Civil Service Examination in India - Eligibility, Exam Procedure and Application

Civil Service is one of the best career options available for the youngsters of our country. To pursue a career in this profession one needs to fulfil certain conditions and follow some calculated tactics. A career in Civil Service has a lot of its own benefits and advantages including a good salary and respect in the society. Some professions like that of the IAS, IPS and ISS come under this category. The Civil Service Examination is held by the UPSC or the Union Public Service Commission. Its head office located at Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi. Moreover, several institutes available in the different states of India where candidates could enroll themselves for the necessary preparation and training for the examination. Some of these institutes take admission test before enrolling candidates for grooming and training for the examination.

To sit in the examination, a candidate need to be a graduate from any of the recognised university of India. Those expecting the results of the examination could also sit in the first examination. Age should be within the range of 21 to 30 years before the 1st of August. Candidates belonging to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe should not exceed the age of 35 years and candidates belonging to other backward classes should not exceed the age of 33 years. Candidates coming from the Defense Service would get a relaxation of three to five years in age. Besides, a candidate needs to be a citizen of India. Not only for the IAS, but for the recruitment of other services also candidates have to take this examination. It depends on the choice of the candidate for which service/profession he wants to go through the examination. He needs to mention his preference in application form for the examination.

Given below is the broad categorisation of services/professions under the Civil Service:

All India Services – Under this category, services like the Indian Administrative Service or the IAS, Indian Foreign Service or the IFS and the Indian Police Service or the IPS comes under.

Central Services (Group A) – Under this category comes the Indian Revenue Service, Indian Railway Service, Indian Postal Service, Accounts and Audit Service, Indian Customs and Central Excise, Indian Ordinance Factories Service, Indian Defense State Service, Indian Information Service, Central Trade Services, etc.

Central Services (Group B) – Central Secretariat Service, Railway Board Secretary Service, Armed Forces Head Quarters Civil Services, etc.

The examination taken in three stages/levels, out of which the first two are written examinations. The last level is the oral examination. The first level examination is called the preliminary test, the second level examination is the main test and the final one is the personality test. After successfully clearing the first level, a candidate gets the call for the second level examination. To clear all the levels of the examination, a candidate has to spend one to one and a half years of time. The preliminary test occurs in the months of May/June and the main examination occurs in the months of October/November. The result comes out in the month of December. Candidates have to undergo personality test in the months of April/May the following year.

Advertisement for the Civil Service Examination comes out in December through the employment exchanges and leading newspapers. Application available along with the advertisement. An applicant needs to apply in the proper application format. Besides, application forms also available in the post offices. Applicants need to complete the application form and send it to the following address: Under Secretary, CSP, Indian Public Service Commission, Dholpur House Shahjahan Road, New Delhi – 110011.