FAQ for prospective IAS aspirants

1. When does the notification for the exam come out?
It comes out usually during the first week of December every year. The notification is published in Employment News and Rozgar Samachar.

2.How many vacancies are there each year, on an average?
Nowadays the vacancy is around 300-350. Even this number can be expected to come down in the coming days with the government trimming itself down. Just a few years back the vacancy used to be more than double.        www.upscportal.com

3.What is the exam scheme?
It is a three stage exam, with only successful candidates eligible to apply in subsequent stages. The first stage is the Preliminary Exam, open for all applicants. Upon clearing this the successful candidate has to apply again to sit for the Main Exam. Successful candidates at this stage are called for the Personality Test or Interview. Those passing the Personality Test are the ultimate successful candidates.            www.upscportal.com

4.When is the Preliminary Exams held?
The Preliminary Test is held usually in the third Sunday of May every year. The date is declared in the notification published during the previous December.
                www.upscportal.com
5.Tell me about the Preliminary Exam?
It is an objective test with multiple choice questions- there will be four options for each question, one correct. There are no negative marking. There are two papers- the compulsory General Studies paper of 150 marks, with 150 questions (2 hours answering time); the optional paper of 300 marks with 120 questions (2 hours answering time). The optional paper is held first, followed by a break of 2 hours, followed by the GS paper.            www.upscportal.com

6.When is the Mains Exam held?
It's held over a period of almost one month during October-November every year.            www.upscportal.com

7.Tell me about the Mains Exam.
The Exam has nine papers: Two GS papers, two papers of first optional subject, two papers of second optional subject, a compulsory essay paper, a compulsory English language paper, and an Indian language paper. Each paper is of a three hour duration and carries 300 marks, except for the essay paper which carries 200 marks. The two language papers are qualifying in nature- the marks acquired there is not counted for ranking.            www.upscportal.com