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The Full Form of IAS is Indian Administrative Services (IAS) earlier known as the Imperial Civil Service(ICS) which was founded in 1858 during British rule is one of the three All India services along with IPS & IFoS(Indian Forest Service). Recruitment of IAS Officers is done by the Union Public Service Commission and this exam is considered one of the toughest competitive exams in the world. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the constitutional agency under Article 324 of Indian Constitution that conducts this exam. Every year approximately 10 lakh students apply for CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION to become CIVIL SERVANT through it but only a few of them - around 0.2% are able to crack it and get enrolled for the post of IAS ( 180 posts are reserved for IAS). However, out of 10 lakh around five lakh candidates appear for the examination. In this article, we will be discussing all things related to IAS.
Indian Administrative Services is the foremost administrative civil service of the government of India. It acts as a foundation for the bureaucracy and administration of this country. To become an IAS officer is the dream job of many aspirants. Rankinmg wise, IAS is on the top of the list of 24 services which is offered by the UPSC through the civil services examination(CSE). Members of the IAS are employed in union government, state government, even in the public sector undertakings(PSU) and international organizations like United Nations(UN), International Monetary Fund(IMF) ,World bank etc. Jobs offered to the IAS officers are the post of SDM, Collector, Commissioner, Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretary to name a few. Unlike Politicians who are temporary executives ,IAS is part of the permanent executives’ branch of India.
IAS Exam is conducted by the UPSC every year to select suitable candidates for India’s premier civil services. It is conducted in three stages i.e., Prelims, Mains and Interview. Every year, approximately 1000 candidates are selected for the overall 24 posts. Let's dive into the details of the process.
Paper | Type | No. of questions | Marks | Duration |
General Studies I | Objective | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
General Studies II (CSAT) | Objective | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
Paper | Subject | Duration | Total marks |
Paper A | Compulsory Indian language(QUALIFYING) | 3 hours | 300 |
Paper B | English(QUALIFYING) | 3 hours | 300 |
Paper I | Essay(MARKS CONSIDERED FOR MERIT) | 3 hours | 250 |
Paper II | General Studies I(MARKS CONSIDERED FOR MERIT) | 3 hours | 250 |
Paper III | General Studies II(MARKS CONSIDERED FOR MERIT) | 3 hours | 250 |
Paper IV | General Studies III(MARKS CONSIDERED FOR MERIT) | 3 hours | 250 |
Paper V | General Studies IV(MARKS CONSIDERED FOR MERIT) | 3 hours | 250 |
Paper VI | Optional I(MARKS CONSIDERED FOR MERIT) | 3 hours | 250 |
Paper VII | Optional II(MARKS CONSIDERED FOR MERIT) | 3 hours | 250 |
Category | Upper Age Limit for UPSC | Maximum Number of Attempts |
General | 32 | 6 |
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 32 | 6 |
OBC | 35 | 9 |
SC/ST | 37 | Unlimited |
Defence Services Personnel | 35 | 9 |
Persons with Benchmark Disability | 35 | 9 |
It is important to note that your attempt will be counted only when you appear for the examination. Merely filing the form is not considered an attempt. This is the major reason for absenteeism (nearly 10 Lakhs students apply but nearly 5 Lakhs students appear in the exam) in the UPSC Prelims exam. Candidates fill out the form but skip the prelims exam to save their attempt in case of lack of preparation or any other issues. It is also important to note that if a candidate has been selected for IAS or IFS (Indian Foreign Service) and he/she opted to join that service then that person can't write the UPSC CSE exam again. However, an IPS can write the UPSC CSE exam again to compete for IAS rank.
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The role of an IAS officer depends on the types of assignments they get. The assignments are categorized into 3 types.
Almost everybody knows that there are a number of benefits and perks of being an IAS officer. But before the realisation of IAS dream, you need to clear the UPSC exam with a good rank which is not an easy task. Firstly, candidates should have a long-term strategy and proper guidance. Secondly, goal-oriented students start preparing for the exam 12 months before the exam date. However, there are some students who have been ranked at the top after only a few months of preparation. Hence, the quality of your study matters the most. IAS exam is much more than the verbal, written and personality test exam. It reflects the personality and the hard work of the candidate. Further, you may also choose the best institute to prepare for the UPSC CSE exam. But don't forget that just choosing a good institute is not enough you have to be extremely hard working and focused on your end to be an IAS officer. The exam is the reflection of where candidate stands. Extreme hard work will do wonders for you and help you to achieve your IAS dream.
