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Nikita Parmar

Updated on 29th January, 2024 , 9 min read

How to Become IAS Officer 2024: Eligibility, Important Dates 2024, Courses, After 12th, Step-Wise Guide

Latest Update: The Civil Services Examination (CSE) notice will be made public on February 14, 2024. By February 14, 2024 to March 05,2024, candidates can submit their applications online. On May 26th, 2024, the preliminary test will be held, and on September 20th, 2024 onwards, the main exam.

IAS Officer Overview

One must pass the UPSC Civil Services Examination, often known as the IAS test, the UPSC exam, or the Civil Services Exam, in order to become an IAS officer in India. It is also referred to as the IAS test and is held annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select qualified applicants for positions such as IAS officials, IPS officers, IFS officers, etc. 

IAS Officer Highlights

The Indian Police Service (IAS), along with more than 20 other services, will be picked through the UPSC's Civil Services Examination (CSE). All services have the same application and selection processes. The selection process begins in June with preliminary interviews and concludes in April each year. 

The following table shows the details for IAS-

Details

Particulars

Exam Name

Civil Services Examination

Organising Body

UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)

Level

National

Type 

Pen & Paper-Based (offline)

No. of Services

24 

Industry 

Administrative Sector

Eligibility 

 Bachelor's degree in any stream

Average Starting Salary Package

INR 50,000 to 1,50,000

No. of Attempts

6 attempts 

No. of Vacancies

720 (approx.)

Expected Registration Date

8 lakh (approx.) 

Prelims Registration Fee

Rs. 100 (exemption for: women, SC/ST/PWD)

Mains Registration Fee

Rs. 200 (exemption for: women, SC/ST/PWD)

Job Options

Sub Divisional Officer, District Collector, Divisional Commissioner, Cabinet Secretary, etc.

What is IAS Officer?

Millions of young aspirants have the aspiration of becoming IAS officers. It is regarded as one of the most esteemed professions in India. IAS officer careers involve a variety of tasks and difficulties.IAS Officer supports the populace during times of crisis and is primarily responsible for maintaining law and order. To be chosen for the position of an IAS officer, one must pass the Union Public Service Commission's Main, Preliminary, and Interview rounds. Candidates who are chosen also receive training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. Students with backgrounds in science, business, the arts, and humanities are eligible to become IAS officers.

Read more about IAS Full Form.

IAS Officer Role

An IAS officer's job is to assist the federal and state governments in carrying out and overseeing the policies they have developed, as well as by offering insightful input on all government decision-making processes. In other words, an IAS officer helps the government with policy formulation and administration, policy execution, and essential input to the relevant ministries concerning the state of implementation and impact of the policies. The following details are the roles of IAS Officer:- 

  1. To create and implement essential policy.
  2. To provide ministers with advice on crucial issues
  3. Maintain the citizens' sense of order and law.
  4. The execution of crucial choices and policies.
  5. Obtaining money through sales.
  6. Managing various expenditures
  7. If appropriate, make critical judgments and develop policies that reflect those conclusions.
  8. To oversee the correct application of those policies.

Read more about Upcoming Government Exams in India.

Eligibility Criteria for IAS Officer

The following are some parameters to become IAS Officer-

  1. Age limit:- To sit for the UPSC CSE test, candidates must be at least 21 years old. In order to qualify as an IAS officer, a candidate must be at least 32 years old. Candidates must also be at least 35 years old to qualify in the OBC category and 37 years old to qualify in the SC/ST category.
  2. Education Qualification:- A candidate must possess a graduate degree from any reputable university in order to qualify for the UPSC CSE test and become an IAS officer. This exam is open to candidates who are in their last year of high school. Candidates who have completed correspondence courses are also qualified to take this test. Even professionals are eligible to apply for this examination. A medical student may also submit an application for this test. However, only if he has finished his degree and is currently enrolled in an internship program. Candidates who have earned the CA, ICWA, and ICSI certifications may also apply for the position.
  3. Number of Attempts:- The applicant can only make six tries in the general category. The contestant has a maximum of 9 tries for that off OBC. The age cap for SC/ST candidates is 37 years old.

How to become an IAS officer in India?

People in this job must often contact other professionals, both inside and outside of their own specialty. Therefore, this profession is only suitable for individuals with excellent communication skills. The following give details about how to become IAS officer-

1. How to Become an IPS Officer after the 12th?

The candidates must get their graduation degree from an accredited university after finishing their 12th-grade education. The candidates have a wide range of degree options to pick from. The IAS admission test is also open to individuals who obtained their undergraduate degrees through correspondence or distance learning.

