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Full Form of CSAT UPSC

Discover the complete CSAT UPSC full form, which stands for 'Civil Services Aptitude Test' conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. Understand its significance in the UPSC exam.
authorImageRanvijay Singh15 Sept, 2023
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CSAT UPSC

CSAT-UPSC stands for Civil Services Aptitude Test Union Public Service Commission.

What is the Civil Service Aptitude Test UPSC?

The UPSC Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) is a preliminary exam for the civil service. It is sometimes also referred to as "General Studies Paper 2" in the preliminary round; that is not the case for the main exam.

The CSAT paper was introduced in 2011 to test the analytical skills of the candidates applying for the exam. As stated earlier, it is the second paper in the prelims and is also known as the "General Studies Paper 2" or GS Paper 2.

Exam Pattern of the Civil Service Aptitude Test

Particular Detail
Number of Questions Asked  80 questions 
Negative Marking ⅓ marks
Duration of the paper 2 hours
Maximum marks  200 marks
Minimum qualifying marks At least 33% 
Exam type Offline

CSAT  Prelims Paper 1 Syllabus

The topics covered in the CSAT paper 1 are listed below: 

Subject  Topic
Geography
  • General Geography
  • Oceanography
  • Geomorphology 
  • Biogeography
  • Climate
  • Human and economic geography
  • Ecology and the environment
  • Indian Geography
  • World Geography
  • Biodiversity
History
  • Ancient History 
  • Medieval history 
  • Modern history 
Art and culture 
  • Sculpture
  • Paintings
  • Performing Art
  • Architecture
  • Numismatic
  • Religion and literature
  • National festivals
  • Regional festivals
Economy
  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Money and Banking
  • Economic measurement
  • Public Finance in India
  • Economic sectors
  • Open Economy
General Science 
  • Space 
  • Defence
  • Nuclear Technology
  • ITC
  • Biotechnology
  • IPR
  • Robotics, nanotechnology
  • Science and Technology in India 
Polity
  • Indian Constitution - evolution and features
  • Citizenship 
  • Judiciary 
  • International Relations
  • Governance
  • Fundamental Right and duties
  • Political dynamics
  • Bodies - constitutional and non-constitutional 
  • UTs
  • Legislature - state and union
  • State Executive
  • Union executive
  • Governance system 

CSAT UPSC Prelims Paper 2 Syllabus

The syllabus for Paper 2 is as follows;

  • Comprehension 
  • Communication skills and interpersonal skills
  • Analytical ability in addition to logical reasoning
  • Problem-solving and decision making
  • Mental ability (general)

Basic math/numeracy: numbers and their relations, order of magnitude, data interpretation, and so on. The level of basic math and numeracy is based on 10th-class math.

How to Get Ready for the CSAT in 2023

To prepare for the CSAT 2023 exam, candidates will need to do the following:

  • Prepare a proper study plan.

A study plan is important because it allows you to divide your time among subjects that you feel need more time and attention. 

  • Take help from the syllabus to identify which topics to cover first and which to cover later.

The syllabus is a vital resource to base your preparation. Many candidates merely refer to books and resources and forget to take a look at the syllabus to know which topics to cover and which are safe to skip. You can find the syllabus on the UPSC website. 

  • Devise a plan for each subject or topic.

Generally, the best thing to do is cover the easier subjects and topics first, then move on to the ones that are time-consuming or difficult.

  • Use past papers to improve your learning and problem-solving skills.

Past papers help you understand the exam pattern and the difficulty of the questions. Sometimes, certain questions also repeat, therefore, always refer to at least five past papers to stay abreast of changes in question patterns and difficulty levels.

  • Refer to online resources or join an online learning platform.

By joining an online learning platform such as Physics Wallah you can get the latest updates, study materials, and tips and tricks to clear the CSAT paper. Moreover, the qualified trainers make learning so much easier and even share their resources to aid your preparation.

What’s more? They even share past papers and mock tests with you so you learn and improve along the way.

  • Refer to credible resources from established authors.

Many candidates refer to books by authors who are not credible. These authors cover a wide range of topics that result in time waste and poor planning. Therefore, always refer to credible authors that use easy language to explain topics. 

  • Revise daily

This goes without saying! Revision is important to remember facts and figures, and it will help you build confidence before and during the paper. 

[wp-faq-schema title=" CSAT UPSC Full Form FAQs" accordion=1]

Q1. Is UPSC removing CSAT?

Ans. No, there is no such notification stating that UPSC is removing CSAT from its exam structure. Moreover, in case any such update were to be made, it would have been notified via the official portal.

Q2. Is CSAT becoming difficult?

Ans. Yes, the CSAT paper is becoming more difficult to qualify as a qualifying paper.

Q3. Will there be a UPSC exam in 2023?

Ans. Yes. There will be an UPSC exam in 2023. Moreover, the Civil Service exam (preliminary exam) is scheduled to take place on May 28, 2023, according to the official notification by UPSC 2023.

Q4. What is the CSAT passing mark?

Ans. Since the total score of the CSAT exam is 200, the passing mark must be at least 33% in order to qualify the paper.

Q5. Is CSAT easy to crack?

Ans. Yes, the CSAT exam is easy to crack if you prepare well and refer to past papers for your preparation. Moreover, with the help of proper resources and guidance, you can easily get more than the qualifying marks in the exam.
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