(INFO) IAS/IPS/IFS Information :: By Gopikrishna

IAS/IPS/IFS Information 
By Gopikrishna
A career in the civil services is the best way to facilitate the smooth functioning of various organs of the government.

Going for a career in medicine , engineering or doing an MBA may be the order of the day, but one career which holding its forte since time immemorial is the civil services (CS). Nothing can be more riveting than becoming a part of the system a vast and populous as India.

• Entry
• Eligibility
• Selection
• Preparation
  

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  Entry
  
  The All-India examination for entry into the Indian Administrative service (IAS) , Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Central services , Group A and Group B is through an All India Combined Competitive Examination conducted by the Union Public Service (UPSC) , NEW DELHI.For the state-level services ,however , the examination conducted by the State Public Service Commissions , in each state. The UPSC conducts a separate entrance examination for the Indian Forest Service.
  
  Application forms appear in the daily newspapers and the 'Rozgar Samachar' and Employment News in December each year. Advertisements regarding the Indian Forest Service Examination ,on the other hand, appear in the month of January or February.

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    Eligibility
  
  Candidates applying for the CS preliminary examination must be Indian nationals between 21 and 30 years as on August 1, and for the Forest Service ,as on July 1 of the year of the examination.
  
  You must have a bachelor's degree or an equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university, although for the Forest service ,you require bachelor's degree in any of the science subjects.
  

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    Selection
  
  The preliminary examination , conducted every year in May or June , is a written test comprising two papers. The first paper, which is General Studies carries a maximum marks of 150 on 150 questions, with a time limit of two hours. It mainly covers six topics -Indian History, Constitution of India, Geography ,Economics , Science , and Current Affairs. The second paper is an 'optional' , that is on a subject options to choose from. This paper carries 300 marks on 120 hours long . Both papers are set in objective type paper. More than 1,50,000 candidates sit for the preliminary examination every year and about 3,500 - 5,000 candidates depending on vacancies available are selected. The selected candidates have to then take the main examination.
  
  The main examination is a written test , held around October or November every year. It comprises two language papers , one in English and the other in an optional Indian language. Marks gained in these papers are not computed in the total score , but passing in both is compulsory for qualification. There are two general studies papers of 300 marks each , and four papers on two optional subjects of your choice of 300 marks each.
  
  Candidates are selected , depending on the vacancies available at the end of this stage for the interview-cum personality test.
  
  The interviews test is of 300 marks out of a total of 2300 marks, which forms the final eliminatory stage. Conducted in the form of an oral interview , it enables an expert panel to judge first hand , the candidate's personality , ability and aptitude for the job.
  
  A medical test is conducted before allotment of services. It is an especially rigid test for those aspiring to join the IPS. Depending on their performance the candidates make it through the final selection each year. The top ranking posts go to the meritorious students. Selection to the Indian Forest Service , on the other hand is on the basis of a written test held in the month of august every year. The test comprises : two compulsory papers of General English and General Knowledge ; and additional papers in any two subjects chosen from the following options : Agriculture or Botany or Chemistry or Physics or Geology or Zoology or Mathematics or Agricultural Engineering or Chemical Engineering or Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, except combinations of Agriculture and Agricultural Engg. , Chemistry and Chemical Engg.
  

Preparation

A number of guide books in the market contain study material , past question papers and tips how to prepare for the test. Moreover, you must read at least one news paper along with the range of national and international magazines and periodicals. Besides ,turning in to current affairs and analytical programmers on the radio and television is highly recommended. A thorough study of the two optional subjects is essential. So , if you are interested in becoming civil servant , there are certain basic qualities that you must have .

These include willingness to work hard ; intelligence ; empathy with the underprivileged ; personal integrity ; adaptability ; ability to handle power and authority without being swayed by it and willingness to work in a fairly rigid hierarchy . If you posses these qualities , then just go for a career in civil services. Hardwork and planning is a must.