Courses

Preliminary exam is the first stage of the UPSC CSE process. It is a screening test to select the students for the further selection process. Preliminary exam comprises of two objective type papers of 200 marks each. Only those who manage to score more than the cut-off declared by the UPSC for that particular year will be selected for the next level of examination. However, the marks scored in Prelims will not be counted for arriving at the final merit list.

In reference to the UPSC Exam Pattern, the following points should be kept in mind while appearing for Civil service Exam:
It is mandatory for all the candidates to appear for both the exams viz. General Studies and CSAT to qualify for the Mains.
The score obtained in the Preliminary exam will not be added to the final score. UPSC CSE Prelims 2022 will be just for screening purposes.
The question paper of Preliminary exam will be bilingual. It will have questions written both in Hindi and English Language.
There is a negative marking of 1/3rd for every incorrect answer in both papers.

Mains Exam is the second level in the Civil Services Selection Process. Mains exam comprises 9 descriptive type papers: 1 Essay paper, 4 General Studies Papers, 2 Optional Papers (of your choice to be selected from the Civil Services Exam Optional Subjects), 2 language papers (marks scored in language papers will not be included to arrive at the final ranking order – however, candidates need to score at least 25% in each paper in order to qualify).

The following points should be kept in mind while preparing for UPSC CSE Mains:
Except for language papers, Paper A and Paper B, scores in all the other papers will determine your rank.
Hence, your score will be out of a total of 1750 marks.
It is mandatory to score at least 25% in each paper to be evaluated during the final selection.
Candidates will be required to write the answers in the answer sheets provided by the UPSC. No extra sheets will be provided.

Personality test, commonly known as the interview, is the final round in the Civil Services Exam selection process. It is the gateway to your dream service. Only those candidates who manage to clear the mains exam cut-off are allowed to attend the interview. The purpose of the interview is to assess the suitability of the candidate to the Civil Services. At this stage, the candidates are tested for their mental alertness, the balance of judgment, intellectual and moral integrity, etc out of 275 marks. Marks scored by the candidate in the interview will be added to the marks scored by him/her in the mains exam for arriving at the final merit list.
Some of the qualities that the board assesses in a candidate are:
Mental acuity
Critical thinking
Analytical thinking
Risk assessment skills
Crisis management skills
Ability to become a leader
Intellectual and moral integrity

(i) Indian Administrative Service.
(ii) Indian Foreign Service.
(iii) Indian Police Service.
(iv) Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service, Group ‘A’.
(v) Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
(vi) Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), Group ‘A’.
(vii) Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
(viii) Indian Revenue Service (I.T.), Group ‘A’.
(ix) Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Group ‘A’ (Assistant Works Manager, Administration).
(x) Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’.
(xi) Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
(xii) Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group ‘A’.
(xiii) Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
(xiv) Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group ‘A’.
(xv) Post of Assistant Security Commissioner in Railway Protection Force, Group ‘A’
(xvi) Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’.
(xvii) Indian Information Service (Junior Grade), Group ‘A’.
(xviii) Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Gr. III).
(xix) Indian Corporate Law Service, Group “A”.
(xx) Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade).
(xxi) Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Group ‘B’.
(xxii) Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service, Group ‘B’.
(xxiii) Pondicherry Civil Service, Group ‘B’.
(xxiv) Pondicherry Police Service, Group ‘B’.

Nationality: Candidate must be a citizen of India. Candidate must be a citizen of Nepal or a subject of Bhutan. Candidate must be a Tibetan Refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to be settled permanently in India. Candidate must be a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zaire, or Zambia with an intention of permanently settling in India.

Educational Qualification: Candidate applying for the Civil Services 2021 exam is required to fulfil the following criteria: Candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from any of the recognized universities. Candidates who have appeared for the qualifying examination and are awaiting results or those who are yet to appear for the qualifying examination are also eligible for the Preliminary Examination. Such candidates have to produce proof of passing the said examination along with the application for the Main Examination. Candidates with professional and technical qualifications recognized by the Government or its equivalent are also eligible to apply. Candidates who have passed the final year of MBBS or any Medical Examination but are yet to complete the internship can also appear for the Main Examination. However, they must submit a certificate from the concerned University that they have passed the final professional medical examination.

Age Limit: A candidate should be a minimum of 21 years and maximum 32 years old as on August 01, 2021. But he/she must have been born not earlier than August 02, 1989 and not later than August 01, 2000. Necessary action will be taken to make corresponding changes in respective Rules/Regulations pertaining to various services. The upper age limit prescribed above is relaxable for the following candidates: 5 Years – Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST). 3 Years – Other Backward Classes (OBC). 3 Years – Defence Services personnel. 5 Years – ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least 5 years Military Service as on August 01, 2020. 5 Years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs. 10 Years – Blind, deaf-mute, and orthopedically handicapped persons. 5 Years – In the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Service as on 1st August, 2019 and whose assignment has been extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defence issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three months’ notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment.

Number of attempts: Restriction on the maximum number of attempts is effective since 1984: For General Candidates: 6 attempts (Up to 32 Years) Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Candidates (SC/ST): No Limits (Up to 37 Years) Other Backward Classes (OBC): 9 attempts (Up to 35 Years) Physically handicapped- 9 attempts for general and OBC, while unlimited for SC/ST

Roles and Responsibilities
The role of IAS officers is very venerable, demands a great deal of responsibility and reverence. It is also important that an officer is physically and mentally fit and healthy to handle the work pressure without giving in. The following are the roles and responsibilities that an IAS officer is deputed:

Handling affairs of government that involve framing and implementation of policy in consultation with the concerned Minister.
Implementing policies through supervision and also travelling to the places where the approved policies will be implemented.
Implementing policies comprises disbursement of funds through personal supervision.
Answerable to the Parliament and State Legislatures for any violation of rules while on duty.
Functions and responsibilities differ at different levels of career.
Initially, IAS officers join the state administration at the sub-divisional level, resuming their services as sub-divisional magistrates, and look after law and order, general administration and development work in the area assigned to them.
The post of the District Officer also known as District Magistrate, District Collector or Deputy Commissioner is the highly respected and responsible post the IAS officers enjoy
At the district level, an IAS officer deals with district affairs, including implementation of developmental programs
The officers may also be appointed in the State Secretariat or they may serve as Heads of Departments or in Public Sector Undertakings
They may serve in different positions from the State to the Centre and vice versa. This happens through deputation.
At the Centre, IAS officers serve at the highest position as the Cabinet Secretaries, Secretaries/Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries, Directors, Deputy Secretaries and Under Secretaries. They are appointed to these posts based on seniority.
At the Centre, the IAS officers play a key role in formulation and implementation of policies related to a particular area; for instance, finance commerce, etc.
During formulation of a policy and decision making, IAS officers serving at different levels i.e. joint secretary, deputy secretary give their valuable inputs.
The policy takes its final shape through a final decision of the minister concerned or the cabinet, depending on the seriousness of the situation.