Becoming an IAS officer after completing 12th grade is a popular inquiry among individuals who aspire to join the prestigious civil service from a young age. To be eligible for the IAS exam, candidates must possess a recognized university degree. However, if you have made up your mind to pursue a career as a civil servant, commencing UPSC preparation after 12th grade is a wise decision.
Early preparation enhances your chances of clearing the exam on your initial attempt, and it can propel your career to great heights, perhaps even leading to the position of Cabinet Secretary, the highest rank among UPSC posts in India. This article provides guidance on how to become an IAS officer after 12th and join the most esteemed service in the nation.
What are the steps to become an IAS Officer after completing 12th grade?
To learn how to become an IAS officer after completing 12th grade, it is crucial for candidates to familiarize themselves with the UPSC Eligibility criteria. These are as follows:
Nationality: The candidate must either be an Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin or a subject of Bhutan, Nepal, or Tibet who was settled in India before January 1962.
IAS Age Limit: The candidate must be at least 21 years of age and no more than 32 years of age. Age relaxation is available to candidates belonging to the OBC, SC/ST categories. Below are the UPSC age limit, relaxation, and maximum attempts for each category.
IAS Age Limit :
For candidates in the General Category, the maximum age limit is 32 years, and they are permitted to make up to 6 attempts.
Those in the OBC Category can take up to 9 attempts and have a maximum age limit of 35 years.
Candidates from the SC/ST Category, on the other hand, have no limit to the number of attempts they can make until they reach their maximum age limit of 37 years.
Expert tips on preparing for UPSC after completing 12th grade :
Becoming an IAS officer after completing 12th grade can present various challenges and obstacles, but with the right strategy and approach, the process can be simplified. In this article, we will provide some tips and tricks to help you through the journey.
To begin with, familiarize yourself with civil services and learn about the daily life of a civil servant or diplomat. If you have the opportunity, try to speak to an IAS officer to gain more insights. Ask yourself if this is truly your passion, and if it is, read on.
Review the UPSC Syllabus and select a graduation course that includes polity or history, as these subjects will be beneficial in covering the General Studies paper. However, it is important to find a personal interest in these subjects as well.
Take a look at all the Optional Subjects for UPSC and decide on your choice for the UPSC Mains Exam. Start reading subjects such as public administration and economics, which carry significant weight in the UPSC Exam.
Keep in touch with the basics of mathematics you learned in school, as this will be necessary for CSAT preparation in the Prelims stage. Utilize your college library, make a list of all the UPSC Books, and cover all the NCERT Books for UPSC to enhance your foundational knowledge.
Read the Best Newspaper for UPSC, and stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the country and the world. Strong communication skills are required for the IAS interview, which is the third stage of the exam. Try to develop a good personality that would help you during this round.
Master the art of note-making, and go through the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers to gauge your current level and then prepare accordingly.
A step-by-step guide to become an IAS officer after completing the 12th :
Upon completion of 12th, candidates can pursue any graduation course of their interest, whether it is relevant to the UPSC syllabus or not. To begin their preparation for the IAS exam, candidates should follow these steps:
Step 1: Apply for UPSC
Candidates should apply for the UPSC Civil Services Exam after graduation. This exam is conducted by UPSC every year, and candidates must apply for UPSC Prelims when the application form is out.
Step 2: Appear for UPSC Prelims
UPSC Prelims is the first stage of the IAS Exam, which consists of two papers – General Studies 1 and CSAT. The paper General Studies 1 is merit-based, whereas CSAT is qualifying in nature. Candidates should check the UPSC Prelims syllabus and prepare accordingly.
Step 3: Appear for UPSC Mains
Those who clear the Prelims exam will be eligible to appear for the UPSC Mains exam, which is the second stage of the IAS Exam. UPSC Mains consists of 9 papers, including two optional papers with a total of 1750 marks. Candidates can select any one subject from the list of 48 optional subjects. Before beginning their preparations, they should go through the UPSC Exam Pattern and UPSC Mains Syllabus.
Step 4 : Personality Test
Those who clear the UPSC Mains will be shortlisted for the Personality Test round. The Interview will be taken place in UPSC Office at Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi. In this round, the Board members will evaluate the candidates’ personalities, and this round carries 275 marks.
Step 5: IAS Training
Candidates who clear all three stages of the exam will be recruited as IAS Officer Trainees. The training period of the IAS officer is of 2 years. The first four months will be a foundation course at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). After completion of the training period, they will be recruited as IAS officers.
Bottom Lines :
Achieving success in UPSC while also attending college is a challenging task. However, with determination and the right mindset, passing the exam on the first attempt is possible.
To prepare for the UPSC exam, it’s essential to allocate sufficient time to keep up with current affairs, including significant global events that affect nations worldwide.
Starting UPSC preparation immediately after finishing class 12th exams provides aspirants with ample time to comprehend the exam’s paper pattern, standards, and the interview process, a crucial part of the recruitment process.
UPSC preparation requires focused attention and dedication, and it’s not a fleeting interest. If you have a few years at your disposal, there’s no better time than now to invest in UPSC preparation.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about becoming an IAS officer after completing 12th grade.
How to become an IAS after 12th ?
In order to become an IAS officer after completing 12th, candidates need to have a graduation degree from a university recognized by the government, as per the eligibility criteria of UPSC. Therefore, it is imperative for the candidates to complete their graduation course after their 12th to pursue a career as an IAS officer.
How to start IAS preparation after 12th ?
Upon completing their 12th standard, candidates should analyze the UPSC Syllabus and select a graduation course that would benefit their preparation for the IAS Exam. It is advisable to keep up with daily news updates to stay informed about domestic and global affairs. Furthermore, referring to previous year’s question papers would provide insight into the exam pattern and help candidates prepare accordingly.
What is the ideal course to pursue for UPSC exam preparation after completing 12th?
There is no definitive answer to this question as candidates should select a course based on their personal interests. However, opting for a course that aligns with the IAS syllabus may prove advantageous during the preparation process.
Is IAS Exam tough ?
The IAS Exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging exams in the country due to its broad range of subjects, unlike other exams. Even though the success rate for candidates in this exam is low, but with a proper preparation strategy and study plan, it is possible to succeed.
Can I start IAS preparation after 12th at home?
Certainly, it is possible to commence IAS exam preparation from the comfort of one’s own home. Nevertheless, it is imperative that the candidate has access to appropriate study materials and UPSC books. Apart from that there are plenty of ebooks and online resources are available online. One can also use YouTube and other online platforms for video content.