Why IAS is Worth All the Sacrifices

IAS is the short form of the Indian Administrative Services. It is amongst the most sought-after careers amongst the Indian Youth. In 2020, more than a million students had applied for the civil service exams, and only 450,000 students were eligible to appear for the examination, of which the vacancies were only 800. Out of the 800, only 180 became the IAS officer, and others were related to the other services like IFS and IPS. This examination is considered to be the toughest examination in the world. You should opt for the interview guidance program as it can give you a better chance of securing the interview.

Pros And Cons Of Becoming An IAS Officer

Pros

● Job Security

It is the primary and number one benefit of becoming an IAS officer in India. First, becoming an officer and going through the IAS Mock Interview is very tough. After becoming an IAS officer, it is also difficult to suspend him. However, if the government wants to suspend one, the government will review the case in detail.

The president only takes the decision to suspend an officer as they consider the dignity and contributions that an officer has made, and the central government and president can only remove or suspend the job of an officer.

It is why there is rare news of the IAS officer getting suspended as it is a rare case that any officer would get suspended, which makes becoming an officer a secure and high-profile job, especially for the youth who do not want risks in their careers.

● Perks

Because becoming an IAS officer is a tough task, you will have to pass the civil service examination, which is the second toughest exam in the world. If you ace an exam, the perks you will get will make it worth it for you.

Below are some of the primary perks of becoming an IAS officer with the help of the Interview Guidance Program:

● You will get the residence facility from the government
● Aspirants will also get free water, gas, electricity, and telephone bills from the law.
● You will get a car as a transport facility from the law.
● Security guards that will protect you from threats and attacks.
● People who pass the exam will also get servants and cooks in their houses who will serve you in your comfort
● When you vacation, you can stay at bungalows and government offices.

You will get higher and better perks which depend on your experience and promotions. Your job opportunity and experience can appoint you to various positions in the government. The highest position is the cabinet secretary. You can also become the leader of any state government department.

● Respect

You will get immense experience after clearing the IAS interview. You can increase the chances of becoming an IAS officer with the help of the IAS Mock Interview. IAS officers get immense respect from society as it is considered a respected position.

● Retirement Benefits

Amazing benefits are waiting for you when you retire as an IAS officer. The pension is 50% of the last withdrawn value with a 10% of hike in the pension each year. You can also get Dearness Allowance twice a year, and the actual pension value may differ. Besides the government’s lifetime pension, you will be eligible for a high profile in the private industry with more salary and higher benefits than what you would get from being an IAS.

● Power

When you become an IAS officer, you will get the power to control the administration of a district. Your actions and decisions will affect people’s lives, and they can also bring a positive change in society that will add immense value and satisfy your life. As mentioned earlier, your contribution and experience can make you appointed to become the chief of any state department that can give you more power.

Since you will be in charge of a district’s administration, you will also have immense power in applying the laws and government policies.

Cons

● Transfers

It is among the biggest disadvantages of becoming an IAS officer. Even though the transfer of an IAS officer lies with the central government, there can still be significant transfers in your career.

● Political Interferences

It is a hard truth for an IAS officer. Due to having the perks of controlling an entire district, there will be a constant intervention with any politician, and they can also threaten you. You must balance how you handle the job and your responsibility as an IAS officer.

Conclusion

You will have to deal with these benefits and drawbacks after becoming an IAS officer. Make sure to opt for the Interview Guidance Program to get experience on how you can become an IAS officer.

How To Read Effectively For The UPSC Exam?

UPSC exam is a tough nut to crack, and reading effectively can cure all your problems. UPSC is one of the highly competitive examinations worldwide, where more than 50% of students lose hope after seeing the vast syllabus and subjects. But, as long as you know how to read effectively for the UPSC exam, it is not a matter of concern for you at all.

Keep reading this guide to explore the top tips to read effectively for the UPSC exam.

How to read for UPSC?

Preparing for a highly competitive examination where you have to compete with millions of aspirants is nothing like reading for your boards or other examinations. As long as you do not know how to study effectively for a UPSC exam, you cannot even complete the syllabus before the exam. So let’s have a look at how to read effectively for the UPSC exam.

