Indian Administrative Services -IAS
The Indian Administrative Service-IAS (भारतीय प्रशासनिक सेवा) is the administrative arm of the All India Services of Government of India. The IAS is one of the three All India Services along with the Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service.
The Indian Administrative Service (भारतीय प्रशासनिक सेवा) is one of the most prestigious and sought-after career options in India. It is part of the Indian Civil Services, which form the backbone of the country’s administrative structure. IAS officers play a key role in the formulation and execution of government policies, the administration of government schemes, and maintaining law and order.
Indian Administrative Service-IAS Examination:
The route to becoming an IAS officer is through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, which is considered one of the toughest exams in India. The exam is conducted in three stages:
Preliminary Examination (Prelims):
- The Prelims consist of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT).
- The CSAT is qualifying in nature, but the marks from General Studies Paper I are used to shortlist candidates for the Mains.
Main Examination (Mains):
- The Mains consist of nine papers, including both compulsory and optional subjects. The exam includes papers on General Studies, Essay Writing, and an Optional Subject that candidates choose based on their academic background and interests.
- The Mains test a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of various subjects, as well as their analytical ability, writing skills, and critical thinking.
Interview (Personality Test):
- After clearing the Mains, candidates are called for an interview, which tests their personality, decision-making ability, leadership qualities, and general awareness. The interview is held by a panel of senior IAS officers.
Eligibility:
- Nationality: The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
- Age Limit: The candidate must be between 21 and 32 years of age, with relaxations for candidates from certain categories (e.g., SC/ST, OBC).
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification.
IAS Officer Job Description and Responsibilities
IAS officers hold a variety of responsibilities depending on their posting. Here are some of the key duties:
- Policy Implementation: Enforcing government policies and ensuring their smooth execution.
- Administration: Overseeing the functioning of government departments, agencies, and organizations.
- Law and Order Maintenance: Ensuring peace and law enforcement within their jurisdiction.
- Developmental Activities: Initiating and supervising welfare schemes related to education, healthcare, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation.
- Advisory Roles: Advising the government on policy and administrative matters.
- Decision Making: Making important decisions related to public administration and governance.
IAS (UPSC CSE) Syllabus 2025
📘 Stage 1: Prelims Syllabus
📄 Paper I: General Studies (GS) – 200 Marks
(Objective – Scoring)
Current Affairs: National & International events
History of India & Indian National Movement
Indian & World Geography: Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World
Indian Polity & Governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Rights Issues
Economic & Social Development: Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics
General Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics
Environmental Ecology: Climate Change, Biodiversity, etc.
🕒 Duration: 2 hours | 🔥 Important: Cut-off deciding paper
📄 Paper II: CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) – 200 Marks
(Objective – Qualifying only, 33% required)
Comprehension
Interpersonal skills, Communication
Logical reasoning, Analytical ability
Decision making & Problem-solving
Basic numeracy (Class X level): Numbers, Algebra, Mensuration, etc.
Data interpretation (Charts, Graphs, Tables)
🕒 Duration: 2 hours
📚 Stage 2: Mains Syllabus
🖋️ Descriptive papers – Total 1750 marks
🔹 Qualifying Papers (not counted in merit)
Paper A – Indian Language (300 marks) – Choose from 22 Scheduled Languages
Paper B – English (300 marks)
🔹 Papers Counted for Merit
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Essay (Two topics – 1000-1200 words each) | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I (History, Geography, Society) | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II (Polity, Governance, IR) | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (Economy, Environment, S&T, Security) | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper I | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper II | 250 |
📝 Total (Merit Based): 1750 marks
📚 Mains General Studies Papers Detailed Topics
📘 GS Paper I – Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography
Indian culture: Art, architecture, literature
Modern Indian history: Freedom struggle, leaders, events
Post-independence consolidation
World History (for overview)
Indian society: Diversity, Social empowerment, Communalism
Geography: Physical, Economic, Human Geography of India & the world
📘 GS Paper II – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice
Indian Constitution: Structure, amendments, comparison
Functions of Executive, Legislature, Judiciary
Federalism, Local governance, Devolution
Welfare schemes, NGOs, SHGs
Health, Education, Human Resources
International Relations: India & neighbors, global bodies (UN, WTO, etc.)
📘 GS Paper III – Economic Development, Environment, Science & Tech
Indian economy: Growth, Planning, Budget, Inclusive development
Agriculture, Industry, Infrastructure
Environment & Biodiversity
Disaster management
Science & Technology: IT, Space, Defence, Robotics, Biotech
Internal security: Cybersecurity, Border management
📘 GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
Ethics and Human Interface
Attitude, Emotional Intelligence
Moral thinkers, Public service values
Governance and probity
Case studies on decision-making and ethics
📘 Optional Subjects (Choose One):
Literature: (Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Urdu, etc.)
Humanities: Geography, History, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Philosophy
Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Engineering: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical
Others: Law, Public Administration, Anthropology, Economics, etc.
📄 Each optional subject has 2 papers of 250 marks each = 500 marks
🎤 Stage 3: Interview (Personality Test)
Marks: 275
No syllabus, but assesses:
Personality
Communication skills
Mental alertness
Social traits
Awareness of current events and general knowledge
📌 Total Marks = 2025
Mains (1750) + Interview (275)
Free download pdf of Syllabus –>> Click here