UPSC IAS Exam 2018 Pattern, Eligibility, Age limit,Syllabus, Preparation tips etc.

Last updated on August 19th, 2017 at 01:58 pm

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Indian administrative service, [IAS] is one of the dream jobs of every youth in India . Due to its challenges and scope of transforming millions of lives in India, makes it as the prestigious services . Along with IAS, there are 24 other services including IFS, IPS, IRS and so on . UPSC conducts civil service exams [CSE] popularly called IAS Exam [2018] annually , for selecting candidates. CSE is a three step selection process as Prelims, Mains Exam and Personality Test ( interview ) and ultimately top rankers hold IAS offices . An IAS officer holds many positions like collector, chief secretary, cabinet secretary, head of various public sector departments etc .

PM Narendra Modi addressing IAS Probationers

IAS Exam 2018 Pattern

UPSC Civil Service Exam is popularly known as IAS exam which is a three tire exam process . The exam comprises of preliminary exam conducted in June, followed by mains in November – December and finally interview in March . The final result published by UPSC in the month of May . Preliminary exam marks are not accounted for ranking while the marks scored for mains and interview will be counted for ranking . It is not easy to crack IAS Exam due to its tough competition and wide syllabus, but hard work along with smart work, right approach, proper guidance and right attitude will enable an aspirant to get a high rank in IAS Exam and get a desired service.Many are clueless about Salary of an IAS officer. Click on the link to read.

Civil service examination [CSE]

Civil Service Exam (IAS Exam)Conducted by UPSC, a government agency, who selects appropriate candidates to top most services . Every year around 4- 5lakh of candidates appear for exam and only around 1000 are got  selection .

It is considered as one of the toughest exams in the world, because of its high competition, huge syllabus and exam duration [extends to one year] .

Preliminary exam is objective type consists of two papers General Studies Paper and CSAT . General studies paper counted for screening to the Mains exam stage while CSAT is minimum qualifying in nature

Mains exam consists of 9 papers including optional (2 papers) which is  Descriptive in nature . English language paper and regional language paper are qualifying in nature. Essay paper,four General Studies papers and 2 optional papers are considered for merit  along with interview marks .

IAS Exam Eligibility criteria

An Indian with any degree from: [ For IAS and IPS]

1. Any of the universities incorporated by an act of central or state legislature in India .
2. Other educational institutions established by the act of parliament .
3. Or declare to be deemed as a university under section 3 of university grants commission act, 1965 .
4.  Posses an equivalent qualification .
5. Final year students and candidates awaiting for results can also apply. Results need to submit at the time of filing application for mains exam .
6. No percentage bar for any of the services .

For other services :

1. A citizen of India or,
2. A subject of Nepal or,
3. A subject of Bhutan or,
4. A Tibetan refugee who came to India, before January 1, 1962, with an intention to settle permanently in India .
5. A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries [ Kenya, Uganda, the united republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zaire, Malawi, Ethiopia and vietnam ]with the intention of permanently settle in India .

 IAS Exam – Age limit

The minimum age limit is 21 years. Age limit  calculated as on .

1^st of August every year which exam take place .

Upper age limit and number of attempts

Cumulative age relaxation: apart from mentioned limits SC/ST and OBC candidates will get cumulative age relaxation . In other words, age limits added in special cases . For example, if a person is OBC and ex service man, he will get 5+7=12 of extension. Hence, his upper age limit will be 42 years .

IAS Exam syllabus

The UPSC examination is considered as one of the toughest exams  not only in India but also in the World itself . Every year UPSC conducts exams under prescribed syllabus . Having a clear idea of the UPSC syllabus and proper methodology of study will help aspirants to tackle the dream of clearing Civil Service Examination . Here is the list of syllabus as per UPSC .

UPSC Syllabus for Prelims General Studies paper -1

1. Current affairs : This includes matters relating to current events, both national and international importance .
2. History : It consists of Indian national movement and history of India .
3. Geography [Indian and world] : It comprises of physical, social, economic geography .
4. Environment: Aspirants should include environment ecology, biodiversity and general issues on climatic change and general science .
5. Indian polity and governance : Constitution of India, political system, panchayati raj et c.
6. Economics : It consists of social sector initiatives, sustainable development, inclusion, demographics poverty etc .
7. General Science

Duration is of two hours and marks out of 200 .

UPSC syllabus for prelims paper-2 ( CSAT )

1. Problem- solving and decision- making.
2. General mental ability.
3. Comprehension.
4. Analytical and logical reasoning .
5. Data interpretation.
6. Interpersonal skills including communication skills.

Duration is of two hours and marks out of 200.

UPSC Syllabus For IAS Mains Exam

The marks you score for mains examination and interview session will decide your ranking . The UPSC mains consist of 1750 marks and interview consists of 275 marks . In  UPSC mains include nine papers out of which seven are considered for final ranking . The rest two are language papers in which aspirants should secure minimum marks prescribed by UPSC every year . But there is an exception for candidates residing in north eastern states. They only have to attempt English language only .

Paper –A(Indian Language) 

Candidates should select any one of the Indian languages included in the eighth schedule of Indian constitution.This paper is not compulsory for candidates coming from  the states of Mizoram,Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim,Meghalaya, Manipur,Nagaland.300 marks.

Paper-B : English language -syllabus

UPSC papers counted for final ranking

Also read : How to select Optional Subject for UPSC Exam ?

How to clear IAS exam

• Candidates should adopt the methodology of hard work+ smart work+ right approach+ proper guidance + right attitude. That is known as proper strategy.
• For proper guidance and approach aspirants opt for class room teaching from coaching academies .
• Online sites like IASSolution.com  are a real treasure that provides proper guidance and approach .
• Importance of mock tests cannot be neglected.

Also read: How to start IAS Preparation without coaching 

Tips for clearing IAS Exam

1. Role of coaching institutes are just 3 percent while online sites like IASSolution.com treasure trove of knowledge played 50% of role.
2. For common subjects like history, geography,Economics  study materials and guidance are easily available.
3. Moreover Clarity of thoughts and ideas is vital because  most of the questions opinion based .
4. Empathy is most important factor for government servant for providing better solutions to common man.

Also Check : IAS Books for Civil Service Prelims and Mains Exam