IAS Exams

The IAS Exam (officially known as the Civil Services Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually.

Those who clear all the three stages of the IAS exam enter into the prestigious civil services of the country, and become officers in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and a host of other services. Although regarded as one of the toughest exams in the country, with the right approach and strategy, an aspirant can crack the IAS examination in the very first attempt. It is essential for aspirants to know and understand the requirements of the IAS exam 2024 such as the UPSC syllabus for IAS Exam (Prelims and Mains), pattern, eligibility criteria, application procedure and other such significant details before kick-starting the preparations. Here, we present all the relevant UPSC Exam details for aspirants planning to crack the IAS Exam. Reliable Academy is best coaching classes in Thane, Mumbai for UPSC - IAS exam.

Aspirants of Civil Services Examination are at the right place to get the details of the UPSC Syllabus. Here, at Reliable Academy, you will find the complete UPSC Syllabus for all the stages of the examination:

• Preliminary Exam Pattern & Syllabus
• Mains Exam Pattern & Syllabus
• Personality Test Pattern - Interview

The complete IAS eligibility criteria for the IAS exam is explained in detail in this article.

The IAS preparation procedure starts with incurring accurate knowledge on Eligibility criteria for the exam. The IAS Eligibility and UPSC Age Limit for the Civil Services Exam 2024 are discussed here.

The UPSC notification for 2024 has been released on 14th February 2024 by the commission. The Prelims 2024 is scheduled to take place on 16th June 2024. The candidates can check and download the official notification PDF from the linked article.

IAS Eligibility – Latest Update

The UPSC 2024 Notification was out on 14th February 2024. The interested candidates who want to apply this year, can check the eligibility criteria in this article.

An extra chance in UPSC 2021 for the candidates who stayed away from their final shot at the civil services exams in 2020 has been consistently in the news. Recently, the Supreme court had allowed candidates to submit a representation before the Central government for what it termed as ‘lenient view’ over this appeal.

UPSC Age Limit – Minimum and Maximum Age for IAS

UPSC Age Limit for Civil Services Exam 2024

The candidates must have attained 21 years of age and be less than 32 years of age as of 1st August 2024 i.e., the candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1990 and not later than 1st August, 2001. The official notification will carry UPSC Age Limit 2024 details. The official notification will carry the details about the age for UPSC Exam 2024.

Civil Services Age Limit is an essential factor in the eligibility criteria. Therefore, candidates applying for UPSC Exam should check what is the age for IAS exam before filling the online application form.

IAS Eligibility – Age Relaxation & Number of Attempts

(Civil Services Age limit relaxations, as discussed below, will apply).

Note:

As per the IAS Eligibility for Defence Servicemen, the persons Disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof have special Civil Services age limit relaxation.

The IAS Eligibility states that ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of 5 years Military Service as on 1st August 2024 get five years of age relaxation, provided whose assignment has been extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defense issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three months’ notice on the selection from the date of receipt of an offer of appointment.

IAS Eligibility - Educational Qualification

The various academic requirements as per the IAS Eligibility Criteria are given below:

• Minimum qualification for UPSC exam: The candidate must hold a degree from Government recognised Universities or possess an equivalent qualification.
• Candidates who are in their final year or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for UPSC preliminary Examination. All such candidates who are likely to appear for IAS exams must produce proof of having passed the said examination along with the application for the main IAS examination.
• Candidates having professional and technical qualifications recognised by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees.
• Medical students who have passed the final year of MBBS, but are yet to complete their internship also have eligibility for IAS. Although, along with the Main Examination application, a certificate of course completion (including internship) from the concerned authority of the University/Institution has to be submitted.

