Many failed and academically poor candidates commit one more mistake of blaming blindly their own faults without fully knowing the facts. In a country like India, where the competition is huge even for a single post of a bank clerk we can imagine the competition for the country’s most prestigious job, i.e., IAS. For IAS, every year the number of vacancies is very less but the number of candidates appear for this competitive examination is very very high.

The candidates need to change their personality, attitude, out look etc. They also need to interact with some of the selected candidates for proper orientation and guidance. According to some trainers, the selection of optional subjects is half done!. SWOT analysis is a must for the candidates who would like to appear for this toughest examination of the nation. How can we swim in a river without knowing it’s depth?. Many factors play a role for success in the civil services examination unlike other competitive examinations. The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) tests many qualities in the candidates through this exam as the selected candidates will formulate policies and determine the direction and future of our nation.

Civil services are not the bed of roses:

There are a substantial number of candidates selected for IAS itself in their first attempt. Many candidates even secured all India 1st rank in their first attempt!. There are also many cases of not getting any service even after making seven attempts. Other wise candidates would get IPS or IFS or IRS in their first attempt and in their second or third attempt get IAS. There are also some cases of Ph.d.’s not getting the desired service and B.Tech’s, M.B.B.S., and M.Tech’s getting selected for IAS at the age of 21!.

There are many candidates who planned well to achieve their IAS dream. Initially such candidates join in a small job for financial security and over a period of time get the service.

An IAS or IPS officer is supposed to know something about everything. Many candidates appearing for this exam for the first time even do not know what to read and what not to read thus waste their most valuable energy and time in reading many irrelevant and out of the syllabus topics . They run from pillar to post for proper subject material and also in search of a proper coaching centre. Some candidates spend two years in Chennai, two years in Hyderabad, and finally go to New Delhi, and so on.

The syllabus and exam pattern are formulated in such a manner that only the best among the candidates would be selected to serve the nation. A candidate has to start his/ her preparation for this exam at the early stages of life preferably after class 12th if one is serious in getting the service. For poor candidates and for those who start their preparation after passing their graduation or post graduation, the success cannot be guaranteed. Adding fuel to the problem, the performance of other candidates in this examination through out India cannot be known.

Civil services should not be the end of the road:

Every serious candidate can appear once or twice for this examination, but one should not sit with it for several years. If one is not selected or passed in three attempts, it indicates that one is not an ideal steel frame of our nation. In other words, one is not up to the mark.

Categories: Features, IAS Exams, IAS Main Examination, IAS Papers, IAS Preparation, Tips on IAS
Tags: Civil Services, IAS