About the Indian Civil Services Which is the right career for all those of you who are

brainy but not MBA or IT oriented... and actually harbour ideals like serving the nation ! Civil Services ko lock kiya "aaye #. This $rofession has recently co%e into the li%elight& thanks to a$na 'BC winner (arshavardhan )awathe *he said he is $re$aring for it+ . Although always a hot favourite in ,elhi *and es$ with the cha$s fro% Bihar+ the IAS has never been a sought after career o$tion in Mu%bai. But once you realise the sco$e of these sarkari "obs& you "ust %ight change your %indCareer .ath / While still on the right side of 01 you could be the collector of an entire district *a "ob that re2uires tre%endous %anagerial skills& and a chance to %ake a difference+. 3ou %ay go on to ac2uire the $ost of secretary or advisor to the .ri%e Minister4 Chief Minister. These are the guys who work behind the scenes and actually for%ulate 5 year $lans and oil i%$ort $olicies. 3ou %ight see yourself travelling all around the world *if u "oin the I6S ! Indian 6oreign Service+ or $lay a real life hero by running behind the underworld *I.S lets you do that+. )eedless to say& the $erks of the "ob are tre%endous ! in ter%s of housing& servants

and allowances. Corru$tion does e7ist& but so do clean bureaucrats who can serve as your role %odels. (ow to get in/ The Civil Services selection re%ains one of the few untainted e7a%s in India. The e7a%ination is conducted by the 8.SC *8nion .ublic Service Co%%ission+ every year. The announce%ent of the first stage of the selection $rocess is %ade in the national dailies in the %onth of )ov!,ec *so watch out-+. The 9%$loy%ent )ews carries full details of the total nu%ber of vacancies& eligibility conditions& $lan of e7a%ination& and the date of the round of selection to various Central Services *like IAS& I.S& I6S and Indian services in accounts& custo%s& revenue& $ostal& railway& defence etc.+ .S. The a$$lications are acce$ted only till %id!:an. Website/ The website www.u$sc.gov.in carries full details in case u %iss the ads 9ligibility ;e2uire%ents/ a+ 3ou should have a Bachelor<s ,egree in any faculty with %ini%u% =5>. b+ 3ou should be a citi?en of India between @A to 01 years as on August A of the year in which you wish to a$$ear. .S. There are a set of different criteria for the reserved categories.

(ow to go about with the 8.SC e7a%inations / The co%$etitive e7a%inations at 8.SC are in three stages / A+ .reli%inary e7a%inations *.reli%s+/ The $reli%s are held around May!:une.It has ob"ective ie %ulti$le choice 2uestions. There are two $a$ers *duration of each being @ hrs+. a+ Beneral studies and b+C$tional sub"ect/ you can choose fro% .sychology& Sociology& .hiloso$hy& Agriculture& Maths& .hy& Che%& Stats etc. I%$ortant/ It is not co%$ulsory to choose the sa%e sub"ects of your graduation. The results are declared in :uly!August and the successful candidates are called for the %ain e7a%inations. .S. The $reli%s score has no bearing for deter%ining the final %erit list for the services. @+ Main e7a%ination / The %ain written e7a%ination usually takes $lace in Cct!)ov& it co%$rises of D $a$ers in all *a lot %ore strenuous than CAT-+ ,uration of each $a$er is 0 hrs. Eanguage/ one of the Indian languages& 9nglish& 9ssay B' and Current Affairs/ @ $a$ers on general studies C$tionals/ $a$ers fro% two sub"ects that fall in o$tional!A and two $a$ers fro% o$tional!@ *a choice of sub"ects is listed by the 8.SC in the $ros$ectus+

Candidates who are successful in the %ain e7a%inations are eligible for an interview which $lays a crucial $art in the selection. 0+ The Interview /The interview calls are sent in March!A$ril of the following year and they take $lace in the %onth of A$ril!May. The Board of interviewers look for a well!ad"usted $ersonality with the social traits& integrity and 2ualities of leadershi$ . .S. The nu%ber of candidates called for the interview is nor%ally twice the nu%ber of vacancies. B9WA;9 / The whole $rocess of selection in the civil services takes a full year and when the a$$lication $rocess is included it su%s u$ to AF %onths in all. .E9AS9 )CT9 /The %ain e7a% score and the interview deter%ines the $lace%ent in the final list. 3ou have your say in the choice of service if you have secured a high $osition& otherwise acce$t what is offered if not take another atte%$t *= atte%$ts $er%itted+ in the general category. Cf course you have to start fro% the $reli%s all over again. .S. the I.A.S.occu$ies the highest order of i%$ortance and is usually given first $reference by the selected candidates. In recent years Inco%e Ta7& Custo%s etc also have beco%e $o$ular. I6S is not that sought after now.

5 ti$s for IAS as$irants A+ Be very $articular about the sub"ect you choose for $reli%s& as you will be a$$earing for an ob"ective ty$e of $a$er. (istory& %aths& geogra$hy %ay $rove to be very scoring. Choose sub"ects which have availability of books& reading %aterial and guidance. In recent years engineering sub"ects like civil and electrical can be chosen& giving B9s and IITians an edge *yes- even here they are giving the BAs and BScs a tough fight-+ @+ B.'. will definitely $ay in your $reli%s. ;eading news$a$ers& watching TG news and of course 2ui? shows like 'BC is a %ust. 0+ If you have been lucky enough to reach the interview stage book knowledge %ay not be the only thing you need. 3our %ental alertness will count as they ask you 2uestions like (ow %any ste$s did you walk u$ to reach hereH or What is the colour of the wall behind you H ! So be $re$ared. =+ 9nhance your $ersonality Ico? it will definitely be one of the criteria for selection. 6or I.S $hysical wellbeing is of great i%$ortance& you should be %edically fit. 5+ I%$rove your co%%unication skills. I6S as$irants %ust be $roficient in at least one foreign language. So go ahead& have your say in this $olitical %ess of our country and try to %ake it a better $lace. .re$aring for the 8.SC 97a%/ There are nu%erous

$rivate coaching institutes and study circles . To guide and encourage IAS candidates in Maharashtra the govt has set u$ SIAC *State Institute for Ad%inistrative Careers+& (a?ari%al So%ani %arg *CST+ Mu%bai!A. Tel / @1J1D=@ *3ou %ust have Maharashtra do%icile to get ad%ission here+ 6lash )ews/ The govern%ent is conte%$lating a change in the 8.SC selection for%at which is essentially the sa%e since British ti%es. But& don<t worry ! that will definitely take a few years.