Introduction to Civil Services Examination
Despite large competition, people in India do not know much about the Civil Services (What is Civil Service?), and selection process of Civil Services Examination.
In this article, We shall take an overview of Civil Services, discuss about the highest post of Civil Service, brief overview of Selection process of UPSC Civil Services.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts Civil Services Examination every year to select candidates for the prestigious Civil Services of India. The Civil Services are the permanent bureaucracy of the Union of India, and is the backbone of the administrative machinery of the country. There are lots of specialised civil services (e.g. IAS, IPS, IFoS, IRS etc) that comes under Government of India and thus considered Civil Service. Civil Servants are responsible for the implementation of the executive decisions of the Government. The members of civil service serve at the pleasure of the President of India and Article 311 of the constitution protects them from politically motivated or vindictive action. The IAS (Indian Administrative Service) is most preferred choice among the Civil Service aspirants, since district collector (or DM) are member of the IAS cadre. Next two top preferred services are the IPS (Indian Police Service), and IFoS (Indian Foreign Services).
Central Government of India have two types of Services: All-India Services, and Central Civil Services. IAS, IPS, and IFS(Indian Forest Services) are the only civil services that comes under All-India Services. Remaining Civil Services are managed under Central Civil Services Rules.
Our Constitution has entailed the responsibility of selecting the civil servants with the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission, thus it is an Constitutional body.
Head of the Indian Civil Service
The highest ranking civil servant is the Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat of Republic of India who is also the Cabinet Secretary. He is ex-officio Chairman of the Civil Services Board of the Republic of India; the chief of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and head of all civil services under the rules of business of the Government of India. He also holds the 11th position in the Order of Precedence of India.Selection Process for Civil Services Exam:
Every year UPSC conducts Civil Services Exam to select candidates for the elite posts of Government of India. The forms normally filled in month of Dec/Jan of every calender year, UPSC follows a two successes stages to complete the selection process for the Civil Services. Every year lakhs of candidates appear for the pre-examination which is conducted in May/June of every year, and UPSC declares the results of Pre-Exam in month of July/August of every year. After that, the Civil Services(Mains) Examinations are conducted, which considered one of the toughest exams in the world. UPSC delcares results of CS(Mains) in month of March/April of next year, and Shortlisted meritorious candidates are called for the Personal Interview (also called personality test).UPSC conducts the competition in two successive stages:
(i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type): the shortlisting of candidates for Main Examination; andNowadays known as Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Exam.
The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions), carrying 200 marks each.
This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only. Marks obtained will not be counted for determining their final order of merit.
CSAT Syllabus
(ii) Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview): For the final selection of candidates for the various services and posts.
Civil Services (Main) Written Exam: (Roughly 15000 students appear)
The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year in the various Services and Posts.
The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type in the subjects specified in notification.
The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
Personality Test/Interview: Civil Services Personality Test ( Top shortlisted candidates of CS-Mains exam)
The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled. The interview will carry 300 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).Final Selection :)
Marks obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine their final ranking.Candidates will be allotted to the various Services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and the preferences expressed by them for the various Services and Posts.
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Also, Check out minute Details on the UPSC Civil Services Selection Process
Check out the Syllabus of UPSC Civil Service Pre Exam
Strategy for Cracking Civil Services Pre Exam