Interested in joining the All India Civil Service? Indian Administrative Service (IAS), “Indian Police Service” (IPS), “Indian Forest Service” (IFS), and “Indian Revenue Service” (IRS) officials are chosen through the UPSC test.
Three levels make up the UPSC test. Prelims, Mains, and a Personality Test are them. Let’s talk in depth about the format and content of these tests. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds the IAS Examination, which is also known as the Civil Services Examination, once a year.
History of Indian Civil Service
In an effort to enter the country’s civil service, thousands of applicants take the UPSC civil services preliminary test each year. And more than any other service, the bulk of them desire to join the IAS.
In India, the civil services are so closely associated with the IAS test that the civil services are frequently referred to as the IAS Examination. An overview of the Indian Administrative Service’s (IAS) brief history is provided in this article.
- The early beginnings of the civil service in India may be found in the years following 1757, when the East India Company was the de facto ruler in several regions of India. Covenanted Civil Services was established by the business (CCS). Covenants with the company’s board have to be signed by CCS members.
- The service adopted the name Imperial Civil Service after the Revolt of 1857, when the company’s reign came to an end and authority was transferred to the British Crown, or after 1886. Later, it was referred to as the Indian Civil Service.
- The Macaulay Committee advocated for the establishment of a merit-based system in place of the company’s patronage-based system of appointment to the service in 1854. After 1855, only competitive examinations were used to determine merit-based candidates for the ICS. Only Indians were allowed to use it.
- The ICS exam was given in India starting in 1922.
- Under Sir Ross Barker’s leadership, the Public Service Commission of India (the predecessor of the Union Public Service Commission) was founded on October 1st, 1926.
- In 1924, Central Superior Services were assigned to All India Services. Due to the shortage of Europeans after 1939, there were more Indians in the military.
- The ICS was renamed the Indian Administrative Service after independence (IAS).
IAS Exam Age Limit and Number of Attempts
If individuals want to sit for the IAS Examination, there are requirements regarding their nationality, age, number of attempts, and educational background. Candidates for the general category must be Indian citizens or PIOs, possess a graduate degree, be between the ages of 21 and 32, and have not taken the IAS examination more than six times. However, there are several exceptions and other restrictions to the aforementioned.
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Preliminary IAS Examination:
The first qualifying round is the IAS Preliminary Exam, and this round’s mark is not included to your final score. At this level, there are two 400-point papers that are required for all applicants and that assess the candidates’ analytical abilities. The General Ability Test and the Civil Service Aptitude Test are the two exams. This exam is of the objective variety, and the incorrect response has a penalty of one-third of the total marks for that question. It may be written in Hindi or English.
In India, there are a lot of coaching facilities for the All India Civil Service. You can obtain extra information, including the proper materials, training, and exam series, by getting in touch with a top IAS academy. Typically, this exam is given in the months of May or June, and the results are released in the month of August. It is an exam in offline mode.
The paper 2 Civil Service Aptitude test comprises 100 questions and each question is worth 2.5 marks, while the General Ability test has 80 questions and each question is worth 2 marks. Each paper of the exam has a two-hour time limit, plus an additional 20 minutes for applicants who are blind. There is no penalty for a question if none of the options are chosen. Multiple answers to a question are regarded as incorrect answers, and the question receives a lower grade as a result.
The first paper covers topics like current affairs, Indian history, global and Indian geography, Indian politics and power, general issues, economics, and general science. The second paper covers topics like comprehension, communication skills, logical reasoning, analytical ability, problem-solving, decision-making, and basic numeracy. A minimum score of 33% is required for the candidate to pass this level. Only those students will take the main exam who successfully complete this level.
The Main IAS Examination:
The IAS main exam consists of nine papers and is an essay-type test. Starting in 2013, the IAS main exam’s format has changed. The purpose of the main IAS examination is to gauge applicants’ degree of comprehension and intellectual prowess. The points earned on this exam will be added to the overall score used to create the ranking list.
Two of the nine papers in the main test count toward qualifying, while the remaining seven papers determine merit. Each qualifying exam carries 300 points. For their first qualifying exam, students must choose an Indian language from the 8th schedule of the Constitution; the second qualifying exam is in English. Two of the seven papers that are taken into account for merit are optional, and applicants are free to choose them from the options provided. Agriculture, botany, chemistry, economics, civil engineering, geography, geology, history, law, mathematics, management, and other fields are examples of optional courses.
