UPSC Civil Services Exam
Indian Civil Services which includes the top services i.e. the IAS, IPS, and IFS, is the dream career for millions of aspirants from all over the country.
Best IAS Coaching in Solan, Best IPS Coaching in Solan, Best HAS Coaching in Solan – Rahul IAS Academy Provides the Best UPSC Coaching in Solan for aspirants aiming to achieve success in the Indian Civil Services. The Indian Civil Services, which include top services like the IAS, IPS, and IFS, are the dream careers for millions of candidates across the country.
Why Choose Civil Services as a Career?
Civil Services form the backbone of the nation’s administrative structure. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) are among the most prestigious services. Among these, IAS is the most sought-after as it provides an opportunity to serve in high-ranking strategic positions within the Union and State Governments.
About the Examination Process
To enter these esteemed services, candidates must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The selection process consists of three phases:
- Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
- Main Examination (Mains)
- Personality Test (Interview)
How to Apply
Candidates can apply online via the official UPSC website: www.upsconline.nic.in. The online application consists of two parts: Part-I and Part-II, which must be completed as per the website instructions.
Application Fee:
- General/OBC: Rs. 100/-
- SC/ST/Female/PWD: Exempted
- Payment can be made via cash deposit at SBI branches, net banking, or Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card.
Key Requirements:
- Scanned photograph and signature (JPG format, size limits apply)
- Valid and active email ID for communication throughout the examination process
- Avoid multiple applications; only the latest Registration ID will be considered
Plan of Examination
The Civil Services Examination comprises two main stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) – Screening for the Main Examination
- Main Examination (Written & Interview) – Selection for various services
Candidates who qualify for the Mains Examination must submit a Detailed Application Form (DAF).
First Stage: Preliminary Examination
The Prelims exam consists of two papers, each carrying 200 marks:
- General Studies Paper I
- General Studies Paper II (CSAT – Civil Services Aptitude Test)
- CSAT is of a qualifying nature (33% marks required)
This stage is purely for screening purposes. Marks obtained are not counted for the final selection.
Second Stage: Main Examination & Personality Test
The Main Examination is a written exam consisting of nine papers, of which marks from only seven papers contribute to the final merit list. The remaining two are qualifying papers.
The Personality Test (Interview) evaluates a candidate’s overall personality, knowledge, and suitability for public service. A board of experts assesses the candidates based on their responses to questions of general interest.
Final Selection
The final rank in the merit list depends on marks secured in the Main Examination (written) and the Personality Test (Interview). Clearing these stages successfully leads to the ultimate selection in IAS, IPS, and other civil services.
For the Best IAS Coaching in Solan, the Best IPS Coaching in Solan, and the Best HAS Coaching in Solan, trust Rahul IAS Academy to guide you towards success in the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Table shows the Marks distribution counted for final merit | ||
Paper | Subject | Marks |
Paper-1 | Essay | 250 |
Paper-2 | General Studies–I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 |
Paper-3 | General Studies–II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) | 250 |
Paper-4 | General Studies–III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 |
Paper-5 | General Studies–IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | 250 |
Paper-6 | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 | |
Paper-7 | Sub Total (Written test) | 1750 |
Personality Test | 275 | |
Grand Total | 2025 |
UPSC Civil Services Examination: Qualifying Papers, Eligibility & Services
Qualifying Papers
Candidates appearing for the Civil Services Examination must clear two qualifying papers:
- Paper A: One Indian Language (chosen from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution) – 300 Marks
- Paper B: English – 300 Marks
Both papers are mandatory but are only qualifying in nature and do not contribute to the final ranking.
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
- For IAS and IPS, the candidate must be a citizen of India.
- For other services, candidates can be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A citizen of another country who meets specific eligibility conditions.
Age Limit
- Candidates must be at least 21 years old and not more than 32 years old as of August 1 of the examination year.
- Age Relaxation:
- SC/ST candidates: Up to 5 years
- OBC candidates: Up to 3 years
- Ex-Defense personnel and candidates with disabilities: Additional relaxations as per government norms.
Educational Qualification
- Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification.
- Final-year students awaiting results can apply for the Preliminary Examination, but they must produce proof of qualification before appearing for the Main Examination.
Restrictions on Reappearing
- Candidates who are currently serving as IAS or IFS officers are not eligible to apply again.
- Those already appointed to the Indian Police Service (IPS) cannot choose IPS in a subsequent attempt.
List of Civil Services
Group A Services
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian P&T Accounts & Finance Service
- Indian Audit and Accounts Service
- Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise)
- Indian Defence Accounts Service
- Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax)
- Indian Ordnance Factories Service (Assistant Works Manager, Administration)
- Indian Postal Service
- Indian Civil Accounts Service
- Indian Railway Traffic Service
- Indian Railway Accounts Service
- Indian Railway Personnel Service
- Indian Railway Protection Force (Assistant Security Commissioner)
- Indian Defence Estates Service
- Indian Information Service (Junior Grade)
- Indian Trade Service, Group A (Gr. III)
- Indian Corporate Law Service
Group B Services
- Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (Section Officer’s Grade)
- Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service (DANICS)
- Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS)
- Pondicherry Civil Service
- Pondicherry Police Service
Optional Subjects for the Main Examination
Candidates must select one optional subject from the following list:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce & Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science & International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
- Literature of one of the following languages:
- Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English
The optional subject plays a crucial role in determining a candidate’s final ranking.
