CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION DETAILS AND APPLY ONLINE, ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION DETAILS AND APPLY ONLINE, ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

The Civil Services Examination is based on the British Raj - era Imperial Civil Service. The Civil Services Examination of India is considered to be amongst of the most difficult competitive examinations in the world. On an average, 4 to 5 hundred thousand candidates appear for the examination.

Aspirants must compete a three-stage process, with a final success rate of about 0.3% of the total applicants.

Stage I: Preliminary examination - This is qualifying test held in May/June every year. Notification for this is published in December/January. Results are published in the first half of August.
Stage II: Main examination - This is the main test, held in October/November every year. Results are usually published in the second week of March.
Stage III: Personality Test (Interview) - It is the final test and is held in April/May every year. Final results are usually announced a few days before the next preliminary examination.

The training program for the selected candidates usually commences in August every year.

Preliminary Examination

The pattern of the Preliminary examination up to 2010 was based on the recommendations of the Kothari Commission (1979). It included two examinations, one on general studies worth 150 marks, and the second on one of 23 optional subjects worth 300 marks. Until 2011, when it was revamped, the preliminary pattern was sustained with only minor changes once every ten to fifteen years. It is possible that in the coming years there can be some more changes in the format.

From 2011 onwards, the Preliminary examination, now popularly known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)( officially it is still called General Studies Paper-1 and Paper-2), intends to focus on analytical abilities and understanding rather than the ability to memorize. The new pattern includes two papers of two hours duration and 200 marks each. Both papers have multiple choice objective type questions only. They are as under:

Paper 1 tests the candidate's knowledge on current events, history of India and Indian national movement, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and governance, Economic and social development, environmental ecology, biodiversity, climate change and general science.

Paper II tests the candidates' skills in comprehension, interpersonal skills, communication, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision making, problem solving, basic numeracy, data interpretation, English language comprehension skills and mental ability.

Mains Examination

The Civil Services Mains Examination consists of a written examination and an interview.

Examination

The written examination consists of nine papers, two qualifying and seven ranking in nature. The range of questions may vary from just one mark to sixty marks, twenty words to 600 words answers. Candidates who pass qualifying papers are ranked according to marks and a selected number of candidates are called for interview or a personality test at the Commission's discretion

There are proposals to do away with the two optional subjects and introduce a standardized examination based on public administration, but these have not been implemented or confirmed yet.

Type	Subject	Paper	Marks
Qualifying^∗	English language
Qualifying^∗	Indian language^±	single paper	300
Ranking	Essay	single paper	200
	General studies	Paper I	300
	General studies	Paper II	300
	Optional Subject I	Paper I	300
	Optional Subject I	Paper II	300
	Optional Subject II	Paper I	300
	Optional Subject II	Paper II	300
Interview			300
Total Marks			2300

∗ Note: These papers are qualifying in nature and are not used for ranking. Hence their marks are not added to the total. Candidates who fail these papers as per the Commission's standards are not eligible for the interview.

± Note: The Indian language must be one specified under the eighth schedule of the constitution

Interview

Officially called the "Personality Test", the object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to evaluate the mental calibre of a candidate.

In broad terms, this is really an assessment of not only a candidate's intellectual qualities, but also social traits and interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.

The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination, but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation that is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.

The interview is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidate, which has been already tested through written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study, but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own state or country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of all well-educated youth.

This examination is very thorough and rigorous. Candidates who come to Delhi for coaching have seen higher chances of success than those who do not. The success rate in this stage is very small, i.e. 0.03% of aspirants. Many candidates with few financial resources have sold their property or taken money from money-lenders to come to Delhi for coaching, but have still not succeeded in gaining entrance into the Civil Service.