There are two papers in the IAS Prelims Exam: General Studies 1 and CSAT (General Studies Paper 2). CSAT is a qualifying exam, and in order to take it, you must obtain a minimum score of 33 percent on this examination. This implies that your choice will be defined by the General Studies paper. The question will receive a negative grading of one-third of the total marks. The Prelims test will consist of MCQs in an objective format.

Those who passed the Prelims exam will be eligible for the Mains rounds, which is the second level of the IAS Exam. The Mains exam is a written descriptive test with nine papers. Candidates may choose any subject they like from a list of 48 subjects for Papers VI and VII, which are optional. While Paper-A and Paper-B are qualifying in nature, other papers are of a merit ranking kind.

• Candidates can choose to write in English, Hindi, or any other language listed in the Indian Constitution’s 8th Schedule when taking the IAS Mains test.
• Candidates will be invited to the round of the personality test if they pass the Mains exam.
• The ultimate score will be determined by the candidates’ performance in the IAS Exam’s Mains exam and Personality Test.

The IAS Exam’s final round, the Personality Test round with the UPSC board members, will be held for applicants who passed the Mains stage, as we have already informed. Candidates will be questioned on a wide range of subjects throughout this round. The UPSC Bhavan in New Delhi will host this IAS Exam round.

The IAS Pre exam is the first round of the selection process, and there are two General Studies papers in the Prelims syllabus (CSAT). General Studies II is a merit-based exam, whereas CSAT is a qualifying exam.                     

The following topics are covered in the IAS Syllabus for the IAS Pre Exam:

• Important Current Events on a National and International Scale

• The Indian National Movement and its history

• Physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world are covered in Indian and World Geography.

• Constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, rights issues, etc. of Indian politics and governance.

• Social sector initiatives, poverty, inclusion, sustainable development, etc, are all aspects of economic and social development.

• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change: General Issues without the Need for Subject Specialization Basic Science

The Civil Services Aptitude Test, or CSAT, is another name for the GS-II of the IAS Pre exam. The IAS syllabus for this paper covers the following topics:

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal abilities, particularly communication abilities
• Analytical thinking and logical reasoning
• Making decisions and solving problems
• General mental ability
• Simple mathematics (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc., – Class X level), interpretation of data (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc., – Class X level)

Nine theory exams are included in the IAS Mains test, and seven of them are used to create the merit list. The other two papers are in English and Indian Language, and both are of a qualifying nature. Two additional optional papers of 250 points each will be offered. Out of the 48 optional subjects listed by the UPSC, candidates may select anyone.

Essays on many topics may be asked of candidates. It will be required of them to write clearly and organise their views. For precise and effective expression, credit will be granted.

After the UPSC Mains Exam, those who are chosen proceed to the third and final stage of the IAS Exam, the Personality Test/Interview. Here, a knowledgeable and impartial panel conducts the interviews with the applicants. The candidate’s DAF (Detail Application Form) will be available to this board.

The purpose of the interview round is to evaluate the candidate’s social skills and interest in current events. The board’s goal is to assess each candidate’s suitability on a personal level for a career in public service.

Candidates may conduct interviews in the language of their choice because translators will be provided by UPSC.

Self-study is a viable option for passing the IAS exam. However, this “textbook based strategy” of independent study takes more time than studying with the aid of professional coaching and appropriate materials.

Nowadays, unless the candidate began their preparation very early, it is uncommon to witness an applicant who successfully passed the UPSC CSE in his or her first attempt purely by self-prepared.

This is due to the fact that completing the extensive UPSC CSE syllabus solely by self-study takes a long time—typically many years.

Self-study alone should not be relied upon by working professionals or college students who only have a few hours per day to dedicate to UPSC CSE preparation. They should look for a strategy that would enable them to efficiently and quickly cover topics.

In conclusion, even if self-study is generally less expensive, it is not advised for candidates who view time as the most valuable resource in life.

IAS exam preparation require solving mock papers. Many students who understand the value of practice in achieving success gain knowledge by incorporating mock tests into their study plans.

This test-based learning approach is quicker than text-based learning.

As part of the Clear IAS Test-based methodology, we support candidates’ learning by allowing them to take 40 online mock tests.

In this approach, the applicant completes all of the learning on their own, except from using mock exams as practice.

Even while this method is more effective than relying entirely on textbooks for preparation, you can learn more quickly and deliberately if you have the opportunity to get instruction directly from knowledgeable instructors, whether online or in person.

There is no reason to feel guilty about receiving the right training to advance your knowledge and abilities.

