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IAS Exam
Indian Administrative Service Exam
What is IAS Exam?
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) was formerly known as the Imperial Civil Service (ICS) is the Civil Services Examination and one of the toughest competitive exams in India. It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for the recruitment of officers for the All India Administrative Civil Service.
Founded:
- 1858 (as Imperial Civil Service)
- January 26, 1950 (as Indian Administrative Service)
The Indian Administrative Service is the premier administrative civil service of the Government of India. Hierarchy-wise, IAS is the highest administrative post among the 24 services like IPS, IFS etc.
Popularly known as the IAS exam, officially it is called as Civil Services Examination (CSE), which is conducted every year by the central recruiting agency, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
IAS is the permanent bureaucracy in India and forms a part of the executive branch. It is one of the three All India Services, its cadre can be employed by both the Union Government, the State Governments and public-sector undertakings.
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) has been termed as one of the prestigious services among the 24 government services like IPS, IFS (Foreign), IFS (Forest), IP & TAFS, IAAS, IRS, IDAS, CMSE, IRTS, IRAS, IRPS, ITS, CAPF-AF to name a few.
All these examinations are conducted by UPSC in the form of Civil Services Examination (CSE) for selecting the appropriate candidates for the jobs. Every year lakhs of candidates appear for this examination, testing their lucks and hard work to get through one of these prestigious posts.
It is important to mention that any officer selected into the IAS can be employed by Union government, state governments and/or public-sector undertakings and gets exposure in numerous job roles like the collector, head of public sector units, commissioner, chief secretary, cabinet secretary to name a few.
When on deputation outside India, the IAS officer can be engaged in inter-governmental organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the United Nations (UN), or its agencies and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to name a few.
It is very important for aspirants to know and understand the requirements of the examination such as the UPSC IAS syllabus, pattern, eligibility criteria, application procedure and other such significant details before kick-starting the registrations.
IAS Exam Highlights
Annually, the UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to shortlist the candidates for more than 20 services, such as IAS, IPS and IFS. On average, more than eight lakh candidates register for the IAS exam and around five lakh candidates appear for the examination.
The selection of the candidates will be made through the preliminary exam, main examination and an interview/personality test. This year-long selection process will begin in the month of June and conclude in April. The final merit list for the CSE will be released in May.
| Exam | Civil Services Examination |
| Exam level | National |
| Organising body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam type | Pen and paper-based (offline) |
| Number of services | 24 |
| Number of attempts | 6 attempts |
| Number of Vacancies | Approximately 900 |
| Admit card | online |
| Expected registrations | More than 8 lakh |
UPSC IAS Prelims Exam Date 2020
The UPSC has postponed the IAS Prelims 2020 examination due to lockdown caused by Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic. The Preliminary exam scheduled on May 31 was postponed. The Commission will announce the new exam date on May 20 after assessing the situation. The Commission has announced the new exam date for Prelims in June. The IAS Prelims 2020 will be held on October 4, 2020. Explore UPSC Coronavirus latest updates.
IAS Prelims Exam Centre Change Option
The UPSC has released an important notice regarding the IAS Preliminary exam centre. The Commission allows IAS aspirants to change the Preliminary exam centre, if so. However, the UPSC made it clear that the change in the centres will be considered based on the principle of ''First-apply-first-allot'' basis.
The notice reads, "The window of submitting the revised choice of Centres by the candidates will be operational in two phases i.e. 7th-13th July, 2020 (06.00 PM) and 20th-24th July, 2020 (06.00 PM) on the Commission’s website https://upsconline.nic.in."
The UPSC also allows aspirants to withdraw the application during the period from August 1 to 8, 2020.
UPSC IAS Notification 2020
The UPSC has released the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2020 notification on February 12, 2020. Candidates who are aiming for the All India Services along with other services can apply online between February 12 and March 3, 2020. The CSE notification was released for a total of 796 vacancies which include 24 vacancies for persons with benchmark disability category. Aspirants are advised to check the official notification for all the details.
Click here to download UPSC IAS notification 2020
UPSC IAS Exam 2020 Important Dates
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) notification will be released on February 12, 2020. Candidates can apply online until March 3, 2020. The preliminary exam will be held on May 31 and Main exam in the month of September.
| Civil Services Examination (CSE) notification | February 12, 2020 |
| IAS online application form | February 12 to March 3, 2020 |
| IAS Preliminary admit card | 2nd week of May |
| IAS exam date | October 4, 2020 |
| IAS Preliminary result | November 2020 |
| IAS Main exam date | January 8, 2021 (5 days) |
| IAS Main exam result | February 2021 |
| IAS personality test/ interview | March/April 2021 |
| IAS final result | May 2021 |
IAS 2020 Number Of Vacancies
The total number of vacancies announced in the official notification is approximately 896, out of which 39 vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability Category. Aspirants should note that the list was prepared based on the previous year. The vacancies will be updated after the official notification.
| Total number of vacancies | 796 (including 24 reserved vacancies) |
| Total reserved vacancies | 24 |
| Blindness and low vision | 3 |
| Deaf and hard of hearing | 9 |
| Locomotor disability | 8 |
| Multiple disabilities | 4 |
Candidates have to note that the final number of vacancies may change after getting the firm number of vacancies from the Cadre Controlling Authorities.
