Competitive Exams That Students Can Ace With UPSC Prep

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is one of the toughest and most coveted exams in Indian history. The lengthy syllabus, the cutthroat competition and the limited seats make the qualification even more challenging. Sheer hard work, dedication and a little bit of luck can help you crack the exam in the first few attempts. The time it demands on the cost of its unpredictability makes it taxing for its aspirants. In such a situation it's always wise to be ready with a“Plan B”.

In this article, Careers360 has analysed exams that have similar syllabus and exam pattern to the civil services examination. The aspirants can take these exams along with UPSC CSE or after they are done with their attempts.

State PCS

The state-level civil service examination is the next best option for all students who are preparing for UPSC. Many deserving applicants who cannot get through the challenging journey of UPSC easily sail through the state civil service examination. Both UPSC and State PCS offer administrative roles to their applicants. Where an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer who qualifies for UPSC manages government affairs the state-level administrators manage block-level operations.

There is a significant similarity in the syllabus of these two exams. The focus of both exams is on current events at the national and international levels. The knowledge of Indian history with awareness of social, economic, and political aspects is also a common requirement of both the exam.

The State PCS covers the physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world. It also requires a general understanding of world geography which again is quite similar to the preparation of civil service. The general awareness of State PCS coincides with UPSC's syllabus on knowledge of the Indian constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, and rights issues. The State PCS also checks knowledge of economic concepts and awareness of the environment and ecology. Many such concepts are similar in both examinations with varying levels of difficulty. This makes State PCS the best alternative for aspirants who struggle in UPSC preparation.

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Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) Assistant

The syllabus of RBI Assistant also shows some overlap with the UPSC CSE syllabus in certain areas. The RBI exams check the knowledge of current world news and current events in the country. UPSC also emphasises staying updated on current events at global and national levels.

Another similarity in the syllabus of both exams is knowledge of basic geographical and historical concepts. This again corresponds to concepts covered in a broader perspective UPSC prelims and mains examination. There is also a section for political science that aligns with the Indian polity and governance section in the UPSC syllabus, covering the political system, constitution, and related topics. While the UPSC does not have a section dedicated to banking, understanding economic development and policies is important, as it intersects with banking knowledge. The focus of the RBI exam is economic and social development, parts of which are asked in UPSC.

The role and responsibilities of an RBI assistant are quite different from the typical job roles of a person who qualifies for UPSC. Their responsibilities include reviewing financial papers, emphasising the necessity of attention to detail and accuracy when managing sensitive information. RBI Assistant is essential to the institution's administrative and operational functions. They get a decent salary and a respectable position in the central bank of the country. UPSC aspirants who find the preparation challenging can simultaneously appear for this exam.

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Staff Selection Commission CGL

The Staff Selection Commission conducts SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) exams for various positions across various departments in the country. These posts include Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Junior Statistical Officer, and Junior Statistical Officer to name a few. The positions and job roles are quite different from the regular job roles provided by UPSC. Both exams cover topics in Indian history such as ancient civilizations, Vedic culture, mediaeval India, and the freedom struggle. UPSC goes into greater detail, but the fundamental concepts are the same.

SSC CGL focuses on countries and their geographical details, while UPSC covers a broader spectrum including the physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world. SSC CGL covers budget-related information, key persons in the economy, and monetary institutions. This is aligned with the economic aspects asked in the UPSC syllabus which covers a more comprehensive part of the syllabus. Though SSC focuses more on specific details and practical knowledge, UPSC CSE focuses on similar concepts with a broader and deeper conceptual understanding of the subjects.

TISS NET

Tata Institute of Social Sciences is a renowned institution in the country. Its Master of Business Administration programme is ranked within the top 100 by NIRF. However, the entrance exam for this college i.e. TISS NET is not limited to MBA programmes. After taking the exam, you can pursue postgraduate degrees in courses such as Disaster Management, Social Entrepreneurship, Public Policy & Governance, Social Work, etc. The job roles after TISS and UPSC are quite different but they share a common ground based on syllabus. TISS, with its emphasis on social sciences, delves into issues like social justice, poverty, and inclusion. Similarly, UPSC, while broader in scope, also examines these social concerns as part of its extensive syllabus.

The scope of both exams is to check a candidate’s knowledge of Indian polity and governance, including constitutional principles, political systems, and the structures that govern the country. This is a major part of this exam which like UPSC focuses on economic and social development. Current affairs is the major part of both exams, with varying levels of difficulty.

Certain sections of the TISS exam focus on logical and quantitative ability for which UPSC has different papers referred to as CSAT. TISS NET despite being a favourite for MBA aspirants checks general awareness rather than analytical skills.

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As a job seeker in a competitive world, it is better to keep options handy when preparing for competitive exams like UPSC. The success rate of these exams are low and taking exams with similar syllabus guarantees a stable future.