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group-aAll India Service★ Highest Civil Prestige

UPSC Civil Services Examination (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS)

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Pay Scale / Level

Pay Level 10 (Basic ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 + DA, HRA, Official Residence, Security & Vehicle)

Min Qualification

Any Bachelor's Degree from a recognized university

Age Limits

21 to 32 years (General); 21 to 35 years (OBC); 21 to 37 years (SC/ST). Calculated as of Aug 1.

Ministry / Agency

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Selection Process & Recruitment Stages

1Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective: GS Paper 1 - 200 Marks + CSAT Paper 2 - 200 Marks [Qualifying 33%])
2Stage 2: Civil Services Mains Examination (9 Written Descriptive Papers - 1750 Total Marks)
3Stage 3: Personality Test / Interview at Dholpur House, New Delhi (275 Marks)

Syllabus & Test Topics

Indian Polity & Governance, Constitution, Public Administration
Indian & World History, Art & Culture, Modern Freedom Movement
Physical & Human Geography, Environmental Ecology & Climate Change
Macro-Economics, Fiscal Policy, Agriculture & Infrastructure
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (Case Studies & Ethical Theory)
One Chosen Optional Subject (2 Papers, 500 Marks total)

Key Duties & Work Responsibilities

  • IAS: Public district administration as Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), District Magistrate / Collector, and Policy formulation as Joint/Additional Secretary in Central Ministries.
  • IPS: Law and order maintenance, crime prevention, and strategic policing as SP / SSP, DIG, and leadership in IB, CBI, RAW, and Paramilitary Forces.
  • IFS: Representing India's sovereign diplomatic interests as Ambassador, High Commissioner, and Consul General globally.
  • IRS: National revenue administration, tax policy enforcement, and anti-evasion investigations in Income Tax & GST.

Promotion & Career Growth Hierarchy

SDM / Assistant Collector ➔ District Magistrate (Collector) ➔ Divisional Commissioner ➔ Joint Secretary ➔ Principal Secretary ➔ Chief Secretary / Cabinet Secretary of India

Official Portal

Apply and track official recruitment circulars directly on the statutory commission website.

Recruitment Portal

Free Preparation Resources

Latest Job Notification Alerts →Download Solved Papers →

Other Government Pathways

State PSC Group 1 Services (Deputy Collector, DSP, CTO)

Andhra Pradesh PSC (APPSC) & Telangana PSC (TSPSC)

SSC CGL (Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Central GST)

Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

Bank Probationary Officer (SBI PO / IBPS PO / RBI Grade B)

State Bank of India (SBI), IBPS & Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

State PSC Group 2 Services (Naib Tahsildar, Sub-Registrar, ACTO)

APPSC (Andhra Pradesh) & TSPSC (Telangana)