Civil Services

Union Public Service Commission conducts Civil Service Examinations every year to select officers for various services including Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS), Indian Revenue Services and other Group 'A' and Group 'B' central jobs. The examination is a three stage process which consists of Civil Services Aptitude Test CSAT ( Earlier Civil Services Preliminary Examination) , Main Examination and the Interview.

This is the first stage of Civil Services Examination. It is an Objective type examination consisting of Two Papers that is common to all candidates from 2011 having special emphasis on testing their 'aptitude for civil services' as well as on 'ethical and moral dimension of decision making'. The details are yet to be published and all candidates for CSAT are advised to concentrate more on General Studies of Preliminary examination with specail focus on Current Affairs/ Events,Science and Technology,Economy and sports of National and International importance that has a bearing on public life in India.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selects, successful cadidates to Main Examination from Civil Service Aptitude Test CSAT. The total number of candidates to be selected to the Civil Serice Main Examination is about 10 - 14 times of the total number of vacancies mentioned in the notification.

* Two optional Subjects - 1200 marks
* General Studies paper - 600 marks
* Essay paper - 200 marks
* English paper - 300 marks (qualifying nature)
* Language paper - 300 marks (qualifying nature)

The English Paper and Language paper is of qualifying nature. i.e. The candidate has to secure minimum marks determined by the Union Public Service Commission and the marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.

* It is a descriptive (essay type) examination.
* The Candidate has to select 2 optional subjects from the list of optional subjects.
* However UPSC has imposed restriction on selecting some combination of optional subjects.
* The General Studies, Essay paper, English Paper are common to all candidates
* The candidate has to select one indian language for language paper

This is the last stage of Indian Civil Service Examination. Interview has 200 marks and it will be counted for final list of candidates. Usually double the number of vacancies will be selected for the interview subjected to the reservation for various categories. It is advised that all candidates should prepare about the details given in the main application form.

1. The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his career. He will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interst in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

1. The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.

2. The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own state or country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.

This is the last stage of Indian Civil Service Examination. Interview has 200 marks and it will be counted for final list of candidates. Usually double the number of vacancies will be selected for the interview subjected to the reservation for various categories. It is advised that all candidates should prepare about the details given in the main application form.