Ias preperation

Every one wants to win, but a few have the will to give all that it takes to win. We all
seek success in our life, but have not realized what success is made of. Well, in
simple language success is achieved when preparation meets performance. We
spend more time in planning ordinary day to day things, than planning our lives. The
road-map to success can be briefly put like this: PLAN, PREPARE, PRACTICE,
PERFORM and WIN. In short, success takes more than just slogging.
Now, I propose to take you on a conducted tour of how to prepare for “the career”, i.e.
a career in Civil Services or simply I.A.S.
The Nature of the Examination
The Civil Services Examination offers widest range of jobs in our country and is con-
ducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Some of the top services
offered by this examination are: IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Po-
lice Service), IFS (Indian Foreign Service), IRS (Indian Revenue Service), Indian Cus-
toms and Central Excise Service etc. There are, in all, about twenty-four services
offered through this single examination. Considering the importance and the nature of
the jobs, UPSC takes utmost care in selecting the right people. A three-level exami-
nation is conducted to achieve this purpose.
The Structure of the Examination
The candidates are put through three kinds of testings to ensure that the persons
selected have: (i) a wide range of general awareness; (ii) analytical ability and content
retention capacity; and (iii) a cheerful mental disposition even under stressful condi-
tions and some other officers like qualities. Each one of these requirements is tested
respectively through:
(A) Preliminary Examination (objective-type questions),
(B) Main Examination (descriptive-type questions), and
(C) Interview Test
Structure of Preliminary Examination
As per the new pattern, at the Preliminary Examination stage, there will be two
objective-type question papers common for all the candidates. Both these papers will
have equal weightage. The emphasis will be on testing the aptitude of the candidate
i
RAU’S IAS—UPSC Syllabus for Civil Services Exam
for the demanding life in the civil service, and on the ethical and moral dimensions of
decision-making.
The new scheme will have the advantages of (a) testing a candidate’s decision-mak-
ing skills and aptitude for the civil services; and (b) providing a level playing field for all
the aspirants, since all the candidates will have to attempt two common objective-
type papers.
The new pattern has come into effect from Civil Services Exam, 2011. The change is
effective only for the Preliminary Test, i.e., the first stage of the Civil Services Exam
from 2011 onwards. The second and third stages — Civil Services Main Exam and
Interview, respectively — will remain the same.