The premier administrative examination for Deputy Collectors and DSPs in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.
Mandatory educational background, age limits, pay scale, and service designations
The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC) conducts the Combined State Civil / Upper Subordinate Services Examination for recruitment to Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Finance Officer, and District Commandant posts in Uttarakhand. Featuring 7 descriptive papers in Mains (1500 marks) including a mandatory Language paper and state-specific Uttarakhand history, geography, and disaster management questions, UKPSC tests comprehensive regional expertise.
Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University (Specific degrees for specialized posts like Law Officer).
21 to 42 Years
SC/ST/OBC of Uttarakhand: 5 years (up to 47) | PwD of Uttarakhand: 10 years (up to 52) | Dependents of Freedom Fighters: 5 years
General / UR: No attempt limit (Up to 42 years of age)
OBC: No attempt limit (Up to 47 years of age)
SC / ST: No attempt limit (Up to 47 years of age)
Pay Matrix Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) & Level 8/7 + HRA, Hill Area Allowance & Medical
Annual Vacancies: Approx. 150 – 300 vacancies per cycle
Stage-wise breakdown, paper timing, question distribution, and negative marking rules
Negative Marking Rule: 1/4th (0.25) negative marking penalty for incorrect responses in Prelims.
Mode: Offline OMR for Prelims, Descriptive Sheets for Mains, In-Person Interview in Haridwar | Medium: Bilingual (Hindi / English); Language paper has fixed Hindi and English sections.
Two objective papers conducted on the same day in morning and afternoon sessions across Uttarakhand centers. Paper 1 (General Studies) decides the Mains cutoff; Paper 2 (General Aptitude) is qualifying with a minimum 33% required.
| Paper / Component | Format | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1: General Studies Indian History, Culture & National Movement, History & Culture of Uttarakhand, Geography of India & World, Geography of Uttarakhand, Indian Polity & Governance, Uttarakhand Political & Administrative System, Economic & Social Development, General Science & Technology, Current National & State Events | Objective (MCQ) | 150 | 150 | 2 Hours | Decides qualification cutoff for Mains (15x vacancies) |
Paper 2: General Aptitude (CSAT) Comprehension, Interpersonal Skills & Communication, Logical & Analytical Ability, Decision Making & Problem Solving, General Mental Ability, Basic Numeracy (Class X level) | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 150 | 2 Hours | Qualifying in nature (Mandatory 33% = 49.5 Marks) |
7 conventional descriptive papers conducted over 4 consecutive days at Haridwar and Haldwani centers. All 7 papers count towards the final 1500-mark written score; candidates must score a minimum 35% in Language Paper 1.
| Paper / Component | Format | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1: Language (Bhasha) General Hindi (150 Marks), General English (100 Marks), Hindi Essay (50 Marks) | Descriptive (Written) | 300 | 3 Hours | Merit (Mandatory min 35% score) |
Paper 2: History of India, National Movement, Society & Culture Ancient to Modern Indian History, Freedom Struggle, Uttarakhand History & Culture (Katyuri, Chand, Panwar dynasties) | Descriptive (Written) | 200 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 3: Indian Polity, Social Justice & International Relations Indian Constitution, Governance, Public Policy, Uttarakhand Administrative System, Foreign Policy | Descriptive (Written) | 200 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 4: India & World Geography Physical, Economic & Human Geography of India, World Geography, Geomorphology & Climate of Uttarakhand Himalayas | Descriptive (Written) | 200 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 5: Economic & Social Development Indian Economy, Planning, Sustainable Development, Uttarakhand Economy, Tourism, Hydropower, Agriculture & Forests | Descriptive (Written) | 200 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 6: General Science & Technology Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Space & Defense, Environmental Protection, Disaster Management in Himalayan region | Descriptive (Written) | 200 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Paper 7: General Aptitude & Ethics Quantitative Aptitude & Logical Reasoning, Ethics, Integrity, Administrative Values & Case Studies | Descriptive (Written) | 200 | 3 Hours | Merit |
Personality interview held at UKPSC headquarters in Haridwar assessing administrative aptitude, hill terrain governance, eco-sensitive development, and personal integrity.
| Paper / Component | Format | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Personality Interview Board Personal record & DAF, Char Dham all-weather road & environmental conservation, Disaster mitigation (landslides, flash floods, earthquakes), Migration from hill villages (Palayan) & reverse migration policies | Interview | 150 | 25 – 35 Minutes | Added to Mains for 1650 Grand Total Merit |
Detailed curriculum modules categorized by standard foundations vs. high-yield scoring chapters
Phase-by-phase roadmap, daily study schedule, topper golden rules, and fatal pitfalls to avoid
UKPSC PCS features a balanced 7-paper Mains structure where Language Paper 1 carries 300 marks and demands a minimum 35% score to qualify. Uttarakhand-specific history (Chand, Panwar, Katyuri rulers), Himalayan ecology, and disaster management questions appear across nearly every paper, making state-specific mastery combined with strong Hindi/English drafting decisive.
Pariksha Vani Uttarakhand GK, NCERTs, Laxmikanth, Spectrum
Paper 1 Language, Paper 2 History, Paper 3 Polity, Paper 4 Geography
Paper 1 GS revision, CSAT math/reasoning, Uttarakhand Current Affairs
Full 7-paper simulation, interview coaching in Haridwar
Topper-validated standard reference books and chapter-wise question banks
Author: K.S. Negi | Pub: Pariksha Vani Prakashan
The definitive encyclopedia for UKPSC Prelims and Mains factual and conceptual state knowledge.
Author: Dr. Yashwant Singh Katoch | Pub: Vinod Pustak Mandir
The academic authority on Katyuri, Chand, and Panwar dynasties, copper plates, and inscriptions.
Author: Dr. Hardev Bahri / Dr. Vasudev Nandan Prasad | Pub: Lokbharti Prakashan
Essential for scoring high in the 150-mark General Hindi and 50-mark Hindi essay sections of Paper 1.
Author: Winsar Editorial / Youth Competition Times | Pub: Winsar Publishing
Compiles all past UKPSC Prelims exams with detailed explanations and syllabus mappings.
Official past category-wise cutoffs to benchmark your target mock scores
| Cycle / Tier / Service | General (UR) | OBC | EWS | SC | ST | Scope & Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 Prelims GS-1 (Out of 150 Marks) | 94.00 Marks | 88.80 Marks | 88.80 Marks | 74.50 Marks | 82.50 Marks | Cutoff out of 150 marks in Paper 1; CSAT is qualifying at 33%. |
| 2016 Prelims GS-1 (Out of 150 Marks) | 89.75 Marks | 84.50 Marks | N/A | 71.25 Marks | 76.00 Marks | Cutoff for General Executive post categories. |
| 2021-22 Final Merit (Out of 1650 Marks) | 985.00 Marks (Deputy Collector) | 940.00 Marks | 952.00 Marks | 890.00 Marks | 910.00 Marks | Final aggregate out of 1650 (Mains 1500 + Interview 150). |
From initial application to final cadre allocation and joining the training academy
Apply online at ukpsc.net.in with educational documents and post preferences.
Appear for Paper 1 (GS - 150 marks) and Paper 2 (CSAT qualifying - 150 marks). Top 15 times vacancies qualify for Mains.
Write 7 descriptive papers (1500 marks total) over 4 days at Haridwar / Haldwani.
Attend board interview in Haridwar (150 Marks).
Allocation to Deputy Collector, DSP, or Finance Officer followed by training at ATI Nainital.
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