How to Become an IAS Officer
IAS Prelims and IAS mains
Selection 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 interview
On 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.