IAS Eligibility - Nationality

For IAS and IPS:

• Candidate must be a citizen of India

All other Services:

• Candidate must be either:-
  1. A citizen of India, or
  2. A subject of Nepal, or
  3. A subject of Bhutan, or
  4. A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 intending to settle in India permanently, or
  5. A person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire and Vietnam intending to settle in India permanently.
• The candidates belonging to categories (2), (3), (4) and (5) should furnish a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Such candidates may take the exam before getting the said certificate of eligibility, but he/she would get the offer of appointment only after the Government of India has issued the certificate.
• Point to Note: A person belonging to categories (2), (3) and (4) are not eligible for appointment to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

Summary of UPSC Eligibility Criteria for IAS Exam

Given below is a summary of IAS eligibility criteria mentioning the UPSC maximum age limit, count of attempts, relaxations, and more. Candidates must satisfy the following conditions to be eligible for the UPSC IAS Exam:

Nationality for IAS exam: Must be a citizen of India, a person of Indian origin or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan or Tibet settled in India before 1st January 1962.

Education Qualification for IAS exam: Candidate must hold a Graduate Degree from a recognised University.

UPSC Civil Services Exam Age Limit: Candidate must be a minimum of 21 years of age and must not be more than 32 years of age.

Category wise UPSC CSE age limit, relaxation and maximum attempts

1. General Category & EWS: 32 years; 6 attempts.
2. OBC (with certificate): 32 years + 3 years; 9 attempts.
3. SC/ST: 32 years + 5 years; unlimited attempts.
4. Physically Disabled: 32 years + 10 years; Gen/OBC/Person with Benchmark Disability(EWS category)- 9 attempts & SC/ST unlimited attempts.
5. Jammu & Kashmir Domicile: 32 years + 5 years + (3 years, if OBC OR 5 Years, if SC/ST); Number of attempts depends on the reserved category.
6. Disabled and discharged Defence service personnel: 32 years + 3 years + (3 years, if Gen/OBC OR 5 years, if SC/ST)
7. Ex-Servicemen Commission Officer: 32 years + 5 years + (3 years, if OBC OR 5 Years, if SC/ST)

UPSC Eligibility Related Queries

Q. What is the age limit for the IAS Exam?

A candidate belonging to the General category giving the UPSC prelims should not have completed 32 years as on 1st August of that year. Candidates belonging to other categories have relaxations to the upper age limit. The age limit for UPSC CSE is clearly mentioned in the official notification released by the conducting body. Candidates must carefully go through the same before applying for the exam.

Q. How many attempts are there for the IAS exam?

A general category/EWS category candidate has 6 attempts in the UPSC IAS exam. OBC candidates have 9 attempts; SC/ST candidates have no bar on the number of attempts (they can take the exam until they reach the upper age limit). EWS category with benchmark disability have 9 attempts, general and OBC physically disabled candidates have 9 attempts. SC/ST physically disabled candidates have no bar on the number of attempts.

Q. Is there any reservation for ex-servicemen in the UPSC exam?

Yes, ex-servicemen are given age relaxations of up to 5 years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of 5 years Military Service.

Q. Is there a minimum percentage required in graduation for IAS exam?

No. Candidates only have to be graduates from a recognised university. There is no minimum graduation percentage required for IAS eligibility.

Q. What is the salary of an IAS officer?

The basic entry-level pay of an IAS officer is Rs. 56,100. Officers are given other benefits too like residences, official vehicles, etc.

Q. What is the highest post an IAS officer can reach in his career?

The highest position an IAS officer can aspire to is the Cabinet Secretary of the country.

Q. Is there a lateral entry in the IAS?

There is a lateral recruitment scheme in civil services since 2018. The RTI revealed that the government tried to bring in 10 joint secretaries through lateral recruitment. Lateral entry refers to the induction of private sector specialists in government departments. (Source – India Today)

Q. What is the IAS age limit for general category candidates?

• The age limit for IAS exam for general category as specified in the official notification is
  • Minimum Age for IAS Exam – 21 years
  • Maximum Age for UPSC Exam – 32 years

One must also remember that there are no relaxations for civil service age limit for general category.

Q. Can a 30 year old take the UPSC exam?

As per the official notification, the UPSC civil services age limit generally varies between 21 and 32, however, there are upper age limit relaxations for specific categories. Thus, if a candidate has not exhausted their number of attempts, he/she can take the IAS exam at the age of 30 years.

Q. What is the age limit for OBC in UPSC?

As per the official notification, the Civil Services age limit for UPSC is between 21 and 32 years of age. Age relaxation of 3 years is added to the civil service age limit for OBC, making the maximum age for UPSC 35 years for the OBC category.

