Candidates opting for Civil Services must not forget the basic reason for entering into this service — to serve the nation, the people and to bring positive changes in the society, says AK Mishra
Most of the aspirants opt for Civil Services for a red beacon or just to become famous, but as long as there is no commitment towards helping people and addressing their solutions, the real point of becoming an IAS is suppressed.
Civil Services, unlike the private jobs and businesses, shouldn’t be approached with ‘what is there for meIJ’ Rather it should have an outlook of societal reformation, and candidates must see the macro picture of what they can deliver for the nation and how they can bring positive changes in the current manifesto of society.
Unlike any other job which remains confined to the organisation you work for, Civil Services gives an opportunity to work towards the country and its citizens. One who knows this service can understand why there is too much flux of people opting for IAS, even if we keep the power and status aside, theirs is still something substantial in the picture.
Civil services not only demand knowledge, which most of the IAS aspirants traditionally think, rather cracking UPSC surpasses all the primitive approaches and seek for candidates who possess a strong love, dedication, and commitment towards the nation. UPSC is meant for such candidates who yearn of administering rightful traits, meticulous decision-making skills, exhibit right judgment powers along with the ability to handle the difficult situations at all given circumstances.
UPSC exam closely monitors these social traits of each examinee through their well-defined three stages namely Prelims, Mains and Interview. Therefore, UPSC exam pattern is crafted in a manner which is case study oriented, while giving importance to current affairs and trending issues in collaboration with past years Government schemes and national policies. let’s have a look at the stages of Civil Services exam closely:
Preliminart (Prelims) Exam
Being the first stage of Civil Services exam, Prelims is the first step which takes the aspirants towards the ladder of success. It tests the basic knowledge and general aptitude of the candidate. Therefore, UPSC demands the candidates to work on their personalities and aptitude, right from the beginning of the preparation. Students often make a mistake to gain knowledge of almost everything under the sun and forget the basic requirement of UPSC, i.e., right aptitude and administrative traits. Therefore, candidates should thoroughly study NCERT books to make a stronger foundation and then start solving previous years question papers. Current affairs should never be avoided and must be on fingertips of every candidate. Hence, reading newspapers is one of the most important parts of the preparation process.
Mains
In Main exam, UPSC undoubtedly looks for in-depth knowledge of the candidates on different subjects. But the preparation process is itself is a wonderful journey which transforms the candidate entirely. The thought process, the way of looking at the society and interacting with people. Students should study efficiently and shouldn’t limit themselves to their rooms and books. It’s highly advisable that they move out and see things from higher perspectives and look at what and how they can change the society.
Current affairs shouldn’t be mugged up rather be discussed with other people as the important discussions always stay in mind. The optional paper must be selected wisely and should be completely based on personal interest. Attaining efficient speed of writing is another crucial point for general studies as UPSC gives stipulated time within which the candidate has to answer all the questions efficiently.
Interview
As termed by UPSC, the interview process is completely a personality test of the candidate and aspirants should keep this fact in mind during their preparation. Usually, around five to six-panel members are present during an interview headed by the chairperson. The interviews are conducted at the UPSC office at Dholpur House in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
Each panel member holds a specialised degree and knowledge in his or her particular field, they could be a retired judge, a lawyer or a former officer. One way to prepare for is to develop the zeal, passion, and ability to take pressure in order to achieve success for a lifetime.
In the course of the career of an IAS — the post promises, with respect and fame, a series of achievements that are undeniably enticing and at the end of the day — makes a substantial difference. Some benefits that IAS officer gets after their allocation at their post are:
All of this tie-up to become a package of immense value and that is why our youths are behind it. Most importantly, the candidates opting for Civil Services must not forget the basic reason of entering into this service— to serve the nation, serve the people and to bring positive changes in the society.
(The writer is Founder and Chairman, Chanakya IAS Academy)