UPSC Apply Online
In this section, I shall be explaining to you the Online Application process for the UPSC
exams. Before I get into it let’s look into the dates of the 2020 UPSC exams once.
The 2020 UPSC exam is already on the way. The 2020 UPSC notification had come out at the
beginning of the year on the 12th of February of 2020.
The last date to apply for the exam was March 3rd, and the prelims were held on the 4th
of October 2020.
It is to be noted that the prelims papers, which are normally held in late May to June
every year were held in October this year due to the COVID situation.
The UPSC IAS Prelims for the year 2021 was scheduled to be held on the 27th of June 2021
and the 2021 Mains would begin from the 17th of September of 2021.
You should also note that the 2021 UPSC CSE (Civil Services Exam) notifications would be
released on the 10th of February of 2021 and the submission window would be active till
the 2nd of March, of 2021.
UPSC Apply Online Process
The following are the steps that you normally need to follow while applying for the UPSC
exam.
1. You need to go to the official UPSC website, www.upsc.gov.in, and look for the “apply
online” button on the homepage. Click on it you’d be directed to a new page. On the new
page, there’d be a link, “online application for various examinations”. Select the UPSC
Civil Services exams by clicking on this link and proceed to apply for them.
2. You can also alternatively directly go upsconline.nic.in and click on it.
3. Clicking on it will direct you to a new page, where you should click on “part-
registration”.
4. Before you fill the registration form, make sure to meticulously go over the “important
instructions to keep in mind while filling the application form” that I have written
below.
Important instructions to filling the Application Form
1. You would need to submit the online forms only on the official website of the UPSC.
2. Make sure to not leave out the fields that have the (*) mark on them. The (*) mark on
those fields implies that those particular fields need to be filled mandatorily.
3. You should take note of the fact that once you click on the submit button and your
application is consequently submitted successfully, no changes are allowed to be made
after that.
4. If you want to make any changes, you can submit a fresh application with the updated
information before the registration window closes. Also, to be noted is that, only the
registration-id of the latest application that you have submitted will be taken into
consideration for processing, and all the previously submitted applications will be
canceled.
5. You should know that there are two parts to the UPSC CSE online application form,
namely Part-1 Registration and part-2 Registration. You’d need to fill them both and
submit them before your candidature can be considered valid.
6. Part-1 Registration would require you to fill out your personal details, educational
qualification, and address.
7. Part-2 Registration would need you to provide your payment details, your choice of the
center for examination, your photograph, signature, photo id documents, and declarations.
8. As far as photos and signatures are concerned, you’d need to upload a scanned copy of
your signature and photo. The size of each file should not be less than 20 KB or more
than 300 KB. The resolution should not be less than 350 pixels (height) x 350 pixels
(width), and not more than 1000 pixels(height) x 1000 pixels (width). The image file
should have a bit depth of 24 bit.
9. You should provide your email address. This is because the UPSC might communicate with
you through emails if required.
10. You should take note that certain details like optional subjects, center of exam,
Choice of Indian language for Indian language paper, and medium of examination will not
be allowed alterations once you have submitted the form.
11. Also, the photo id documents that you upload should be in PDF format only, the size
of which should not be more than 300 KB or less than 20 KB.
12. You’d need to give your photo id card number in the online application form and also
upload a copy of the same. This is the same photo id you’d have to carry to the exam hall.
Online Fee Payment for UPSC Online Application
The Application fee for applying for the UPSC exams is 100 INR for general category
candidates.
For people belonging to ST/SC/PwD categories or are females, the fee is 0 INR, meaning
that they are exempted from paying the fee.
For online payment of fees, you can pay through the net banking portal of the State Bank
of India or by RuPay Credit/ Debit Card/ MasterCard/Visa.
