How to Become an IAS Officer

Dream of becoming an IAS officer? Well it is not as easy as it sounds. You have to go through tough phases to be finally able to call an IAS officer. It is a much coveted job as we all know, but what we do not know is how much hard work is put to finally gain that coveted position. Unlike other jobs, where you have to give an exam or just an interview; for becoming an IAS officer you need to face three stages. All the stages, IAS prelims, IAS mains and the interview round are equally tough. If the vast syllabus is not sufficient, difficult level of the question paper is raised by the current affair questions. There is no shortcut to become an IAS officer, you have to work hard and clear all the three stages with efficiency. IAS Prelims and IAS mainsrnSelection for IAS begins with the IAS prelims (preliminary) exams. They must not be dismissed as easy exams, but are as challenging as the IAS mains exam. The scores of IAS prelims are not added in the final score sheet, however, it is important to clear them in order to appear for the IAS mains exam. Your performance in the IAS mains exam decides your final ranking in the merit list. It consists of a vast syllabus with a wide range of subjects. Other than en essay, there are two language papers. It is essential to clear these two language paper in order to pass the IAS mains exam, however their scores are not added in the final result. IAS interviewrnOn clearing both the stages, the candidate reaches the interview round. If the IAS prelims and mains exam were all about testing the academic knowledge, the interview round tests whether your personality suits the one desired by the offered job. One is often bombarded with current affair questions or any general topic. There is no prescribed syllabus for the interview round, however their major emphasis is on the confidence level and the communication skills of the candidate. It is only after clearing both the IAS prelims and IAS mains and the interview round, that the candidate is chosen for the training session given to IAS officers. It is only after taking into consideration all the aspects of the candidate's personality and his/her academic knowledge that he/she is finally chosen for the much coveted post of an IAS officer.