Civil Service Exam

The Indian Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym ICS, originated as the elite civil service of the Indian Government under British colonial rule in India, and continues in the contemporary Civil Services of India, though these are now organised differently.

Civil Services in India serve as the backbone of Indian administration and carry great respect and responsibilities. India's best brains vie for entry into these coveted services as officers.

A big share of every year's top posts in the civil services exams are bagged by professionals from various streams shows that the IAS is still the dream job for many.

This is the most important Exam that UPSC conducts besides various other exams viz. Indian Forest Service Entrance Examination, Indian Engineering Services Examination etc. The exam is an umbrella test for recruiting into various All India Services and Group 'A' of Government of India. The exam not only tests the knowledge but also the depth in analytical skills of the candidate.

Following are the services which are covered under the purview of this exam

The Indian Civil Services are organised into two main sections.

• All India Services and
• The Central Services.

All India Services:

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• Indian Forest Service (IFtS)

Central Services

Group A:

• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• Indian Railway Service
• Indian Postal Service
• Accounts and Auditing Services (including The Indian Audit and Accounts Service, The Indian Civil Accounts Service, The Indian Defence Accounts Service, The Indian Revenue Service.)
• Indian Customs and Central Excise
• Indian Ordinance Factories Service
• Indian Defence Estates Service
• Indian Revenue Service
• Indian Information Service
• Central Trade Services
• Central Industrial Security Force

Group B:

• Central Secretariat Services (Section Officer Grade)
• Railway Board Secretariat Services (Section Officer Grade)
• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (Assistant Civilian Staff Officer Grade)
• Customs Appraisers’ Services
• The Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Services
• The Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Services
• Pondicherry Civil Services
• State Civil Services

The categories of services to which candidates are selected through the SCS examination are as under:

• State Civil Services, Class-I (SCS)
• State Police Service, Class-I (SPS).
• Block Development Officer.
• Tehsildar/Talukadar/Asstt. Collector.
• Excise and Taxation Officer.
• Distt. Employment Officer.
• Distt. Treasury Officer.
• Distt Welfare Officer.
• Asstt Registrar Cooperative Societies.
• Distt. Food and Supplies Controller/Officer.
• Any other Class-I/Class-II service notified as per rules by the concerned State.