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| How To Become an IAS Officer |
How To Become an IAS Officer: Salary, IAS Full Form, Qualification & Eligibility
IAS is considered one of the most prestigious jobs in India. It is a dream of every student to become an IAS officer. To become an IAS officer it is required a lot of hard work, strong commitment, and dedication.IAS is one of the most sought career options in India as it provides an opportunity to work at the forefront of policymaking and governance, thereby contributing to the development and welfare of the nation. You can become an IAS by writing the civil services examination conducted by UPSC every year. In this article, we are going to learn about "how to become IAS officer" step by step.IAS Full Form
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| IAS full form |
IAS stands for "Indian Administrative Service." It is one of the prestigious civil services in India and is a key part of the Indian Civil Services, which also includes other services such as the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS). The IAS officers hold key positions in the government and are responsible for the implementation of government policies and administration at various levels.
Eligibility Criteria for IAS
Education Qualification
- To become an IAS officer you need to graduate from any discipline from the recognized university under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.
- A student can also write an examination in his/her final year of graduation however student must provide proof of passing the degree examination while filling out the Detailed Application Form for the Main Examination.
Age limit for IAS
- The minimum age limit for writing the UPSC Exam is 21 years for any category.
- The maximum age limit for the General Category is 32 years
- The maximum age limit for the OBC category is 35 years.
- The maximum age limit for the SC/ST category is 37 years.
Number of attempts for IAS
- Maximum number of attempts for general category candidates is 6.
- OBC candidates can give 9 attempts.
- SC/ST candidates have no limitations on the number of attempts until candidates reach the upper age limit of 37 years.
Process of Becoming IAS
To become an IAS officer, one must clear the civil services examination which is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This examination is considered as one of the toughest competitive exams in India. The syllabus covers wide-ranging subjects which quite necessarily include current affairs, history, geography, polity, economy, and general ability.Besides the theoretical knowledge, analytical skill and problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and a profound understanding of social, political, and economic problems are an essential attribute of candidates. An awareness of both national and international current affairs and well-rounded thinking on various issues are to be cultivated. The whole examination process consists of three tiers-the Preliminary examination, the Main examination, and the Personality Test (Interview).
Preliminary Examinations
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| UPSC preliminary examinations |
The preliminary exam is the first stage of the civil services examination. This examination is qualifying in nature and consists of two compulsory papers General Studies Paper I and General Studies paper II of 200 marks each. General Studies Paper II also known as CSAT. Both the papers are of objective type and Each paper has a duration of two hours. The final ranking does not include preliminary marks. The notification of the preliminary exams out every year in the month of June on the UPSC official website https://upsc.gov.in/
Paper I:
Paper II:
- General StudiesCurrent events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography: Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World
- Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development: Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization
- General Science
Paper II:
- Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc.) (Class X level)
Main Examinations
The civil services main examination is the second stage of the selection process conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The main examination is the written examination which tests candidates' comprehensive knowledge and understanding of various subjects along with their analytical and communication skills. The main examination is usually held in the month of September or October. You need to fill out the UPSC Detailed Application Form (DAF) for the Mains exam and submit it online on the official UPSC website https://upsc.gov.in/. The main exams consist of 9 Papers out of which seven are considered for ranking. These papers are as follows:
- Paper A - Compulsory Indian Language
- Paper B - English
- Essay
- General Studies I
- General Studies II
- General Studies III
- General Studies IV
- Optional Subject Paper I
- Optional Subject Paper II
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| UPSC Mains Syllabus |
The syllabus of UPSC is very exhaustive, covering a number of subjects. The syllabus for the Main Examination is as follows:-
- Paper A: Indian Language- Comprehension, precis writing, usage, vocabulary, short essays, etc.
- Paper B: English- Comprehension, precis writing, communication/language skills, vocabulary, short essays, etc.
- Essay: Candidates would be required to write essays from time to time according to topics that would test their ability to express ideas in a clear and coherent manner.
- General Studies I- Indian Heritage & Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
- General Studies II- Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
- General Studies III- Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.
- General Studies IV- Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
- Optional Subject Paper I- The candidates will have to select one optional subject from the available list of optional subjects by the UPSC; syllabi of the optional subjects will vary according to the subject chosen.
