[Q] What will be the age limit in 2011 May CSAT exam?

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Naveen asked from email

What will be the age limit in 2011 May CSAT exam

It'll be same as previous years.
As per news reports

The UPSC had told the government two years ago for CSAT and It had also recommended bringing down the number of attempts a candidate could take. But Dr. Singh has kept this aspect on hold.

Means PM asked not to change the Age and trial limit.

read following for more info on age limits, category wise.

 

http://mrunal-exam.blogspot.com/2010/08/explained-age-and-trial-limit-for-upsc.html

 

 

[Mumbai Candidates] free coaching in Government institutions

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I randomly stumbled across this information ( thanks to Terminator).
Maharashtra Government  some colleges are running many 'non-profit' coaching centers. Since they're Government  funded, the fees will be quite cheap + hostel + library and everything almost free for SC/ST/OBC-non-creamy.

Some of them even offer 1000 Rs. stipend / month!

Most of them have entrance exam in November.
So get forms and info. from the numbers given below

State Institute for Administrative Careers, Mumbai

Address: Hazarimal Somani Marg, Opp. CST
Mumbai –400 001
Name of the Head: Dr. B. G. Kulkarni, Incharge Director
Phone No.: (022)22070942/ 22061071
Website: www.siac.ac.in
Eligibility for Admission: Graduate from recognized University,
Domicile of Maharashtra
Age Limit: Open category – 21 to 30 yrs
SC/ST- 21 to 35 yrs
OBC/SBC/NT-B/NT-C/NT-D/VJ – 21 to 33 yrs.

1. Pre- IAS Coaching Center for SCs, OBC and Minority

Candidates Appearing for All India Competitive
Examination, Auragabad
Address: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada Vidyapith,
Aurangabad- 431004
Name of the Head: Dr. A. G. Khan, Director
Phone No.: ( 0240) 240043137 Extn. 460
Fax No.: (0240) 2400291, 2400491 (Telegram BAMUSITY)
E-mail ID: barnuaur(a)born4vsnl.net.in
Website: www.barnuniversity.ac.in
Eligibility for Admission:
* Graduate of Any faculty with minimum 50% marks.
* Post reserved for
SC - 20 (Male-14, Female-06)
OBC – 12 (Male –09, Female-3)
Minority 08 (Male-05, Female-3)
Total = 40
Age Limit: 21 to 35 years
Advertisement: In the month of September in Daily Lokmat and Daily Sakal
Entrance Test: Entrance Test conducted by the Coaching Center, on General Studies 150/- marks Optional Paper 150 marks (Prelim. Exam) Final selection is
based on the performance of the candidates in the test and interview conducted
by the Selection Committee.
Income: Not more than Rs. 1,00,000/- per annum
Stipend:
All the candidates admitted to the course and attending the classes regularly are paid monthly stipend as per the Government of India rules.
Admission Form: Admission Form can be collected from Institute in October
Form Fees: For Open category Rs. 100/- for SC/ST Rs. 50/-
Entrance Test: In the month of December,
Admission Criteria: On merit basis
Duration for Coaching: January to November- 11 month
Available Seats: 100 candidates
Accommodation: For 30 candidates

3. Pre IAS Training Center, Kolhapur

Address: Rajaram College Campus, Jymkhana Bldg.
Kolhapur-416004
Name of the Head: Dr. A. S. Parit, Incharge Director
Phone No.: (0231)-2528351
Fax No. : (0231)-2528351
E-mail ID: kip_iastree@sancharnet.in
Website: www/preias_kop.com
Eligibility for Admission: Graduate from any recognized University.
Advertisement: Published in the month of October
Admission Form: Admission form free, Information Broucher Rs. 50/-
Entrance Test: Base on (UPSC) General Study – Marks 100
Available Seats: 60 candidates
Starting of Course: Month of January till Prelim Examination
Stipend: Rs. 1000/-

4. Pre IAS Training Center, Nagpur

Address: Old Mori’s College Bldg. Sitabardi Nagpur- 440001
Name of the Head: Director, Dr. M. M. Gadegone
Phone No/ Fax No.: (0712) 2565626
Eligibility for Admission: Graduate in any faculty from recognized University.
Age Limit: 21 years
Advertisement: Published First week in the month of November
Admission: Admission in the month of December
Entrance Test: Objective Type, General Knowledge – Marks 100
Available Seats: 60 candidates
Duration of Course: Month of January till May.
Stipend: Rs.1000/-
Accommodation: 30 Candidate (20 Male, 10 Female)

Pune University’s Competitive Examination Center .