Below are a few tips to crack the IAS Exam fast in a timebound manner. Follow these and do the hard work.
An IAS officer enjoys a lot of benefits and perks which makes it one of the most lucrative career option in India. They have the power to make a difference in the lives of millions of people. They also get huge respect in society. They have the power to influence policies in the areas of social projects, education, health, and the economy. This is an unrivalled ability to serve the people and the country. Only the Indian Administrative Service provides the opportunity to participate directly and actively in the country's development. The income and benefits of an IAS officer, together with the power he or she possesses, are pretty impressive. It also provides an opportunity to use one's talents and abilities to help the country.
Let’s discuss a few of the benefits available to IAS officers in detail:
The Central Government elects a Pay Commission to finalize the salary of central government employees. However, it depends on the Central government whether the recommendation of the Pay Commission accepts or reject. Also, the inflation rate affects salary. it means that the salary of IAS officers keeps fluctuating according to the economy. However, the salary keeps on increasing with time. And from transport to house-related help, everything is under government expense.
The Central Government approved the 7th Pay Commission on 29th June 2018. The IAS officer gets 56,100 Rs (TA, DA, and HRA are extra) as the basic pay at the entry-level. Then 16,500 is the grade pay. Also, the maximum salary of a senior IAS officer can go on to reach Rs. 2,50,000 for a Cabinet Secretary.
And the additional allowances are:
The IAS officers get paid too during the training. But officially it is not salary, it is termed as Special Pay Advance. However, the amount is 45,000 per month trainees to get during the entire period. In other words, after deduction, they get Rs 38,500 because Rs 10,000 is deducted as a bill of mess food, room charges, uniform, tracksuit, horse riding costumes, etc. It also includes other miscellaneous expenses. Overall This is a very handsome amount to start your career in civil services.
Division of the whole IAS cadre is done into 8 Ranks or grades. Moreover, the basic pay keeps on increasing from time to time as they keep getting promotions. The promotion of IAS officers is based on their service record and happens every 4-5 years. On the other hand, salary of IAS officers depends upon their experience, ranks, and pay grade. Also, The retirement package includes benefits like house help, service vehicles and security for the family. In other words, these benefits and salaries of the IAS office is not possible in the private sector. Although the salary in a private-sector job can be high than IAS officer, the respect & power an IAS officer receives is beyond compare
Pay Grade | Grade | Basic Pay | Grade Pay | Service Period | Post |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Junior Scale | ₹50,000 - ₹1,50,000 | ₹16,500 | 0-4 years | SDM, SDO, ADM (after completion of 2 years probation period) |
11 | Senior Time Scale | ₹50,000 - ₹1,50,001 | ₹20,000 | 5 years | DM, DC, Joint Secretary |
12 | Junior Administrative Grade | ₹50,000 - ₹1,50,002 | ₹23,000 | 9 years | Special Secretary, State Government Department Heads |
13 | Selection Grade | ₹1,00,000 - ₹2,00,000 | ₹26,000 | 12-15 years | Ministry Department Head |
14 | Super Time Scale | ₹1,00,000 - ₹2,00,000 | ₹30,000 | 17-20 | Director of any Ministry |
15 | Above Super Time Scale | ₹1,00,000 - ₹2,00,000 | ₹30,000 | Not Fixed | Commissioner, Additional Secretary |
16 | Apex Scale | ₹2,40,000(fixed) | NA | Not Fixed | Chief Secretary in Ministries |
17 | Cabinet Secretary Grade | ₹2,70,000 | NA | Not Fixed | Cabinet Secretary |
The IAS position is much more than just its salary. Many people do not know how much hard work and sacrifice UPSC candidates put in to become an IAS officers. Some people do not know about the power of the IAS position. So if you are thinking to become an IAS officer then make a proper plan, and prepare your mind for hard work and dedication without any excuse. One more thing is very important you should always remember what motivates you to start this journey.
Apart from the IAS salary, the IAS officer has great power and responsibilities. Also, even if the IAS salary is less than or equal to the private sector, the power and command are incomparable to other professions.