Both online and offline UPSC coaching would speed up hopefuls’ subject-matter learning. It will preserve priceless youth.

This will provide you with all the tools you need, including study materials, practise tests, advice, specialised classes for every IAS exam subject, and strategies to improve your grades.

But not all coaching is created equal.

There are a few coaching services that offer excellent direction and training focused on exams. Having said that, there are thousands of platforms and institutions that charge aspirants thousands of rupees in fees without providing any value.

Many traditional coaching institutions use methods that are ineffective for understanding the most recent UPSC standards and shifting examination trends.

This is something candidates should consider before commencing any coaching.

Avoid following only popular trends or marketing.

Try to evaluate the faculty’s credibility and the coaching’s quality on your own.

Candidates must do the following actions in order to apply for IAS Exam:

• Check out the UPSC website.
• Application for UPSC IAS by clicking
• To register, enter the necessary information in the needed fields.
• After that, your provided email and phone number will receive a message with your registration ID and password.
• To log in, use the ID and password.
• Complete the remainder of the application
• Upload the scanned documents after that.
• Before submitting, make the payment and verify all the information.

Candidates are urged to have the necessary paperwork on hand before completing the application form to make the process simpler. The required documentation is listed below:

• Valid phone number and email address.
• Photograph and signature scans
• Details of a valid photo ID card.
• Additional documentation is needed (if applicable).
• Academic and personal information
• Debit/credit card information for fee payments, etc.

Both online and offline methods are available for paying the IAS Exam fees. Candidates must use a credit card, debit card, Rupay card, or internet banking to make payments online. Candidates must download the e-challan and pay the fee in cash at an SBI bank to make an offline payment.

A total of 1011 positions, including IAS, IFS, IRS, and IPS, have been declared vacant. The UPSC announced a total of 816 vacancies earlier in the IAS Exam, 2022 official announcement, which was published by the commission. But thereafter, UPSC increased the number of IAS openings to 1011. Let’s look at the IAS vacancies by year.

For the IAS Exam, candidates are free to select from among the following testing centres. Additionally listed below are the IAS Exam prelims testing locations. A candidate’s preference must be indicated on the IAS Application form.

The following list includes the Mains exam locations.

Most IAS candidates think that the lengthy IAS officer exam syllabus deters them from having the patience required to ace the UPSC test the first time. Although the course material is extensive, remember that you have already covered a lot of it. Review your past information before beginning your IAS vision. Simply write out the full syllabus in bullet points, then divide it into sections based on your strengths and weaknesses before creating a study schedule.

Make it a practice to discuss any happenings that are significant from the perspective of the UPSC Exam. This advice is offered by all former IAS top performers who passed the exam on their first try. You will have an advantage over the competition if you have good dialogues, not just in the preliminary and major tests but also in the interviews.

An exam like the civil service mains requires you to do more than just study the material; your exam-taking strategy is what matters most. No matter how much you prepare for the exam, whether you pass or fail depends on how well you compose the answers in the allotted three hours. Consequently, it is imperative to practise writing essays and answers on a regular basis. Write appropriate analytical responses and analyze yourself before the UPSC evaluates you.

Make it a habit to prepare exam questions and to ask yourself questions all the time. Keep a separate notebook solely for current affairs, and make sure to update it frequently with information regarding projects in the fields of the arts, politics, economy, and social welfare. This notebook will serve as your reference for reviewing current events, which is currently the most crucial aspect of your preparation

Let’s quickly review the meaning of Divide and Conquer: Essentially, it means that you divide the population—in this case, the subjects—into controllable portions so that they cannot band together and rebel against the sovereign power (conquering them). Let’s look at several strategies to ace the IAS test the first time: 

• Theory Papers – Geography, Economy, History Subject that is optional but takes up a lot of your time
• CSAT aptitude test: takes a little of your time and more of your brainpower.                          

Make a schedule for yourself, and it should be a realistic schedule. Make sure your schedule doesn’t need you to devote more than 7 to 9 hours a day to IAS preparation. After selecting how much time you will spend studying each day and what topics you will cover, make sure you stick to it every day.                               

Make sure you have finished enough practice questions for the Prelims and Mains before taking the UPSC test for the first time. You can track your development with the aid of regular evaluations. You become aware of your weaknesses and can make adjustments. By doing this, you can keep your motivation high.

To succeed on these tests, it’s crucial to maintain good health during the course. Studying late at night can interfere with one’s circadian cycle. But it’s also unavoidable to study late into the night. Therefore, a CSE aspirant’s primary priorities should include maintaining a healthy, regular diet. Don’t let your anxiety defeat you if this is your first effort.