- Optional Subject Paper II- This paper is the continuation of the optional subject chosen by the candidate, which is the extension of the first optional paper syllabus.
Candidates must study and appreciate the syllabus, which is prescribed for preparation for the Main Examination. Candidates should also keep abreast of changes in the syllabus and related notifications through the regular visiting of the official UPSC website.
UPSC Personality Test (Interview)
The last stage of candidates taking the Civil Services examination conducted by UPSC is the Personality Test. This is about assessment of personality, decision-making ability, and communicative skill of the candidates. Interview therein gets into general knowledge and current affairs, put pressure for the candidates to handle. Interview assesses qualities like confidence, ethics, and leadership skills out of a total of 275 marks. The total score from the interview will be added to the score from the written tests in order to formulate the overall ranking. Acquiring a good ranking requires a candidate to have scored above 1,000 marks in total (written+interview), depending on the competition.UPSC IAS Interview Syllabus
The Personality Test does not have a specific syllabus like the preliminary and main examinations. However, Candidates should prepare themselves thoroughly in these areas:-
- Current Affairs
- General Knowledge
- Ethics and Integrity
- Personal Background
- Socio-Political Issues
- Problem-Solving Abilities
- Communication Skills
After the interview, the candidates are assigned various administrative positions, depending on their final rank and the availability of vacancies. The final ranking is determined based on marks obtained in the mains and interview. A sufficiently high rank will allow one to be appointed to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), which is one of the most prestigious and enviable posts in the Indian bureaucracy.
UPSC IAS Training
On appointment as IAS officers, candidates get training in the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, which aims to equip them with the required skills and knowledge for the job. The overall training program would include public administration, governance, and related subjects as a broader training for providing the officers with the training necessary for meeting challenges and discharging responsibilities at various points in the course of service.
Typically, after the training, IAS officers are allocated provincial cadre postings based on a demand for administrative vacancies from other civil service ranks. However, since such postings are under different state policies and sections concerning state cadre members, the roles and responsibilities of these states within their respective departments tend to differ from one another.
- Assistant Collector: Later, IAS officers probably serve as the Assistant Collector for practical exposure to the field.
- Sub-Divisional Magistrate: They may be appointed as SDMs with responsibility for the administration of a subdivision of a district.
- Various State Government Departments: IAS officers can also be posted in different state government departments where they are engaged in specific administrative work and appraisal of policies.
Role of IAS Officer
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| Role of IAS officer |
Here are the key roles of an IAS officer, in brief, policy formulation and implementation.
- Administration and governance.
- Developmental initiatives and project management.
- Supervision of government schemes and programs.
- Financial management and budgeting.
- Providing policy analysis and advice.
- Crisis management during emergencies.
- Judicial and quasi-judicial functions in maintaining law and order.
IAS Officer Career Progression
IAS Salary In India per Month
The salary of an IAS officer in India is broken down as follows:
Starting Salary (Junior Scale):
- Basic Pay - 56,100 per month
- Total Salary - 70,000-80,000 along with allowances.
After Promotion (Senior Scale):
- Basic Pay - 67,700 per month.
- Total Salary - 85,000-1,00,000 with allowances.
Super Time Scale (15+ years of service):
- Basic Pay - 78,800 per month.
- Total Salary - 1,00,000-1,20,000 with allowances.
Higher Ranks (Secretary and above):
- Basic Pay- 1,82,200 per month in case of Additional Secretary.
- Total Salary - 150,000 to 180,000.
For the Secretary:
- 225,000 per month.
- Total Salary - 230,000 to 250,000.
Additional Benefits:
- Dearness Allowance (DA) - Adjusted to inflation rates.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA) - different city-wise.
- Medical Allowance- covers health care expenses.
- Travel Allowance (TA) - for official travel.
Conclusion
FAQs
1. Can I Join IAS after class 12th?
Ans. No, you cannot become IAS after class 12th. To be an IAS officer you need to be to graduate from any discipline from the recognized university under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.
2. Is it hard to become IAS officer?
Ans. UPSC civil services examination is considered one of the toughest examinations in India. It Requires lots of hard work and motivation to clear the exam.
3. What is the highest post in IAS?
Ans.Cabinet Secretary