The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), on Tuesday, postponed the civil services preliminary examination from May 26 to June 16, 2024, citing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"Due to the schedule of the impending general election, the commission has decided to postpone the civil services (preliminary) examination-2024 which also serves as a screening test for the Indian Forest Service examination, 2024, from 26-05-2024 to 16-06-2024," the notification from UPSC said.
Exam Structure and Vacancies
The civil services examination, a crucial selection process for various prestigious services including the IAS, IFS, and IPS, consists of three stages: preliminary, main, and interview. This year, approximately 1,056 vacancies are expected to be filled through this examination, as per a recent UPSC notification.
Revised examination schedule and registration details
The UPSC IAS written exams will occur in two shifts: General Studies and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). The registration deadline for the UPSC IAS exam 2024 was extended to March 6, with a subsequent correction window available from March 7 to March 13.
Admit cards for the UPSC Prelims will be released at least 10 days before the exam, and candidates can download them from the official website using their registration details.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024
The Lok Sabha elections in India are set to unfold in seven phases, with the vote counting scheduled for June 4, the Election Commission of India announced on March 16.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims for an unprecedented third consecutive term, setting a target of securing 370 seats for the party and 400 for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming polls.
The BJP has already unveiled two lists of candidates, totalling 265 names, which include prominent figures such as PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In opposition, the Congress party is gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as part of the INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties.
