PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

A strong constitution; good health; ability/willingness to spend long periods away from home, family and friends; intelligence; common sense; sense of responsibility; empathy with the underprivileged; idealism; emotional stability; great personal integrity; staying power; optimism; positive thinking; ability to interact with all kinds of people; adaptability; ability to handle power and authority without being swayed by it; willingness to work in a fairly rigid hierarchy.

TRAINING
 

Recruitment

Recruitment to all but the Indian Forest Service is conducted through the All India Combined Competitive Examination for the Civil Services. Application forms appear in all the daily newspapers and the Rozgar Samachar, in December each year. Advertisements regarding the Indian Forest Service Examination appear in January/February.

Eligibility

Candidates applying for the civil services must fulfill the following requirements:

Nationality

Indian citizen

Age

Between 21-28 years for combined examination as on August 1, and for the Forest Service, as on July 1 of the examination year.

Education

For the combined examination

A Bachelor's degree from any recognized university. No particular discipline is specified, although it is preferable to take subjects that have some relevance to either the competitive examination or to the duties of the service chosen.

For the Forest Service

A Bachelor's degree with at least one of the following: botany; chemistry; zoology; statistics; geology, mathematics; physics; or Bachelor of Agriculture or BE of Forestry.

Selection Process
 

COMBINED SERVICES

Selection for the combined civil services takes place in three stages:

Preliminary Examination

This is a written test comprising two papers and is conducted in each June. 

The first, general studies, carries a maximum score of 150 points on 150 questions, with a time limit of two hours. It covers six topics-Indian history; the Constitution of India; geography; economics; science and current affairs. 

The second is an optional that is on a subject of the candidate's choice. This paper carries 300 points on 120 questions and is two hours long. 

Both papers are set in the objective-type format. Each year, approximately 1,50,000 candidates take this examination. 

About 10,000-the highest scorers-qualify for the second, main examination.

Main Examination

Also a written test, is held around November/December each year, and comprises: 

Two language papers one in English and the other in an optional Indian language. Marks gained in these papers are not computed in the total score, but passing in both is compulsory for qualification.

Two general studies papers, each worth 300 marks carrying a total score of 600 points. 

Four papers on two optional subjects, each carrying 300 marks-the total score being 1,200 points. These papers are all subjective or essay type papers. 

Of all those who take this test approximately 2,000 candidates qualify for the final stage. 

PERSONALITY TEST

This is the final stage of the selection process. Conducted in the form of the oral interview, it enables an expert panel to judge first-hand, the candidate's personality and aptitude for the work.

The interview carries 250 points in a total of 2,050. Roughly 800-900 candidates make it through the final selection every year. The top ranking 100 or so candidates is appointed to the IAS.