How to Become an IAS Officer

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is one of the premier civil services of India. It’s a part of the All India Services, along with the Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). The IAS plays a crucial role in the administration of both the Union Government and the State Governments.

How to Become an IAS Officer

To become an IAS officer, candidates must clear the UPSC Civil Services Examination, a highly competitive exam conducted annually.

1. Eligibility Criteria

Nationality: Indian citizen
Age Limit: 21 to 32 years (general category), with relaxations for reserved categories
Educational Qualification: Graduate from a recognized university

2. Exam Stages

The UPSC CSE consists of three stages:

Preliminary Exam (June) – Objective type (GS Paper I and CSAT)
Main Exam (Sept–Oct) – Descriptive papers including Essay, GS, and optional subjects
Personality Test/Interview (Feb–April) – Conducted at UPSC office in Delhi

Roles & Responsibilities of an IAS Officer

IAS officers hold key administrative positions across India. Their responsibilities include:

Implementing government policies
Managing daily administrative affairs
Law and order enforcement
Revenue collection
Crisis management (natural disasters, health emergencies, etc.)
Developmental work in their assigned areas

They start as Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and can rise to the top as Cabinet Secretary, the highest-ranking civil servant in India.

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