Hi Guys, today we’re going to see the best 10 simple steps to become an IAS. The UPSC exam cannot be passed simply by being a bookworm. The personality test round is the final stage of the UPSC exam process. The UPSC board interviews the candidate to assess their personality and suitability for a service career. Aside from academic knowledge, this necessitates an individual’s overall development. Even in academics, the emphasis should be on constantly acquiring information and insight into the latest happenings/current affairs in the country and beyond, rather than simply finishing the syllabus.

Step 1: Come out of your comfort zone

All of your efforts will end in smoke until & unless you come out from your comfort zone. It’s an adamant attitude that can make you an IAS. you may explore many career options but never underestimate IAS dream before them.

Step 2: Start your IAS journey as soon as possible

‘The opportunity that God sends does not wake up him who is asleep’. If you don’t think about second option, start IAS preparation as sson as possible. Many toppers echoed that they had started their IAS journey while in college.

Step 3: Get mentally and physically prepared

You’are not going to sit for a lucrative career. Be fully prepared for spend months after months with books, magazines, etc. you have to revise all your learnings again and again, whenever you get time. Actually it’s a process to train your mind and body to cope with any situation and find solution.

Besides, you have to bear if failure meets you. Patience is the key here. Because, if you fail in any stage, you have to start from prelims again. So, healthy mind with clamness is required.

Step 4: Know the syllabus, and exam pattern, and work on the basics

The most important things are these.

IAS Prelims Exam Pattern 2023

The UPSC IAS prelims exam will consist of two papers. Both papers will be an objective type multiple choice questions exam. This stage of the exam will consist of Paper – I (General Studies) and Paper-II (Aptitude Test). The candidates who qualify for this stage will be considered for the next stage, which will be the mains examination. Check below to know the detailed UPSC prelims exam pattern.

Subject	Exam Type	No. of Questions	Marks	Exam Duration
Paper I – General Studies	Objective	100	200	2 Hours
Paper II – Aptitude Test (CSAT)	Objective	80	200	2 Hours

Understanding the Scheme for UPSC IAS Prelims Exam 2023

General Studies and Aptitude Test will be the two papers under the prelims exam.
Paper – I and Paper – II will be of 200 marks each in the exam.
In the paper – I (General Studies), each question carries 2 marks.
In paper – II (Aptitude Test), each question carries 2.5 marks.
Both the papers will be of 2 hours duration each.
The question paper will be set in the English language.
Paper-II (Aptitude Test) will be qualifying in nature and candidates should score a minimum of 33% in this paper to qualify for the next stage of the examination.

Know the penalty Scheme in IAS Prelims Exam

There will be a negative marking of ⅓ for each wrong answer.
If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as wrong even if one of the given answers is correct. The penalty will be the same as above.
Candidate can also get Negative Marks in UPSC IAS Exam in the case of three incorrect answers.
If a question is left unanswered, there won’t be a penalty for it.

IAS Mains Exam Pattern 2023

The UPSC IAS Mains exam will consist of a compulsory Indian language, English paper, essay, four general papers and two optional subjects. We can now take a look at the detailed UPSC Mains exam pattern.

Paper	Subject	Duration	Total marks	Time Allotted	Nature of paper
Paper A	Compulsory Indian language	3 hours	300	3 hours	Qualifying
Paper B	English	3 hours	300	3 hours	Qualifying
Paper I	Essay	3 hours	250	3 hours	Merit
Paper-II	General Studies I	3 hours	250	3 hours	Merit
Paper III	General Studies II	3 hours	250	3 hours	Merit
Paper IV	General Studies III	3 hours	250	3 hours	Merit
Paper V	General Studies IV	3 hours	250	3 hours	Merit
Paper VI	Optional I	3 hours	250	3 hours	Merit
Paper VII	Optional II	3 hours	250	3 hours	Merit

Key Point to be kept in mind for preparing for UPSC IAS Mains 2023

The IAS Mains exam will be an objective type paper.
The Mains exam will contain 9 papers where each paper is for 3 hours and extra 30 minutes will be given to the blind candidates.
The candidates will be tested on the basis of their knowledge and understanding of the subjects.
The questions will be subjective in nature and will be asked in both Hindi and English.
The Mains exam is further divided into two types qualifying and merit.

Qualifying Papers for IAS Exam:-

Paper A: (One of the Indian Languages to be selected from the ones included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution – 300 Marks)

Paper B: English – 300 Marks

IAS Mains Exam Marks Distribution

To qualify for the test, applicants will have to score a minimum percentage in the qualifying exam.
The question papers are prepared to test the candidate’s analytical and interpersonal abilities. The essay style questions will assess the student’s knowledge of the topic and the idea.
On the strength of an Indian language, the learners will be tested. Two optional papers will have to be chosen by the candidates.
Applicants will be ranked on the basis of opinion, material flow, problem/situation comprehension, viable solutions/strategies, presentation and language.
The UPSC IAS Mains exam optional subjects are as follows. Candidates can choose any two for the exam.

Step 5: Don’t wait for the best preparation

In the journey of UPSC, there is no definition of the best preparation found. Follow some simple steps:

When the destination is IAS or IPS, the UPSC syllabus and previous year’s question papers go hand in hand. So, don’t wander off, you may lose track.

Bring the syllabus to your fingertip. Because you have to complete the syllabus and not the books.
Hook at least 5 years of previous years’ MCQs (Prelims + Mains + Optional)

According to mentor heads, there are 2 types of syllabus patterns

Raw static syllabus
and Dynamic syllabus

In incipient stage, finish the static syllabus at least once. Because static parts boost aspirants’ confidence, besides, it’s the very foundation of grip on current affairs. To finish the static parts, an aspirant may need around 6 months and not more than that.

Now, start investing time in the dynamic syllabus.

Take PYQs, revise chapters accordingly
Learn Current affairs and tangle with static questions.

It’s worth remembering that balancing study is the key to excellence for either the MCQs or writing for mains.

Another key point to be noted here is ‘Evaluation of preparation’. It’s also an indirect and inseparable part of your UPSC syllabus.

Civilsdaily’s centralized mentorship is recommended here.

UPSC preparation not a 1 day ending journey rather a year or more long one.So you should and must keep up your health and fitness.But if you are a beginner it is rather advisable for you to consult mentors than decide on own,for easier journey.

Because, when the is long, more important is neither destination nor path, it’s the company.