How to be an IAS Officer?? A step-by-step guide
To be Eligible for
the UPSC Examination you need to meet the following criteria:
Age Limit to be an IAS Officer
The
minimum age limit to appear for the UPSC CSE Examination is 21 years of age.
The maximum age limit to apply for the UPSC CSE Examination
is:
For General/EWS Category : 32 Years
For OBC Category : 35
Years
For SC/ST Category : 37
Years
Required Educational Qualification to be an IAS
Officer: Candidate must hold a Graduate Degree from a recognised
University.
Maximum Number of Attempts a candidate can give for
UPSC CSE Examination
For General/EWS Category : 6 attempts
For OBC Category : 9 attempts
For SC/ST Category : No Maximum Limit
Apply for Civil Services Examination
The Union Public Services Commission releases the
Civil Services Examination every year. Candidate needs to fill the application
release by UPSC. The candidate needs to fill the application form in online
format.
First Step of CSE Examination is the Preliminary
Exam
The preliminary Exam consists of two compulsory
papers, 1 for General Studies, and 1 for CSAT. The nature of both the papers is
objective. Both the papers consist of negative marking. Candidate needs to
score at least 33% in the CSAT as this is qualifying in nature and achieve the
Cut-off of the GS Paper 1. Cut-off of the GS Paper 1 vary from Category to
Category.
If the candidates is successful in achieving the
Cut-off of his/her relative category and has scored at least 33% in the CSAT.
the candidate is eligible for mains. Keep a note that Prelims Exam makes the
candidate eligible for MAINS Exam and final ranking does not include the marks
of the Prelims Exam.
Second Step of CSE Examination is the Mains Exam
After qualifying UPSC CSE Prelims Exams candidate
needs to fill the online application form for the Next Level i.e. Mains Exam.
Mains Exam is Subjective in nature and requires good Answer Writing.
There are total 9 compulsory papers in the UPSC CSE
Mains Exam. 2 Language Paper (One English and One Indian Language), 4 General
Studies Paper, 2 Optional Papers and an Essay Paper.
Out of these 9 paper the 2 Language Papers are
qualifying in nature and final ranking does not include the marks of these 2
papers. You have to choose a optional subject out of the list given by the
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for both the optional papers.
The marks of these 9 papers are as follows:
Language
One Indian Language :
300
English :
300
Essay :
250
General Studies
GS I :
250
GS II :
250
GS III :
250
GS IV :
250
Optional Paper
Optional Paper I :
250
Optional Paper II :
250
If the candidate scores the required cut-off as per
relative category the candidate becomes eligible and are called for the final
stage i.e. Interview.
Third Step of CSE Examination is the Interview
The interview consists of 275 marks and the marks
are counted in the final merit list. This is the last stage of the UPSC CSE
Exam. The candidate will be interviewed by the panel; consists of subject
experts, phycologists, bureaucrats, educationists and the board chairperson.
The candidates, apart from their knowledge, are judged on various aspects such
as thoughts and expressions, presence of mind, awareness, stress management and
so on.
The Mains Exam Marks (Excepted both Language
papers) and Interview Marks are calculated for final ranking.
To be an IAS Officer candidate needs to rank high. Some of the candidates rank high but chose different services offered by UPSC such as IPS, IRS, IFS etc. based on the candidate’s preference. Typically candidates choose IAS posts as their first preference.