About Civil Services
Civil Services are jobs directly related to public service and are widely considered prestigious in India. UPSC conducts Civil Service Exams for Central Government job vacancies while PSC in each state fills the State Government job vacancies. There are about 24 services which come under the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC every year. These services include IAS, IFS, IPS etc.
Types of Civil Services in India
(i)Indian Administrative Service.
(ii) Indian Foreign Service.
(iii) Indian Police Service.
(iv) Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service, Group ‘A’.
(v) Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
(vi) Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), Group ‘A’.
(vii) Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
(viii) Indian Revenue Service (I.T.), Group ‘A’.
(ix) Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Group ‘A’ (Assistant Works Manager, Administration).
(x) Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’.
(xi) Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
(xii) Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group ‘A’.
(xiii) Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group ‘A’.
(xiv) Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group ‘A’.
(xv) Post of Assistant Security Commissioner in Railway Protection Force, Group ‘A’
(xvi) Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’.
(xvii) Indian Information Service (Junior Grade), Group ‘A’.
(xviii) Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Gr. III).
(xix) Indian Corporate Law Service, Group “A”.
(xx) Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade).
(xxi) Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Group ‘B’.
(xxii) Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service, Group ‘B’.
(xxiii) Pondicherry Civil Service, Group ‘B’.
(xxiv) Pondicherry Police Service, Group ‘B’.
Note: You may also read about the classification of services based on Civil Services Exam (CSE) into Technical Services and Non-Technical Services.
Civil Services Examination (CSE)
Though popularly known as ‘IAS exam’, the official name of the exam is UPSC Civil Services Exam. There are many who consider this exam as the toughest exam in India (and even at the world-stage!). The exam is attempted by around 5 Lakh candidates each year. UPSC Civil Services exam is conducted in 3 phases: 1) Prelims and 2) Mains 3) Interview. The exam window extends over a year (from June month of a year to June month next year when the results are announced).
Aspirants who aim for Prelims 2019 and Mains 2019
| The official notification will be out on: | 19 February 2019 |
| Final date for submitting the application form: | 18 March 2019 |
| The Civil Services Exam 2019 (Prelims): | 02 June 2019 |
| The Civil Services Exam 2019 (Main Exam): | 20 September 2019 |
Civil Service Prelims Examination
There are two papers in Civil Service Prelims Examination. The questions are objective in nature.
- General Studies Paper 1 [which deals with subjects like History, Polity, Economics etc.]
- General Studies Paper 2 [which deals with subjects like Mental Ability, English Comprehension etc. This paper is popularly known as CSAT – Civil Services Aptitude Test).
IAS Preliminary Exam Date:
- Date of Notification of Civil Services Prelims: February.
- Date of UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam: June.
Preliminary Examination is mainly an elimination test and hence its marks are not considered for final ranking. Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary and Main Exam is given in this website. For more details on the preliminary exam, refer: “how to clear Civil Services prelims?“.
Civil Service Main Examination
The mains stage is subjective in nature as the answers have to be written on paper. The papers in Civil Service Mains as per revised syllabus are as below.
UPSC Civil Services Main Examination as per revised syllabus consists of 9 papers. Marks of 7 out of these 9 papers will be counted for final ranking, while 2 papers will be of qualifying nature.
Mark-Counted Papers in UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam
- 1 paper on the essay. (250 marks x 1)
- 4 papers on from General Studies ( which covers topics like History, Geography Economics, Polity, Technology, Ecology, Ethics etc). (250 marks x 4)
- 2 papers on one Optional subject – which can be from selected from 25 subjects and 22 languages. (250 marks x 2)
Qualifying Papers in UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam
- 1 English Language Paper (Comprehension, Precis Writing etc).
- 1 Regional Language Paper (Comprehension, Precis Writing, Translation etc).
The Civil Service Main Exam marks are calculated out of 1750.
IAS Mains Exam Dates:
- Date of Notification of UPSC Civil Services Mains: August.
- Date of UPSC Civil Services Main Exam: October.
For more details on the topic “how to clear Civil Services mains?” – refer to the link.
Civil Service Interview
The interview is a face to face process which evaluates a candidate’s potential and commitment to the society. The interview is out of 275 marks.
Final ranks are calculated by adding Mains (Out of 1750) and Interview marks (Out of 275) and the rank list will be prepared based on marks scored out of 2025.
IAS Interview Dates:
- Date of Notification of UPSC Civil Services Interview: December.
- Date of UPSC Civil Services Interview: January/February/March.
For more details on the topic “how to clear the Civil Services interview?” – refer to the link.
Civil Services Exam Eligibility Criteria
Click to know about the eligibility criteria for IAS exam. Details about the number of attempts and age limits in UPSC Civil Services Exam is available in the link given.
Civil Services Exam Syllabus
Scheme and Subjects for UPSC Civil Services Exam are provided on this website. In addition to this, the detailed syllabus of Civil Service Prelims, as well as Mains Exam (subject wise), is also given. You can also refer to the UPSC Civil Service Notification.
Civil Services Exam Preparation
Civil Service Preparation guidance and strategies for prelims, mains and interview along with necessary UPSC study materials are regularly updated on this website.
Civil Services Exam Books
Links are given on this website about the recommended books needed for civil service exams.
Pooja Rani, Advocate says
October 16, 2013 at 8:11 pmYou are hereby requested kindly also mentioned when these post has to be declared by the UPSC?
