The 2011 Civil Services Preliminary Examinations, held for the first time in a changed format and nicknamed CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test), were held in 45 cities across the country on Sunday.

In the new exam format, the UPSC scrapped the optional subjects paper, which was a part of the preliminary exams along with the General Studies paper, and replaced it with General Studies-Paper 2, an aptitude test.

The second paper contained questions that test the candidate’s English comprehension, decision-making, problem solving, logical reasoning and inter-personal skills as well as general mental ability.

The General Studies-Paper 1 has been retained with minor changes to include more questions on topics such as environment, biodiversity and climate change, besides questions on Indian history, polity, governance and current affairs, and fewer questions on ancient Indian history.

The General Studies-Paper 1 contained 100 questions while Paper-2 contained 80. Both the papers held a total weightage of 200 marks.

At the UPSC Building examination hall on Shahjahan Road, many candidates said they were happy with the new format, which had questions that tested spontaneity as well as decision-making skills. However, others felt that there was an overdose of questions that tested the candidates’ ability to comprehend English.

The civil services got a major upliftment with the introduction of CSAT. Earlier the government of India had witnessed some irregularities with the pattern of preliminary examination as not all topics were given due attention and the overall paper was a sort of unfair treatment for applicants. This is the exact reason why UPSC and the Indian government came up with the CSAT.

The UPSC CSAT stands for the Civil Services Aptitude Test and will test the aptitude of the applicant unlike its previous counterpart which tests memory of a contender. It has changes in its General Studies paper. You will be surprised to know that nearly five million applicants submit an application for the preliminary civil services examination. Thus the competition is fierce, cut throat and not to mention aggressive which is why it is imperative for you to lay your hands on CSAT Study Material and make certain that you are prepared to embark on this journey.

Civil Services Aptitude Test 2011 is scheduled to be on 12th June 2011 (preliminary) and the main CSAT exam is scheduled to be on 29th October 2011. It should also be noted that you should get your doubts cleared on the content of CSAT 2011 Syllabus by doing a bit of intricate research on the World Wide Web. This year has been witness to a new landmark system where Civil Services Aptitude Test pattern will be final and consists of CSAT Prelim, main exam and interview.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your endeavor. Go through NCERT Books from class vi to x and always remain up to date by reading newspaper daily. Going through regular magazines which proffer significant insights into GK, current affairs, etc. will also be an added advantage. Make sure you are medically fit and that your personality is a superior one. It is also imperative to work on your communication skills and make certain that you are fully prepared for interview if you passed the written exams.

Prepare at least a year or more in advance as the preparation will surely consume some time keeping in eye the vast curriculum. Not only you have to excel in the prelim and the main written examination, but also have to perform excellently in the interview round as all the marks are combined and your result depends on the performance in each one of them. Also make sure that you put into practice CSAT Practice Tests.

UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (UPSC)
Dholpur House, Shahjahan road, New Delhi – 110069
Civil Service Examination, 2011

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will hold the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2011 on 12/06/2011 for recruitment of nearly 880 various posts of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and certain other Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Central Services / Posts. Published at sarkari-naukri.blogspot.com

Eligibility:

* Age : Not less than 21 years and not more than 30 years as on 01/08/2011. The upper age is relaxable for SC/ST/OBC and certain other categories of candidates to the extent specified in the Notice.

* Educational Qualification: Degree of a recognised university or an equivalent qualification.

* Physical Standards: Candidates must be physically fit according to the Regulations given in notice.

* Number of Attempts: The maximum number of attempts permissible to different categories of aspirants, who are otherwise eligible will be as follows:

o General Category : Four

o Physical Handicapped : Seven

o OBC : Seven

o SC / ST : No Limit

Offline Application Form: The candidates must apply in the Common Application Form devised by the Commission for its examinations, which can be purchased from the designated Head Post Offices/ Post offices throughout the country against cash payment of Rs. 30/- only. OR published in the Employment News.

Online Application Submission : Candidates can apply Online also at http://upsconline.nic.in/ upto 21/03/2011.

Fee: Rs.100/- through Central Recruitment Fee Stamp only. SC/ST/PH/Female candidates are exempted from payment (OBC candidates required to pay full fee) for the candidates applying offline. Those who are applying Online need to deposit Rs.50/- in any branch of SBI

How To Apply Offline : All Offline applications must reach the “Controller of Examination, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069″ either by hand or by Post/Speed Post or by courier on or before the 21/03/2011. [Candidates from far-flung areas can send application through post/speed post upto 28/03/2011]

Candidates can obtain details of the examination and can get information about registration of their applications, venues of the examination and syllabus etc will be posted on the website of the UPSC at http://upsc.gov.in/ or in the Employment News dated 19/02/2011.

Get ready to devote complete two years to IAS study

Yes that’s right. If you thought you can work as well as prepare for the civil services exams, then it’s mighty difficult and something that’s not advisable. As you have to prepare three complete subjects, one essay and two languages, you will need complete, unmitigated concentration of at least two years. Also remember that one complete civil services cycle consists of the preliminary exam, main exam, and interview that together take one complete year. If you are unable to clear the exam within the first two years, nothing to worry as most people clear only after two years, then you can continue to prepare for the IAS exams along with other activities, including job and giving other exams. But do this only when you have mastered your subjects thoroughly and have preferably given at least one mains.

Choose the right subjects for IAS exams

Once you have decided to take the plunge, proceed methodically. First choose the prelims optionals, the second subject can be taken up later. Now which subject should you take up as your first optional? Take a subject that excites you and implores you to find out more about. That’s the thumb rule. Don’t take a subject just because that’s the most popular one, like History, or because your friend or mentor told you take it up. As you will have to study the subject in depth and reproduce your knowledge in the IAS mains exams according to the demands of the question, you should have a passion for the subject knowledge. Once you have mastered the subject, the marks will follow. Don’t worry about it, there’s nothing called a high scoring or low scoring optional.

