Common Doubts Regarding UPSC Civil Services Exam Application

Freshers in the field of UPSC Civil Services Exam may have lot many queries while filling the application. This article is a humble attempt to clarify the doubts regarding UPSC Civil Services Exam, popularly known as IAS Exam among the masses. All readers of ClearIAS.com are advised to have a quick look at these questions and answers before filling up the application form for Preliminary Exam this year (hardly takes 5 minutes of your time!). Answers to the questions are taken from the official UPSC notification as well as from the FAQ section in the UPSC website.

How should you apply for UPSC Civil Services Exam (IAS Exam)?

Candidates are required to apply Online by using the website http://www.upsconline.nic.in.

Should I send documents via post to UPSC?

UPSC take up verification of eligibility conditions with reference to original documents only after the candidate has qualified for Interview/Personality Test.

What is the late date of application for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam?

The online Applications can be filled up to 30th June, 2014 till 11.59 PM after which the link will be disabled.

What is the fees for UPSC Preliminary application?

Fees for Preliminary exam is Rs.100. All female candidates and candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ Physically Handicapped categories are exempted from payment of fee. No fee exemption is, however, available to OBC candidates and they are required to pay the prescribed fee in full. NB : Candidates admitted to the Main Examination will be required to pay a further fee of Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two hundreds only).

How should the candidate pay the fee for UPSC Civil Services Exam?

Candidates  are required to pay fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only) either by

• remitting the money in any Branch of SBI by Cash, or
• by using net banking facility of State Bank of India/State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur/Sate Bank of Hyderabad/State Bank of Mysore/State Bank of Patiala /State Bank of Travancore or
• by using Visa/Master Credit/Debit Card.

Will I get an exam-center of my choice for Preliminary Exam?

Allotment of Centres will be on the “first-apply-first allot” basis, and once the capacity of a particular Centre is attained, the same will be frozen.

 Should I install security certificate as alerted in the UPSC website?

Before proceeding further in UPSC website (upsconline.nic.in) you may install Security Certificate if not done earlier.

What are the requirements (in size and dimensions) for the Photograph and Signature to be uploaded for UPSC Civil Services Exam?

The images of the photograph and signature should be scanned in the jpg format. The candidate should scan his/her signature which has been put on white paper with black ink pen. Each of the scanned images of the photograph/signature should not exceed 40 KB in size (for photograph, the pixel size is 140 pixels height x110 pixels width and for sign it should be 110 pixels height x140 pixels width) and also to be ensured that the uploaded photograph/signature are proper. [The communication as per http://upsconline.nic.in/faq.php is that “the photograph should preferably be in .jpg format and the signature can be in .jpg or format”. But it’s safer to follow the communication mentioned in UPSC Notification 2014 ie. “Images to be uploaded should be only in .jpg format of size not exceeding 40 KB each and must not be less than 3 KB in size for the photograph and 1 KB for the signature”.].

Note :

• Please note your photograph and signatures should be properly cropped / clear and should not be hazy or illegible.
• The photograph file should contain your photograph only without any other mark such as signatures etc.
• The signature file should contain your recent signatures only without any other mark such as date etc.
• In case of poor quality images, not properly cropped or swapping of photograph / signature file, the application is liable to be rejected.
• Check the link for sample acceptable photos and signatures for UPSC.
• Check the link for sample non-acceptable photos and signatures for UPSC.

Whether the photograph should be in Black and White or should it be in a colour ?

Both are acceptable as long as they are as per the given specifications and quality of photograph is good enough to be identifiable and acceptable.

If the Photograph is not of the proper pixel size given, then how to convert it?

Use any free image editing software such as MSPaint or Irfanview. To delete the unnecessary print area, use the CROP option after selecting the Image. To resize to proper pixel size use the resize option.

NB : Candidates using MSWindow/MSOffice can obtain photo and signature in .JPG format not exceeding 40KB by using MSPaint or MSOffice Picture Manager. Scanned photograph and signature (scan at 200 dpi) in any format can be saved in jpg format by using ‘Save As’ option in the File menu and size can be reduced below 40KB by using crop and then resize option (resize 110 pixels width x 140 pixels height) in the ‘Image’ menu. Similar options are available in other photo editor also.

What if I submit multiple applications?

The applicants are advised to submit only single application; however, if due to any unavoidable situation, if he/she submits another/multiple applications, then he/she must ensure that application with the higher RID is complete in all respects like applicants’ details, examination centre, photograph, signature, fee etc. The applicants who are submitting multiple applications should note that only the applications with higher RID (Registration ID) shall be entertained by the Commission and fee paid against one RID shall not be adjusted against any other RID.

How do I re-confirm that my application is saved and received in the Commission’s Office?

The successful submission of the online application requires the completion of two parts of the application correctly. After completing the part-I of the application the system generates a unique number which is known as the Registration ID. After the completion of all the columns in part-II, a fresh page displays the message that the application has been submitted successfully. The generation of the unique registration ID number combined with the display of this message indicates that the application has been registered.

What details should I retain after completion of successful submission of my form?

It is strongly advised that after the completion of the process of submission of the online application, the applicant must take a print out of the submitted application form and keep the same for future reference. The candidate is also advised to keep his fee payment proof which might be required by the commission in case of any discrepancy.

Will I get a hall ticket or admission ticket via post from UPSC?

The eligible candidates shall be issued an e-Admission Certificate three weeks before the commencement of the examination. The e- Admission Certificate will be made available in the UPSC website [www.upsc.gov.in] for downloading by candidates. No Admission Certificate will be sent by post.

Should I apply for UPSC Mains  again?

Candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified for admission to the Main Examination will have to apply online again, in the Detailed Application Form which would be made available to them.

Can I contact UPSC directly for any clarifications or guidance regarding applications?

In case of any guidance/information/clarification regarding their applications, candidature etc. candidates can contact UPSC’s Facilitation Counter near gate ‘C’ of its campus in person or over Telephone No. 011-23385271/011-23381125/011-23098543 on working days between 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs.

What details should I provide to make correspondence with the Commission?

In case of correspondence with the commission an applicant must mention these details -Name of Examination, Applicant’s name, father’s name, date of birth and the Registration Identity Number(RID).

I am clear with the application related aspects of the Preliminary exam, but I am yet to get a clear idea about many aspects of the actual exam, ie Prelims, Mains and Interview. Can you brief me on the exam-related common queries and clarifications too?

ClearIAS.com has already written many articles on the queries about the UPSC exam. But at this particular point, we advice you to read our article titled “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on UPSC Civil Services Exam” which is a comprehensive write-up with hyper-links of many related articles. Thanks.