IAS

 To appear for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) exam, candidates need to qualify through the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Here are the details regarding eligibility and exam patterns:

### Eligibility Criteria:

1. **Educational Qualification**: 

   - Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in any discipline. There is no specific requirement regarding the subject studied.

2. **Age Limit**: 

   - The age limit varies depending on the category:

     - General: 21 to 32 years

     - OBC: 21 to 35 years

     - SC/ST: 21 to 37 years

   - There are additional relaxations for other categories as per government norms.

3. **Nationality**: 

   - Candidates must be citizens of India, or

   - Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, or

   - Tibetan refugees who came to India before 1st January 1962, or

   - Persons of Indian origin who have migrated from other countries with the intention of settling in India.

### Exam Pattern:

The Civil Services Examination consists of three stages:

1. **Preliminary Examination**:

   - This stage consists of two papers (MCQ format):

     - Paper I: General Studies I (200 marks)

     - Paper II: General Studies II (CSAT - 200 marks)

   - Both papers are of objective type and are held on the same day.

   - A candidate must qualify both papers, although only Paper I will be considered for the merit list.

2. **Main Examination**:

   - This stage consists of nine papers, out of which two are qualifying in nature.

   - Papers include:

     - Paper A: Indian Language (300 marks - Qualifying)

     - Paper B: English (300 marks - Qualifying)

     - Paper I: Essay (250 marks)

     - Papers II-VI: General Studies I to IV (250 marks each)

       - General Studies I: Indian Heritage and 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, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management

       - General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

     - Optional Subject Papers: Two papers from the chosen optional subject (250 marks each)

   - Total Marks for the Main Exam: 1750 marks (excluding qualifying papers)

3. **Personality Test (Interview)**:

   - This stage carries 275 marks.

   - Candidates who score the required marks in the Main Exam are invited for an interview.

### Total Marks:

- The final ranking list is prepared based on a cumulative score from the Main Examination and the Personality Test, with a total of 2025 marks (1750 from Mains + 275 from the Interview).

### Important Points:

- The entire recruitment process takes around one year, from the announcement of the notification to the final selection.

- Candidates are advised to stay updated regarding the exam schedules, patterns, and eligibility requirements through the UPSC official website and notifications.

Preparation for the IAS exam requires a strategic approach, regular study, and a thorough understanding of the exam patterns and syllabus.