What are the complete criteria for becoming an IAS officer? Learn how to get the country's most prestigious government job.

To become an IAS officer, one must pass the three-stage UPSC exam: prelims, mains, and interview. Let's explore the complete criteria for becoming an IAS officer.

Millions of young people across the country dream of becoming an IAS officer, and the reason is clear: IAS officers not only implement government policies but also command the entire administration. With the changes taking place in government services today, the role of IAS officers has become even more crucial. Therefore, it's important to understand the complete rules for becoming an IAS officer, who can apply for this exam, and how to prepare for it.

First, let's discuss the organisation that conducts this exam. To become an IAS officer, candidates must pass the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Civil Services Examination. This exam is conducted annually and is completed in three stages: prelims, mains, and interview. Candidates who clear these three stages are appointed to IAS, IPS, and other services based on their rank. The highest rankers are selected for IAS, making this exam highly competitive.

Now, let's talk about the age limit for IAS. UPSC has set the minimum age for candidates at 21 years, while the maximum age is 32 years for general category candidates, 35 years for OBC candidates, and 37 years for SC/ST candidates. Disabled candidates are given further age relaxation.

Regarding educational qualifications, graduation from any recognized university is required to become an IAS. Candidates from any stream, including Arts, Science, or Commerce, can appear for this exam.

The first stage of the exam is the Prelims. This is a screening test consisting of two papers: the GS paper and the CSAT paper. The GS paper scores are counted for merit, while the CSAT is only qualifying. After passing the Prelims, candidates are eligible to appear for the Mains exam.

The Mains exam is entirely written and consists of nine papers, seven of which are considered for merit. These papers include four General Studies papers, one essay, and two optional subjects chosen by the candidate. The Mains exam carries 1750 marks, making it the most difficult to prepare for.

After the Mains exam comes the interview, also known as the Personality Test. This exam carries 275 marks and tests the candidate's thinking, leadership abilities, self-confidence, communication skills, and quick decision-making. The interview questions are not directly related to the subject but are meant to assess the candidate's understanding. The final rank is determined by combining the scores from the Mains and Interviews.

After becoming an IAS officer, candidates undergo training at the LBSNAA in Mussoorie. Here, they receive extensive training in national administration, law, economic policy, and field work. After training, the officer is posted to a district where they begin their work as part of the national administration.