Government exam aspirants across the country eagerly wait for the annual civil services exam notification as it is a golden opportunity to enter the Indian bureaucracy. Though the exam is exceptionally tough, competitive and comprehensive, the better life after cracking it is what an individual aspires for.
UPSC is the body responsible for conducting the IAS Exam. The full form of UPSC is Union Public Service Commission. Candidates must keep themselves acquainted with the entire civil services recruitment procedure before moving ahead with their preparation.
In this article, we bring to you the basic details that one must be aware of, while planning and starting the IAS exam preparation. These points will provide a better understanding of the examination. They will also guide you through this journey that starts with preparation and ultimately reaches its final destination after the provisional allotment and selection as a civil servant.
UPSC Notification & Exam Date
The UPSC 2021 recruitment is ongoing and the official calendar for 2022 is already out. Candidates looking forward to applying for the civil services exam must start their preparation now, as the notification is expected to be released on February 2, 2022.
Given below are the other important dates for the Civil services recruitment 2022:
| Event | Exam Date |
| Official Notification | February 2, 2022 |
| Last Date to Apply | February 22, 2022 |
| Prelims Exam | June 5, 2022 |
| Mains Exam | September 16, 2022 |
Apart from this, all other details including the eligibility, probation, application process, vacancies, etc. are mentioned in this notification itself. All IAS aspirants must first carefully review the notification and then apply for the examination as the conducting body reserves the right to make any changes as per their convenience.
Syllabus and Exam Pattern
There are three stages of the UPSC recruitment:
- Prelims
- Mains
- Personality Test/Interview
Given below is the IAS exam syllabus and pattern in brief for aspirant’s reference:
| Civils Exam Pattern – Prelims | |||||
| Paper | Type | No. of questions | UPSC Total Marks | Duration | Negative marks |
| General Studies I | Objective | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | Yes |
| General Studies II (CSAT) | Objective | 80 | 200 | 2 hours | Yes |
| Total UPSC marks for Prelims | 400 (where GS Paper II is qualifying in nature with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%) | ||||
| UPSC CSE Exam Pattern – Mains | |||
| Paper | Subject | Duration | IAS Total marks |
| Paper A | Compulsory Indian Language | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper B | English | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional I | 3 hours | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional II | 3 hours | 250 |
Eligibility Criteria
The table given below mentions the UPSC eligibility criteria in brief for the reference of candidates. The detailed criteria are notified along with the official notification.
| IAS Exam Age Limit | 21 to 32 years |
| Educational Qualification for IAS | Graduation |
| Nationality | Indian citizens only |
Note: There is upper age relaxation for candidates belonging to specific categories. Applicants must go through these exceptions when applying for the civil service exam. If any error or discrepancy is found in the application form, the candidate’s candidature may also stand cancelled.
Books, Preparation & Study Material
The entire procedure starting from the release of notification, until the final selection of candidates, continues for about a year. Considering the exhaustive exam pattern and the length of the syllabus, thorough and comprehensive preparation is required by the candidates.
When it comes to books, NCERT textbooks starting from class VI to XII are of utmost importance. Apart from that, a list of a few important books that can be referred to are as follows:
- India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
- Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth
- Economic Development & Policies in India by Jain & Ohri
- Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal
- Geography of India by Majid Husain
- Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania
- Introduction to the Constitution of India by DD Basu
- History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
Study Material – Daily newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express), PIB Analysis, RSTV, Indian Year Book, Static and Current General Awareness, etc. are all important for IAS study material.
Preparation Tips: Review the tips given below to ace the upcoming civil services examination:
- Carefully analyse and review the syllabus and exam pattern
- Solve as many mock tests as possible
- Focus on each subject equally
- Realise that you have time constraints, so prioritise your time
- Gather the most updated study material
- Read newspapers and magazines
Candidates can easily get all the desired study material and preparation strategies for UPSC online on multiple portals. A better understanding of the exam and in-depth preparation boosts an aspirant’s confidence.
Furthermore, staying updated and regular with the preparation is also a key component of excelling in the examination. All the aspirants who are looking forward to applying for the upcoming recruitment must start with their preparation now, as it requires a lot of hard work, dedication and patience to be fully prepared for the IAS exam.