The papers are of the traditional form, and three hours are allotted for each paper. Any language offered by the UPSC is acceptable for exam writing by candidates. UPSC may decide to change the minimum passing scores for certain exams. There are two qualifying papers for every 300 marks, while the main exam’s papers each contain 250 marks. Any Indian language and English are the two acceptable qualifying papers.
IAS Examination interview or test of personality.
It is a component of the main test and carries 275 marks. The result of this round will be added to the result of the IAS main exam to determine the final result. A panel of people will interview the candidate based on their academic and professional histories. The candidates’ mental strength will be examined in this exam. The panel members put the candidates’ social skills, knowledge of current events, mental acuity, moral rectitude, and judgment in balance to the test.
Candidates will be assigned to the different services based on their overall score and preferences.
Important IAS Examination Dates
On February 1st 2023, the official UPSC notification for the IAS Examination 2023 will be released. Although the IAS Examination 2022 is currently being taken.
- IAS Prelims & Mains 2023 Exam Dates are Available in the IAS Exam Calendar 2023.
- Results for the IAS Prelims Exam 2022 were released on June 22, 2022.
- The Mains Exam for 2022 ended on September 25, 2022.
The final and most crucial part of the exam is the IAS Interview, therefore get ready for it.
- The 2022 IAS notification included an announcement of 861 UPSC openings.
- The IAS 2021 Final Results are available. As of 2021, Shruti Sharma is the IAS Topper.
IAS Examination Preparation
Continue reading for a study plan for the IAS Examination:
1. According to trend analysis, both the Prelims and Mains stages of the IAS Examination are asking more questions based on current affairs. Align the current events with the IAS test syllabus and only choose reliable sources like PIB, The Hindu, Yojana, etc. Current affairs for the IAS exam often include significant national and worldwide events from the previous 10 to 12 months.
2. To determine how much preparation is required from your end, review the IAS Examination questions from prior years.
3. Study the NCERT texts while taking notes. You must prepare at least two sets of notes: concise notes for the UPSC Prelims and in-depth notes for the UPSC Mains.
4. Up to a month or two prior to the Prelims exam, Prelims and Mains preparation must be done concurrently. Determine the parts of the syllabus where the Prelims and Mains differ, and concentrate on those first.
5. Based on your talent, interest, and experience, choose an optional subject for the IAS exam. Few electives have a considerable overlap with the Mains General Studies course, but because their syllabi are so extensive, do your research before choosing one.
6. Read the required texts for each subject.
7. The CSAT and Ethics papers in the Mains shouldn’t be taken lightly. In the same way, the two qualifying language papers in the Mains are crucial because if you don’t get at least a 25% in them, you’ll be instantly disqualified from the IAS test process, regardless of how well you did in the other subjects.
8. Set aside time to practice answering MCQs for the Prelims and composing answers for the Mains.
9. Revision is important. Revision is important. Revision is important.
Frequently Asked Questions on IAS Examination
What is the best Upsc service?
Among all aspiring candidates, the Indian Administrative Service is the most well-liked civil service.
Which position in the UPSC is the highest?
The highest post an IAS officer can occupy is that of cabinet secretary. You can see how significant the position of cabinet secretary is by considering that the Indian prime minister is the direct supervisor of the cabinet secretariat.
Is IAS life luxurious?
An IAS officer's personal life may appear opulent, but their work life is far harder than our everyday lives.
Are IAS and civil service similar?
Both the "Indian Administrative Service" (IAS) and the "Provincial Civil Service" (PCS) are civil services; however, the former reports directly to the center or state government, whereas the latter is a state service under the control of the Uttar Pradesh government's executive arm. The administrative duties are handled by an IAS.
Conclusion
In the famous Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and a number of other services, candidates who pass all three IAS examination stages are appointed as officers. Although the IAS exam is one of the hardest in the nation, a candidate can pass it on their very first attempt with the appropriate mindset and attitude.
Before beginning their preparations, applicants must be aware of and comprehend the prerequisites of the IAS test 2023, including the UPSC syllabus for the IAS Examination (Prelims and Mains), pattern, eligibility conditions, application method, and other important details. For those hoping to pass the IAS Exam, we’ve included all the pertinent information on the UPSC Exam.
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