2. Preparation for UG and PG

Through a GS Integrated program, the first and second years of your academic career should be committed to being ready for the General Studies (GS) various disciplines of the UPSC Prelims and Mains examination. This choice is crucial and significant since the optional topic contains two Mains papers and contributes significantly to a candidate's total merit standing.

3. UPSC Entrance Exam The Union Public Service?

Commission (UPSC) administers a number of exams each year to select candidates for positions in the Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, Medical - Engineering Services, Geologist, and other Exams for Government establishments) and the Defense (NDA/NA, Combined Defence Services (CDS)).

IAS Officer 2024 Online Application Process

The following are the steps for admission process- 

  1. Go to the UPSC's official website, www.upsc.gov.in.
  2. Select the "Apply Online" tab.
  3. Go to "Online Application for Various Examinations" and click on it.
  4. Discover where to take the Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam.
  5. Begin Part-I of the IAS registration.
  6. Complete the address, education, and personal information fields.
  7. Make the required application fee payment (Rs 100).
  8. Select the testing location.
  9. Upload the picture, signed identity card, and photo.
  10. Recognize the assertion.
  11. Verify all of the information and submit.
  12. Print a copy of the IAS application form for your records.

How to Become IAS Officer (Step-Wise Guide)

To become an IAS officer, a candidate must pass the Union Public Services Examination's Civil Services Examination. Every year, over 8 lakh applicants apply, but only a few thousand become IAS officials. Follow the steps below to learn how to become an IAS officer-

Step 1: Join the Clear IAS Online Classroom Program at step one (Clear IAS Classes)

Step 2: Prepare Notes based on Clear IAS Classes. 

Step 3: Studying for oneself (Learn Clear IAS Notes, NCERT Textbooks and Standard Textbooks).

Step 4: Take the online Clear IAS Prelims to mock exams

Step 5: Take the Clear IAS Mains Mock Exams. Improve your ability to write answers

Step 6: Learn an optional subject.

Step 7: Participate in the Clear IAS Interview Program.

IAS Officer Important Dates 2024

On February 14, 2024, the Civil Services Examination (CSE) notice will be made public. By February 14, 2024 to March 05,2024, candidates can submit their applications online. On May 26th, 2024, the preliminary test will be held, and on September 20th, 2024 onwards, the main exam.

The following tables show the important dates-

Particulars

Dates

Civil Services Examination (CSE) notification

February 14, 2024

IAS online application form

February 14 to March 05, 2024

IAS Preliminary Admit Card

1st week of May

IAS Prelims Exam Date

26th May, 2024 (Sunday)

IAS Main Exam Date

20th September, 2024 Onwards (5 days)

IAS Main Exam Result

To be Announced

IAS Final Result

To be Announced

What should I Study to become an IAS Officer?

Many aspirants are unsure about what they should study to become an IAS officer. Check out the books listed below to effectively prepare for the IAS exam-

Subjects 

Chapters

Books

Economy

Economy

  1. Indian Economy – by Nitin Singhania and Ramesh Singh.
  2. Indian Economy Key Concepts – by Sankarganesh Karuppiah.
History & Indian Culture

Modern Indian History

Sonali Bansal and Snehil Tripathi

Ancient &

Medieval India

Poonam Dalal Dahiya

Indian Culture

Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania.

Science & Tech

Science & Tech

Ravi P. Agrahari

Geography

Indian Geography and World Geography

  1. Certificate in Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong.
  2. Geography of India – by Majid Husain.
  3. Oxford Student Atlas for India.

Current Affairs

Daily, Monthly & Weekly Current Affairs

  1. India 2022 Yearbook by Rajiv Mehrishi.
  2. The Malayala Manorama English Yearbook 2022 by Mammen Mathew.

Politics

Politics

Indian Polity by Laxmikanth

Environment & Ecology

Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change

Environment – by Shankar IAS and by PMF IAS

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IFS Officer Salary

ACP Full Form and How to Become IAS Officer

Courses to become IAS Officers 2024

To become an IAS Officer, a person must complete a variety of courses, from undergraduate to graduate-level studies. Here are a few details-

Course Name 

Admission Process 

Exam 

Bachelor of Arts (BA) 

Merit & Entrance exam 

DSAT

IPU CET

BHU UET

JNUEE

NPAT

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Merit & Entrance exam

IPU CET

DU JAT

Masters of Arts (MA)

Entrance exam and Direct Admission

TISSNET 

PU CET (PG)

Masters of Business Administration (MBA)

Entrance exams

GDPI Round

CMAT

CAT

SNAP

MAT

XAT

NMAT

What Skills are needed to become an IAS officer?

