FAQ's

The All-India Services (AIS) comprises namely the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS). A common unique feature of the All-India Services is that the members of these services are recruited by the centre (Union government in federal polity), but their services are placed under various State cadres, and they have the liability to serve both under the State and under the centre.

Recruitment to All India Service is by direct recruitment through the civil services examination for IAS and IPS and the Indian Forest Service Examination for the IFS. These Examinations are conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

For the Indian Administrative Service, (IAS) the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and the Indian Police Service, (IPS) a candidate must be a citizen of India.

A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years to take Civil Services Examination.

The candidate must hold a degree of any of universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.

Candidates who have appeared at an examination the passing of which would render them educationally qualified for the Commission’s examination but have not been informed of the result as also the candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination will also be eligible for admission to the Preliminary Examination.

Every candidate appearing at the examination, who is otherwise eligible, shall be permitted six attempts at the examination.

Provided that this restriction on the number of attempts will not apply in the case of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes candidates who are otherwise eligible.

Provided further that the number of attempts permissible to candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes, who are otherwise eligible, shall be nine.

The relaxation will be available to the candidates who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates

Provided further that candidates of Persons with Benchmark Disability will get as many attempts as are available to other candidates who do not belong to Persons with Benchmark Disability of his or her community, subject to the condition that a candidate of Persons with Benchmark Disability belonging to the General and EWS Category shall be eligible for nine attempts.

Necessary action to make corresponding changes in respective Rules/regulations pertaining to various services is being taken separately. The relaxation will be available to the candidates of Persons with Benchmark Disability who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.

Candidates (excepting Female/SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability Candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only).

The competitive examination comprises three successive stages:
(i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective Type-MCQ’s) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination.
(ii) Civil Services (Main) Examination Written
(iii) Interview for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts.