PCS Exam Dates, Eligibility, Exam Pattern And Syllabus -PCS Exam
What is PCS ?
PSC 2022 Notification has been released by Public Service Commission (PSC) on its official website for the PCS exam. The PSC application link is active from 16 March to 16 April 2022. Lakhs of candidates apply for the PSC exam every year to be appointed as PCS officers to join the civil services in Uttar Pradesh Government. The candidates qualifying the PSC exam are appointed to the posts of Deputy Collector, DSP, BDO, Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Tax) and similar gazetted posts. Thus, candidates need to have strategic planning to qualify the exam.
The selection process for PSC 2022 exam is done through three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Prelims shall have only objective type questions while the Mains shall be descriptive in nature. The selection process is modelled on UPSC civil services exam. Get the latest updates on PSC exam here such as vacancy, eligibility criteria, selection process, application date, notification pdf, syllabus, cut off and more!
PCS 2022 – State Public Service Commission (PSC) Exams In India
The Public Service Commissions (PSC) in India are constitutionally mandated (Articles 315 – 323) to assist the respective state governments in matters of recruitment, transfers and disciplinary actions.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the prestigious IAS Exam every year. The IAS Exam is the common entry point for 20-odd Group A and Group B services.
Similarly, the State Public Service Commissions conduct recruitment exams which act as an entry point for coveted services in the state administration.
In this article, aspirants can find consolidated information on PSC Exams in India. Every Public Service Commission has its own website, exam pattern, eligibility conditions and syllabus. However, broadly speaking, there is a significant overlap between PSC Exams and UPSC Exam.
The pragmatic approach for civil service aspirants is to prepare for state PSC exams and UPSC simultaneously.
In the table given below, we have listed the various Public Service Commissions along with their details for the exam year 2021-22 and also for 2019-20 where the exam process is still underway.
Public Service Commission (PSC)
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) | https://psc.ap.gov.in/(S(5hor52dlqw5y2vtfvjvsh1hy))/Default.aspx | Download Syllabus |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission | https://appsc.gov.in/Index/institute_home/ins/RECINS001 | Download Syllabus |
| 3 | Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) | http://apsc.nic.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 4 | Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) | https://www.bpsc.bih.nic.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission | https://psc.cg.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 6 | Goa Public Service Commission | https://gpsc.goa.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 7 | Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) | https://gpsc.gujarat.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 8 | Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) | http://hpsc.net.in/Default.aspx | Download Syllabus |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission | http://www.hppsc.hp.gov.in/hppsc/ | Download Syllabus |
| 10 | Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, J&K | http://jkpsc.nic.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 11 | Jharkhand Public Service Commission | https://www.jpsc.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 12 | Karnataka Public Service Commission | https://kpsc.kar.nic.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 13 | Kerala Public Service Commission | https://www.keralapsc.gov.in/home-2 | Download Syllabus |
| 14 | Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission | https://mppsc.mp.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 15 | Manipur Public Service Commission | https://mpscmanipur.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 16 | Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) | http://mpsc.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 17 | Meghalaya Public Service Commission | https://mpsc.nic.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 18 | Mizoram Public Service Commission | https://mpsc.mizoram.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 19 | Nagaland Public Service Commission | https://npsc.nagaland.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 20 | Orissa Public Service Commission | https://www.opsc.gov.in/Public/OPSC/Default.aspx | Download Syllabus |
| 21 | Punjab Public Service Commission, PPSC | https://ppsc.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 22 | Rajasthan Public Service Commission | https://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 23 | Sikkim Public Service Commission | https://spsc.sikkim.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 24 | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) | https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 25 | Tripura Public Service Commission | https://tpsc.tripura.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 26 | Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) | https://www.tspsc.gov.in/website | Download Syllabus |
| 27 | Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) | https://uppsc.up.nic.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 28 | Uttarakhand Public Service Commission | https://ukpsc.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
| 29 | West Bengal Public Service Commission | https://wbpsc.gov.in/ | Download Syllabus |
Aspirants should bookmark this page and check it regularly as we will be updating and adding more PSC details of other states.
PSC Online – From Application to Preparation
Gone are the days when candidates were at the mercy of physical coaching centres and printed study material alone. With the internet, not only are the Public Service Commissions changing their application process but also the candidates are using online preparation material. On the lines of the Union Public Service Commission, the state PSCs have made the registration and application process online. Also, the admit cards are issued online instead of postal dispatches.
In this light, Our aims to provide all PSC exams relevant information at the fingertips of aspirants. In the articles linked above, candidates can find:
- PSC Exam Dates and 2020-21 Calendar
- Information about the respective Public Service Commission including official website and contact details
- Latest PSC Notification for the state civil service exam (Candidates can download PDFs for quick reference)
- Detailed Eligibility Criteria – Nationality, Age Limit, Number of Attempts, Educational Qualification, Physical Fitness
- List of Posts, Services and Salaries (Pay Scale)
- Updated and detailed PSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern for 2020 Exams (Also, candidates can download the syllabus PDFs)
- Preparation strategy and previous year question papers
- Study Material including daily Current Affairs from The Hindu, PIB, RSTV, Yojana, Comprehensive News Analysis etc
- List of best books for UPSC and PCS Exam preparation (including NCERT PDFs and Notes)
- PSC Online Application Process (login, registration and application fee)
Calendar of PSC Exams
The State Civil Services Examinations are conducted by different states in different names.
Highlight on some of the State Public Service Commission Exams for the year 2020-21 is given below. Also, the status of the examination amid the Coronavirus Outbreak is mentioned:
PSC Exams 2021-2022
PSCPSC ExamPSC SyllabusPSC Eligibility
| PSC Exam Name | Conducting Body | Important Dates | Change in Dates due to Covid-19 |
| Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) | Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) | KAS Prelims: 24th August 2020 (KPSC KAS 2017-18) KAS Mains: 13th – 16th February 2021 For further details, check- https://kpsc.kar.nic.in/ | Earlier KAS Prelims Date – 17th May 2020 |
| Kerala Administrative Services (KAS) | Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) | PSC KAS Prelims 2019: 22nd February 2020 PSC KAS Mains: 20th – 21st November 2020 For further details, check- https://keralapsc.gov.in/ |
|
| Provincial Civil Services (PCS) | Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) | PCS Prelims (2021): 13th June 2021 PCS Mains (2021): 3rd October 2021 onwards PCS Interview (2020): 1st April 2021 onwards For further details, check- https://uppsc.up.nic.in/ |
|
| Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS) | Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) | RAS Prelims 2020-21: September 2021 (Tentative) RAS Mains 2020-21: December 2021 (Tentative) RAS Interview (2018): 22nd March 2021 – 7th May 2021 For further details, check- https://rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in/ | The RAS Notifications 2019 and 2020 are postponed |
| MPSC State Services Examination | Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) | MPSC Prelims 2020: 21st March 2021 MPSC Mains 2020: To be announced |
|
| TNPSC Combined Civil Services Examination – I (Group-I Services) | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) | TNPSC 2020 group 1 Prelims: 3rd January 2021 TNPSC 2020 Group 1 Mains: To be announced For Further Details, check- https://tnpsc.gov.in/ | Earlier, TNPSC Group 1 Prelims 2020 was scheduled on 5th April. |
| APPSC Group-I Services | Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) | APPSC Group 1 Prelims (2019): 26th May 2019 APPSC Group 1 Mains (2019): 14th December – 20th December 2020 For Further Details, Check- https://psc.ap.gov.in/ |
|
| BPSC Combined Competitive Exam | Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) | 66th BPSC CCE Prelims: 27th December 2020 65th BPSC CCE Prelims: 15th October 2019 65th BPSC CCE Mains: 25th – 28th November 2020 For Further Details, Check- https://bpsc.bih.nic.in/ | Earlier date of BPSC 65th CCE Mains – 4th August 2020 onward |
| Gujarat Administrative Service (Class-1) | Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) | GPSC 2020 Prelims: 21st March 2021 For Further Details, Check- https://gpsc.gujarat.gov.in/ | – |
| MPPSC State Service Exam | Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) | MPPSC Prelims 2020: 11th April 2021 MPPSC Mains 2019: 21st March 2021 onwards For Further Details, Check- https://mppsc.nic.in/ | MPPSC Exams for 2020 were postponed |
| West Bengal Civil Service Exam/ West Bengal Civil Service (EXE.) etc. Exam | West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) | WBPSC Prelims 2021: 7th February 2021 [Postponed] WBPSC Prelims 2020: 9th February 2020 WBPSC Mains 2020: 24th-28th April 2020 WBPSC Prelims 2019: 9th February 2019 WBPSC Mains 2019: 25th-28th August 2019 For Further Details, Check- https://pscwbonline.nic.in/ | WBCS Prelims 2020 postponed |
| Combined Civil Services | Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) | JPSC 2017-18 Prelims: 2nd May 2021 JPSC 2017-18 Mains: September 2021 For Further Details, Check- https://gpsc.gov.in/ Calendar awaited | Delay of Official Notification for JPSC 7,8,9 |
PSC v/s UPSC
The IAS Exam which is conducted by the UPSC is widely considered to be the toughest exam in India. The comprehensive UPSC Syllabus and the sheer volume of aspirants competing for 900-1000 vacancies make it a very tough nut to crack. Adding to the burden of candidates, the three-stage exam process lasts for almost a year.
The PSC Exams are not so different. They are also highly competitive and their syllabus and pattern are quite similar to UPSC. However, the candidates who hail from the respective state can avail the benefits of reservation. Candidates should carefully go through the PSC recruitment notification to check all the details for the same.
In the case of PSC, most state governments have been lax when it comes to ensuring that the Public Service Commission is conducting exams regularly. In fact, it is not uncommon to see in the news that some PSC has landed in fresh controversy regarding delays, corruption, nepotism and cheating.
Often there is an uncomfortable time gap between the release of the PSC online application notification and the actual date of exam. As most exams have strict age limits, the delays endanger the careers of many bright young minds. In this regard, simultaneous preparation for other PSC and UPSC helps immensely.
As far as preparation is concerned, candidates have to keep the following 10 things in mind:
- Understanding the syllabus and exam pattern
- The importance of Current Affairs
- Preparing the state-specific topics and sections for PSC
- Starting with NCERTs and State Board books
- Standard reference books like Polity by Laxmikanth, History by Bipin Chandra etc are much more valuable resources than generic compilations for static parts of the syllabus
- The habit of reading and making notes from a newspaper (The Hindu/The Indian Express)
- Making time table with space for adequate study (and relaxation) and adhering to it without fail.
- Practising MCQs and doing answer writing practice
- Going through previous years’ question papers
- Ignoring the naysayers
Perhaps, the most important keys to success are perseverance and efficiency. If candidates study regularly from the right study material, then there is no reason why they can’t become IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS officers.