PSC 2020 - State Public Service Commission (PSC) Exams In India

The Public Service Commissions (PSC) in India are constitutionally mandated (Articles 315 – 323) to assist the respective state governments in matters of recruitment, transfers and disciplinary actions.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the prestigious IAS Exam every year. The IAS Exam is the common entry point for 20-odd Group A and Group B services.

Similarly, the State Public Service Commissions conduct recruitment exams which act as an entry point for coveted services in the state administration.

In this article, aspirants can find consolidated information on PSC Exams in India. Every Public Service Commission has its own website, exam pattern, eligibility conditions and syllabus. However, broadly speaking, there is a significant overlap between PSC Exams and UPSC Exam.

The pragmatic approach for civil service aspirants is to prepare for state PSC exams and UPSC simultaneously.

In the table given below, we have listed the various Public Service Commissions along with their details for the exam year 2020-2021 and also for 2018-19 where the exam process is still underway.

Aspirants should bookmark this page and check it regularly as we will be updating and adding more PSC details of other states.

Calendar of PSC Exams

The State Civil Services Examinations are conducted by different states in different names.

Highlight on some of the State Public Service Commission Exams for the year 2020-21 is given below. Also, the status of the examination amid the Coronavirus Outbreak is mentioned:

PSC Online – From Application to Preparation

Gone are the days when candidates were at the mercy of physical coaching centres and printed study material alone. With the internet, not only are the Public Service Commissions changing their application process but also the candidates are using online preparation material. On the lines of the Union Public Service Commission, the state PSCs have made the registration and application process online. Also, the admit cards are issued online instead of postal dispatches.

In this light, BYJU’S aims to provide all PSC exams relevant information at the fingertips of aspirants.

In the articles linked above, candidates can find:

1. PSC Exam Dates and 2020-21 Calendar
2. Information about the respective Public Service Commission including official website and contact details
3. Latest PSC Notification for the state civil service exam (Candidates can download PDFs for quick reference)
4. Detailed Eligibility Criteria – Nationality, Age Limit, Number of Attempts, Educational Qualification, Physical Fitness
5. List of Posts, Services and Salaries (Pay Scale)
6. Updated and detailed PSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern for 2020 Exams (Also, candidates can download the syllabus PDFs)
7. Preparation strategy and previous year question papers
8. Study Material including daily Current Affairs from The Hindu, PIB, RSTV, Yojana, Comprehensive News Analysis etc
9. List of best books for UPSC and PCS Exam preparation (including NCERT PDFs and Notes)
10. PSC Online Application Process (login, registration and application fee)

PSC v/s UPSC

The IAS Exam which is conducted by the UPSC is widely considered to be the toughest exam in India. The comprehensive UPSC Syllabus and the sheer volume of aspirants competing for 900-1000 vacancies make it a very tough nut to crack. Adding to the burden of candidates, the three-stage exam process lasts for almost a year.

The PSC Exams are not so different. They are also highly competitive and their syllabus and pattern are quite similar to UPSC. However, the candidates who hail from the respective state can avail the benefits of reservation. Candidates should carefully go through the PSC recruitment notification to check all the details for the same.

In the case of PSC, most state governments have been lax when it comes to ensuring that the Public Service Commission is conducting exams regularly. In fact, it is not uncommon to see in the news that some PSC has landed in fresh controversy regarding delays, corruption, nepotism and cheating.

Often there is an uncomfortable time gap between the release of the PSC online application notification and the actual date of exam. As most exams have strict age limits, the delays endanger the careers of many bright young minds. In this regard, simultaneous preparation for other PSC and UPSC helps immensely.

As far as preparation is concerned, candidates have to keep the following 10 things in mind:

1. Understanding the syllabus and exam pattern
2. The importance of Current Affairs
3. Preparing the state-specific topics and sections for PSC
4. Starting with NCERTs and State Board books
5. Standard reference books like Polity by Laxmikanth, History by Bipin Chandra etc are much more valuable resources than generic compilations for static parts of the syllabus
6. The habit of reading and making notes from a newspaper (The Hindu/The Indian Express)
7. Making time table with space for adequate study (and relaxation) and adhering to it without fail.
8. Practising MCQs and doing answer writing practice
9. Going through previous years’ question papers
10. Ignoring the naysayers

Perhaps, the most important keys to success are perseverance and efficiency. If candidates study regularly from the right study material, then there is no reason why they can’t become IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS officers.

Here, you can find out about aspirants who cleared the IAS Exam in their very first attempt!!

Related Links:

The exams like UPSC and PSC are also inclined towards current affairs. BYJU’S provide the Daily News Analysis for such exams. Candidates may check the linked article.

While preparing for UPSC/PSC exams, aspirants can track their preparation by referring to UPSC Quiz in the linked article.