About Union Public Service Commission

Civil servants are selected through various examinations conducted by the Union Public
Service Commission (UPSC), including the Civil Services Examination UPSC is the
central authority that conducts various examinations to recruit candidates for various
Group A and Group B government services such as All India Services, Central Civil
Services, Indian Forest Service, Indian Economic Service, Indian Statistical Service,
Indian Engineering Services, and Indian Defence Services.

The origin of the Public Service Commission in India dates back to 1919 when the First
Dispatch of the Government of India, on Indian Constitutional Reforms on 5 March
1919, referred to the need for setting up a permanent office for the regulation of service
matters. In furtherance to this, Section 96(C) of the Government of India Act, 1919
provided for the establishment of a Public Service Commission to ‘discharge, in regard
to recruitment and control of the Public Services in India, such functions as may be
assigned thereto by the rules made by the Secretary of State in Council’. After this, the
Lee Commission also recommended setting up a Public Service Commission, which
was set up on 1 October 1926. The first member of this commission was Sir Ross
Barker.

After the passage of the Government of India Act, 1935, this Public Service Commission
was converted into the Federal Public Service Commission. Following the enforcement
of the constitution on 26 January 1950, the Federal Public Service Commission was
renamed as the Union Public Service Commission. The Commission is constituted
under Article 315 of the Constitution.

The functions of the UPSC are described in Article 320 of the Constitution. These
functions are as follows:
1. Conduct examinations for appointment to the services of the Union.
2. Direct recruitment by selection through interviews.
3. Appointment of officers on promotion/deputation/absorption.
4. Framing and amendment of recruitment rules for various services and posts
under the Government.
5. Disciplinary cases relating to different Civil Services.
6. Advising the Government on any matter referred to the Commission by the
President of India.

Different Job Profiles under UPSC services

Civil servants are selected through various examinations conducted by the Union Public
Service Commission (UPSC), including the Civil Services Examination UPSC is the
central authority that conducts various examinations to recruit candidates for various
Group A and Group B government services such as All India Services, Central Civil
Services, Indian Forest Service, Indian Economic Service, Indian Statistical Service,
Indian Engineering Services, and Indian Defence Services. The various examinations
conducted by UPSC are the following:
1. Civil Services Examination (recruitment to 25 different All-India services and
Central Civil Services)
2. Indian Economic Service (IES) Examination
3. Indian Statistical Services (ISS) Examination
4. Engineering Service Examination
5. Central Defence Service (CDS) Examination
6. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) Examination
7. National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy Examination
8. Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist’s Examination
9. Indian Forest Service Examination
In the following chapters, we will discuss the details of the following services:
1. 20 All-India Services and Central Civil Services recruited through the Civil
Services Examination
2. Indian Forest Service
3. Indian Economic Service
4. Indian Statistical Service
We have not discussed the profile of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service
(DANICS); Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS); Puducherry
Civil Service (PCS); and Puducherry Police Service (PPS); as they are Group B
services of IAS and IPS, having a similar work profile.

Services Recruited through the Civil Services Examination

The civil service allocated to a candidate depends on his/her final rank and his/her
service preference. The following services are recruited by the UPSC Civil services
Examination:

1. Indian Administrative Services (IAS)

2. Indian Foreign Services (IFS)
3. Indian Police Service (IPS)
4. Indian Post and Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)
5. Indian Audit and Accounts Services (IAAS)
6. Indian Revenue Service-Customer and Central Excise (IRS-C&CE)
7. Indian Defense Accounts Services (IDAS)
8. Indian Revenue Service-Income Tax (IRS-IT)
9. Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
10. Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
11. Indian Civil Accounts Services (ICAS)
12. Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
13. Indian Railway Account Service (IRAS)
14. Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
15. Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF)
16. Indian Defense Estates Services (IDES)
17. Indian Information Services (IIS)
18. Indian Trade Service (ITS)
19. Indian Postal Services (IPoS)
20. Armed forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQCS)
21. Delhi and Andaman Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS)
22. Delhi and Andaman Nicobar Island Police Service (DANIPS)
23. Puducherry Civil Service (PCS)
24. Puducherry Police Service (PPS)

About the Civil Services Examination

The present civil service structure in India traces its origin to the Macaulay Committee
under Lord Macaulay. That the patronage-based system of the East India Company
should be replaced by a permanent civil service, entry into which would be based on
merit through a competitive entrance examination. While designing the civil service after
Independence, the Indian political leaders chose to retain elements of the British
structure of a unified administrative system, such as an open-entry system based on
academic achievements, elaborate training arrangements, permanency of tenure,
important posts at the Union, state, and district level reserved for the civil service, a
regular graduated scale of pay with pension and other benefits, and a system of
promotions and transfers based predominantly on seniority.

