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IAS Full Form

IAS Full Form: IAS full form is Indian Administrative Service. All you need to know about the ias full form , officer details and interesting facts for IAS exam.

Full Form of IAS: Discover the complete abbreviation for IAS and gain essential insights into the annual Union Public Service Commission’s UPSC CSE 2023 Civil Services Examination.

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What is the full form of IAS?

The full form of IAS is Indian Administrative Service. It is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. The Union Public Service Commission conducts the IAS exam every year to choose and furthermore recruit eligible candidates to the posts offered by the Government of India.

What is the IAS Exam?

The prestigious IAS Exam was founded in the year 1858 as the Imperial Civil Service. In the year 1950, it was established as the Indian Administrative Service or the IAS. Among all the other Indian administrative posts, the IAS assumes the highest rank both in terms of power and prestige. The Union Public Service Commission or the UPSC is concerned with conducting the IAS exam each year. The candidates qualified may be appointed by the Union/State government directly or may be assigned posts in the district level. 

The IAS is a part of the executive branch of the Government of India and is regarded as the permanent bureaucracy. Lakhs of aspiring candidates belonging to different strata and categories of society, attempt the exam each year.

IAS Eligibility Criteria

The essential prerequisites that one has to fulfill in order to qualify for the IAS exam are as follows:

  1. Candidate’s Nationality- The candidate has to be an Indian national in order to try and attempt the Indian Civil Service Exam.
  2. Age Limit – The minimum age limit to sit for the exam is 21 years while the maximum age limit is determined to be 32.
  3. Educational Qualification – The candidate must be a graduate from a university registered under or recognised by the Government. However, candidates who are awaiting their graduation results may also apply for the examination.
  4. Number of Attempts – There is a distinct number of attempts that are assigned to the following categories. 
    • General – 6 attempts
    • OBC – 9 attempts
    • SC/ST – No fixed limit
    • Any number of attempts can be made by the SC/ST candidates until the candidate reaches the maximum age limit for the examination, i.e, 37 years
    • Economically Weaker Section – 6 attempts

See more: UPSC Exam Pattern

Age Relaxation for IAS

The upper age relaxation that is assigned to each category can be listed as follows –

SC/ST5 years
OBC3 years
Defence Service Personnel3 years
Ex-Servicemen5 years
Deaf/Mute/Blind/Orthopedically Handicapped10 years

Also read: UPSC Syllabus

Tips to crack IAS 2025

Here’s a list of tips to ease the tension of aspirants and help them increase the possibilities of cracking the IAS 2025

  • Formulating a strict schedule

Time management is a major ‘make it or break it’ factor when it comes to the UPSC CSE – GS papers. But with a steady focus and rigorous schedule, Learners can work hard every day to prepare effectively and increase their chances of success.

  • Evaluating and understanding the examination pattern

The UPSC portal mentions the complete examination pattern. Go through it, familiarise yourself with the syllabus, question patterns, and structure your preparation plan accordingly.

  • Structuring your study plan efficiently

Given how vast the IAS syllabus is, the preparation process may differ for everyone. Some may entail follow-ups with specific study material; others may need particular notes to understand better.

  • Practise tests

Solving previous years’ question papers and undertaking mock tests is significantly helpful. This will help you familiarise yourself with the UPSC CSE-GS exam patterns and analyse the areas that require improvement.

Also see:

IAS Salary and Benefits

According to the 7th pay commission recommendations, the pay grades for the civil servants have been abolished and Consolidated Pay levels have come into existence now. Check the IAS Salary details here-