Ramesh Chandra says
October 16, 2013 at 8:17 pmWhat is the last date of submission of the Form of IAS?
Nirmal says
August 11, 2017 at 9:53 pmPlz no call krna ka liya hma jankari chahiya
ClearIAS.com says
October 18, 2013 at 5:14 pmThe post is updated with probable dates for UPSC exams and the corresponding notifications. Readers are advised to kindly stay updated with UPSC website for updates regarding timetable.
Vaishakh says
February 23, 2019 at 8:24 pmHi,
In the photo identity section in the form, I mistakenly selected Photo Identity card issued by state/Central Government instead of Voter ID. I provided my voter ID number and uploaded the same. Please suggest is it okay or do I need to fill a new form?
Digambar Biswal says
March 17, 2014 at 4:47 pmwhich optional subjects are favourable for graduate science student..
dilip kumar says
August 18, 2014 at 12:37 pmwhich optional subject s favourable for graduate arts candidate
Rajsree lenin says
April 6, 2015 at 2:31 pmwhat is the eligibility criteria to take up a civil service exam? Any basic degree is fine or is there any specific degree that you need to have?
ClearIAS.com says
May 6, 2016 at 10:34 pmGraduation from any stream – regular or distance – is fine.
Keshav kumar says
May 9, 2015 at 3:57 pmwhat are the graduation required for giving UPSC Exam ?
ABHIJITH B Pillai says
October 18, 2015 at 11:11 amWhat Rank Should To Get To These 24 positions .. Any detail about Rankings?
ajay says
October 22, 2015 at 9:03 pmGroup 2 is a separate exam ??
Sanjay says
December 14, 2015 at 11:22 pmHow to prepare
Study
Ramya says
December 25, 2015 at 10:11 pmI am going to write my preliminary exam at tirupati.if I am qualified the prelims exams,is it possible to write my mains exam at another place.please reply fast.
Thankyou
Ajita says
April 14, 2016 at 8:58 amI m going to start preparation from where i should start. In your notes if I have got any query. will usuggest or not ????? And my one question is neccessary to join any coaching institute for upsc exam
ClearIAS.com says
May 6, 2016 at 10:38 pmYou may start from our ‘FAQ’ section. This exam requires thorough preparation – whether or not you attend coaching. ClearIAS website and ClearIAS mobile app are initiatives which guide and support aspirants in their self-study.
RAJESH KUMAR MAHTO says
May 13, 2016 at 1:38 pmSir plz upload previous year ias question papers… So that it will be easier for analysis purpose for us.
RAJESH KUMAR MAHTO says
May 13, 2016 at 1:53 pmAlso sir plz upload notes as a collective basis i mean in the form of book so that we can easly download it in one click and can print it…
shubhi mishra says
August 11, 2016 at 12:24 amplzz tell if i am BAMS (MEDICAL STUDEN) I AMeligible fthe upsx exam?
Venkatesan says
September 26, 2016 at 6:30 pmSir,
i am Venkatesan,my whats app no 8526209531
IAS&IPS exam any information please post my whatsappp
shubham gavel says
December 8, 2016 at 10:43 pmSir please help. Is calculator is allowed in mathematics optional or not?
DURGESH KUMAR says
March 18, 2018 at 1:11 pmyes
ram says
April 29, 2017 at 12:04 amSir/mam
While declaring rank ,final rank,is there different ranks for categories or comman rank list is considered as preference ?
Nishant chaudhary says
May 6, 2017 at 2:37 pmHi , Please tell me about the nature of all paper in UPSC Mains, all 9 papers are subjective or few objective papers are also there??
UJJWAL THUKRAL says
May 26, 2017 at 11:16 pmRequired knowledge
Anilkumar p Mali patil says
September 27, 2017 at 1:01 pmMy goal is IAS sir
Prosi says
June 3, 2018 at 9:11 pmI m persuing mu graduation from arts stream n in 5th sem i.e. next year I will graduate in 2019 June/July ….. Shall I be able to appear for 2019 upsc exam???as upsc from fill up starts earlier then final semister results…. Shall I be eligible to take upsc in 2019? Pls reply,its really important 4 me to knw
sanjeev says
January 12, 2019 at 6:39 amvery useful post for civil services student…
Mamtha says
February 26, 2019 at 4:26 pmDear sir/madam ,
I’m doing my bachlor of arts graduation… It’s my 1st year that I’m doing now… Is it compulsory to write any other exams conducted by upsc like psi railways airforce etc to become an IAS officer?
If possible explain me detaily through my whatsapp number (7892135449)
Guman singh Rathore says
March 24, 2019 at 9:36 pmPlease guide me for indian forest service prilems mains and other
Ram mohan says
April 4, 2019 at 6:19 pmIs Amie degree is valid for upsc cse
Kumari ayushi says
April 13, 2019 at 7:49 amSir…my DOB is 28july2001 can u tell me when I apply form for UPSC pizz reply
M.Manthiramoorthy says
July 23, 2019 at 10:32 amsir, how can i register my application form.
The website shows some kind of error.
Pooja Dabral says
July 26, 2019 at 2:05 amDue provide test series apart from IAS or not? Like UPPCS Mains Test Series 2018
SN says
July 31, 2019 at 5:12 pmWhere will we can submit the application for the IAS exam?
Shaik says
August 22, 2019 at 12:03 amDuring the training period at svpnpa,lbsnaa is it mandatory to be in the academy itself or can we daily come & go in morning and evening