For talented students in India, the Indian Administrative Services (IAS Exam) is a highly prestigious career option for those looking to pursue a different path and serve their nation by becoming an IAS Officer.
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Table of Contents
- An IAS Officer
- To be eligible for the UPSC Exam, applicants must meet certain nationalities, educational qualifications, age limits, and age relaxations.
- Nationality
- Educational Qualification
- Age Limit
- Age Relaxation
- Scheduled Tribe/Scheduled CasteNumber of Attempts
- General
- (OBC) Other backward castes
- (EWS) Economically weaker section
- ST/SC
- If physically damaged General SC/ST
- SC/ST
- UPSC/IAS examination pattern IAS Preliminary exam IAS Main exam IAS personality test/ interview
- IAS Preliminary exam
- IAS Main exam
- IAS personality test/ interview
- is one year.IAS training lasts for a period of one year in a student’s first year.
- Are IAS Officers compensated for training?
- IAS Officers selection
- is to join a reputed coaching institute. To pursue your IAS goal, consider joining a respected coaching institute.
- Salary of an IAS Officer
- Job roles of an IAS Officer District Magistrate/ Collector Sub Divisional Officer Divisional Commissioner Cabinet Secretary Chief Secretary
- District Magistrate/ Collector
- Sub Divisional Officer
- Divisional Commissioner
- Cabinet Secretary
- Chief Secretary
- The advantages and disadvantages of becoming an IAS Officer.
- are very prestigious and attract global attention from many people. The prestige and exposure to a global audience that comes with being an IAS Officer are one of the major benefits.
- include long hours and high levels of stress. One downside of becoming an IAS Officer is the long hours and stress.
- Studying history, Indian polity, geography, international relations, economics, and other topics requires specific materials.
- For History
- Indian Polity
- Geography
- International Relations
- Economics
- Others
A District Collector is an IAS officer who has the authority to manage a district and also to represent the Government of India at international meetings and negotiations.
The UPSC conducts an exam at a national level and selects worthy candidates for IAS, the highest of India’s 24 posts such as IPS, IP & TAFS, IRPS, IFS (Foreign), IPS, IRTS, IFS (Forest), IAAS, IRS, IDAS, CAPF-AF, CMSE, IRAS, ITS.
Eligibility criteria for UPSC Exam
In order to become an IAS officer, individuals must pass the exam administered by the UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (UPSC). The UPSC is responsible for overseeing all public service exams issued in the interests of the public.
- Indian citizen
- A Bhutanese subject or a Nepalese citizen.
- Any Tibetan Refugee who had established residency in India prior to 1962 is considered a permanent resident.
- Indian Migrants seeking permanent residency from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and East African nations.
- A Bachelor’s Degree.
- Candidates who have either taken or are planning to take the qualifying examination and are awaiting their results are also eligible for the Preliminary Examination.
- Applicants who are awaiting their qualifying exam results can sit for the Preliminary Examination.
The age limit for IAS exams varies depending on the category; we’ve outlined them here.
- Minimum age: 21 years
- Maximum age: 32 years
Certain individuals may receive age-limit concessions for IAS exams, as listed below.
- People of SC/ST background have 5 years reserved for them.
- Other Backward Classes have a 3-year reservation period.
- Free online Courses. For Defense Services personnel, free online courses are available for a period of three years.
- Physically disabled: 10 years
No. of Attempts
The number of attempts differs between categories.
6 attempts
9 attempts
is reached. You can attempt this as many times as you want until you reach the age limit.
If physically damaged
Unlimited attempts
UPSC/IAS examination pattern
India’s government, through the UPSC, holds the Civil Services Examination (CSE) or IAS exam annually. Thousands of candidates preparing to take it to apply for their dream job. Let us look at what the IAS exam pattern is.
written exam, practical exam, and interview. In order to qualify for this post, the exam requires three stages: a written test, a practical assessment, and an interview.
- Main exam
If a candidate passes all three steps, they will be selected for a government-appointed position.
Prelims contain two exams in total.
General studies paper 1
200 marks
CSAT paper 2
Once you pass the preliminary exam, you can take the Main exam.
This is the list of the 9 exams that make up the main exam series.
Paper 1
Essay: 250 marks
Paper 2
General Studies 1 is worth 250 marks.
(History, geography, Indian culture)
Paper 3
.General Studies 2 is worth 250 marks.
are all components of political science. Political science encompasses topics such as policy, governance, constitution, international relations, and social justice.
Paper 4
General Studies 3 is worth 250 marks.
are the main keys to global sustainability. Preserving biodiversity, innovating technology, ensuring security, managing disasters, driving economic growth and safeguarding security are the key elements of global sustainability.
