and dynamic roles in state administration, the commission has designed a comprehensive syllabus for the exam. A Brief Overview is given below.
First paper contains the following topics :
History of India and Indian National Movement. Geography of India and World. Indian Polity and Constitution. Economy. Environmental Science. Biodiversity. Climate Change. General Science and Technology. Important Current Affairs.
The second paper contains the following topics :
Comprehension. General Mental Ability. Logical Reasoning. Decision Making. Problem Solving. Elemantary Mathematics up to class 10. General Hindi and General English up to class 10.
Paper 1 is of General Hindi
Next is Paper 2. It is of Essay. The Essay paper has three sections. Candidates have to write one essay from each section.
Paper 3 – General Studies 1
Topics from History and Geography.
Paper 4 – General Studies 2
Topics like Indian Polity, Constitution, Administration, Panchayati Raj, etc.
Paper 5 – General Studies 3
Topics like Economy, Environment, Security, etc.
Paper 6 – General Studies 4
Ethics and related topics. Case Studies.
Paper 7 – Optional Subject first paper
Paper 8 – Optional Subject second paper
The detailed syllabus for preliminary papers and all the written papers in main is given in the notification. Also, it is provided in our other article about UPPSC Exam Pattern and Syllabus. Candidates may refer to these for a detailed description of the syllabus.
The pattern of the UPPSC PCS Exam is similar to other Civil Services Examinations to a great extent. It has three successive stages. Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test or the Interview. At the preliminary stage, there are two papers of two hundred marks each. And these are papers with objective-type questions. Also, both are of two hours duration. The first paper has 100 questions and the second one has 150 questions.
Notably, the second paper is a qualifying paper. The minimum qualifying marks are fixed at 33%. So, the merit list will be made on the basis of the first paper. Important to note, it is mandatory for candidates to appear in both papers to be considered for evaluation.
| S. No. | Paper | Number of Questions | Duration of Exam | Maximum Marks | Type of paper |
| 1 | General Studies 1 | 150 | 2 Hours | 200 | Objective Type |
| 2 | General Studies 2 | 100 | 2 Hours | 200 | Objective Type |
Candidates about thirteen times the total number of vacancies make it to the main stage. In the main stage, there is a total of eight papers. And all the papers are of subjective type questions. Below, the pattern is given for the main exam. The candidates have to choose one optional subject from a list of optional subjects. Also, the list of optional subjects available is given below.
Agriculture. Zoology. Chemistry. Physics. Mathematics. Economics. Geography. Sociology. Philosophy. Geology. Psychology. Botany. Law. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science. Statistics. Management. Political Science and International Relations. History. Anthropology. Civil Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Electrical Engineering. English Literature. Hindi Literature. Urdu Literature. Sanskrit Literature. Commerce and Accountancy. Public Administration. Medical Science.
| S. No. | Paper | Duration of Exam | Maximum Marks | Type of paper |
| 1 | General Hindi | 3 Hours | 150 | Descriptive |
| 2 | Essay | 3 Hours | 150 | Descriptive |
| 3 | General Studies 1 | 3 Hours | 200 | Descriptive |
| 4 | General Studies 2 | 3 Hours | 200 | Descriptive |
| 5 | General Studies 3 | 3 Hours | 200 | Descriptive |
| 6 | General Studies 4 | 3 Hours | 200 | Descriptive |
| 7 | Optional Subject Paper 1 | 3 Hours | 200 | Descriptive |
| 8 | Optional Subject Paper 2 | 3 Hours | 200 | Descriptive |
Candidates about two times the total number of vacancies make it to the Personality Test or the Interview stage.
This is of 100 marks. The Interview will evaluate the matter of general interest keeping the matter of academic interest. It will test for general awareness, intelligence, character, expression power/personality, and general suitability for the service.
Finally, after the three stages are over, the UPPSC draws a final merit list combining the marks scored in the main exam and Personality Test.
The admit cards for UPPSC PCS Exam are available two to three weeks before the exam. Since the preliminary exam is on 24/10/2021. So the candidates can expect the admit cards to be out in the last week of September. Or the first week of October. After that, the commission will release the admit cards on the official website. Therefore, the aspirants will be required to go to the official website of UPPSC. And download the admit card from there. It will contain important details like name, registration number, date of birth, father name, exam center name and code, exam center address, roll number of candidates, exam date and time, and other important instructions for the examination. Also, the candidates will have to carry anyone photo identity proof along with the admit card on the date of examination.
