UKPSC 2026 — Uttarakhand PCS Exam: Uttarakhand's state civil services exam — Naib Tehsildar, BDO, and administrative positions in the Dev Bhoomi through UKPSC.Vacancies: ~100–150. Age Limit: 21–42 (Gen). Salary: ₹47K–1.5L/mo. Prelims: 150 GS questions.UKPSC PCS (Uttarakhand Public Service Commission — Provincial Civil Service) recruits for Group B and C posts: Naib Tehsildar (revenue), Block Development Officer (BDO), Supply Inspector, Marketing Inspector, and other district-level administrative roles. Higher Group A posts (SDM equivalent) are through separate Upper PCS exam. With 100–150 vacancies, UKPSC has lower competition than neighboring UPPSC (which has 500+ vacancies). Prelims tests 150 GS questions in 2 hours — unique high-question-count format requiring speed.
Registration OpenUpdated: March 2026
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UKPSC 2026 — Uttarakhand PCS Exam
Uttarakhand's state civil services exam — Naib Tehsildar, BDO, and administrative positions in the Dev Bhoomi through UKPSC
Vacancies
~100–150
Age Limit
21–42 (Gen)
Salary
₹47K–1.5L/mo
Prelims
150 GS questions
📋Key Details
Conducting BodyUttarakhand Public Service Commission
EducationBachelor's degree
Age (General)21–42 years
Age (OBC)21–47 years
Age (SC/ST)21–47 years
Prelims Format150 GS questions in 120 minutes
Fee₹500 (Gen). ₹250 (SC/ST/PwD).
Exam MediumHindi and English
📝Prelims (150 GS + 100 CSAT)
Paper 1: 150 GS questions in 120 minutes (2 marks each if counting). Paper 2: 100 CSAT in 120 minutes (qualifying).
Paper 1: GS + Uttarakhand GK150 Qs · 300 marks
Paper 2: CSAT (Qualifying)100 Qs · 200 marks
Total250 Qs · 500 marks · 4 hours
⚠️ Negative marking: 0.67 per wrong
💰Posts & Salary
Naib Tehsildar(Revenue)
₹55,000–75,000/monthBlock Development Officer (BDO)(Rural Development)
₹55,000–85,000/monthSupply Inspector(Food & Supply)
₹40,000–60,000/month🌲Chipko Movement: Must-Know Topic for UKPSC
What: Chipko means 'hug' in Hindi. In 1973, villagers (led by Sunderlal Bahuguna, a Gandhian activist) in Uttarakhand's Garhwal region physically hugged forest trees to prevent logging contractors from felling them.
The movement was non-violent, creative, and globally unprecedented — it inspired international environmental activism.
Why: Forest degradation was destroying: (1) Livelihood of hill villagers (fuelwood, animal fodder depended on forests), (2) Ecological balance (floods, soil erosion increased post-deforestation), (3) Water sources (springs dried up). Government prioritized commercial logging (lumber sales revenue) over local needs.
Villagers had no other recourse but civil disobedience.
How: Sunderlal Bahuguna mobilized village women (who bore the burden of fuel collection), organized non-violent protests, developed slogans like 'Ecology is permanent economy' (Eko-logiya hi parmanu arthvettha). Government was forced to ban commercial logging in Himalayan areas.
Significance: (1) First major environmental movement in India, (2) Influenced global environmentalism (Greenpeace took inspiration), (3) Led to policy changes (ban on logging in specific Himalayan zones), (4) Established women as environmental activists, (5) Showed power of non-violence for environmental causes.
UKPSC asks: History of movement, leaders, impact on policy, connection to sustainable development, environmental ethics.
Interview Angle: 'Chipko teaches us that citizen participation in governance is crucial. As a UKPSC officer, how would you engage local communities in environmental decision-making?' This type of question tests both environmental knowledge and governance philosophy.
