fbpx

IAS – How to become an Indian Administrative Service Officer?

IAS

It is not easy to crack IAS Exam and get selected it to IAS (Indian Administrative Service) due to its tough competition and wide syllabus, but it can be done by hard work along with smart work, right approach, proper guidance. The right attitude will enable an aspirant to get a high rank in IAS Exam and get the desired service.

What is Indian Administrative Service (IAS)?

IAS is the abbreviation of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) which is one of the dream jobs of every youth in India. UPSC conducts Civil Service Exam (CSE) popularly called IAS Exam annually, for selecting candidates. CSE is a three-step selection process as Prelims, Mains Exam, and Personality Test (Interview).

Due to its challenges and scope of transforming millions of lives in India, it makes the prestigious services. Along with IAS, there are 24 other services including IFS, IPS, IRS, and so on . and ultimately top rankers hold IAS offices. An IAS officer holds many positions like a collector, chief secretary, cabinet secretary, head of various public sector departments, etc.

IAS – How to become an Indian Administrative Service Officer?

Selection to IAS is through UPSC Civil Service Exam is popularly known as the 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 final 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.

UPSC Civil Services Examination

Civil Service Exam (IAS Exam)Conducted by UPSC, who selects appropriate candidates for topmost services. 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 the right attitude will enable an aspirant to get a high rank in IAS Exam and get the desired service.

Every year around 4- 5lakh of candidates appear for the exam and only around 1000 are got a 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].

The preliminary exam is an 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 papers 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

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 the university grants commission act, 1965.
  4.  Posses an equivalent qualification.
  5. Final year students and candidates awaiting results can also apply. Results need to submit at the time of filing application for the 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 settling in India.

For detailed eligibility conditions please read this article IAS Exam Eligibility, Age limit and number of Attempts: Link

IAS Exam – Age limit

The minimum age limit is 21 years. The age limit calculated as on the 1st of August every year which exam takes place. Maximum Age limit for General Category is 32 years, for OBC it is 32+3 = 35 years and SC/ST it is 37 years. Also, read about EWS Eligibility Criteria.

Note: 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-serviceman, he will get 5+7=12 of extension. Hence, his upper age limit will be 42 years.

IAS Exam- Number of attempts

Category Upper age limit Number of attempts
General 32 6
OBC 35 9
SC/ST 37 Unlimited attempts
Citizens of Jammu and Kashmir 37
Defense personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with foreign countries or disturbed area 35
Ex-servicemen 37
Physically handicapped/disabled 42 9

IAS Exam Syllabus

The Civil services 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 IAS 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 IAS Syllabus as per UPSC.

Want to Clear IAS Exam in 2024?

Take IASSolution Mock Exams; Be a Master!

Take a FREE Test

  1. UPSC Syllabus for Prelims and Mains
  2. General Studies(GS) Paper 1 Syllabus(Mains)
  3. General Studies(GS) Paper 2 Syllabus(Mains)
  4. GS Paper 3 Syllabus( Mains )
  5. General Studies Paper 4 Syllabus(Mains)

IAS – How to Clear IAS Exam?

IAS – Indian Administrative Service

  1. Candidates should adopt the methodology of hard work+ smart work+ right approach+ proper guidance + right attitude. That is known as proper strategy.
  2. For proper guidance and approach aspirants opt for classroom teaching from coaching academies.
  3. Online sites like IASSolution.com are the real treasure that provides proper guidance and approach.
  4. The importance of mock tests cannot be neglected. Almost we answered the question of How to crack IAS Exam
  5. The role of coaching institutes is just 3 percent while online sites like IASSolution.com treasure trove of knowledge played more than 50 percent of the role.
  6. For common subjects like historygeographyEconomics study materials, and guidance are easily available.
  7. Moreover, Clarity of thoughts and ideas is vital because most of the mains questions are opinion based.
  8. Empathy is the most important factor for government servant for providing better solutions to the common man.

IASSolution – UPSC CSE Online PreparationIAS Preparation

Coaching classes are not necessary to succeed in IAS Exam Why because you are already graduates!  Apart from optional subjects, none of the questions asked in the examination requires specialised study. If your optional subject is not your subject of a graduation, you might need coaching for that, else it is not a necessity. Interesting read: How to select an optional Subject for UPSC.

Also read: Optional Booklist for UPSC Civil Service Exam Preparation 

We provide the right guidance, study material, Daily Current Affairs Quiz, etc. So u can easily prepare at home without paying lakhs of rupees to coaching institutes. Although, those who want to join classroom coaching they can join, we are not against it. We primarily want to help aspirants those who have financial constraints to afford coaching expenses. Self-preparation is enough to crack the UPSC Civil Services Exam.

Mock Test Series

Lastly, the importance of mock tests cannot be neglected.  It will help you to learn quickly from quality mock questions and boost your confidence to face the exam.“Everything we do is practice for something greater than where we currently are.” Register and Login now to take our free and paid prelims mock tests.

IAS Books

The right selection of UPSC/ IAS books for Prelims and Mains will be a game-changer. We cannot buy all the UPSC Books in the market and experimenting with a trial and error game. So we collected reviews about the books from toppers. Here is an exhaustive list of standard books that is very relevant for IAS Exam preparation.wish you success.

IAS Toppers

Know toppers profile, strategy book list, and activities from articles published from toppers section.

If you have any questions then please ask in the comments section.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email