A UPSC-based career means entering India’s prestigious Civil Services (e.g. IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS). These are high-level administrative roles involving policymaking, implementation, district/state management, diplomacy, investigation, auditing, etc. Officers enjoy authority, societal respect, job security, diverse postings, competitive pay with perks, and the ability to directly impact public welfare
Strong candidates often have:
Skills: Analytical, communication, leadership, decision-making
Traits: Integrity, resilience, public service motivation, adaptability
Interests: Governance, law, society, economics, international relations, and administrative responsibility
To appear for UPSC CSE:
Nationality: Indian for IAS/IPS/IFS; others may include Nepal/Bhutan/Tibetan refugees, PIOs
Education:
Bachelor's degree (any stream) from a recognized institution (including technical/professional)
Final-year students can apply provisionally for Prelims, but must complete graduation by Mains
Age: 21 to 32 years (as of August 1, 2025); relaxations: +3 yrs (OBC), +5 yrs (SC/ST), +10 yrs (PwBD)
Attempts:
General/EWS: 6
OBC/PwBD: 9
SC/ST: Unlimited
For international candidates: foreign bachelor’s must be recognized by AIU; final year students similarly allowed.
India: Civil Services Examination (Prelims → Mains → Interview) conducted by UPSC
Global equivalent: No direct global counterpart; comparable are national public administration/law school exams (e.g., UK Fast Stream, US Foreign Service Officer Test, École Nationale d'Administration in France) — note: these may require essays, group activities, personal statements/interviews.
International universities (public policy, global affairs) may require:
Portfolio: essays, recommendation letters, academic transcripts, GRE/GMAT
Work experience or internships in research/NGOs/Government
Delhi University (particularly St. Stephen’s, St. Xavier’s)
National Law Universities (for legal optional)
Renowned technical/universities (e.g., IITs, BITS) for analytical grounding
The UPSC process spans ~10–12 months per cycle
Prelims: 2 objective papers (General Studies + CSAT)
Mains: 9 written papers (including 2 optional subjects)
Interview: Personality/aptitude test
Unlike a usual degree, UPSC is exam-oriented; formal education does not follow semester-wise pattern.
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) – Administrative roles in government, policy implementation.
Indian Police Service (IPS) – Law enforcement and public safety.
Indian Foreign Service (IFS) – Diplomatic services abroad.
Indian Revenue Service (IRS) – Income Tax and Customs departments.
Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) – Government auditing and accounting.
Indian Information Service (IIS) – Media and communication for the government.
Indian Trade Service (ITS) – Trade and commerce promotion and regulation.
Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) – Defence financial administration.
Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) – Management of defence production units.
After completing IAS/IPS cadre training, some officers may pursue:
Master’s in Public Policy/Governance
Diplomas (e.g., abroad via scholarships like Chevening)
Advanced training via Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy, Foreign Service Institute
Policy analysis and implementation
Leadership and crisis management
Administrative law, revenue, law & order, public finance
Communication and citizen engagement
Multilingualism and cross-cultural coordination
MS Office suite, data analysis (Excel/SPSS/R recommended)
GIS tools (esp. for Environmental optional)
Hindi & English typing skills, essay drafting
Current affairs platforms, e-learning apps
PROS:
Prestige, societal respect, influence in policy
Job security, perks, retirement benefits
Varied postings, national impact
CONS:
Highly competitive (millions apply for ~1000 posts)
Intense preparation time, stress
Frequent transfers, political pressure
Responsibility can be overwhelming