The following are some of the skills need for IAS officers-

  1. Thinking analytically:- An IAS official works directly with the welfare of the populace. Additionally, there are no black-and-white situations when dealing with humans.
  2. Leadership:- You need excellent leadership abilities to guide a complete area of a certain state for the benefit of the populace. You should not only "learn" this talent; rather, you should shape your personality to reflect it in your actions.
  3. Critical Thinking:- It's important to exercise critical thought while making judgments. In order to make the best choice as an IAS officer, it is crucial to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
  4. Communication abilities:- One of the key duties of an IAS officer is to develop and carry out public policies. Even if the policy you develop is effective in reaching the greatest number of people with an essential message, it will fail if the public does not receive it properly.
  5. Perseverance:- As an IAS officer, you should have a never-give-up mentality. You will still need to put in a lot of effort and continuously try to become better at your preparation till you succeed and pass the UPSC-CSE even as an aspirant IAS officer.
  6. Patience:- You cannot become an IAS officer after completing the 12th grade, no matter how large your goal may be. You'll need a lot of patience to prepare for the UPSC-CSE, stay committed to your objectives, and to pick up all the necessary abilities to fulfill your ambition of becoming an IAS officer.
  7. Time management:- After passing the UPSC-CSE, you will live the life of an IAS officer from 6 am to 9 pm every day. Additionally, you need to have exceptional time management abilities in order to check off all the boxes in your daily IAS regular life.

Tips for the UPSC Entrance Exam 2024

The essential thing applicants should remember is to be intensely focused the entire time and to make sure you have time to work hard and rest as well. Here are some tips for preparing for the UPSC 2021 exam-

  1. Establish a Schedule: Set out time on calendar to learn and improve yourself. Additionally, make an effort to spend more time on the topics that you struggle with and maintain a reasonable study schedule.
  2. Prepare In accordance with the exam format: The UPSC entrance test website makes it plain that the exam's goal is to identify students who have a thorough understanding of India's history, geography, culture, and all other elements of how the world works.
  3. Make sure you are familiar with all the subjects by thoroughly reading the UPSC entrance test curriculum.
  4. Layout the Content: Gather all of the necessary reference materials from various sources. Select books from Toppers, NCERT Books, and a few other pertinent books to utilise as study aids. The most popular type of information among candidates nowadays is PDFs.
  5. Mock exams: Never cease administering practise exams. Gather question papers from several sources and keep answering them until you are sure that you can perform well in the test.
  6. The Key to Revision Make it a habit to review what you did the previous day before bed and as soon as you wake up.

Benefits of an IAS Officer

In India, working as an IAS officer is seen as a respectable position. Among the advantages of working as an IAS officer are-

  1. Pay: An IAS officer receives a higher salary than any other position in the public service. An IAS official is given a lot of benefits and amenities.
  2. Housing: The Indian government would provide housing for the IAS official. The state capital where the IAS officials are stationed is where their duplex home is located.
  3. Service Quarters: Service quarters are also made available to IAS officers. In addition to housing in the state, the government also provides them with accommodations at their posting town or settlement.
  4. Security: Security for IAS officers and their family is provided by the government. Three house guards and two body guards are assigned to the general officers who were stationed at the state headquarters.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ans. Jobs closely associated to public service, such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS, are known as civil services and are largely regarded as prominent in India. Civil Service Exams are held by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) for positions with the Central Government.

Ans. Any level (graduation). The candidate must possess a degree from one of the universities in India that were established by an act of the Central or State Legislature or from another type of educational facility.

Ans. The prelims exam is a purely objective test. Each of the two papers will be worth 200 points. Paper 1 is on general studies, while Paper 2 is about aptitude and mental ability. As long as the applicant has a score of 33 percent on Paper 2, only the results of Paper 1 will be taken into account for selection to the main test. (Model from 2015).

Ans. The required percentage to pass Paper 2 is 33%. For Paper 1, the Commission may also set a minimum cut-off score.

Ans. Except for some questions, where the negative marking will be built-in and take the form of various marks being granted to the most appropriate and not so appropriate response for such questions, there will be negative marking for erroneous answers for all questions.

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