The IAS exam is one of the toughest government exams in India. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the conducting body of the exam that recruits officers for civil services through this exam. If you are an IAS aspirant, you must keep yourself updated about the exam notification, remain focused on the preparation, practise mock tests, and stay confident about your preparation.
But what is civil services exam procedure? How many do you need to pass to finally become an IAS officer? Let’s discuss these things in detail below.
What is the IAS Selection Process?
The IAS selection process occurs in three different stages. You need to pass the first stage to reach the second stage, and so on. In the first stage, there is a written exam with objective type questions. It is called the IAS preliminary exam.
If you pass the pre-exam, then you appear for the second stage, i.e. another written exam but with explanatory questions. It is called the IAS mains exam.
After clearing the first and second stage, the final stage is the interview round. To become an IAS officer, you need to ace all these processes.
IAS Exam Stages
As mentioned above, the IAS exam has three stages. Let’s understand everything about these stages here.
1. IAS Pre Exam
Once the exam notification is released by the UPSC, you will find the date for the preliminary exam.
In the pre-exam, there are two papers, each with a maximum of 200 marks. The first paper is about General Studies, which is conducted in a merit ranking nature. There are 100 questions in the exam for 200 marks. You are given 2 hours to answer the 100 questions, which means you have less than a minute to answer each question. To answer all questions, you must ensure that no stone is left unturned during IAS prelims preparation.
The second paper is related to General Studies CSAT, which is meant to test your aptitude. There will be 80 questions for 200 marks. You will have two hours for answers.
So, there will be a total of 180 IAS prelims exams questions, carrying a maximum of 400 marks. You need to appear for both papers to become eligible for the next stage. In addition, you need to note that the prelims exam has negative marking. For every incorrect answer, one-third (0.66) marks will be deducted.
2. IAS Mains Exam
You reach the second stage only if you clear the prelims exam. Unlike prelims, the mains exam requires descriptive answers. There are nine papers:
- Compulsory Indian Language (300 marks/3 hours)
- English (300 marks/3 hours)
- Essay (250 marks/3 hours)
- General Studies-I (250 marks/3 hours)
- General Studies-II (250 marks/3 hours)
- General Studies-III (250 marks/3 hours)
- General Studies-IV (250 marks/3 hours)
- Optional Paper-I (250 marks/3 hours)
- Optional Paper-II (250 marks/3 hours)
So, the total marks for IAS mains exam questions will be 1750.
To reach the final stage of the IAS exam, the candidates need to score more than the specified cut-off marks in the mains exam. The focus on IAS mains preparation is necessary right from the release time of the exam notification if you want to appear for the interview.
3. IAS Interview
It is the final round for the IAS exam. If you crack the interview or the personality test, you become an IAS officer. The maximum marks for the interview is 275.
UPSC sends e-summon to the qualified candidates for the face-to-face interview with the board members. The role of this round is to test your personality traits, know your hobbies and interests, check your general knowledge, communication skills, as well as how updated you are with current affairs. Current affairs for IAS hold great importance because the questions are asked in both written exams and interview.
You must begin to prepare for IAS interview without waiting for the results of the mains exams. It is important because you get more time to prepare yourself and increase your chances of cracking the interview.
Before appearing for the interview, you must make sure to go through the important and frequently asked IAS interview questions. It will help you get an idea about what to expect and how to answer the questions.
Wrapping Up:
Undoubtedly, the IAS exam is one of the most difficult competitive exams in the country. You must know the complete selection process and start your preparation without waiting for the exam notification. To achieve your dream of becoming an IAS officer, you need to put in your hard work, avoid being distracted, and follow a smart strategy for study.
Also read – Things to Avoid in IAS Interview