These Civil Services are far superior to any job in the private sector. They run the entire
administration of the country. The elected ministers of India lay down the policies
required to properly run the administrative machinery, which are then executed by the
civil servants in various central and state government agencies.

The importance of the Civil Services in a democracy like India is very high for effective
administration, it is vital that our political leaders are given non-partisan advice, based
on effective coordination between the various institutions of governance. The
Government of India expects the civil servants to fulfill their responsibility towards the
public by offering frank and unbiased advice to the government (irrespective of who is in
power).

The Civil Services in India are grouped into three broad categories. Services whose
members serve both the Union and the state governments are termed All India
Services. Services whose members serve only the Union government are termed
Central Civil Services. Apart from these, the state governments have their own group of
services, the State Civil Services.

The Civil Services Examination is conducted every year for appointing Group A and
Group B officers from across India into 24 different All-India Services and Central Civil
Services. The selection process consists of three stages - the preliminary examination,
the main examination, and the personality test (or interview).

The civil service allocated to a candidate depends on his/her final rank and his/her
service preference. The following services are recruited by the UPSC Civil services
Examination:
1. Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
2. Indian Foreign Services (IFS)
3. Indian Police Service (IPS)
4. Indian Post and Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)
5. Indian Audit and Accounts Services (IAAS)
6. Indian Revenue Service-Customer and Central Excise (IRS-C&CE)
7. Indian Defense Accounts Services (IDAS)
8. Indian Revenue Service-Income Tax (IRS-IT)
9. Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
10. Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
11. Indian Civil Accounts Services (ICAS)
12. Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
13. Indian Railway Account Service (IRAS)
14. Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
15. Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF)
16. Indian Defense Estates Services (IDES)
17. Indian Information Services (IIS)
18. Indian Trade Service (ITS)
19. Indian Postal Services (IPoS)
20. Armed forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQCS)
21. Delhi and Andaman Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS)
22. Delhi and Andaman Nicobar Island Police Service (DANIPS)
23. Puducherry Civil Service (PCS)
24. Puducherry Police Service (PPS)

About IAS Prelims Examination

The preliminary examination is the first stage of the selection process in the Civil
Services Examination. This is an elimination round, with the aim of shortlisting
candidates (around 15,000-20,000, which is about 10-15 times the number of available
vacancies) who would appear in the main examination. It is held every year any time
between the months of May and June. A candidate can apply for the examination
through the website www.upsc.gov.in.
The examination comprises two papers of 200 marks each.

Paper 1: Paper 1, also known as General Studies Paper 1, is oriented towards testing
the general awareness of the candidates in a variety of subjects including Indian and
world history, Indian and world geography, science and technology, Indian culture,
Indian polity, economy, environment and ecology, and topics of current affairs. It
consists of 100 questions of 2 marks each. It is the most important paper as it decides
whether a candidate would be allowed to appear in the main examination or not.

Paper 2 : Paper 2, also known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) or General
Studies Paper - 2, is intended to test the general mental ability of the candidate, It tests
the candidate’s reading comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision
making, basic quantitative aptitude, and data interpretation skills. It consists of 80
questions of 2.5 marks each. This paper is only of qualifying nature and a candidate has
to score at least 33% of the total marks.

Only the marks scored in Paper 1 are considered for shortlisting candidates that would
appear at the next stage of the examination. However, these marks are not added to the
marks secured in the main examination and interview for determining the final rank of
the aspirant.