Q. Can a candidate who has exhausted his/her number of attempts but is eligible based on the UPSC IAS Exam age limit, apply for the civil services exam?

No, one must fulfil both the criteria of number of attempts and cut off age for IAS exams.

Q. What is the age bar for UPSC?

• Ans. The minimum age to take the UPSC exam is 21 years which is common for all candidates. There are variations in the upper age limit as relaxations are provided to candidates belonging to different categories.
  • Upper UPSC Age Limit for general category – 32 years
  • Upper UPSC Age Limit for OBC – 35 years
  • Maximum age limit for IAS for SC/ST – 37 years

Q. Are there any age relaxations in UPSC for female candidates?

No, there are no separate relaxations for female candidates. The UPSC age criteria are only dependent on the category.

The IAS Exam pattern is:

1. Stage I: Preliminary Examination (IAS Prelims)
2. Stage II: Mains Examination (IAS Mains)
3. Stage III: UPSC Personality Test (IAS Interview)

Stage I: IAS Exam – UPSC Prelims

• The questions in the IAS Exam (Prelims) are of the objective type or Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
• There is ‘Negative Marking’ in the IAS Exam for each incorrect answer but only in the Prelims stage. The negative marking for incorrect answers will be 1/3rd (0.66) of the allotted marks of that question.
• The GS Paper II (CSAT) in IAS exam is of qualifying nature and candidates should score a minimum of 33 per cent in this paper to qualify to the next stage of the IAS exam i.e. the Mains.
• Blind candidates are given an extra time of 20 minutes for each paper in the IAS Exam (Prelims).
• It is mandatory for the candidates to appear in both the papers of civil services prelims exam for the evaluation.
• The marks scored by the candidates in the preliminary examination are not counted for the final score. It is only a screening test where candidates not securing the cut-off marks are eliminated.

Stage II: IAS Exam – UPSC Mains

The second stage of the IAS Exam is called the Mains Exam, which is a written descriptive examination and comprises 9 papers. The 9 papers in IAS Exam (Mains) are as follows: Paper-A (Compulsory Indian Language); Paper –B (English) which are qualifying in nature, while the other papers like Essay, General Studies Papers I, II, III, and IV, and Optional Papers I and II are considered for the final ranking.

NOTE:

• The candidates can select their medium of writing the UPSC Civil Services IAS Mains Exam as Hindi or English or any other language listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• The Indian Languages included in the IAS exam are as per languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• The candidates who score above the prescribed cut-off marks in the IAS exam (Mains) will get the summons for the Personality Test (last stage of the IAS exam).
• The final ranking of the candidates is on the basis of the marks obtained by them in the Main Examination and Personality Test/Interview Round of the IAS exam.

For a detailed IAS exam syllabus for prelims and mains, click on IAS Exam Syllabus 2024.

Stage III: IAS Exam – UPSC Interview/Personality Test

Candidates who clear the Mains stage of the IAS exam with the required cut-off marks qualify for the final stage of the IAS exam i.e., the Personality Test or Interview round with the UPSC Board Members. The candidates who qualify to the final stage will be sent an e-summon by the Commission for a face-to-face discussion round with the board members. In this round, the board assesses the personality traits of the candidates and questions will be asked on their hobbies, current affairs, general knowledge, situation questions, etc. to evaluate if they are fit for a career in the civil services or not. The UPSC personality test will be held only in the UPSC Bhavan in New Delhi.

It is important to know the syllabus for UPSC Prelims as it is the screening test that qualifies candidates for the next stage, i.e. Mains. All UPSC Exam aspirants must familiarise themselves with the exam pattern and UPSC Exam syllabus first, and then move on with the preparation.

The two papers of the UPSC prelims are discussed in detail below:

1. General Studies
   • The General Studies test is the first paper of the preliminary examination.
   • This test is intended to test the general awareness of a candidate in a wide range of subjects that include: Indian Polity, Geography, History, Indian Economy, Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology, International Relations and associated UPSC current affairs.
2. Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) (Generally conducted between 2:30 PM and 04:30 PM)
   • This UPSC Prelims syllabus for CSAT intends to assess the aptitude of the candidate in solving 'Reasoning and Analytical' questions, apart from 'Reading Comprehension' and the occasionally asked 'Decision Making' questions.
   • The 'Decision Making' based questions are generally exempt from negative marks.

