UPSC IAS Exam 2024 Comprehensive Guide!
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds the IAS test, also known as the Civil Service Exam (CSE), each year. India conducts the test at a national level. Through this test, UPSC selects candidates for the Central Civil Service, Indian Administrative Service, and Indian Police Service. IAS officers run every ministry and department in the central and state governments. This makes the IAS exam the most prestigious in the country.
The History of the UPSC IAS Exam
India was the first country to implement a merit-based civil service in 1854. Because of this, in the year 1854, London became home to a Civil Service Commission, and the following year (1855), the city hosted an examination of applicants for the position. At that time, this service bore the name Indian Civil Service (ICS). The inaugural Indian Civil Service Examination was administered at Allahabad in 1922. In India, the test was given by the Federal Public Service Commission. In London, the ICS exam was given by the Civil Service Commission.
IAS Full Form
“IAS” stands for Indian Administrative Service. During British rule, it was the continuation of the Imperial Civil Service (ICS). The then-legislative body established the IAS in 1948. The IAS formally admitted members of the ICS.
The higher authority has not released official details for the year 2024. Therefore, we are providing you with details from last year’s UPSC IAS Exam 2023 that you can use for reference purposes. Explore our website to receive additional important notifications about the UPSC IAS Exam.
UPSC IAS 2023- Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Name of the Organisation | UPSC |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
What is the UPSC IAS exam?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the extremely competitive UPSC Civil Services Exam to find suitable individuals to work for the government at various levels. The abbreviation for the United States Civil Service Examination (UPSC CSE) is the most common form of reference. Many people refer to it as “the UPSC IAS test.” Only one in every thousand people who take the UPSC IAS exam each year succeed.
UPSC administers the IAS test annually. There are three parts to the UPSC CSE application process: the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the personality test. Those who pass all of the stages of the IAS exam are chosen for Group A and B services in the government of the Centre, the states, and the union territories.
The purpose of the UPSC IAS exam is to evaluate a candidate’s general knowledge across a wide range of disciplines. Candidates are put through their paces in every conceivable manner on the Civil Service examination. Therefore, one has to acquire knowledge and a foundational grasp of all fields in order to pass the UPSC IAS test. Both the main test and the interview play a role in determining who passes the UPSC IAS exam.
Those who want to join the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFS), or any of the other Central Services (Indian Audit and Accounts Service [IA&AS], Indian Foreign Service [IFS], etc.) must first take the Civil Services Examination, which is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.
If you pass the UPSC IAS test, you’ll be sent to the appropriate service academy for training before you’re assigned to your cadre. Twenty-four different services use the UPSC IAS test to fill their ranks.
UPSC IAS Exam Date 2023 - Important Dates
The UPSC IAS Exam schedule for 2023 is now available. Anyone planning on taking the test should maintain a calendar of all exam-related activities. The applicants should take note of the critical dates stated below.
| Events | Date |
| Notification Release Date | February 01, 2023 |
| UPSC IAS Prelims Applications | February 02, 2023 |
| End of UPSC IAS Prelims Applications | February 21, 2023 |
| UPSC IAS Prelims Admit Card | May 2023 |
| UPSC IAS 2023 Preliminary Exam | May 28, 2023 |
| UPSC IAS Mains 2023 Admit Card | September 2023 |
| UPSC IAS Mains 2023 Examination | September 15, 2023 |
| UPSC IAS Final Result Announced | January 2024 |
UPSC IAS 2023 Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility requirements for taking the test are outlined in detail in the official announcement. Before applying, potential candidates should review the UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2023. People who aren’t qualified to take the test but try to do so anyway could cause trouble in the future.
There are also three criteria for eligibility for the UPSC 2023 examination: age, qualifications, and nationality. There is no degree requirement in order to take the UPSC 2023 test.
UPSC Age Criteria: The age limit for the UPSC in 2023 will be set on August 1, 2023.
| Category | Minimum age for UPSC IAS 2023 | Maximum Age |
| For General Candidate | 21 year | 32 year |
| For OBC candidates | 21 year | 35 year |
| For SC/ST | 21 year | 37 year |
UPSC IAS Age Relaxation 2023
UPSC offers age exemptions for certain groups. Candidates need to verify the exam’s age-relaxation policies.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Defense Services Personnel | 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs | 5 years |
| Hearing problem, deaf, low vision, ex-servicemen, blindness, muscle deformity | 10 years |
UPSC IAS 2023 Nationality Condition
An applicant must be an Indian citizen to be considered for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Police Service (IPS). Candidates for all other positions might either be Indian citizens or not.
- A Nepalese/Bhutanese national
- A Tibetan refugee who entered India before January 1, 1962, with the aim of living there permanently.
- A person of Indian descent who moved to India from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia, or Vietnam in order to live there permanently.
Note: Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals and Tibetan refugees are ineligible to apply for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Educational Qualifications for UPSC IAS 2023
Candidates for the UPSC test do not have to have a very impressive academic background. To be eligible, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a college or university that has been authorized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It made no difference what field you graduated in. UPSC accepts applications from students in their senior year of college as well. On the other hand, they need to know their degree status before taking the UPSC’s last test.
UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria: Number of Attempts
In 2015, the UPSC increased the age restrictions and the maximum number of attempts for candidates taking the Civil Services Exams. As per the new rule, applicants in the general category were given a total of six opportunities to pass the examination.
There is an unlimited number of retakes for ST/SC applicants and nine for OBC candidates.
In the case of applicants from the general and OBC categories who are physically incapacitated, the maximum number of attempts is 9. For candidates from the ST/SC categories, however, there is no such restriction.
Please refer to the table below where we have included all the facts on the total number of tries. Please do have a look.
| Category | Age limit | Number of Attempts |
| General | 32 | 6 |
| OBC | 35 | 9 |
| SC/ST | 37 | As many as possible till the maximum age restriction is reached. |
| Physically Handicapped | 42 | 9 for Gen and OBC. Unlimited till age limit for SC/ST |
| Disabled personnel are unable to perform their duties. | 37 (Gen), 38 (OBC), 40 (SC/ST) | Unlimited until the maximum age is reached. |
Pointers regarding UPSC IAS 2023
- Candidates cannot take the IAS Exam again if they are assigned to the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) or Indian Foreign Services (IFS) and remain in those services. They must quit taking the IAS test again.
- However, a current IPS officer is still eligible to show up and take the IAS test again. He cannot, however, choose the Indian Police Service once again.
Medical and Physical Standards for UPSC IAS Eligibility
You must ensure that you are physically prepared for a job as demanding as an IAS officer. To qualify for it, you would need to meet the physical requirements for admission to the 2023 Civil Services Examination.
UPSC IAS 2023: How to Apply?
Documents required
Before filling out the IAS Online Application Form 2023, people who want to join the IAS must have all of the necessary documents on hand.
- Plus 2 mark sheet or an intermediate marksheet
- Marksheet of graduation
- A scanned version of your passport picture
- A digital image of your signature
- A signature is required to be uploaded.
Application Procedure for UPSC IAS Exam 2023
Candidates must complete the online application forms found on the official website in order to apply for the IAS test. Below are the processes for registering for the online UPSC CSE (IAS) test in 2023.
Step 1: Go to the UPSC website
Step 2: The second step is to click the link labeled “UPSC IAS Application form.”
Step 3: Fill out the required fields with the necessary information.
Step4: The registration ID and password will then be sent to the email address and phone number you provided
Step5: Log in using the username and password.
Step 6: Finish the rest of the application in Step 6.
Step 7: Save the scanned documents.
Step8: Before submitting, complete Step 8 by making payment and verifying all information. Take a copy of the application form and print it off together with the fee payment receipt for future use.
Application Fees for IAS 2023
Each candidate must pay the required application fee before their application may be processed. You may submit your IAS Exam application fee using either online or traditional payment channels. Online payment options are limited to candidates with a credit card, debit card, Rupay card, or access to internet banking. Candidates who want to pay their fees offline may do so by downloading the e-challan and then making a cash payment at any SBI bank. Various groups have different application fees for the UPSC IAS Exam 2023.
| Category | Application fees |
| General and OBC | INR 100 |
| SC/ST/PWD and Female | Exempted |
UPSC IAS Admit Card 2023
The UPSC will publish the UPSC CSE Admit Card 2023 IAS Exam Admit Card on its official website. Using their login information, aspirants who have applied for the IAS Exam will be able to get the admission card from the official website. Candidates may get their UPSC IAS admit card by following the guidelines stated below.
Step 1: Go to www.upsc.gov.in, the UPSC’s official website.
Step 2: Choose the Admit Card link on the website’s home page.
Step 3: Click “Yes” after reading the instructions on the website.
Step 4: Select any of the two options that are given: by roll number or by registration ID.
Step 5: Provide the date of birth and registration ID if “By Roll Number” is selected, otherwise, enter the roll number (if “By Registration ID” is selected).
Step 6: Hit the “Submit” button.
Step 7: Get your UPSC CSE (IAS) admit card by downloading it.
It is recommended that two copies of the IAS Admit Card be brought to the test site.
All details concerning the UPSC exam are derived from the notification of the previous year’s examination. For the most recent UPSC IAS Recruitment notification, syllabus, and exam pattern, please refer to our latest jobs notification page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You need to have a graduation degree to take the IAS exam. That’s the bare minimum in terms of schooling required to take the IAS. The degree can be in any stream. Also, the candidate’s degree must come from an institution that the Government of India agrees is a valid one.
There is indeed a limit on how many times you may take the IAS test. The maximum number of attempts for applicants in the general category is 6. For candidates in the other categories, however, there is no restriction on the number of attempts until the applicant reaches their respective maximum age limitations; this includes the SC/ST and disabled categories.
According to the IAS eligibility rules in the UPSC notice for the current year, applicants must be at least 21 years old, no matter what category they belong to. However, each applicant has a different upper age restriction for IAS eligibility. For general applicants, the maximum age restriction for IAS eligibility is 32 years, but it is 35 years for OBC candidates, 37 years for SC/ST candidates, and 42 years for Persons with Benchwork Disabilities (PwBD).
The UPSC 2023 Civil Services Application Form will be available on the official website on February 1, 2023, and users will be able to start filling it out and submitting it on that day.
The UPSC Prelims 2023 will take place on May 28, 2023.