UPSC Selection

Can you tell me in detail about the selection process in IAS (Indian Administrative Services) Exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)?

[sumit]

The details about the selection process in IAS (Indian Administrative Services) Exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) are as follows:

Stages of IAS Selection Procedure -An overview
The competitive examination comprises of two successive stages:
1. Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
2. Civil Services (Main) Examination
a) Written Examination
b) Interview
3. Final Selection

Civil Services (Preliminary Examination):
This is the first stage of screening. The highlights of IAS Preliminary Examination are as follows:
• It is meant to serve as the screening test only.
• In it, one will have to appear for two compulsory papers carrying 200 marks each.
• It comprise of Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions).
• One declared qualified in it is eligible for admission to the Main Examination.
• The marks obtained in it will not be counted in the final order of merit.

Civil Services (Main Examination):
The Main Examination comprise of Written Examination and Interview. The two stages of Main Examination as part of IAS Selection Procedure have been given below:

1. Written Examination:
The written exam consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type in the subjects given in notification out of which two papers will be of qualifying nature.
• Each paper will be of three hours duration.
• One will have the option to answer all the question papers, except Paper-I (English Comprehension and English précis) in English or Hindi.
• One, who obtains such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Main Exam as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview or for a Personality Test. The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled.

2. Interview:
• The interview carries 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).
• One is interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of career. One is asked questions on matters of general interest.
• The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of one for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers.

3. Final Merit List:
Marks thus obtained by one in the Main Exam (written part as well as interview) would determine the final ranking. One is allotted to the various Services keeping in view the ranks in exam and the preferences expressed by them for the various Services and Posts.