Don’t neglect your general awareness

So many candidates focus only on the optional subjects, ignoring the General Studies paper of the civil services exams till the last month. Don’t do this. For the past few years UPSC has made the GS paper very dynamic and the prelims paper is based largely on general awareness and not the conventional rote based knowledge. Even the mains paper has become very analytical and issue focused. For this you will have to stay on pace with the latest developments in India and worldwide, read up general knowledge based year books, magazines and most importantly, read a good paper like The Hindu on a daily basis.

IAS Service or Civil Services Continues to be the first career choice of career aspirants in India. But have you ever wondered what it entails to become an IAS officer.

Tips #1

First of all what you need to have is a thirst to excel and to keep your dream alive by working for it. “Yes, I want to become an IAS Officer, and I will work hard for it from this moment.” If you think this value is instilled in you very strongly, continue reading the following mantras.

Tips #2

Know all about the IAS Exam. Starting 2011 Exam, it will be CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) in place of the present Preliminary Exam. Those who pass the CSAT will be eligible for the Civil Services main Exam followed by the interview.

Tips #3

Start reading an English newspaper on a daily basis and make it a habit to write notes on important news reports. Buy one Year Book, preferably India Year Book 2010, published by Publications Division, Government of India.

Tips #4

Select a Good Coaching Centre like JTS Institute, Bangalore, that offers you good teachers, study material, study plan and above all good classmates. Start your classes (for IAS 2011) from May itself, if possible. JTS Institute starts its first batch for 2011 Exam on May 2, 2010. Admission to this batch is restricted through a screening interview.

Tips #5

Have a good study plan. As the exam pattern is being changed with the introduction of CSAT, it is better to complete the entire portions of the Mains (GS plus 2 Optional or at least 1 optional) before January 2011. From January, your entire time should be earmarked for the CSAT.

Tips #6

Post CSAT, the preparation should be continued without any break. The following five months will be more crucial than the months prior to the CSAT and the preparation should be at full momentum. After the main exam, interview preparation should begin.

Tips #7

There will be temptation to give up the journey as you progress in the preparation. This is mainly due to the huge syllabus and the accumulating pressure. But be aware that these are critical moments in civil services. You should face all these pressures with courage. Be determined to clear the exam in the first attempt. Streamline your preparation on the above tips and success oIAS Exam will be with you.

The civil services (mains) examination, contained a few surprises for many aspirants, especially those with a rural background. They found they had to answer more short essay-type questions (12 marks each) in the general studies section than before.

Each year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has been changing the pattern of the question papers splitting the total marks of the general studies section into small, medium and long type answers. This, coaching institutes say, is to weed out the non-serious aspirants.

The number of aspirants has been increasing each year. In 2002, the number of vacancies announced by the UPSC was 282. This year it is around 1,000. Aspirants too had become adept at understanding the pattern through intense coaching provided by institutes and also by studying previous years’ papers.

Among the nine papers in the mains exam, two are for general studies consisting 300 marks each. These two papers, which are compulsory, comprise questions from modern Indian history, geography, national and international affairs, bilateral relations, science & technology, economics and statistics.

Unlike in previous year, there were no two-mark questions this year, giving a surprise to aspirants.

The government on Monday formally announced its decision to make changes in the selection process for the elite all-India services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or the Indian Police Service (IPS), introducing an aptitude test at the preliminary examination level while doing away with the assessment of optional subjects.

The UPSC will now test aspirants on their aptitude and general knowledge rather than their capacity to just commit volumes to memory. This new system hopes to attract an intelligent and aware calibre of future officers.

The exam for India premier services the IAS, IFS, IPS which has been the same since 1979 – which come under the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has come out with a new syllabus for the 2011 preliminary examination, which, besides aptitude and other skills, will also test candidates on their knowledge of “environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change”.

A government statement said that from next year, the preliminary examination would consist of only two papers, both common for every candidate.

While Paper I would consist of general studies, Paper II would be the aptitude test. Paper II would test the candidates on parameters like comprehension, interpretational skills, general mental ability, and class X level English.

Now,the candidates will have to appear in two objective type papers having special emphasis on testing their aptitude for civil services as well as on ethical and moral dimension of decision making under a Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT).
Both these papers having equal weightage will be common to all candidates in place of the one common paper (general awareness) and one optional paper (any particular subject of choice) under the existing system which lays greater emphasis on subject knowledge.

As of now,the change will be effective only for the first stage of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) from 2011 onwards.The second and third stages CS (Main) Examination and interview respectively may remain the same till a committee of experts goes into various aspects of the entire system and submits its report.

The Union Service Public Commission (UPSC) has announced the result of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2010 held on May 23, 2010.

“The successful candidates have qualified for admission to the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2010. The candidature of these candidates is provisional. In accordance with the rules of the examination, all these candidates have to apply again in the detailed application form, which is available on UPSC’s official website,” said an official press release.

The completed form has to be sent to the Commission duly filled in by the candidate in their own handwriting, for admission to the Main Examination scheduled to be held from October 29, 2010. A copy of the Detailed Application Form (DAF) shall also be sent by post to the successful candidates by the Commission.

In case any of the successful candidates do not receive a communication in this regard from the Commission by September 8, 2010, they should immediately contact the Commission.

UPSC have a Facilitation Centre near Examination Hall Building in its Campus from where candidates may obtain any information or clarification during working hours in person or over telephone.

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.