Note for IAS/IPS aspirants

In this  note i have tried to answer the questions i keep getting from IAS aspirants. At the outset, I must thank my colleagues in the Karnataka cadre, Amlan A. Biswas, IAS,  Vipul Kumar, IPS and Randeep, IAS, for their inputs.

This note was written almost 5 years back and posted at www.praja.in. I have made little changes. I have avoided duplicating such information that is available in the internet/public domain. So,this is not a comprehensive note. This will give you what you don’t get on the internet! 

Now, let's get on with it.

Civil services examinations (CSE) is conducted by the Union Public service commission of India (UPSC/website:www.upsc.gov.in) every year. 

The examination has 3 stages, Prelims, Mains and Interview. Each of these stages requires different style of preparation. Prelims require vast reading and alertness, while Mains requires intensive study. Interview may require little coaching to communicate your personality to the Interview board correctly and confidently. 

The UPSC appears to be looking for following 5 qualities in you, apart from hard work:

1. Are you concerned about the world you live in?

2. Are you balanced/Neutral enough to listen to different view points, knowledgeable enough to understand them, and logical enough to come to a conclusion?

3. Are you bold enough to implement what you think is right?

If you lack any of these qualities, then you won't be happy with IAS, and IAS also won't be happy with you! You better do something else.

Now, about the questions. The 5 common queries i keep getting are: 

1. I want to do IAS. When should I start preparations? How many years are required to clear the exam from the date of my starting of preparations?  How many hours I should work per day? (Duration of preparation).

You can dream of taking IAS examination even from 10 years of age. But, preparation duration counts from the date you apply for prelims. From this day on-wards, IAS must be your 1^st priority, whether you are studying or working. It normally takes 2 years of study from that day till you clear the examination. But, it is very much possible to clear it in the first attempt itself.

Mind you, you may be working or studying.  In such cases, unless you bring IAS as priority number 1, well above your work or studies, you can’t be said to be preparing for IAS. You are at the keeping IAS as an option.

In these 2 years, normally you sit twice for the CSE. In the first attempt you learn the tricks of the exam, and then clear it in the next. But, there are quite a good number of persons who have cleared it the 1^st attempt itself.

The number of hours you put on preparation, during this 2 years needs to be 9 hours.  This 9 hrs is in addition to attending coaching classes, combined study etc. This 9 hrs is your undisturbed time, alone, where only you and your IAS are there.  

2. Can I do IAS along with my work? What are the chances of me getting thru? I am from poor background. How can I clear the exam? If not what options I have?

Whether you are rich or poor does not matter much. If you have the qualities that will make you clear CSE, then the same qualities will easily help you in surmounting problems regarding finances. I have seen poor brilliant students able to get scholarship and study abroad. Managing money is not an issue. In the worst case, if you have cleared the prelims and need money to proceed further, feel free to email me. I can help in getting support from government or from philanthropists. 

You can be working/studying, and still prepare for IAS, as long as work/studies are not your priority and IAS is!  You may require 3 months leave before the mains. Work or studies are just manageable distractions for a person who has kept IAS as priority.

Even after all preparations, if you don’t get IAS, don’t get dejected. Atleast you are satisfied that you gave your best. You won’t repent later! And life goes on. In India, more 99% of successful people in life are not IAS officers! 

3. What subjects should I choose? What are scoring subjects? Does literature assure you selection? Which language I should write the exam? (Subject details)

Subjects are like cars. Don’t buy a car or select a subject because it worked well for somebody. Nobody buys a car without liking it! Same way, never choose a subject unless you like it!

Because, only if you like it, you will come up with new/original thoughts. And UPSC exactly wants that!

If you don’t like it, you can’t think new ideas in that, and so, do not take it. If you like many subjects or don’t like any subject, then you can do the following.

Take the list of subjects from the list. Shortlist 10 subjects from that list.

1. Buy the last 10 years question paper for all those papers. Yes, do this for ALL subjects.
2. Go thru the questions patiently. You will get an idea about what is asked in each subject. Now you are ready to select the subject.
3. Now, take the subject list in your hand. Strike out of 5 subjects from the list, which you are not ok with. Now, start removing one by one, which you don't like much, till you are left with the last one which you think yo really love! 

Thus the selection of subjects is not actually the selection, but elimination of subjects which you are not comfortable with till you reach the left out subjects, which are best suited for you!

If you think that you do not have liking for any subject, then you should think of joining a good job somewhere else, and forget about IAS! In You are expected to know something about everything, and everything about something. 

Do not worry about ‘scoring subjects”, ‘literature’ ‘writing the exam in Hindi, Kannada’ etc. Because, nobody has been able to establish the connection between these issues and success in IAS till date. 

4. Is coaching necessary? How long one should get coaching? Which is best? Delhi? Hyd’bad? B’lore? (Details of coaching)

Coaching helps, provided that you have read the subject well. Thus, coaching is like polishing a diamond. No polisher can make diamond out of stone! So understand both the limitations and advantages of coaching. Coaching is not a substitute for working hard and reading yourself.

Get coached at a place where serious applicants are many. That helps you to benchmark where you stand and boosts your confidence. Delhi is better for that reason.  But, if you are not able to go to Delhi, do not worry. There are many persons who have cleared IAS without going to Delhi! 

5. Any advice to aspirants? Any strategy?

Before deciding see if you have a strong reason to go for IAS. Else you may not get the required stamina to struggle hard for 2 years. And the strategy that worked is as below:

You can’t complete the syllabus however intelligent you are. It is like an ocean. So better you divide the syllabus into 3 categories, as A, B, C. 

A: those portion of the syllabus from which questions may come this year. C: portion from which questions may not come this year, as it has come last/recent years. B: in-between A and C. 

Yes, you will realise that, the ABC category varies year to year depending on the previous year question paper. This way of forecasting the question is seen as a smarter way of studying.  Please note that, when we all tend to prepare those portions we are comfortable with, and neglect that portion which we are not comfortable. But, the question paper doesn’t respect our choices and feelings! So better we prepare based on what questions are likely to come. 

A word of caution here. Please do not think that with shallow knowledge one can pass the CSE. The classification of ABC category was only to relatively differentiate the intensity.   

Secondly, try to meet IAS/IPS/IRS officers. Meeting them will motivate you strongly. They will be normally glad to meet you too. 

If you want to meet me, then email me at: mani1972.ias@gmail.com. But only if you are in the final year of your degree and already decided to take IAS. If you are in doubt, don't mail me!

I normally do not give any advice/coaching for prelims. I feel that clearing prelims is the minimum thing you should be able to do without any coaching. 

If you have already cleared prelims, then please contact me. I will guide you thru personal sittings.

That’s all at this stage. Other details like; what books to read, which coaching class etc., are very subjective and hence no point in answering them. What worked for me may not work for you. You may get help from the internet on such things. There is so much guidance available from professional agencies in the internet.

If anybody has specific questions that are not covered on the internet, or not present in this note, you may email such questions to me. But, kindly avoid questions on selecting the coaching center or details of books. 

That's it! I wish you all the best! :)