UKPSC follows the UPSC pattern. Prelims screens candidates, Mains determines rank, Interview adds final marks. Total process: 6-12 months.
🏔️Uttarakhand: Geography, Peaks & Rivers
Himalayan Peaks & Glaciers: Nanda Devi (7,816m, 2nd highest in India, in Uttarakhand), Trishul (7,120m), Kedarnath (6,940m), Auli (3,050m ski resort). Glaciers: Gangotri Glacier (26 km long, source of Ganga; retreating 40m/year), Yamunotri Glacier (source of Yamuna), Kedarnath Glacier.
These geographic features are crucial for: (1) Water security (both glaciers feed north India's major rivers), (2) Tourism (skiing, trekking), (3) Climate change impact (glacial retreat indicators), (4) Eco-tourism development.
Rivers & Water Systems: Ganga (primary), Yamuna (tributary), Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Mandakini, Sutlej. Hydropower potential: Uttarakhand has developed 25+ dams (Bhakra-Nangal, Tehri Dam — India's highest at 260m).
Water disputes with neighbor states (similar to Cauvery disputes in South). UKPSC officers manage: dam operations, irrigation distribution, hydropower revenue, environmental flow maintenance, disaster management (dam safety).
Climate Vulnerability & 2013 Disaster: Kedarnath Disaster (September 2013): Cloudbursts + glacial lake outburst floods killed 5,000+ people, ₹20,000 crore losses. Root causes: unregulated tourism (hotels, resorts overloaded), climate change (extreme weather intensification), disaster management failure.
Fallout: Ban on construction in certain zones, diasaster management reforms, tourism regulation. Lessons: UKPSC officers in disaster-prone districts must: understand early warning systems, coordinate evacuation, manage relief, rebuild infrastructure.
📚Uttarakhand-specific preparation strategy
UKPSC Mains has a dedicated Uttarakhand GK paper that carries significant weightage. Cover Uttarakhand history (Garhwal and Kumaon kingdoms, Tehri movement, statehood movement), geography (Himalayan ecology, glaciers, disaster management), economy (tourism, hydro projects, MSME), and current affairs specific to the state.
For GS papers, your UPSC preparation covers 80% of UKPSC syllabus. The difference is in depth — UKPSC expects more state-specific examples.
When discussing environmental issues, reference Chipko Movement, Uttarakhand flood 2013, Joshimath subsidence. When discussing governance, reference Uttarakhand panchayati raj system and Van Panchayats.
UKPSC vs UPSC — which to prioritize?
💡UKPSC vs UPSC — which to prioritize?
If you're from Uttarakhand, prepare for both simultaneously — 80% syllabus overlap. Attempt UPSC Prelims in May and UKPSC later. Even if you don't clear UPSC, the preparation massively helps UKPSC. UKPSC has fewer vacancies (50-100/year) but also far fewer applicants than UPSC, making it relatively less competitive.
Best books for UKPSC preparation
💡Best books for UKPSC preparation
Uttarakhand GK: 'Uttarakhand Samanya Gyan' by Narendra Bhatt. History: 'Uttarakhand Ka Itihas' by Ajay Rawat. Geography: NCERT + Uttarakhand state geography notes. Current affairs: Dainik Jagran (Uttarakhand edition) + Amar Ujala. For GS: same books as UPSC (Laxmikanth, Spectrum, Shankar IAS environment).
📅Important Dates
Check UKPSC Calendarukpsc.gov.in for latest dates
Upper PCS ResultMains recently held
📚Preparation Strategy
1.150 questions in 120 minutes = 48 seconds per question — speed is critical. Practice timed mocks. Strategy: Easy questions (75) in 60 min; Medium (50) in 45 min; Difficult (25) in 15 min.
2.Uttarakhand GK takes priority — 25–30% of Prelims. Study: Garhwal kingdoms, Kumaon history, Chipko, statehood movement, Himalayan ecology, Char Dham pilgrimage, 2013 disaster, current state schemes.