After the exam is over, there is a sense of anxiety and eagerness among the candidates about the result. The result for prelims is declared after about one or two months of the exam in normal cases. And the candidates have to visit the official website to check and download the results. On the website, after clicking on the relevant section for the result, the result opens up in pdf format. The roll number of successful candidates is given in it. Candidates about thirteen times the total number of posts make it to the main stage.
Similarly, after the main papers are over, usually after two months, the result for written papers are declared. And candidates about two times the total number of vacancies reach the Personality Test Round. Finally, after the interviews are over, the final result is declared. It is declared combining the marks in written papers and interviews. After that, the final merit list contains the names and roll number of candidates in order of their ranks. UPPSC then allocates various posts to recommended candidates as per their ranks, preferences chosen and reservations applicable.
Only the online applications are allowed for UPPSC PCS and ACF/RFO Examination. The dates for applying were from 05/02/2021 to 05/03/2021. The Online Application for UPSC Exam is done in three stages:
Firstly, the candidates register themselves by providing basic details such as name, email, mobile number, and date of birth. To start applying, the candidates need to go to the website http://uppsc.up.nic.in. Click on “ALL NOTIFICATIONS/ADVERTISEMENTS”. The online advertisement shall be available there. There will be three parts as given below:
(i) User instructions
(ii) View Advertisement
(iii) Apply
All the advertisements will be there in which Online Applications are open. And the Instructions for filling Online form will be there in User Instruction. Choose the UPPSC PCS and ACF/RFO Exam option. Click on “Apply”. At the first stage, after entering the basic details, the candidates are registered. They must print or download the registration slip. It is important to edit all the details and make sure that everything is correct before entering Submit button.
In the second stage, online payment is done through Multi option Payment System. After the registration is done in the first stage, click on “Click here to proceed for payment”. So, three payment modes are available. You may choose anyone. These will be Net Banking, Payment through Cards, and Other Payment Mode. After the fee is deposited by any one of the modes, the ‘Payment Acknowledgment Receipt (PAR)’ will open up along with detail of fee deposition. Take a printout by clicking on ”Print Payment Receipt”.
In the final stage, the candidates will have to fill in all the required information. After it is done, candidates will have to upload the photograph and signature in the prescribed format. Notably, the photos or signatures if not uploaded in the required format, may lead to rejection of the applications. Therefore, the candidates must abide by the instructions very carefully. Finally, after this, the candidates should Preview the details by clicking on “PREVIEW” very carefully. Also, make changes if there are corrections. And then at the end, press “Submit”. Finally, take a printout or download the application form in pdf. Importantly, no certificates or documents will be uploaded at the time of the Online Application.
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Ans. The UPPSC PCS and ACF/RFO Exam take place once a year normally.
Ans. Basically, the minimum age limit is 21 years and the maximum age limit is 40 years. But relaxations are available for reserved categories in the upper age limit.
Ans. A total of 400 vacancies are there in UPPSC PCS and ACF/RFO Exam 2021.
Ans. The newly appointed officers draw a salary in the Pay Scale of Rs. 9300-34800 and Grade Pay Rs 4600 (except for Naib Tehsildar whose grade pay is Rs. 4200) to Rs. 15600-39100 Grade Pay Rs. 5400.
Ans. The minimum educational qualification is to possess a graduate degree in any stream.
Ans. The application fee for Unreserved/EWS/OBC category candidates is Rs. Rs.100 + Rs.25 (Online Processing Fee). Total – Rs.125. For SC/ST, it is Rs.40 + Rs.25 (Online Processing Fee). Total – Rs. 65.
Ans. The UPPSC will conduct the Preliminary Exam on 24/10/2021.
Ans. The UPPSC will release the Admit Card in the last week of September or the first week of October 2021.
Ans. The result of the preliminary exam will be after about one or two months of the exam.
Ans. The Admit Card can be downloaded from the official website of UPPSC, http://uppsc.up.nic.in.
Ans. No. Only Online Applications are allowed.
Ans. The detailed syllabus for UPPSC PCS Exam is available on the official website of UPPSC http://uppsc.up.nic.in.
Ans. No. The candidates have to download the Admit Cards from the website of the commission.
Ans. The main exam for UPPPSC PCS 2021 is on 28/01/2022.
Ans. There is only one vacancy as of now for Assistant Conservator of Forest.
Ans. There are fifteen vacancies as of now for Range Forest Officer of Forest.
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