Paper 5
.General studies 4 is worth 250 marks.
(Aptitude, integrity, and ethics)
Paper 6
For Optional Subject 1, there are 250 marks available.
Paper 7
the exam you have the option to take the 250-mark exam for Subject 2.
This final step is worth a total of 275 marks.
Once chosen, a candidate proceeds to the training for the position, which is outlined below.
The IAS officer trainees will begin their two-year training in September, and for the first three months, they will join with members of other services such as IPS, IFS, and IFoS at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy for Administration (LBSNAA), located in Mussoorie.
The pay band for trainee officers is 15600–39100 with 5400-grade pay, though they don’t get any official salary during training. However, they receive some advance payment that equates to a stipend or basic salary along with additional allowances.
Each year, 180 Indian Administrative Service Officers are appointed.
Upon analyzing the results of the IAS exams, it is evident that 180 candidates are chosen for the Indian Administrative Services annually. Although other services may have more or fewer positions available, a consistent number of 180 IAS officers is appointed each year.
For those looking to become an IAS, undergraduate courses in the humanities, such as BA Political Science, Sociology, and Economics, are good options.
These are optional subjects offered by the UPSC which can prove beneficial in preparing for it and in easily scoring well in all of these areas.
The salary and career path of IAS officers as per the 7th Pay Commission.
Job roles of an IAS Officer
Have a look at the job profiles for IAS officers and choose one that is suitable for you.
He/she manages the district administration efficiently and effectively.
- The District Magistrate/ Collector coordinates the activities of different agencies in the district to ensure smooth operations.
- A Collector is responsible for collecting revenue from the entire district.
A Sub Division Officer is responsible for multiple duties in the sub-division.
Collaboration between divisions is necessary to ensure effective management of revenue, orders, and other administrative tasks.
The Cabinet Secretary plays a pivotal role in the Central government, acting as the primary liaison between the political system and civil services.
The Chief Secretary is responsible for ensuring clear communication and collaboration between departments, as well as serving as the chair of this committee.
Pros and cons
- The job has earned a great deal of respect nationally.
- This career comes with numerous privileges.
- This position requires exercising political leadership and serving the country.
- A person in the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) serves their community.
- Even when honest, IAS officers are required to confront corruption in their work.
- You will be responsible for resolving various issues across departments, resulting in a high amount of job pressure.
- Political influence is essential in this area.
- Combatting corruption is the largest challenge of this service.
Preparation Materials
- Bipan Chandra’s book, India’s Struggle for Independence.
- is a book about the different customs and traditions in India.Spectrum: Facets of Indian Culture is an exploration of India’s unique customs and traditions.
- History textbooks are important for Civil Service ExamsNCERT XI History textbooks (Ancient & Medieval) are essential for Civil Service Exam preparation.
- is a book that covers the period from 1857 to 1947. NCERT XII covers the modern history of India, from 1857 to 1947.
- is a great resource to learn about the Indian political system.M Laxmikanth’s book Indian Polity is a fantastic source of information on the political system of India.
- NCERT IX-XII
- is an educational book for students studying in class 11. G C Leong Certificate Physical Geography is a handy reference guide for 11th graders.
- Class SyllabusNCERT Syllabus for Classes VI – X
- Books and Solutions are available on our website. Our website provides access to NCERT solutions as well as books for classes XI and XII (as per the new syllabus).
- World Atlas
- is an important book to have for civil services. Having NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics) is essential for success in civil services exams.
- are important aspects of competitive examinations. Competitive exams require familiarity with recent events that have occurred over the past 1.5 to 2 years.
- Ramesh Singh’s Indian Economy.
- Economic Development NCERTXI
- is in very bad shape due to the coronavirus. Economist Ramesh Singh believes that the Indian economy is facing dire consequences as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
- 2020The India Year Book 2020 provides comprehensive information on current affairs.
- Oxford Publishers’ Oxford School Atlas is a geography resource.
- is the title of an interesting book.The interesting book titled Rajiv Ahir (Modern India): A Brief History of Modern India is worth checking out.
- is one of the most popular textbooks for the preparation for IAS.M. Laxmikanth’s “Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations” is a widely-used textbook among IAS aspirants.
- NCERT Books
- contains 10 practice sets for CSAT.The MHE (CSAT): General Studies Paper 2 Manual provides 10 practice sets for CSAT.
- notes. Nitin Singhania’s notes cover Indian Art and Culture.
All the key aspects of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) exam have been discussed here, including the exam’s age limit, salary for IAS officers, and more frequently asked questions.
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