For every exam, there is an exam calendar. Similarly, there exists a UPSC calendar. This calendar has the UPSC prelims/mains exam date. Moreover, it also has the UPSC exam application form date. Do not confuse this with the academic calendar we used in schools. As an aware aspirant, dates are very important. If you know the dates, you will know how much time you have left in your hand. Moreover, most candidates start preparing a year before the exam. But, there are many topics to study. Hence, you will have only 365 days in hand. In these 365 days, you have to study for your prelims, mains, and optional papers. This is indeed a task. Hence, it will need proper planning. You must plan your preparation calendar in alignment with the UPSC calendar.
About today’s article
To appear for the test, you need to know the UPSC exam application form date. Unless you do not apply, you cannot appear for the exam. Hence, the application date is the first important date you should look for. Furthermore, after an application, candidates have to wait for the official notice from UPSC. This notice usually contains the UPSC calendar and the UPSC prelims/mains exam date. Once the dates are out, you will have a complete timetable in front of your eyes. Thus, you can arrange your study time preference as per the urgency of the paper.
In today’s article, we will talk about the different UPSC exam dates as per the 2021 calendar. Since we all know this year too was in a short lockdown, there have been slight changes over the months in the final dates. However, there is no need for confusion. Hence, leave the task to find the final dates on us. Let us now quickly list the important UPSC exam dates here.
UPSC Prelims/Mains Exam and Application Form Date
As per the latest notification, the UPSC exam prelims date lies in October. Hence, the precise UPSC prelims exam date is 10th October 2021. Moreover, earlier, the mains exam date was fixed at 17th September 2021. However, there was a delay in the exam due to covid uncertainties. Hence, the exam will be held at a later date. The 2021 UPSC notification was out on the 4th of March, 2021. You can check this notice online. Hence, you can start applying for the exam as well. However, you should take care of the last UPSC exam application form date listed in the UPSC calendar. As per the notification, UPSC accepted the application till the 24th of March, 2021. Hence, this was the last date for your exam application.
Furthermore, the UPSC prelims exam date was scheduled for the 10th of October, 2021. Earlier, the prelims were scheduled to be held on the 24th of June, 2021. However, they were later updated. Thus, you should only consider the latest UPSC prelims exam date. By far, only the prelims exam dates are announced for the year 2021. However, the prelims results are expected to be out in October or November. Furthermore, there is no update on the mains exam dates. Hence, you will have to wait for a while till the final timetable is out. The 2021 exam results are likely to be out in December or January.
You can check these dates when the 2021 UPSC calendar is fully out. However, the prelim dates are final. Hence, one must currently focus only on this stage of the exam while UPSC releases the other dates. To check the UPSC exam calendar: click here.
UPSC 2020 Prelims/Mains Exam Date Calendar
The 2020 UPSC prelims were held on the fourth of October, 2020. Further, the mains exam was held on 8th January 2021. However, the interview dates are not out yet. On the other hand, the 2019 UPSC prelims exam date was 2nd June 2019. The 2019 mains were held on 20th September 2019. Lastly, the 2019 interview was held in February, March, and July 2020. Thus, we understand that overall, there are 2 to 3 months between your prelims and mains examination. We advise that one must prepare strictly just for prelims one or two months before the prelims exam. This will help you to focus on the nearer goal. Moreover, it will help you to score good marks on your final test.
However, if you switch between mains and prelims before your mains exam, you might get confused. Thus, you will lose your focus. Hence, one can reserve a good amount of time just for prelims. On the other hand, if you are confident enough about the prelims test, you must not look back and start preparing for the second exam stage. In this 2 to 3 months gap between prelims and mains, you should practice answer and essay writing. However, often candidates are worried about their optional subjects. Hence, we advise you to prepare for options at the very beginning of your UPSC prep calendar. Hence, you only have to revise your optional papers before the final mains test. Thus, you will have enough time to devote to GS papers.
Thus, candidates who have applied can appear for the prelims paper in October. If you have not applied for the exam, you will have to wait for the next UPSC exam application form release date.
Why should you know the UPSC Exam Date Calendar?
Firstly, you need to know the UPSC exam application form release date. Without this date, you cannot write the exam. Hence, you need to keep an eye on the latest notices released on the official UPSC website. The application process is quite simple. Moreover, you can complete the process completely online. The first step is to register yourself for the exam. Thus, only after registration, you can fill your application form. During your application, you will fill in important details. You can see these details on your admit card. Moreover, you can also see them in your final results. Hence, you need to take the greatest care during the form-filling procedure. You need to pay the application fee and choose the exam center. Upload your necessary documents like photographs and a digital signature. Save and submit your form.
Tips
Hence, the very first reason to follow the UPSC exam date calendar is to fulfill the application process. You will write the prelims exam after your application. Hence, the time duration between your application to the prelims exam is very crucial. You can dedicate this time span just for your prelims prep. Solve previous year’s questions. Moreover, you can also pause your mains exam preparation. For a while, you should focus on the prelims exam pattern and syllabus. However, the mains and prelims syllabus highly overlaps as GS. But, you should also focus on your CSAT paper. Both the papers are essential. One will decide your merit, the other your qualification for the exam.
Here, the GS paper is based on merit. Hence, the CSAT paper will qualify you for the exam. Once the UPSC prelims exam date is out, create a new short timetable as per the number of days in your hand. Hence, if you follow this method, you will sure about cracking your prelims test. The preliminary exam finishes in a day. Hence, you use only a day to write the Furthermore, the results will be out within a few weeks. Candidates have to wait for the results. However, whilst you wait, you shouldn’t sit ideal. Start preparing for the mains exam.
Now start preparing using the mains previous year’s question paper. Try to solve the subjective type questions. This will help you to adhere to the word limit of questions. Hence, you will get a complete overview of how when, and what to prepare once you learn the UPSC calendar. To read more on UPSC: click here.
FAQs
The UPSC prelims application fee is a hundred rupees only. Moreover, the mains exam fee is around INR 200. Hence, even the weakest sections of society can afford to pay for the exam application without hassle.
Our country highly supports the upliftment of this section of the society. Hence, there is no exam fee for the ease of application for these candidates.
Every UPSC exam date, application form date, result date, etc. details are posted on their official website. Moreover, you will find the exam dates for many different services. Hence, you need to identify your desired exam service and then check the UPSC exam date.
Editor’s Note | UPSC Exam Date
Here we will conclude our article. In today’s article, we talked about the UPSC prelims/mains exam date calendar. Moreover, we also discussed the UPSC exam application form date. Further, we also looked at the online application process. Hence, we understood why we need to check the UPSC calendar frequently. Then, we gave some tips on how to use your exam dates for your final preparation. Thus, you need to utilize the time between your application to the prelims for your prelims preparation. Moreover, you need to use the time period between prelims to prelims results for your mains preparation.