Introduction to Administration Services
While we make an introduction to administration services, the main topic comes here is Civil services. Civil service, the backbone of the Indian government machinery constitutes all the departments which runs the State administration. A highly competitive and challenging area, it involves a variety of jobs in different departments. Compared to private sector jobs this profession has job security. The prestige and power that comes along with these top-notch jobs is a definite reason for anybody to join this profession. The salary, allowances and facilities like healthcare, housing, conveyance etc. also make it a lucrative profession.

After completing your education at Residential Indian Schools and after completed your graduation , look forward for an Entry into the IAS, IPS and the Central Services, Group A and Group B is through the All India Combined Competitive Examination for the Civil Services conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in different centers spread all over the country. However, recruitment to the Indian Forest Service is through a different procedure. For recruitment to the Indian Forest Service, entry into the State Civil Services is through a competitive examination conducted by every state public service commission. Anyone thinking of taking up civil service, should have an idea how difficult it is to get in as lakhs of candidates apply for the 400 to 500 vacancies that may arise. So once you decide to appear in civil service exam, one should be prepared to slog endlessly.

Eligibility
Qualifications: Graduates in any discipline from a recognized university. Candidates having professional and technical qualifications recognised by the government are also eligible. Those who have appeared in the final year but do not have the result can also apply but they would have to produce proof of passing the exam with their application for the Main Exam.

For the Forest Service, a candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in any of the science subjects.

Age : Candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on the 1st August of the year in which examination is being held. The upper age limit may be relaxed in respect of the SC/ST and other backward classes.

Personal Attributes : The aspiring candidates are expected to have keen interest in the General Studies and are supposed to have a good amount of interest in current affairs. Regular and detailed reading of a good national newspaper, a standard competition magazine and a basic book on general knowledge is the essential pre-requisite. Another important point is efficient time planning.

Applications
Notification along with application forms for the civil service exams will appear in all the daily newspapers and the Rozgar Samachar/ Employment News by the end of December each year. Advertisements in Employment News regarding the Indian Forest Service Examination appear in the month of January / February, which indicates more informations about the application forms for the civil service exams. The examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi in different centres spread all over the country. For the State level services, however, the examination is conducted by the State Public Service Commissions (SPSC), in each state.

While filling the application forms for the civil service exams, make sure the Application should be made in the prescribed format (the form is available from all leading post offices) and sent to: Under Secretary (CSP), Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110 011. The application form along with the acknowledgement card is to be submitted by the end of January. More informations can be obtained from Employment News.

A registration number is given as a token of receipt of the application. If a candidate does not receive an acknowledgement within 45 days, he is advised to contact the UPSC. Further communications to the UPSC should contain name of examination, registration no., name and postal address as given in the application. Applications for Civil Services(IAS) are being available at various reputed centres too

Selection procedure for UPSC examinations
All India Combined Competitive Examination for the Civil Services conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) comprises of two successive stages:

  • Preliminary Examination : It is of objective type, which is a qualifying examination.
  • Main Examination: It consists of written examination and interview.

A candidate is permitted 4 attempts at the examination. If a person appears in the Preliminary Exam or even appears in one paper, it is counted as an attempt.

While mentioning the selection procedure for UPSC examinations, it is the Selection to the Indian Forest Service on the other hand, is on the basis of a written test held in the month of July/August every year. The test comprises: two compulsory papers (General English and General Knowledge); and additional papers in any two subjects chosen from the following options: agriculture / botany / chemistry / physics / geology / zoology / mathematics / agricultural engineering / chemical engineering / civil engineering / mechanical engineering , excepting combinations of agriculture and agricultural engineering , chemistry and chemical engineering.

Have a look at the IAS section of for clarifying any doubts you might have regarding how to crack IAS.