UKPSC PCS is the Uttarakhand Combined State Civil / Upper Subordinate Services Examination. It is conducted by the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC), which is based at Haridwar. It is the state's main civil services exam. Through it, Uttarakhand fills posts such as Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police and a range of other state services.
The exam uses the standard three-stage model. Its special feature is how much of it is about Uttarakhand itself. The state's history, geography, culture, economy and administration are tested in the prelims and have had dedicated space in the mains. For a candidate from outside the state, this is the part that needs the most planned effort.
- Three stages: prelims (objective), mains (descriptive) and interview.
- Prelims has a General Studies paper and a CSAT paper that has been qualifying.
- Mains has included General Hindi, an essay and several GS papers, with Uttarakhand-focused content.
- The pattern, marks, age band and posts are set in the current UKPSC notification.
The three stages of UKPSC PCS
Selection runs in three stages. Each one needs a different kind of preparation.
| Stage | Type | What it decides |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary exam | Two objective papers - General Studies and CSAT | Who is called to the mains. Prelims marks do not count in the final merit. |
| Main exam | Descriptive written papers | Most of your final score |
| Interview | Personality test | Added to the mains marks for the final merit |
The prelims is a filter. Only a limited multiple of the vacancies, category-wise, is called to the mains. So your aim should be a clear margin above the likely cut-off.
The final merit is made from mains and interview marks together. Your post depends on this rank and on the preferences you fill.
The number of questions, marks, duration, negative marking and the mains shortlisting ratio are fixed in the current UKPSC notification. Read it before you plan, since these details have been revised.
Prelims - General Studies and a qualifying CSAT
The prelims has two objective papers.
Paper I - General Studies. This paper decides your prelims rank. Its areas have included:
- History of India and the national movement
- Indian and world geography
- Indian polity, governance and economy
- General science and environment
- Current affairs - national and international
- Uttarakhand - its history, geography, culture, economy and administration
Paper II - General Aptitude (CSAT). It tests comprehension, reasoning, decision making and basic numeracy. In UKPSC PCS this paper has been qualifying. You must reach the minimum mark, but it is not used for ranking.
Do not treat CSAT as a formality. A weak CSAT score can end your attempt even with a high GS score. The qualifying percentage and negative marking are stated in the notification.
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Cover the full General Studies syllabus in a fixed, structured schedule.
Mains - the descriptive stage
The mains is a written, descriptive exam, and it decides most of the merit. UKPSC mains has included:
- General Hindi - grammar, comprehension, translation and writing.
- Essay - long-form writing on given topics.
- Several General Studies papers - covering history and culture, geography, polity and governance, economy, science and technology, ethics-type topics and current affairs.
- Uttarakhand-focused content - the state's history, culture, geography, economy and administration have had dedicated space in the GS papers.
Two skills matter here. The first is answer writing - clear structure, the right word limit and relevant examples. The second is the Hindi paper and the essay. Both carry full marks in the merit, and many GS-focused candidates underprepare them.
The number of papers, marks per paper, duration and word limits are set by UKPSC and have been revised over the years. Keep the current mains syllabus in front of you while planning.
Eligibility and posts
The basic requirement has been a graduation degree from a recognised university. Some posts in the combined exam have needed a specific degree or physical standard - for example, police posts. Check the post-wise qualification table in the notification.
The age limit is counted from a cut-off date given in the notification. Relaxations apply to reserved categories and other eligible groups. Reservation benefits are for residents of Uttarakhand; candidates from other states have generally been able to apply in the general category.
A single combined exam fills many posts. The best-known are Deputy Collector and Deputy Superintendent of Police. The list has also included finance, commercial tax, district-level and other state posts. Top ranks usually choose the administrative or police service.
UKPSC also runs other exams, such as the lower PCS and various recruitment exams. Do not confuse them with the upper PCS described here.
The qualification, age band, relaxations and post list change with each notification. Confirm them before applying.
Uttarakhand GK - the core you must build
Uttarakhand GK appears in the prelims, in the mains and again in the interview. Build it as its own subject.
- Formation - Uttarakhand was formed on 9 November 2000, carved out of Uttar Pradesh. It was first named Uttaranchal and renamed Uttarakhand in 2007.
- Regions - the two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, and their districts.
- Geography - the Himalayan ranges, glaciers, and rivers such as the Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Ganga, Yamuna and Kali.
- History and culture - the Katyuri and Chand dynasties, Gorkha rule, the British period, movements such as Chipko, and folk dances, fairs and festivals.
- Economy - tourism, pilgrimage, horticulture, hydropower and the state budget.
- Administration and current affairs - the legislature, the High Court at Nainital, schemes and recent events.
Keep one notebook for this pillar and revise it weekly. District lists, schemes and administrative details change, so verify them from official state sources close to the exam.
A preparation plan for UKPSC PCS
A good plan joins prelims and mains preparation from the start.
Use NCERTs for the base. They cover most of the national-level GS in the prelims and give you facts for mains answers.
Build Uttarakhand GK as a separate pillar. Give it daily time and a weekly revision.
Practise CSAT regularly. Solve comprehension and reasoning sets weekly and check yourself against past papers.
Write answers from month two. Write a few mains-style answers daily, along with one essay a week.
Give General Hindi a fixed slot. Grammar, comprehension and translation are steady marks.
In the last months before the prelims, solve previous UKPSC papers and full mocks. For comparison with nearby state services, see the UPPSC PCS and HPSC HCS guides, and the UPSC CSE guide for the national-level exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full form of UKPSC?
UKPSC stands for Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. It conducts the Uttarakhand Combined State Civil / Upper Subordinate Services Examination, commonly called UKPSC PCS.
Where is the UKPSC office located?
The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission is based at Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
Is CSAT qualifying in UKPSC PCS prelims?
The CSAT (General Aptitude) paper has been qualifying. You must reach the minimum mark, but only the General Studies paper decides the prelims merit. Confirm the qualifying mark in the current notification.
What is the qualification for UKPSC PCS?
A graduation degree from a recognised university. Some posts need a specific degree or physical standard. The age band and relaxations are set in the current notification.
When was Uttarakhand formed?
Uttarakhand was formed on 9 November 2000 from Uttar Pradesh. It was first named Uttaranchal and was renamed Uttarakhand in 2007.
How important is Uttarakhand GK in UKPSC PCS?
Very important. Uttarakhand's history, geography, culture, economy and administration are tested in the prelims and have had dedicated space in the mains, and they come up again in the interview.