It is very important for candidates to look at the syllabus thoroughly to understand the depth of the syllabus and the actual demand of UPSC before starting the preparation. The syllabus of Prelims and Mains mostly match but the demand for the knowledge base for both is different. Broadly Prelims exam contain History, Geography, Polity & Indian Constitution, Economy, Environment & Current affairs. In Mains exam apart from the Prelims syllabus, there are some more sections in GS paper 1 like World History & Society, in GS paper 2 extra section include International Relations, in GS Paper 3 include Security and a whole new paper GS Paper 4(Ethics), Essay & Optional also include in Mains exam.Prelims exam is based on objective types of questions, Mains are based on subjective exams and the interview is a viva exam that checks the personality of candidates. The candidate is chosen on the basis of the marks of the Main exam and Interview. The total marks for the Mains exam which include 4 GS Paper,2 Optional Paper & 1 Essay paper are 1750. The interview stage contains marks 275. Therefore, the student should prepare wisely because of the vastness of the UPSC CSE syllabus and questions appearing in exams from a wide range of subjects.
The remaining 7 papers each contain 250 Marks making a total of 1750 Marks.
In the final stage of the UPSC CSE exam, UPSC wishes to test your personality and not merely your knowledge because your knowledge base has already been tested in Mains written exams. So for the interview stage candidate should read as much as possible you can about the happenings around the world to brush up on their knowledge. Consequently, you will perform well.
Clearing the IAS exam is not a cakewalk. Therefore, it requires a lot of hard work, dedication and focus on your part. You must study the syllabus thoroughly and come up with a detailed strategy for covering all the subjects given in the syllabus. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and prioritise things accordingly. Apart from regular studies, pay attention to your health too. Indulge in regular exercise, Yoga, Meditation, a minimum of 6 to 7 hours of sleep and also maintain a balanced diet along with dry fruits for the mind. Apart from this, follow your daily schedule properly & be aware of the happenings around you.Don't forget to read the newspaper daily. Practice mock tests, analyse your weak areas and rectify issues in the weak areas so that weak areas ultimately become the strong areas in actual exams. Revision is key to get success in UPSC CSE Exam so revise your subject's content as much as possible to become an IAS Officer and achieve your dream.
The position of an IAS officer gets huge respect and prestige in society. Apart from various perks & benefits, IAS officers get a huge opportunity to serve the nation and bring change at the grass-root levels and give huge satisfaction for becoming a change agent. Therefore you should put in all your hard work and prepare for this exam with full dedication and focus and achieve your dream to become an IAS officer.
1.What is the Full Form of IAS?
The Full Form of IAS is Indian Administrative Services .
2. What is the cut-off of the prelims?
The cut-off for paper 1 is set by UPSC and it varies as per the complexity of GS 1 paper as well as difficulty levels of CSAT.In the recent past few years due to the increased complexity of CSAT paper, the overall cut-off of Prelims scores is decreasing. But for paper 2 the cut-off is 33% and it is only qualifying in nature.
3. How many papers are there in the UPSC CSE main exam?
The main exam has 9 papers. However, 7 papers are used for ranking. And 2 papers are qualifying in nature. You have to secure a minimum mark of 25% in Indian Language & English Papers to qualify.
4. What are the other duties of an IAS officer apart from the task in India?
Apart from the above-mentioned duties, an IAS officer also has to represent the nation on an International level for negotiation like in UN, WHO, WTO etc.
5. What is the starting salary of an IAS officer after completion of 2 years of training?
Approximately Rs 56,100 is the starting salary of an IAS officer. However, it fluctuates and can go high after a few years of experience based on performance.
6. What are the additional perks apart from salary for an IAS officer?
The additional perks include travel, transport, accommodation, and many other facilities. these are just a few perks out of many perks. IAS officers also get the facility of subsidized rates in many foreign countries.
7. What is the maximum salary of an IAS officer in their tenure?
2,50,000 is the maximum salary of an IAS officer. An IAS officer can reach up to the top through promotions to become a Cabinet Secretary(highest position for Civil Servants in the government of India). But it fluctuates according to the inflation of the economy. Also, the officer gets a promotion every 4-5 years based on their performance.
8. What is Special Pay Advance?
Special pay advance is a term that is used for a stipend amount that IAS officers receive during training. It is the salary that trainees get on behalf of their cadre. It is supposed to be Rs 45000/- But the final amount received is Rs 38,500 after deducting Rs 10,000 for miscellaneous expenses.