The conducting body sets the UPSC Exam pattern, i.e., the Union Public Service Commission. It is a yearly conducted examination. Those who clear all the three stages of the IAS exam enter into the prestigious civil services of the country and become officers in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and a host of other services.
IAS Exam Highlights
IAS Exam Conducting Body |
UPSC |
Mode of IAS exam |
Offline |
Number of times conducted |
Once every year |
Prescribed age limit |
21 – 32 years (upper age relaxation for reserved candidates) |
IAS Exam – Prelims 2023 |
Sunday – 28th May 2023 (Prelims 2022 was on 5th June 2022) |
IAS Exam – Mains |
15th September (exams for five days)(Mains took place between 16th and 25th September every year) |
IAS Exam Pattern |
Prelims (MCQs), Mains (Descriptive papers) |
Eligibility Criteria for IAS
Nationality |
Indian |
Age limit |
21 to 32 years (age relaxation is given to reserved category candidates) |
Educational Qualification |
Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university |
Attempts limit |
General – 6 OBC – 9 SC/ ST – Till within the upper age limit |