Aspirants who are preparing for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) examinations often have several questions, confusions, and doubts about the exam pattern, eligibility criteria, syllabus, and more. This article aims to answer your most common IAS FAQs and help you clear up any confusion.
1. What is the eligibility criteria to apply for the IAS exam?
The eligibility criteria for the IAS exam is as follows:
– The candidate must be a citizen of India or Tibet, Nepal, or Bhutan.
– The candidate must have completed their graduation from a recognized university or institution.
– The age limit for general category candidates is between 21 to 32 years, while the age relaxation for OBC and SC/ST candidates is 3 and 5 years, respectively.
2. What is the exam pattern of the IAS exam?
The IAS exam is conducted in three stages:
– Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
– Main Examination (Descriptive Type)
– Interview round
The Preliminary exam has two objective papers of 200 marks each. The Main exam has nine descriptive papers, out of which 2 papers are solely based on your mother tongue/ regional language. The interview round is conducted for 275 marks. The candidates who secure the highest marks in all three rounds are selected for the IAS post.
3. What is the syllabus for the IAS exam?
The IAS exam syllabus includes a diverse range of topics, such as:
– Indian Polity and Governance
– Indian and World History
– Economic and Social Development
– Geography of India and the World
– General Science
– Current events and National/International Affairs
4. How many attempts can I make for the IAS exam?
The maximum number of attempts for the IAS exam is six for general category candidates, nine for OBC candidates, and unlimited attempts for SC/ST candidates until they are within the prescribed age limit.
5. Is there any negative marking in the IAS exam?
Yes, there is negative marking in the Preliminary exam – one-third (33%) of the marks allotted to the question will be deducted for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking in the Main exam.
6. How important is reading the newspaper for the IAS exam?
Reading the newspaper is essential for the IAS exam. It helps you stay updated with current events and helps you understand how the government functions, its policies, and more. It also helps you improve your GK and stay aware of important national and international events.