IAS Exam 2021 – Syllabus, Pattern, Age Limit and Dates
UPSC announces IAS Exam 2021 as per the prescribed syllabus, pattern and eligibility starts with Prelims on June 27, 2021, as per the timetable. IAS is the abbreviation of the Indian Administrative Service, which is one of the dream jobs of every youth in India. Along with IAS, there are 24 other services including IFS, IPS, IRS, and so on. Therefore its challenges and scope of transforming millions of lives in India, it makes it a prestigious service.
CSE is a three-step selection process as Prelims, Mains Exam and Personality Test (interview), and ultimately top ranker holds IAS offices. Hence an IAS officer holds many positions like the collector, chief secretary, the cabinet secretary, head of various public sector departments, etc.
Table of Contents
IAS Exam 2021
UPSC Civil Services Exam is popularly known as IAS Exam which is a three tire exam process as per IAS Exam Syllabus 2021. The exam pattern comprises of preliminary exam conducted in June, followed by mains in November – December and the final interview in March. The final result published by UPSC in the month of May. However, preliminary exam marks are not accounted for ranking while the marks scored for mains and interview will be counted for ranking. Although, it is not easy to crack IAS Exam, due to its tough competition and wide syllabus. Hard work along with smart work, the right approach, proper guidance, and the right attitude will lead an aspirant to get a high rank in IAS Exam.
IAS Exam 2021 – Eligibility
An Indian with any degree from [ For IAS and IPS]
- Any of the universities incorporated by an act of central or state legislature in India
- Other educational institutions established by the act of parliament.
- Or a deemed university as per section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1965. Posses an equivalent qualification.
- Final year students and candidates awaiting results can also apply. Results need to submit at the time of filing application for the mains exam.
- No percentage bar for any of the services.
For other services:
- A citizen of India or,
- A subject of Nepal or,
- A subject of Bhutan or,
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India, before January 1, 1962, with an intention to settle permanently in India.
- 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 2021 – Syllabus
Every year UPSC conducts exams under the prescribed syllabus. Having a clear idea of the Syllabus and proper methodology of study will help aspirants to tackle the dream of clearing the Civil Service Examination. Here is the list of the latest syllabus as per UPSC Civil Services Exam 2020 Notification
- IAS Exam Syllabus 2021 for Prelims and Mains
- General Studies(GS) Paper 1 Syllabus(Mains)
- General Studies(GS) Paper 2 Syllabus(Mains)
- GS Paper 3 Syllabus( Mains )
- General Studies Paper 4 Syllabus(Mains)
IAS Exam 2021 – Notification
- Date of Notification and Registration starts for CSE Prelims: February 10, 2021
- Date Registration closes for CSE Prelims: March 02, 2020
- Exam dates of UPSC CSE Prelims and IFoS Prelims: June 27, 2021
- Date of UPSC Civil Service Mains: September 17, 2021
- UPSC IFS Mains date: November 21, 2021
Note: The dates of notification, commencement, and exam duration are liable to change if circumstances so warrant.
Notification is expected to publish in February 2021 and the last date for the application is March 2021.
IAS Exam 2021 – Age Limit
The Minimum Age limit for IAS Exam is 21 years. The age limit is calculated as on 1st of August every year which exam takes place.
UPSC Exam Upper Age limit
| category | Upper age limit | Number of attempts |
| General | 32 | 6 |
| OBC | 35 | 9 |
| SC/ST | 37 | Unlimited attempts |
| Citizens of Jammu and Kashmir | 37 | 9 |
| Defense personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with foreign countries or disturbed area | 35 | |
| Ex-servicemen | 37 | |
| Physically handicapped/disabled | 42 | 9 |
Cumulative age relaxation: apart from mentioned age 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-serviceman, he will get 5+7=12 of extension. Hence, his upper age limit will be 42 years.
IAS Exam 2021 – Pattern
Civil Service Exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission, a government agency, who selects appropriate candidates for topmost services. Every year around 4- 5 lakhs of candidates appear for the exam and only around 1000 are got the selection.
As a matter of fact, IAS Exam 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].
On the one hand, the Preliminary exam is objective type consists of two papers General Studies Paper and CSAT(Paper 2). General Studies Paper 1 counted for screening to the Mains exam stage while Paper 2 is minimum qualifying in nature.
On the other hand, the Mains exam consists of 9 papers, including optional (2 papers), which is descriptive in nature. However, English language paper and regional language papers are qualifying in nature. Essay paper, four general Studies papers and 2 optional papers are considered for merit, along with interview marks.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | ||
| Paper A | Regional language(Qualifying) | 300 | ||
| Paper B | English Language(Qualifying) | 300 | ||
| Paper – 1 | Essay | 250 | ||
| Paper – 2 | General Studies-1 | 250 | ||
| Paper – 3 | General Studies -2 | 250 | ||
| Paper – 4 | General Studies -3 | 250 | ||
| Paper – 5 | General studies -4 | 250 | ||
| Paper – 6 | Optional Paper – 1 | 250 | ||
| Paper – 7 | Optional Paper- 2 | 250 | ||
| Written test Total | 1750 | |||
| Personality Test | 275 | |||
| Final Total | 2025 | |||
Papers counted for the Final Ranking for UPSC Exam
| Paper | Subject & Content | Marks |
| Paper 1 | Essay | 250 |
| Paper 2 | GS 1-Syllabus: Culture and Indian Heritage, History, and Geography of world | 250 |
| Paper 3 | GS 2-Syllabus: Constitution, Governance, polity, social justice and international relations | 250 |
| Paper 4 | GS 3-Syllabus: Economic development, Technology, Environment and biodiversity, Disaster management, and security. | 250 |
| Paper 5 | GS 4-Syllabus: Aptitude, integrity, and Ethics | 250 |
| Paper 6 | Optional Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper 7 | Optional Paper 2 | 250 |
Tips 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 classroom teaching from coaching academies.
- Online sites like IASSolution.com are the real treasure that provides proper guidance and approach.
- Besides all, the importance of mock tests cannot be neglected.
- In the first place, the role of coaching institutes is just 3 percent while online sites like IASSolution.com treasure trove of knowledge played 50% of the role.
- For common subjects like History, Geography, Economics study materials, and guidance are easily available.
- Moreover, clarity of thoughts and ideas is vital because of most of the opinions of the question-based.
- Empathy is the most important factor for government servants in providing better solutions to a common man.
IAS Exam Solutions 2021 – Prelims Mock Test Series
IAS Exam 2021 – Book List
We have prepared the best book list for IAS Preparation by taking inputs from UPSC toppers. Links are provided to buy books online.
