IAS FAQs

FAQ 1: What is the minimum age at which aspirants should start preparing for the civil Services Examination?

Ans: The preparation for IAS exam should start in a focused manner at 20 – 21 years of age. This is the time student is able to focus on the goal properly and is in a position to peak at the right time. Starting too early (immediately after school or early graduation) has the likelihood of aspirant tiring during the course of preparation or loosing focus mid way whereas starting too late has disadvantage in terms of competitive edge of early start.

FAQ 2: What is the restriction on the number of attempts in Commission’s Examination?

Ans: Number of attempts:

• General Category – 4
• OBC – 7
• SC/ST – No restriction

FAQ 3: Is there any relaxation in the number of attempts for physically handicapped candidates?

Ans: Yes, physically handicapped candidates belonging to the general category shall be eligible for 7 attempts.

FAQ 4: Should one start preparing for the IAS exam right after graduation without any job or should one first settle down with a job and then prepare to write the exam?

Ans: Civil Services preparation in majority of the cases is seen to be a full time exercise and it merits at least one year of thorough and devoted preparation after graduation. However, it is the quality of time spent towards this goal which is important and not the presence of a job alongside or the absence there of.

FAQ 5: Can a candidate who has completed his education from an open school/university, apply for civil services examination?

Ans: Yes, procided it is a recognized university and he/she possesses the educational qualifications prescribed for the exam and is otherwise eligible.

FAQ 6: Is a candidate who has done his graduation without passing the class Xth and class XIIth eligible for civil services examination?

Ans: Yes

FAQ 7: Is it true that only highly intelligent students with an excellent academic record are successful in the IAS examination? Do candidates with higher I.Q. have edge over those with lower I.Q.?

Ans: The basis for the calculation of I.Q or intelligence score is long debated. Whether an I.Q. score should be the right basis for assessing a student’s intelligence has been a grey matter. In fact, the idea of intelligence is susceptible to varied definitions. Persons with superior I.Q. are not the greatest of the achievers in life. Also, some of the most successful people had secured only a second or third division in their graduation as students. Therefore, one should not be even bothered about factoring such ideas while preparing for their ultimate goal of Civil Services.