The Indian Administrative Service often abbreviated to I.A.S., or simply IAS, is the administrative arm of the All India Services. The service is considered to be the premier civil service of India. The IAS, the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS) comprise the three arms of the All India Services. Members of these three services serve the Government of India as well as the individual states. IAS officers may also be deployed to various public sector undertakings.

1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS) was formerly known as Imperial
Civil Service (ICS) is the Civil Services Examination and one of the
toughest competitive exams in India. It is conducted by the Union
Public Service Commission for the recruitment of officers for the All
India Administrative Civil Service.
What is IAS Exam?

2. About IAS
Founded:
• 1858 (as Imperial Civil Service)
• January 26, 1950 (as Indian Administrative Service)
The Indian Administrative Service is the premier administrative civil
service of the Government of India. HIerarchy-wise, IAS is the highest
administrative post among the 24 services like IPS, IFS etc.
IAS is the permanent bureaucracy in India and forms a part of the
executive branch. It is one of the three All India Services, its cadre can be
employed by both the Union Government, the State Governments and
public-sector undertakings.

3. Being an IAS Officer
An IAS officer is given administrative command of an entire district as a
District Collector. IAS officers also represent Government of India at
international level in bilateral and multilateral negotiations.

4. What is Indian Administrative Service (IAS)?
IAS is the short form of Indian Administrative Service. It is
one of the prestigious services among the 24 services like IPS, IFS
etc for the which the UPSC conduct Civil Services Examination
(CSE) for selecting the candidates. An officer selected into the
Indian Administrative Service gets exposure in very diverse roles
like the collector, commissioner, head of public sector units, chief
secretary, cabinet secretary etc. Not only the experience and
challenges but also the scope of making positive changes in the life
of millions in India makes IAS a unique career choice.

5. How to become an IAS officer?
Even though the exam to be undertaken is popularly known as IAS
exam, it is officially called UPSC Civil Services Exam. The UPSC CSE
consists of 3 stages – Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Getting into
Indian Administrative Service is not easy considering the competition
involved, but not impossible for a candidate with right attitude and
approach. Interesting read: Salary of an Indian Administrative Service
officer.

6. Civil Services Examination (CSE)
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) is the government agency
responsible for selecting the right candidates for this service. Every year only
around 1000 candidates are selected for all the 24 services combined. The
number of candidates who applied for UPSC Civil Service Exam was about 9
lakh in 2016, out of which around 4.5 lakh candidates appeared on the exam
day.
This exam is widely considered as the toughest exam in the world,
considering the exam duration (extends 1 year), depth of the syllabus and the
competition involved. The first stage of the exam – Preliminary (objective) –
is usually conducted around June, while the second stage, Mains (written), is
conducted around October. Those who clear Mains will have to face
interview/personality test during the March-May period. The final result
usually comes in June.

7. How to Clear Civil Services Exam?
To clear IAS Exam, aspirants are advised to have a long-term strategy. Though
most of the serious candidates start preparation 9-12 months before the exam
date, there are candidates who successfully achieve top ranks with only a few
months of dedicated study. So what matters is not the duration of the
preparation, but the quality of the same.
A disciplined and focused mind with a passion for learning and reading is the
basic trait of all successful candidates. The UPSC Civil Services exam is more a
test of the analytic and presentation skills along with knowledge gained by the
candidate rather than a test which checks candidate’s mathematical or verbal
skills. To clear IAS, we feel two entities as essential:
• Right guidance – for prelims and mains.
• Right study materials and books.

8. IAS Exam Eligibility Criteria
The educational qualification needed to appear in UPSC CSE is a degree
(graduation) in any subject. Final year students can also apply.
Aspirants may go through the article to the eligibility criteria for writing
UPSC CSE exam.

9. IAS Exam Number of attempts permitted
The number of attempts permissible for a general category candidate
in UPSC CSE is 6. For OBC candidates the number of attempts
permitted it 9. SC/ST category candidates will have unlimited attempts
till they attain the upper age limit to appear for UPSC CSE.

10. IAS Exam Age Limits
The minimum age to appear for UPSC Civil Services Exam is 21
years. Upper age limit for General category is 32 years, for OBC it is
35 years while for SC/ST it is 37 years.