To be noted:

• The preliminary examination is only meant for screening a candidate for the subsequent stages of the exam.
• The marks obtained in the Prelims will not be added up while arriving at the final rank list.

The subjects included in the prelims are common for all. However, there is an option to opt for a few subjects in the mains phase of the examination. Reliable Academy gives you best coaching class in Thane for UPSC Examination.

UPSC Syllabus for GS Paper (Prelims Paper I)

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation.
• General Science

UPSC Syllabus for CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper-II)

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)

UPSC Syllabus for Mains

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern

Must-Know Facts about UPSC Mains

• The Mains examination constitutes the 2nd phase of the Civil Services Examination. Only after successfully qualifying in the prelims exam would the candidates be allowed to write the UPSC Mains.
• The Mains exam tests the candidate’s academic talent in depth and his/her ability to present his/her understanding according to the requirements of the question in a time-bound manner.
• The UPSC Mains exam consists of 9 papers, out of which two are qualifying papers of 300 marks each.
• The two qualifying papers are:
  • Any Indian Language Paper
  • English Language Paper
• The papers on Essay, General Studies and Optional Subject of only such candidates who attain 25% marks in both the language papers as a minimum qualifying standard in these qualifying papers, will be taken cognizance of, for evaluation.
• In case a candidate does not qualify in these language papers, then the marks obtained by such candidates will not be considered or counted.

UPSC Syllabus for UPSC Mains GS-I

General Studies‐I is also called Paper-II of UPSC Mains. It covers – Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

The detailed UPSC Syllabus for this paper is given below:

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.
• The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
• History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• Salient features of world's physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone. etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

IAS Syllabus for Mains GS-II

General Studies-II is also called Paper-III of UPSC Mains. It majorly covers Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

The detailed UPSC syllabus for this paper is given below:

• Constitution of India - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
• Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry - the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.
• India and its neighbourhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

IAS Syllabus for Mains GS-III

General Studies-III is also called Paper-IV of the UPSC Mains. The major topics covered are Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

The detailed UPSC syllabus for this paper is given below:

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope' and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Investment models.
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
• Disaster and disaster management.
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

IAS Syllabus for Mains GS-IV

General Studies Paper-IV is also called Paper-V of UPSC Mains. The major topics covered under it are Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude. This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilize the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered:

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
• Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on the above issues.

IAS Syllabus for Language and Essay Papers

Essay Paper – It is the Paper-I of UPSC Mains

Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

Qualifying Papers on Indian Languages and English

Structure of the language papers:

The types of questions asked are -

1. Essay – 100 marks
2. Reading comprehension – 60 marks
3. Precis Writing – 60 marks
4. Translation:
   • English to compulsory language (e.g. Hindi) – 20 marks
   • Compulsory language to English – 20 marks
5. Grammar and basic language usage – 40 marks

The rest of the seven papers can be written in any of the languages mentioned under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India or in English.

The aim of the papers is to test the candidates’ ability to read and understand serious discursive prose and to express ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language concerned.

The pattern of questions would broadly be as follows:

(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.

Indian Languages:-

(i) comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

UPSC Syllabus for IAS Interview

Known as Personality Test, UPSC Interview is the last stage of the examination. There is no defined UPSC syllabus for the interview. Questions are asked from wide-ranging issues.

• Candidates who qualify the UPSC Mains Exam will be called for the 'Personality Test/Interview'. These candidates will be interviewed by a Board appointed by the UPSC.
• The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in civil services by a board of competent and unbiased observers.
• The interview is more of a purposive conversation intended to explore the mental qualities and analytical ability of the candidate.
• The Interview test will be 275 marks and the total marks for the written examination is 1750. This sums up to a Grand Total of 2025 Marks, based on which the final merit list will be prepared.

Candidates should note that there are no changes in UPSC Syllabus 2022 in comparison to UPSC Syllabus 2021 and UPSC Syllabus 2020.

FAQ about UPSC Syllabus

What are the subjects in UPSC?