About IAS Main Examination

The main examination is the most important part of the whole process, as it carries the
maximum number of marks (1750) in the whole process. After qualifying in the
preliminary examination, a candidate is required to fill the detailed application form
(DAF). The form contains personal details, choice of optional subject, service
preference order, and cadre preference order (for All India Services) of a candidate. The
form needs to be submitted online at the website of UPSC within the prescribed dates.

The main examination is conducted between the months of October and December. It
consists of nine papers, each of 3 hours duration. Two papers are scheduled on a day.
The process can go on continuously for 5-6 days. Thus, it is a tough task, which
requires high mental and physical alertness. The following papers are a part of the main
examination.
1. English Language Paper : This paper tests the proficiency of a candidate in
English language. It carries 300 marks. It tests the skills of a candidate in essay
writing, unseen passages, and English grammar. This paper is only of qualifying
nature, and these marks are not added to the total marks secured in the main
examination. A candidate needs to secure the minimum qualifying marks in this
paper (generally between 75 and 90s).
2. Indian Language Paper : This paper tests the proficiency of a candidate in any
chosen language from among those mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the
Constitution. The nature of the test is similar to that of the English language
 paper. A candidates needs to secure only minimum marks to qualify for the next
stage (90-100)
3. Essay paper : This paper tests the writing skills, comprehension skills, and
general knowledge of a candidate by way of essay writing. This paper carries
200 marks. The marks secured in this paper determine the rank in the final merit
list.
4. General Studies Paper 1 : This paper tests the knowledge of the candidate in the
subjects of Indian and world history, Indian cultur, Indian and world geography,
environment and ecology, Indian sociology, developmental issues, urbanization
issues, and women-related issue, It carries 250 marks. The marks secured in this
paper determine the rank in the final merit list.
5. General Studies Paper 2 : This examination tests the knowledge of the candidate
in the subjects of polity, constitution, governance, social justice, development,
and international relations. This paper also carries 250 marks. The marks
secured in this paper determine the rank in the final merit list.
6. General Studies Paper 3 : This examination tests the knowledge of the candidate
in the subjects economy, agriculture, science and technology, environment,
biodiversity, disaster management, and internal security. This paper also carries
250 marks. The marks secured in this paper determine the rank in the final merit
list.
7. General Studies Paper 4 : This examination does not test any knowledge, but the
general orientation of the candidate toward topics like ethics, integrity, civil
services aptitude, and emotional intelligence. It also tests the understanding of
the candidate for solving real-life ethics case studies. This paper again carries
250 marks. The marks secured in this paper determine the rank in the final merit
list.
8. Optional Subject Paper 1 : A candidate has to choose from a list of optional
subjects. The paper tests the in-depth knowledge of the candidates in this
optional subject, and the subject coverage is generally of the level of bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in that subject. It also carries 250 marks. The marks
secured in this paper determine the rank in the final merit list.
9. Optional Subject Paper 2 : This paper is the extension of Paper 1 and also
carries 250 marks. The marks secured in this paper determine the rank in the
final merit list.
Thus, the main examination carries a total of 1750 marks. These marks are very
crucial in determining the final rank of a candidate. The medium of the
examination can be either English language or any other language from those
mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

About IAS Interview / Personality Test

Around 2500-3500 candidates from those that appear in the main examination are
shortlisted and called for appearing at the final stage of the Civil Services Examination,
i.e, in the personality test/interview. It is the final effort a candidate makes in order to
convert himself/herself from a civil service aspirant into a civil servant.

As stated by the UPSC, the purpose of the interview is to “assess the personal
suitability of the candidate for a career in public service.” It follows from this that the
interview process is geared towards judging the personal suitability of the candidates for
Civil Services. The process judges the candidate on qualities like his/her bent of mind,
ability to analyse a situation from all angles, awareness of current issues, ethical values,
coherence in views, mental alertness, balance of judgment, integrity, objectivity, and
concern for the weaker sections of the society.

The Civil Service Personality Test is an unstructured discussion in which the

interviewers allow a natural course to be followed. They provide an environment in
which the candidate can give his/her views in a calm manner. It carries 275 marks.

The whole examination process, i.e., the main examination and the personality test,
carries a total of 2025 marks. The number of marks a candidate secures, out of these
2025 marks, determines their final ranking in the examination.