11. IAS syllabus
A good understanding of UPSC syllabus and exam pattern is the first step for
all freshers. The Civil Services Preliminary exam comprises of two
compulsory papers of 200 marks each (General Studies Paper I and General
Studies Paper II). The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
The marks in prelims will not be counted for final ranking, but just for
qualification for the main exam.
A candidate’s rank in UPSC Civil Service Exam depends only on the mark
scored in Main and Interview. The written examination (main) will consist of
the following nine papers, but only 7 papers will be counted for final merit
ranking. For the rest two papers, the candidate should secure minimum
marks prescribed by UPSC each year. The main exam has 1750 marks while
interview has 275 marks.

12. UPSC Mains Syllabus
Qualifying Papers (Non-Ranking)
Paper A One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the Eight Schedule
to the Constitution.
300 Marks
Paper B English31 300 Marks
Papers to be Counted for Merit (Ranking)
Paper I Essay 250 Marks
Paper II General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the Worl27d and Society) 250 Marks
Paper III General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) 250 Marks
Paper IV General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster
Management)
250 Marks
Paper V General Studies IV ( Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 250 Marks
Paper VI Optional Subject- Paper 1 250 Marks
Paper VII Optional Subject- Paper 2 250 Marks
For the optional papers in the Main Examination, UPSC has a list of about twenty-six subjects out of which any
one subject has to be selected by the candidate.
Subtotal (Written Test) 1750 Marks
Personality Test (Interview) 275 Marks
Grand Total 2025 Marks

13. QUALIFYING PAPERS ON INDIAN LANGUAGES
AND ENGLISH
The aim of the paper is to test the candidate’s ability to read
and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his
ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian Language
concerned.

14. The pattern of questions would be broadly as
follows
• Comprehension of given passages
• Precis Writing
• Usage and Vocabulary
• Short Essay.
Indian Languages:-
• Comprehension of given passages.
• Precis Writing
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essay
• Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa.

15. PAPER-I
ESSAY:-
Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The
choice of subjects will be given.
They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to
arrange their ideas in orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will
be given for effective and exact expression.

16. PAPER-II
General Studies- I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and
Geography of the World and Society.
Indian Heritage and Culture
• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature
and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

17. History
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth
century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
• The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important
contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the
country.4
• History of the world will include events from 18th century such as
industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries,
colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism,
capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.

18. Society
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and
associated issues, poverty and developmental issues,
urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &
secularism.

19. Geography of the World
• Salient features of world’s physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including
South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the
location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in
various parts of the world (including India)
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami,
Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their
location- changes in critical geographical features (including water
bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such
changes.

20. PAPER-III
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Governance, Constitution, Polity
• Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions
and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the
federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
• Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges
and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and
Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in
the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

21. Social Justice
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre
and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws,
institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of
these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social
Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-
governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential;
citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and
other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.

22. International relations
• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements
involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing
countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their
structure, mandate.

23. PAPER-IV
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio
diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
Economic Development
• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of
resources, growth, development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy
and their effects on industrial growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Investment models.

24. Agriculture
• Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country,
different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport
and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related
constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum
support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning,
limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope and
significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements,
supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.

25. Technology
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications
and effects in everyday life
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization
of technology and developing new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-
technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual
property rights.

26. Environment
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental
impact assessment
Disaster Management
• Disaster and disaster management.
Security
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal
security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of
media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of
cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of
organized crime with terrorism
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

27. PAPER-V
General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach
to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving
approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society.
Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The
following broad areas will be covered.
• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of
Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public
relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great
leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational
institutions in inculcating values.
• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought
and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and
non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance
and compassion towards the weaker sections.

28. • Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in
administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and
problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private
institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical
guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical
and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations
and funding; corporate governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of
governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in
government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct,
Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of
public funds, challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on above issues.

29. PAPER VI & VII
Optional Subject Papers – I & II
PERSONALITY TEST (INTERVIEW)
The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).
Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination(written part
as well as interview) would determine their final ranking. (Ranking
is based on score out of 2025 Marks). Candidates will be allotted to the
various services keeping in view their ranks in the Examination and the
preferences expressed by them for the various services and posts.
The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice
the number of vacancies to be filled.

