Prior to independence, Civil Servants for the East India Company were customarily appointed by the Directors. It was only in 1854 that the concept of organizing a merit-based modern Civil Service in India got introduced. Every year lakhs of candidates in India apply for government jobs primarily because of two important benefits of job security and work-life balance offered. Among them, the career options falling under the umbrella of the pan-India level Civil Services Examination, hosted by UPSC are the most sought after. Carrer opportunities in the Indian Civil Services is ranked among the best jobs in India which include posts for Indian Foreign Service officers, recruited through the UPSC exams get supervised by the Ministry of External Affairs. The primary role of the officers is to represent the nation on the global platform as ambassadors and diplomats.
Indian Administrative Service offices or the IAS officers , work in diverse fields and are involved in the policy drafting around Law and Order, Civil administration, Policy formulation and implementation, and Advisors to Ministers at the state and central level.
Indian Police Service officers known as the IPS officers,command or head all India Central Armed Police Forces. Their jurisdiction is confined to policy implementation. They head the Intelligence Bureau, Border Security Force, Central Bureau of Investigation.
The UPSC examination is held in three stages:
Stage I which is a preliminary examination, comprising two MCQ-based papers,(GS I and GS II/CSAT) conducted in June every year.
Stage II is a subjective main examination, comprising nine papers, conducted in October every year.
Stage III is a Personality assessment test(an Interview), conducted in March.
The UPSC exams are considered to be one of the toughest exams hosted in India and therefore demand comprehensive preparation.
- The aspirants are required to gather relevant information about the vast syllabus, the current exam pattern and then plan a course of action.
- Since a good chunk of questions on the papers and interview revolve around general awareness, one must keep abreast with the current happenings around the globe.
- Cultivating a good habit of reading diverse material contributes to one’s thought pool.
- Going back to roots is recommended.NCRT books from the 6th to the 12th grade help the aspirant gain a strong foothold in the subjects, which can be bolstered by reading advanced stuff from the reference books.
- Students preparing for the UPSC exams must also get into the habit of writing, organizing their ideas, and analyzing their mistakes.
- Getting into debates on germane topics with friends and peers helps earn command over content and presentation.
- The aspirants must also register for simulated mock tests to get the feel of the real exam. This helps in time management and self-assessment.
- Employing mnemonics and other techniques helps the candidates to memorize effectively.
- Regular revision dismisses the probability of gathering dust over all that was once ingested.
- Regular drills on Personal interview with questions revolving around candidate’s personal information, academic and professional interests helps boost the confidence level.
- And above all, Staying motivated, focused, and positive help miraculously.
The aspirant should not get deterred by the expansiveness of the UPSC exam syllabus, instead should strategize with a step-by-step approach to attain the goal. Stay tuned to MM(DU) website and blog for more guidance and personality grooming workshops for the youth.