Address: The Competitive Examination Center
University of Pune – 411 007
Name of the Head: Prof. Arun Dalvi, Director
(Head of Dept. of Defence and Strategic Studies)
Phone No.: (020)-25690342, 25601117
Website: www.unipune.ernet.in
Entrance Test: Written Test – Marks 100, Interview-Marks 30, 20 marks for
previous Academic background
Available Seats: 60 candidates
Commencement of Course: In the month of August and ends in month of June
Duration: 1 year
Accommodation: Provided to few outstation students (Male and Female)

6. Dr. Chintamanrao Deshmukh, Administrative Training Institute

Address: Administrative Training Institute,
Thane Corporation Old Building,
First Floor, Station Road,
Thane- 400601
Name of the Head: Prof. Subhan Soman, Director
Phone No.: 022-25386945
Advertisement: In leading Newspapers in the month of July.
Eligibility for Admission : Graduate from any Recognized University, Minimum 55%
marks at Graduation and Post Graduation for General Category
and 50% marks for Reserve Category.
Distribution of Forms: 1 st to 25 th August.
Entrance Test:- Written Test – (G.S.) in first week of September followed by Interview
Available Seats:- 50
Commencement of Course: - In the month of October and ends in month of March.
Duration:- 6 months
Accommodation:- No Accommodation.

[Q] Can I appear as OBC candidate in next trial if I gave earlier exam as General category?

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Q.1 from Srinivas

i gave my prelims this year and dint clear,( my DOB: 09/Aug/1980, was 29, and applied as GM) but i came to know that my caste comes as OBC if its in rural.Can i apply this time as OBC? Any problem since i applied 1st time as GM?

Q.2 from email 

I appeared for civil services this year but could not clear the prelims.
I belong to obc category but i appeared as a general candidate. This was my fourth attempt. Can I appear next year as an obc candidate?

Yes you can, as long as you've the required documents to prove that you belong to that category.

[Explained] Age and Trial limit for UPSC civil service exam

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I'm getting many questions regarding Age and trial limit so here is the answer.

• UPSC civil service prelim exam is taken in May Month of every year (2011, 2012,2013... and so on.)
• The notification for this exam comes in December of previous year.

Example,

• 2011's exam's notification will come in 2010's December.
• 2030's Exam notification will come in 2029's December.

Minimum age for appearing in UPSC civil service exam

Minimum age (irrespective of caste/category etc.) is 21 years.

You must be minimum 21 years old on 1st August of that given year when the exam will be held.

For example,

• If you want to give exam in 2011, you must be atleast 21 years old on 1st -Aug-2011
• if you want to give exam in 3040, you must be atleast 21 years old on 1st-Aug-3040)

Maximum / Upper Age Limit

Same way Maximum age also calculated on 1st August of the given year.

If you're a _______ category candidate, and want to give exam in the year xxxx, then you must not be ** years old on 1st August of that year.

Now in above sentence, fill in the blanks as per following LIST

• General category= 30 years
• SC/ST=35 Years
• OBC=33 years
• blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons=40 years
• Citizen of Jammu and Kashmir=35 years
• Defense Services personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof:=33 years
• Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service =35 years

example sentence

if you're a general category candidate, want to appear in 2011's exam, then you must not be 30 years old on 1st August of 2011.