30. 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 caliber of a candidate. In broad terms
this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social
traits and his interest in current affairs.
Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of
assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety and
depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and
moral integrity.
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.

31. The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the
specialized 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.

32. Himachal Administrative Services
(HAS) Exam
The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) conducts the state
civil services examination for administrative posts in the state government of
Himachal Pradesh and the aiding offices of the state administrative
machinery. The Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC)
invites applications for the HP Administrative Combined Competitive
Examination every year. The number of posts vary each year depending upon
the number of vacancies available. The number of vacancies include new posts
created, existing vacancies and anticipated vacancies.

33. HAS Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for HAS, the candidate must be a citizen of India
with minimum age of 21 years and maximum of 35 years.
However, there is some relaxation for candidates belonging to
categories other than General for HAS. Also, candidates
familiar with the Himachal dialects, customs and traditions are
preferred over those who aren’t.

34. HAS Exam Pattern
The HAS exam is conducted in 3 stages: 1. Preliminary Exam, 2: Main
Exam and 3: Viva-Voce.
Preliminary Examination has two papers of objective type (MCQs). The
questions have Multiple Choice Answers on the following topics- Paper I:
General Studies and Paper II: Aptitude Test. Both the papers have 100
questions and are of 200 marks each.
The candidates who qualify in the HAS Preliminary Exam can appear in the
Main Exam. The candidates called for the Interview test after the HAS Main
Exam will be done three times the total number of vacancies. The interview
is of 100 marks.

35. HAS Exam Syllabus
HAS exam Paper I includes subjects like General Studies History, Geography,
Current Affairs of National and International Importance, Art & Culture,
Socio-Economic Development of Himachal Pradesh, Environmental Issues
relating to Bio Diversity and Climate Change, Indian Politics and Governance
and General Science.
Paper II includes subjects like Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability,
Decision Making and Problem Solving, General Mental Ability, Interpersonal
Skills, Basic Numeracy, Comprehension Based Questions, Data Sufficiency
and Data Interpretation of Class 10th level.
The subjects for the HAS Main exam are chosen by the candidates
themselves.

36. HAS Exam Schedule
HAS preliminary exam is conducted at various centers in the following
cities of Himachal Pradesh- Shimla, Solan, Dharamshala, Mandi,
Nahan, Una, Hamirpur, Chamba, Bilaspur and Kullu. However, the main
exam is conducted in Shimla only. The HAS exam dates are notified by
the HPPSC online on the official website.

37. HAS Results:-
HAS results are announced on the official website of the Himachal Pradesh
Public Service Commission almost generally after the month the exam is
conducted.
HAS Future Prospects:-
The Central and State civil servants are in charge of the governance of the
various departments (non-military) to ensure that the administrative
infrastructure works according to the constitutional provision. Civil
Servants have both power and authority. Clearing the HAS exam both
preliminary and main, opens gates to higher esteemed posts like that of IAS
and IPS officers. Hence HAS is one of the most prestigious and lucrative
career options for those wanting to serve the nation and command respect
as well as authority in the society.

38. Punjab Civil Services Exam (PCS)
The Punjab Civil Services exam i.e. PCS exam, is a combined
competitive exam held by Punjab Public Service Commission
for the purpose of recruiting workforce for Government posts
like PCS Executive, Deputy Superintendent, Excise and
Taxation officer, etc.

39. PCS Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the PCS exam, a candidate must be a Citizen of India
or a Citizen of Nepal or Subject of Bhutan.
The candidate should be of minimum age of 21 years but should not be
older than 37 years. The candidate should possess a bachelor degree in
any discipline from a recognized university or institution, provided that
the candidate may be permitted to take PCS preliminary examination
while studying for the qualifying degree. There are certain associated
guidelines associated with the eligibility criteria including Physical
Standards for the candidates applying for the post of Deputy
Superintendent of Police:

40. Physical standards for the post of
Deputy Superintendent of
Police:
Minimum height:
Men- 5 feet 7 inches
Women- 5 feet 3 inches
Chest measurement (for men only):
Unexpanded: 33 inches
Expanded: 34.5 inches