UPSC syllabus has mentioned different subjects under headings from GS-I to GS-IV. GS Paper 1 has History, Geography and Indian Society as main subjects; GS Paper 2 has Indian Polity, Governance, Constitution, and International Relations; GS Paper 3 has Indian Economy, Science & Technology, Agriculture, Environment as important subjects while GS Paper 4 has Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude.

What is the fee of UPSC application form?

Candidates have to pay Rs. 100 for an application form. There is an exemption for SC/ST/PH categories and female candidates. Learn more about it at the UPSC Online Registration Application Form page.

Is IAS syllabus tough?

Known as one of the toughest examinations of the country, Civil Services Examination has a comprehensive syllabus. The UPSC syllabus is designed in such a way that it tests candidates’ knowledge, not in one but multiple areas of interest. Given the length and breadth of the IAS syllabus, it is usually considered to be on the tough end However, with a proper strategy, it can be covered in a due span of time.

Does UPSC Syllabus PDF contain prelims and mains syllabus both?

Yes, the UPSC syllabus contains complete prelims, mains and optional subjects syllabus for the aspirants.

Can an aspirant download the UPSC Syllabus in Marathi?

IAS Syllabus is published in English/Hindi languages. One can download the official IAS Syllabus PDF in the same languages only.

IAS Officer Salary (Basic Pay i.e. excluding DA, TA, and HRA) in India, according to 7th Pay Commission

IAS Officer Allowances

The allowances forms a major part of this gross monthly salary. It is important to have an understanding of it.

HRA (House Rent Allowances)

• HRA is given when the IAS officer needs to live in a rented accommodation at the place of his posting. His HRA depends on the kind of posting he gets.
• The HRA of an IAS officer is 24% of the Basic Salary if he gets posted in one of the 8 metro cities in India, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune
• If the IAS officer gets posted into smaller cities with a population of above 5 lakhs, then he’s eligible for an HRA of 16%
• If the IAS officer gets posted into a rural setting, then he’s eligible for an HRA of 8%
• You should note though that if the IAS officer chooses to reside in an official accommodation, he doesn’t receive an HRA.

DA (Dearness Allowances)

• The DA is an allowance that the government pays to its employees to offset the effects of inflation and help them cope with the rising prices.
• DA started from 0% after the 7th pay commission recommendation and it stands at 31% as of December 2021. As mentioned earlier, this component is linked to inflation. DA is revised twice a year based on the recommendation of the Cabinet Committee chaired by the Prime Minister.
• Remember that the DA had touched 107% of the Basic Pay in 2015 (before the 7th pay commission implementation). Therefore, in the future, the DA part is expected to be significant in the salary of an IAS officer. Some of the other allowances (including HRA) are linked to the DA crossing the 50% & 100% of basic pay.

TA (Travel Allowances)

• The TA is credited by the government into the accounts of the IAS officers to help them meet their travel expenses. As the DA, the TA is also not something that is static. It changes from time to time, depending on the rise and fall of fuel prices.
• However, you should note that, if an IAS officer is given a government vehicle, then he doesn’t receive any TA.

Apart from these other allowances and perks include medical expenses, electricity bills, water bills, mobile bills, abroad study option, pensions and retirement benefits, etc.

• UPSC Prelims 2024 result declared on 1 July, 2024. 
• Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 Final Result on 1 July, 2024.
• UPSC Mains 2024 Result was declared on December 2024. Personality Tests (Interviews) of these candidates commenced from 5th April 2022.
• IAS Prelims 2021 Result was declared on 29th October 2021. 

UPSC 2021 Final Result

A total of 685 candidates have been recommended for the various posts including IAS, IPS, IRS, etc. Shruti Sharma has bagged the UPSC 2021 AIR 1. Ankita Agarwal and Gamini Singla are the second and third rank holders respectively. The UPSC Interview took place in the months of April and May.

