Introduction to the Civil Services

The Civil Services of India is responsible for implementation of executive decisions of the government. All non-military government departments come under the civil services. The Central and the State Civil Servants ensure protection of citizens' rights to constitutional guarantees and entitlements.

Appeal of the Civil Services

Each year the very best brains from across the country come together to compete for a position in the civil services. This is because those who clear the examination have their dedication and hard work met with incomparable rewards, in the form of:

  • Coveted position
  • Social Recognition
  • Absolute job security
  • Amazing remuneration
  • Opportunity to be catalyst of development

Civil Services Entrance Examination

The Civil Services Exam is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year, to recruit officers into the various branches of the civil services such as Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS), Indian Police Services (IPS), Indian Revenue Services (IRS), etc.

The exam is usually conducted on the second Sunday of every June and is preceded by a notification in December.

It is divided into the following two sections:
  • Preliminaries
  • Mains

Those who clear the above mentioned examinations appear for an interview conducted to gauge their personality.

Eligibility for Civil Services Entrance Examination

Following are the eligibility requirements to sit for the civil services examination:
  • The aspirant needs to be of Indian nationality.
  • The age limit is 21 to 30 year for general category test takers, 21 to 33 years for OBC candidates, and 21 to 35 years for SC/ST candidates.
  • The minimum educational qualification is a graduate degree from a recognized university.
  • The number of attempts is limited to four for general candidates and seven for OBC candidates. There are no such limits for SC/ST candidates. An attempt is counted whenever a candidate appears for the preliminary examination.
  • Candidates are required to be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to civil services examination.
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