++ above LIST's age relaxation is cumulative for SC/ST/OBC
for example,

• SC citizen of Jammu Kashmir = gets 5+3 = 8 years extension.
• OBC Ex-service man gets 3+5=8 years.
• ST category blind candidate =5+10=15 years relaxation means 30+15=45 years.

this cumulation works upto 2 levels or categories only. 
i.e. ST citizen of Jammu Kashmir who is blind =5+5+10=20 years age relaxation (=can give exam upto 50 years age) : no it doesn't work like that.

still confused? refer
http://www.upsc.gov.in/exams/notifications/csp2010/notcvl.htm#Age%20Limits

Trial / attempt limits

Now regarding the trial limits. The moment you go inside the preliminary exam hall and sign the attendance sheet, your trial is counted (it doesn't matter if you fail or pass..your attempt is counted)
If you only fill up the form but don't go in the exam hall, your attempt is NOT COUNTED.

Most important thing

In the mains application form, they'll ask about all your previous attempts' roll numbers! so DONOT throw away your hall-ticket if you fail in the prelim-exam because you might pass it in the next trial and then you'll have to fill up the mains form! and Noone at UPSC is going to find your roll number in that case. So keep record of everything from hall-ticket to form number.

Now lets see the trial-limits.

• General=4
• SC/ST=unlimited till they reach the max age.
• OBC=7

Physically Handicapped /disabled candidates-Attempt / Trial limits

• General=7
• OBC=7
• SC/ST=unlimited till they reach max age.

still confused? refer
http://www.upsc.gov.in/exams/notifications/csp2010/notcvl.htm#Number%20of%20attempts

Don't believe in Rumors and don't spread them

Numerous Commissions appointed for civil service exam reforms, have recommended reduction in age and trial limits. After every 5 months, some people in Delhi start scaremongering that its going to be implemented!! So new-comer turns panic and runs to coaching class 'sirs' and calling UPSC helpline (which is offline 24/7 or otherwise 'engaged' so the new-comer turns further panic). But you don't need to worry about it, because they're beating that drum since last 10-15 years but in the nation of vote-bank politics, its quite unlikely they'll ever fiddle with age/trial limits, at least in next 20 years. Besides the only way to confirm any of the UPSC's reform is their December notification, so you mustn't quite the game or fall in the rumor trap before that!

[Q] Newcomer to 2011 confused about preparation-coaching

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Ankur asked in email

i am going to take ias 2011 exams my optionals are geography and public admin.i have decided to takecoaching in vajiram and ravi in delhi and their batch is going tostart in october first week i am confused that whether in this 2month period i should prepare either GS or my optionals i alsointend to take coaching for them also. What you think should istart my optionals coaching first or whether they can be done sideby side with GS. Sir please help me beacuse i am getting confusedand i don't want to waste these two months .

Ans:
1. UPSC may scrap down the optional subject system from 2011, so it might not be worth it, investing your money in getting coaching for optionals (while you can prepare them on your own, especially Geography and Public Administration)
2. I don't carry much good opinion about Vaji ram or any other classes. As I know people who cracked the exam without coaching.
see this
[Strategy & determination] Safi got Rank 55 without coaching
and this
[Coaching Classes Review] Vajiram and Ravi in Delhi - Eye Opener

3. sooner you start preparation, better it is for you. IF you go to coaching as a complete virgin without preparing optional /GS, you'll find other 'seniors' who have go through the whole syllabus, hence you wouldn't be able to grasp everything like in the class like they do and the Sir will move with their pace and not yours. Frustration comes when they get lot marks higher than yours in the weekly tests! So its always better to prepare in advance. If you intend to join GS classes then atleast prepare the basic GS topics from now on. Same for optionals.

[Demo Answersheet] UPSC Mains Examination

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Many friends are asking about how UPSC's mains exam answersheet looks like?.
So here is a sample: click on following photos

Main Page

Answer-pages

(It has been a long time, so I can't remember how it looked like exactly, but its something like above)

Basically, the Mains Answersheet /booklet is a bunch of 22-24 blank pages, with margins on both sides. (left side margin, you write the question number, and on right side margin, the examiner gives you marks.)
On the top of each page, they've a perforated  "UPSC " logo (which almost occupies 20% of the page's length!)

You can also get the supplimentry answersheets which have 12-14 pages.

Related to this,

• Mains Application Form (demo)
• Blank Answersheets for Prelim Exam