IAS Application Form 2020
The UPSC has activated the IAS application form 2020 window on February 12. Interested candidates who meet all the eligibility conditions set by the Commission can register for IAS exam until March 3, 2020.
Aspirants need to complete the application form of IAS with great attention. A single mistake in IAS application form 2020 would lead aspirants to wait for one more year. Hence, we suggest candidates to refer our UPSC online application form 2020 page for detailed steps.
IAS Online Application Form 2020 Steps
- Visit the official site of UPSC – www.upsc.gov.in
- Go to ''Apply Online'' tab.
- Click on ''Online Application for Various Examinations''
- Find the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
- Start IAS registration with Part-I.
- Fill-up the personal details, educational qualification and address.
- Pay the prescribed application fee (Rs 100)
- Choose the exam centre
- Upload the photo, sign and photo identity card.
- Accept the declaration.
- Check the complete details and submit.
- Take a printout of IAS application form for future reference.
UPSC IAS Main Exam Dates 2020 (Tentative)
The UPSC will release the Civil Services Main Exam dates on its official website. Aspirants who have passed with flying colours in Preliminary Exam are only eligible to appear for the Main Examination. The Commission conducts the Main Examination for a total of five days in the month of September. Candidates are advised to explore the Civil Services Main Exam dates 2020.
| Date |
Forenoon Session (9.00 AM to 12.00 Noon) |
Afternoon Session (2.00 PM to 5.00 PM) |
|
January 8, 2021 (Friday) |
Paper-I Essay |
No Paper |
|
January 9, 2021 (Saturday) |
Paper-II General Studies‐I |
Paper-III General Studies‐II |
|
January 10, 2020 (Sunday) |
Paper-IV General Studies‐III |
Paper-V General Studies‐IV |
|
January 16, 2020 (Saturday) |
Paper‐A Indian Language |
Paper‐B English |
|
January 17, 2020 (Sunday) |
Paper‐VI Optional Paper-I |
Paper‐VII Optional Paper-II |
Being an IAS Officer
An IAS officer is given administrative command of an entire district as a District Collector. IAS officers also represent the Government of India at the international level in bilateral and multilateral negotiations.
Given below is the detailed scenario like eligibility criteria, roles & responsibilities, etc. for the upcoming Civil Services Examination 2020:
-
Main Syllabus
-
Prelims Syllabus
Eligibility Criteria
-
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 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 2020 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, 2020. But he/she must have been born not earlier than August 02, 1988 and not later than August 01, 1999. Necessary action will take 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
- For General Candidates: 6 attempts (Up to 32 Years)
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 traveling 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 the minister concerned or the cabinet, depending on the seriousness of the situation
The UPSC has activated the window for IAS (Prelims) 2020 exam centre. The window will be available until July 13, 2020. The IAS Prelims exam centre change option is available for Civil Services and Indian Forest Service examination 2020. The option will be again available from July 20 to 24, 2020.
The official website reads, "Candidates of CSE and IFoS Exams, 2020 if do not want to change Centre, are not required to log into the UPSC Change of Examination Centre system."
Earlier, the Commission has announced the revised exam calendar and new exam dates. The IAS Prelims 2020 will be conducted on October 4, 2020.
8 July 2020
The UPSC has released an important notice regarding the IAS Preliminary exam centre. Candidates can now submit the choice of exam centre for IAS Preliminary exam that includes the Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) examination 2020. The UPSC has also released the revised dates for centre change.
The official notice reads, "The window of submitting the revised choice of Centres by the candidates will be operational in two phases i.e. 7th-13th July, 2020 (06.00 PM) and 20th-24th July, 2020 (06.00 PM) on the Commission’s website - www.upsconline.nic.in."
Candidates should note that the centres will be considered based on the principle of "first-apply-first allot" basis. The withdrawal option is available between August 1 and 8, 2020. The IAS Preliminary 2020 exam will be held on October 4, 2020.
1 July 2020
The UPSC has released the IAS Personality Test/ Interview schedule. The UPSC IAS Interviews will be conducted between July 20 and 30, 2020. The Civil Services 2019 Interview will be conducted in two sessions - forenoon (9 AM) and afternoon (1 PM). The personality test will be conducted for a total of 625 candidates.
Candidates who have qualified in the Civil Services (Main) Examination and eligible for the personality test can visit the official website to download the interview call letter.
Earlier, the UPSC has released the revised calendar for the exams which were postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. The IAS Preliminary 2020 will be held on October 4.
19 June 2020
The UPSC has released the new exam date of Civil Services (Preliminary) 2020 examination. The IAS Prelims will be held on October 4, 2020. The admit card will be released at least two weeks before the exam date.
Earlier, the Commission held a meeting on June 5 and released the revised programme of examination/ recruitment tests 2020. The Commission has also announced the new exam dates for Civil Services (Mains) Examination 2020.
Around 9 lakh candidates to appear for the Prelims exam. The UPSC has postponed the exam due to the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic.
5 June 2020
The UPSC is all set to release the new exam date for IAS Preliminary 2020 on June 5. The Commission held a special meeting to analyse the examination dates of postponed exams. It has also released a press release regarding the new exam date.
The notice reads, "the Commission will issue a revised schedule of examinations in its next meeting to be held on June 5, 2020. Details of the new calendar of examinations will be published on the UPSC website, after the Commission’s meeting on June 5, 2020."
The Civil Services aspirants are advised to keep visiting the official website to track the latest updates.
23 May 2020