Indian Civil Services
Trending Career Blogs

How to Become an IAS Officer: A Step-by-Step Approach

Share this post

Introduction

The full form of IAS officer is Indian Administrative Service, which is one of the most state-level the famous civil services in India. If you’re wondering How to Become an IAS Officer, it’s important to know that Indian Imperial Services was the name given to the IAS before independence. It was afterward renamed Indian Administrative Services. IAS officers are members of the district, state, and central secretariats. They hold crucial roles in the Indian government’s administrative system. Candidates for IAS must pass the civil services test with a top score of 100 and declare IAS as their first choice. So, How to Become an IAS Officer involves a rigorous selection process.

For individuals studying for the civil services test, the Indian Administrative Services is a dream career. It offers not just unmatched professional development but also enticing advantages and benefits. IAS officers have a great deal of social duty. IAS are often the most recognizable people in their posting district. Further in this article, we will discuss every delta about the IAS exam. Thus, understanding How to Become an IAS Officer requires a deep dive into the responsibilities and benefits of the role.

A career in the Indian Naval is both exciting and challenging for those who aspire to join the navy branch of the Indian defense force. The Indian Navy not only allows us to protect our country from external dangers via water. But it also allows us to work with a vibrant team whose lives are inextricably tied to ships and seas. They are in charge of deterring wars and foreign intrusions, as well as protecting the country’s territorial integrity, safeguarding the coasts, and monitoring. This is another path to consider if you’re exploring How to Become an IAS Officer.

Skills Required

To become an IAS, first of all, you need to pursue a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. You can pursue a degree in any field you want. To sit in the exam, make sure your age is above 21 years and less than/ up to 32 years. There is age relaxation for different groups. We have discussed this in detail. You should have Indian nationality. These are the basic requirements to become an IAS. You also need some skillset to become an IAS. So, How to Become an IAS Officer involves both academic qualifications and specific skill sets.

The following are some such skills:

Eligibility and Courses

To become an IAS, you need to appear for the IAS examination conducted by UPSC. There is a three-stage selection process that includes exams and interviews. This exam is conducted once every year. To give an examination, first, you need to fill the application form. You need to pass all the stages with at least minimum percentage criteria to become IAS.

The stages are:

Let us talk about these three stages in detail:

Indian Administrative Service Exam Pattern

Stage 1 - Preliminary Test (IAS Prelims)

Paper name	Nature	No. of Questions	Duration	Marks
General Studies I	Merit Ranking	100	2 hours	200
General Studies II (CSAT)	Qualifying (marks not considered)	80	2 hours	200

Stage 2 - IAS Mains

IAS Exam Paper	Name of the Paper	Nature	Duration	Marks
Paper – A	Compulsory Indian Language (One of the Indian languages included in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution, which the candidate must choose from)	QUALIFYING NATURE	3 Hours	300
Paper – B	English	QUALIFYING NATURE	3 Hours	300
Paper – I	ESSAY	MERIT RANKING NATURE	3 Hours	250
Paper-II	General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society)		3 Hours	250
Paper – III	General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)		3 Hours	250
Paper – IV	General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio‐diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)		3 Hours	250
Paper – V	General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)		3 Hours	250
Paper – VI	Optional Paper I		3 Hours	250
Paper – VII	Optional Paper-II		3 Hours	250

Stage 3- Interview

Age limit for IAS:

As of August 1st of the examination year, The Indian Administrative Service Officer's age limit must be at least 21 years old and no more than 32 years old.

Caste/ minority group	Age Relaxation
General	0 years
SC/ST	5 years
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	3 years
Defense Service personnel	3 years
Ex-servicemen including Commissioned officers and ECOs/SSOs who have rendered at least 5 years of military service	5 years (general) 8 years (OBC) 15 years (SC/ST)
Blind, deaf-dumb, and handicapped	10 years
Jammu & Kashmir Domicile	5 years (general) 8 years(OBC) 10 years (SC/ST) 18 years (Handicapped)

Number of attempts:

The following table shows the maximum number of attempts of different categories

Category	Maximum attempts
General	6 attempts (up to the age of 32 years)
SC/ST	No Limit (Up to 37 years)
OBC	9 attempts (Up to 35 years)
Physically handicapped	9 attempts for General & OBC No limit for SC/ST

Nationality:

Education Qualification for IAS:

Top Colleges

Top Colleges	Location
University of Delhi (DU)	New Delhi
Lady Shri Ram College for Women	New Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)	Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)	Mumbai
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)	Varanasi
St. Stephen’s College	New Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)	Chennai

Work Description

IAS officers play an important role in the Indian government's administrative system.

The following are the obligations that IAS officials are responsible for:

Job Profiles

Job Designation	Job Description
Sub Divisional Officer:	Responsible for the administration and development of a sub-division in a district, managing law and order, infrastructure development, and welfare programs.
Divisional Commissioner	Head of the divisional administration, overseeing multiple districts, ensuring law and order, crisis management, and overall development of the region.
District Collector:	Head of district administration, responsible for maintaining law and order, implementing government policies, and managing the overall development of the district.
Director/Administrative Roles of PSUs:	Responsible for the administration and management of public sector undertakings, overseeing day-to-day operations, implementing policies, and ensuring profitability and growth.
Cabinet Secretary:	The highest-ranking civil servant in the country, responsible for coordinating between various ministries and advising the Prime Minister on policy matters.
Chief Secretary:	The highest-ranking civil servant in a state, responsible for coordinating between different departments, advising the Chief Minister, and ensuring smooth governance.
District Magistrate/Joint Secretary of Government Ministry:	Responsible for the overall governance, law and order, and development of the district, implementing government policies and programs.

Top Recruiters

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

FAQs

What is the full form of IAS?

The full form of IAS is Indian Administrative Service.

What are the basic requirements to become an IAS officer?

To become an IAS officer, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, be above 21 years and less than or up to 32 years old, and have Indian nationality.

What are the stages of the IAS examination?

The IAS examination conducted by UPSC has three stages: Preliminary Test, Mains Written Test, and Interview.

What are the job responsibilities of an IAS officer?

An IAS officer plays a crucial role in the Indian government’s administrative system, including policy formulation, serving as a minister’s advisor, ensuring efficient execution of prescribed duties in administrative units, and maintaining law and order.

Who are the top recruiters for IAS officers in India?

The top recruiters for IAS officers in India are the Government of India, State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and International Organizations.

Indian Civil Services Trending Career Blogs