Let’s find out the deets of the IAS 2021 Final Results:

1. Shruti Sharma is the IAS Topper 2021.
2. Category-wise, the following number of candidates have cleared the IAS Exam
   • General Category – 244
   • EWS – 73
   • OBC – 203
   • SC – 105
   • ST – 60
3. 126 candidates have made it to the reserved list as per the Civil Services Examination Rules 2021:
   • General – 63
   • EWS – 20
   • OBC – 36
   • SC – 07
   • ST – Nil

UPSC Civil Services Final Result 2021: List of toppers

The details of the UPSC 2021 results are given in the table below:

Q 1. What is the full form of IAS?

ANS: The full form of IAS is Indian Administrative Services, formerly known as Imperial Civil Service (ICS). It is conducted annually by UPSC.

Q 2. What is the Age Limit for IAS 2022?

ANS: To be eligible for the IAS 2022 examination a candidate must be between the age of 21 to 32 years. However, the candidates from reserved categories get some age relaxations.

Q 3. When can I apply for IAS 2022?

ANS: The IAS 2022 registration process had started from February 02, 2022 and the last date to apply was February 22, 2022. IAS Prelims examination 2022 will be held on June 5, 2022. Future aspirants will be able to apply for IAS 2023 when the applications are available.

Q 4. Is one year enough for UPSC IAS preparation?

ANS: Yes, if you are dedicated and focused, one year is enough for IAS preparation. The preparation and the performance of the candidates depend upon them and their regularity.

Q 5. Will UPSC reduce 2022 age limit?

ANS: No, UPSC has not changed the age limit in the 2022 notification. The upper age limit for general candidates is still 32 years.

Q 6. Does height matter for an IAS interview?

ANS: No, there are no set rules for height or weight for the candidates who qualify Mains. The candidates just have to clear the cutoff marks of their respective category in order to appear for Interview.

Q 7. What is the Salary of IAS?

ANS: According to the 7th Pay Commission, the basic salary of an IAS officer is Rs 56,100. Candidates can check the detailed salary of an IAS officer in the above article.

Q 8. What is a qualification for IAS?

ANS: Candidates for the Indian Administrative Service examination must have a graduate degree from a recognized institution. Candidates for the UPSC Civil Services Examination must be at least 21 years old and no more than 32 years old. Candidates in the General Category and EWS must be 32 years old and have six attempts to pass the test. IAS officers who pass their tests are eligible for employment in various government departments, most typically in the Center. They serve in a range of capacities within the government, ranging from Cabinet Secretaries to Joint Secretaries. These people are responsible for overseeing policy formation and financial resource allocation. They are accountable to both the state and the Parliament, and they play an essential role in developing policy in their area of expertise.

Q 9. What exactly does an IAS officer do?

ANS: IAS officials supervise the execution of government policies and the management of different finances. IAS officials typically work nine to five, implementing government policies, attending meetings, reading reports, and supervising additional responsibilities, depending on their position. They must be on the ground, collaborating with numerous agencies and dealing with elected officials. An IAS officer’s duties are broad and diverse. They often endeavor to safeguard the people’s interests under their jurisdiction, but they may also be in charge of different development initiatives. They also confer with the minister in charge of a specific department. The task requires a great deal of concentrated attention and a great deal of patience. Most applicants aspire to a high-powered career as an IAS official, and many succeed.

Q 10. Is IAS a stressful job?

ANS: The first is frequent transfers, which may disrupt family life, job life, and functioning. The second is persistent intervention and political threats. The regular shifts in location constitute a significant source of concern. It is feasible for an IAS officer to be stationed in a distant place without access to amenities that satisfy modern standards. The work demands a lot of dedication and patience. Even if they are standard conveniences, frequent inquiry from political officials may be a cause of aggravation. Despite these challenges, the overall work exposure is excellent.

Q 11. Is IAS Exam difficult?

ANS: The answer is dependent on the aspirant. The UPSC curriculum is extensive and complex, with several disciplines and IAS Current Affairs that a candidate must be familiar with. The IAS Syllabus is comprehensive, with several topics from many streams. Thus, the candidate must have a broad and deep grasp of the sector. One of the first things you should know about the IAS test is how it is prepared. Ideally, you should read one or two novels and then reread them if required. You must have the correct supervision, clever work, and current events understanding. The IAS test is one of the most demanding in India, so make sure you devote enough time to studying. Furthermore, the correct strategy is critical.