41. PCS Exam pattern
Candidates are selected based on their performance in two stages-
• PCS Preliminary Competitive exam and
• Main Competitive exam (written and viva voce).
The Preliminary Competitive Examination consists of two papers i.e. Paper-I General Studies
and Paper –II Civil Services Aptitude Test. All candidates are required to appear in both papers
including i.e. Paper I and Paper II of the PCS Preliminary Competitive Examination.
The PCS main exam consists of written examination and a viva voce (interview) test. There are
total of 8 questions in the papers of optional subjects. All questions carry equal marks. Each
paper is divided into two parts, Part A and Part B, each part has four questions. The main
competitive exam includes compulsory and optional subjects and every candidate is required to
take all the compulsory subjects and two of the optional subjects, except for Ex-servicemen
candidates, who are exempted from taking optional subjects.
The candidates securing the highest aggregate marks in the written part of the Main
Competitive Exam are called for the interview test. If two or more candidates are tied at same
rank then the order of merit is evaluated in accordance with highest marks secured in
interview.

42. PCS Exam Syllabus
Both the PCS exams have different set of syllabi. Preliminary
exam includes General studies and Civil Services Aptitude Test,
while Main exam includes topics like English, History,
Geography, Indian Constitution, Punjabi, Economy, Statistics,
Science and Technology, Environment and others.

43. PCS Exam Schedule
The PCS exam is conducted at various intervals throughout the year
at centers within the territory of Chandigarh, dates of which are
intimidated by the UPSC online.

44. PCS Future Prospects
The Central and State civil servants are in charge of the governance
of the various departments (non-military) to ensure that the
administrative infrastructure works according to the constitutional
provision. Civil Servants have both power and authority. Clearing
the PCS exam both preliminary and main, opens gates to higher
esteemed posts like that of IAS and IPS officers. Hence PCS exam is
one of the most prestigious and lucrative career options for those
wanting to serve the nation and command respect as well as
authority in the society.

45. Who is a PCS officer in India
We all have heard of IAS, IPS, and IRS officers, but many of us
might not be aware of a PCS officer. The Civil Services run the
administration of our country. To choose the right kind of
candidate, they conduct various exams. Those who clear these
exams are later appointed to different posts depending upon
their scores to be a part of the administrative body.

46. Who exactly is a PCS Officer?
PCS Officer i.e. Provincial Civil Services officer is a prominent
position attained by a candidate only on being recruited by the
State Public Service Commissions. The State Public Service
Commission can recruit only those students who have cleared the
PCS exam for their particular state. The PCS officer looks after the
state as a caretaker.

47. General awareness and knowledge
• Forests, agriculture, land, education, and revenue, etc. are the
subjects that are dealt by the state civil services.
• It is essential that a PCS candidate has adequate information
relating to the history of the state as well as have knowledge
regarding the geographical details of the state.
• The awareness of what kind of basic problems are being faced
in the state and how can they be solved or handled is also
another question that the candidate must have answers to.
• Knowledge of the regional language, common customs, and
traditions of the people of the state is also another quality that
a candidate must possess.

48. Adequate amount of preparation is a
must
The exams conducted need good amount of preparation to pass them out
with flying colours. People planning to appear for this exam or any other
civil services exam must have adequate information relating to our
country as well as must have a brief idea about the current affairs.
A person working in the administration must have quick decision-making
skills as the administration is also the backbone of an entire nation and
thus only people who clear all the three levels of exams to get recruited
for this post. The three levels include Prelims, Mains, and the interview
round. A candidate, later on, being selected can only work for one state.

49. The duty that comes along with lot of
respect and responsibilities
• The PCS officer manages duties about welfare of the state and the benefits of its
people.
• An IAS officer works on an intermediate level whereas PCS officers manage only
the affairs of their state.
• The PCS officers do not have to worry much about transfers as they are recruited
only for the management of a particular state, so the question of being moved to
another state never arises.
• There are several other duties of the PCS officers like, looking after the security of
any politician or other respectable government personnel who may have arrived
in the city, taking quick and accurate decisions in case of natural disasters
affecting the state, maintaining harmony amongst the people of all religions and
avoiding any kind of riots as well as maintain the economy of the state.
• Everything that falls under the area of a particular state must be looked after by
the PCS officers through the help of other subordinate officers.

50. Thanks