I want to become an IAS officer

I am a student of class X and I want to become an IAS officer. What do I have to study to achieve my goal?

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is considered to be the most powerful, glamorous, and coveted of all Indian services. They have a wide variety of duties and responsibilities and cover the entire government bureaucratic machinery from the remotest rural areas to the Central Cabinet. India’s best brains compete for entry into the Indian Civil Services as officers.

Entrance Tests –

Entry into the IAS is through the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), the examination conducted by UPSC (upsc.gov.in). The basic eligibility for appearing is graduation in any stream.

This is an objective type examination consisting of 2 papers –
1. General awareness 2. Numerical aptitude, data interpretation, and English language comprehension skills

On clearing the entrance exam, you can appear for Mains, which consists of 9 papers of conventional essay type in the subjects of your choice.

Further, selected candidates will appear for the personal interview round.

The marks obtained in the Main Examination and Interview determine the final ranking.

Roughly 800-900 candidates make it through the final selection every year. The top-ranking 100 or so candidates are inducted into the IAS.

How Can You Achieve Your Goal?

Since you are in Std X, you still have 5 years before you can apply for CSAT.

To be familiar with the preparation for the entrance exam, subscribe to a magazine that is focused on this exam and read it regularly.

Start reading the newspapers every day, as the latest happenings all over the world and having good general knowledge are very essential.

Do multiple choice questions (of your level) to help improve quick decision-making and clear your concepts.

Also, take only those subjects in college that you like and can spend hours studying them.

Excerpts from The Teenager Today – Articles by Dr. Vibha Gupta
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