Basic Pay (Rs.)Pay Level (Years of Service)Posts
56,10010 (1-4 years)
  • Assistant Secretary in Central Secretariat
  • Undersecretary in State Secretariat
  • Sub-divisional Magistrate in District Administration
67,70011 (5-8 years)
  • Deputy Secretary in State Secretariat
  • Additional District Magistrate in District Administration
  • Under-Secretary in Central Secretariat
78,80012 (9-12 year)
  • Deputy Secretary in Central Secretariat
  • District Magistrate in District Administration
  • Joint Secretary in State Secretariat
1,18,50013 (13-16 years)
  • Special Secretary-cum-Director in State Secretariat
  • District Magistrate in District Administration
  • Director in Central Secretariat
1,44,20014 (16-24 years)
  • Joint Secretary in Central Secretariat
  • Divisional Commissioner in District Administration
  • Secretary-cum-Commissioner in State Secretariat
1,82,20015 (25-30 years)
  • Principal Secretary in State Secretariat
  • Divisional Commissioner in District Administration
  • Additional Secretary in Central Secretariat
2,05,40016 (30-33 years)
  • Additional Chief Secretary in State Secretariat
2,25,00017 (34-36 years)
  • Secretary in Central Secretariat
  • Chief Secretary in State Secretariat
2,50,00018 (37+ years)
  • Cabinet Secretary of India

Also see: UPSC Exam Paper

Commitment and Duties of an IAS Officer

The prestigious post of an IAS officer comprises numerous roles and responsibilities. A person having utmost sincerity, patience and numerous distinct capabilities is chosen to offer his allegiance to this prestigious post. The roles and duties that an IAS officer has to assume can be listed as follows –

  1. The roles and responsibilities that are assigned to an IAS officer vary through different stages of their career. 
  2. An IAS officer is assigned to handle different governmental affairs ranging from district to state level. 
  3. An officer has to perform his/her duties in accordance with the order of the Government of India. 
  4. May be assigned to frame and furthermore implement a certain policy according to the order of the Government.
  5. Travelling to places where the respective policy is assigned to be implemented.
  6. Establishing policies to disburse required funds for concerned affairs.
  7. If an officer during his career is assigned to fulfill his duties at the state or sub-divisional level, he/she has to assume duties pertaining to law and order. 
  8. Has to fulfill developmental duties at the district level. 
  9. May serve as a State Secretariat or as Heads of governmental departments. 
  10. At the Central level, an officer plays a major role in formulating and furthermore in implementing valuable policies.

Also check:

Interesting Facts about IAS

  1. Satyendranath Tagore was the first IAS officer in India.
  2. Anna Rajam Malhotra was the first woman IAS officer of India. A woman who qualified for the Civil Service Exam in 1951.
  3. Kiran Bedi qualified as Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in 1972. She is the first Indian woman in India to become an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.
  4. IAS officers are posted at various locations like Rural, Urban, & Semi- Urban areas
  5. The youngest IAS officer of India is Ansar Ahmad Shaikh who was born on 1st June 1995

Also read: How to Prepare for UPSC

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Preparation.

What is IAS Full Form?

Answer: The full form of IAS is Indian Administrative Service.

What is the educational qualification required to appear for the IAS EXAM?

Answer: The candidate has to hold a graduate degree or should be in the final year of their graduation course or mus...Read full

What is the maximum number of attempts that can be made by the candidate belonging to the General category?

Answer: The maximum number of attempts that can be made by a general category student is 6.

What is the maximum number of attempts that can be made by candidates belonging to the OBC category?

Answer: The maximum attempts that a candidate belonging from the OBC category can be made is 9.

What is the maximum number of attempts that can be made by a candidate belonging to SC/ST category?

Answer: There is no fixed attempt limit assigned to the SC/ST category to sit for the IAS Exam. The candidate can ma...Read full

What is the maximum number of attempts that can be made for the category of EWS?

Answer: The maximum attempt that can be made by candidates belonging to EWS category is 6. 

What is the maximum number of attempts that can be made by a candidate who falls under the category of person with benchmark disability?

Answer: The number of attempts that can be made by a person (candidate) with benchmark disability is 9.

What is the highest post that an IAS officer can reach in his career?

Answer: The highest post that an IAS officer can assume in his career is the post of Cabinet Secretary of India....Read full

What is the minimum age limit to sit for the IAS Exam?

Ans. The minimum age limit to sit for an IAS Exam is 21

Does a person has to belong from Indian Nationality to attempt for the exam?

Answer: Yes, the candidate has to belong from Indian nationality.

What is the maximum age limit for the Indian Civil Service Examination?

Answer: The general age limit to sit for the IAS Examination is 32 years. There are however certain age relaxations ...Read full