The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) exam is one of the most prestigious and competitive civil service exams in India. It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit candidates for various administrative posts within the Indian government. The IAS officers are responsible for implementing government policies, managing government affairs, and maintaining law and order in their respective areas of jurisdiction. In this article, we providing you UPSC Prelims (GS.1) Detailed Explanation from 2023 to 2011.
About IAS exam:
The IAS exam is a challenging journey that requires dedication, consistent effort, and a well-rounded understanding of various subjects. It’s essential to have a strong foundation in current affairs, analytical skills, and effective time management to get success in this exam.
- Exam Stages: The IAS exam consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Prelims): This stage includes two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). The Prelims serves as a screening test, and candidates who qualify can appear for the mains exam.
- Main Examination (Mains): It consists of nine papers, including one qualifying language paper and two optional subject papers chosen by the candidate. The other papers cover various subjects such as Essay, General Studies, and more.
- Interview (Personality Test): Candidates who clear the Mains are called for an interview where they are assessed for their personality traits, communication skills, and overall suitability for administrative roles.
- Syllabus: The syllabus for the IAS exam is extensive and covers a wide range of subjects, including History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science and Technology, Environment, Current Affairs, and more. Candidates are expected to have a strong grasp of both national and international issues.
- Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must be Indian citizens and have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. The minimum age to apply is 21 years, and the maximum age limit varies based on category and other factors.
- Optional Subjects: Candidates can choose one or two optional subjects for the Mains exam from a list provided by the UPSC. These subjects can be from a variety of disciplines, including literature, history, science, economics, etc.
- Competition and Preparation: The IAS exam is highly competitive, with thousands of candidates appearing for a limited number of vacancies. Due to the tough competition, candidates usually start their preparation well in advance. They study a variety of resources, including textbooks, current affairs magazines, and online materials.
- Interview: The interview round assesses the candidate’s personality traits, attitude, communication skills, and their ability to handle different situations. It is not just about knowledge but also about how the candidate presents themselves.
- Post Selection: Candidates who successfully clear all stages of the IAS exam are allotted positions in various government departments and ministries. They undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) before officially starting their careers as IAS officers.
Civil Services Prelims Exam
The Civil Services Preliminary examination consists of two compulsory papers of 200 marks each (General Studies Paper-I (GS.1) and General Studies Paper-II (GS.2) or CSAT. The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type. The marks in prelims will not be counted for the final ranking, but just for qualification for the main examination. The UPSC Prelims is an elimination round as 5 to 7% of applicants clear the cutoff of prelims.
General Studies | No. Of Questions | No. of Marks | Duration |
Paper 1 | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
Paper 2 | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
Total | 180 | 200 | 4 hours |
Civil Services Mains Exam
The main exam has 1750 marks while interview has 275 marks. The written examination (main) will consist of the following nine papers, but only 7 papers will be counted for the final merit ranking. For the rest two papers, the candidate should secure minimum marks prescribed by UPSC each year.
Qualifying Papers – Not counted for final ranking:
Paper A
Indian Language– Syllabus. (One of the Indian Languages to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. This paper will not be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.) 300 Marks.
Paper B
English Language – 300 Marks.
Papers to be counted for merit ranking:
- Paper‐I Essay – 250 Marks.
- Paper‐II General Studies – I – 250Marks. (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society).
- Paper‐III General Studies –II – 250 Marks. (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations).
- Paper‐IV General Studies –III – 250 Marks. (Technology, Economic Development, Bio‐diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management).
- Paper‐V General Studies –IV – 250 Marks. (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude).
- Paper‐VI Optional Subject – Paper 1 – 250 Marks.
- Paper‐VII Optional Subject – Paper 2 – 250 Marks.
Papers | Subjects | Marks |
Paper-A (Qualifying Paper) | Indian language (one of the Indian language to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the 8th schedule to the constitution) | 300 |
Paper-B (Qualifying Paper) | English | 300 |
Paper I | Essay | 250 |
Paper II | General studies-1 (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 |
Paper III | General studies-2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social justice and International relations) | 250 |
Paper IV | General studies-3 (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 |
Paper V | General Studies-4 (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) | 250 |
Paper VI | Optional Subject- Paper 1 | 250 |
Paper VII | Optional Subject- Paper 2 | 250 |
Sub Total | Written Test | 1750 |
Interview | 275 | |
Grand Total | 2025 |
A candidate’s rank in UPSC Civil Service Exam depends only on the mark scored in Main and Interview. The main exam has 1750 marks while interview has 275 marks. The written examination (main) will consist of the following nine papers, but only 7 papers will be counted for final merit ranking. For the rest two papers, the candidate should secure minimum marks prescribed by UPSC each year.
For Complete Syllabus you can Click Here!