1. Understand your syllabus

Before knowing how to read for the UPSC exam, you must know what to read for this exam. Generally, the UPSC prelims exam contains objective-type questions, whereas the main exams come with 9 papers. In addition, there are four compulsory papers and one optional paper that you can choose.

So after you understand which papers to read for your UPSC Mains and Prelims exam it is time to begin your study. But before, understand your syllabus first. Do not focus on its length; strategize your study by dividing the entire syllabus into parts. Try to set a goal for each day, and at the end of the day try to cover only what you have aimed at the beginning of the day. Another rule is to eliminate 30% of the syllabus and only focus on the remaining 70%.

• Newspaper is a must

The current affair is an inevitable part of the entire UPSC syllabus. You must attend questions on both prelims and mains papers related to current affairs. Additionally, passing the interview round also need good knowledge of current affairs. Therefore, if preparing for UPSC, make sure to go through newspapers daily without any mistakes. Do not stick to one and get your hands on renowned and genuine papers from multiple providers.

• General knowledge

You must have the great general knowledge to excel in the mains and prelims of a UPSC exam. Therefore, learn general knowledge from different sources, including books, the internet, and other study materials.

• Make a timetable

It would be best if you always made a good and effective timetable before you start studying for a competitive exam like UPSC. For this, keep the remaining time you have in mind for preparation and apply great strategies. For instance, you can divide your entire syllabus into small parts and add them to your timetable. Do not read the same subjects and matters for days because it may make you tired and bored. Instead, try to add variety to your schedule. For instance, if you are reading history today, make sure you read geography or economics the next day. In this way, everything will go with ease, and you can also complete the entire syllabus within time.

• Study smart, not hard

These days, you must opt for a smart study rather than studying hard for weeks and months without any fruitful outcome. For this, you must need to understand your syllabus first. Afterward, select the optional subject wisely so you know you can memorize easily. Now, get your hands on the best UPSC books and study materials. If you do not find a particular chapter interesting enough, skip it, and save it for later. On days when you do not feel like reading, begin with something easier and revise old chapters.

Books you need to prepare for your UPSC exam

Along with following the right study pattern, you must get your hands on the right set of IAS books for UPSC civil services prelims and mains. Without the right syllabus and information, you cannot begin your study. So let’s look at some inevitable UPSC books you need to prepare for your UPSC exam.

UPSC Books- which books do you need for IAS Prelims?

Since prelims are the first step of your UPSC journey, you should always get your hands on great, up-to-date, and reliable books rich in information and facts. Unlike mains, prelims are all about multiple choice questions or MCQs. Therefore, you must be equally thoughtful when selecting UPSC books for your preliminary exam. The subjects you need to read in books for your prelims preparation include:

• History
• Geography
• Economics
• International Relations
• Indian Polity
• CSAT
• Solved Papers

Select the best authors and recent publications in the books and begin your study. Along with studying these IAS books for UPSC civil services prelims and mains, you should go through daily newspapers and magazines since current affairs carry many marks throughout the examination.

UPSC Books- which books do you need for IAS Mains?

After selecting the books for your IAS preliminary exam, it’s time to get your hands on the IAS main exam books. Since mains contain 9 papers (including two optional papers) and essay types of questions, you must be extremely careful when selecting IAS books for UPSC civil services prelims and mains. You can select books that are up-to-date and written by renowned authors.

Here are the subjects of the IAS Mains exam are mentioned below.

• History Indian Heritage and Culture (GS paper 1)
• Geography (GS paper 1)
• Indian Polity and International Relations(GS paper 2)
• Economics (GS paper 3)
• Ethics (GS paper 4)
• Solved Papers

Please note that IAS candidates must select an optional subject to be able to sit on the examination. Therefore, get your hands on an optional subject as well as a relevant book so that you can pass your IAS exams swiftly.

Conclusion So, with these tips and tricks mentioned above, reading for the upcoming UPSC examination will hopefully become easier for you. So, get your hands on the right books, and begin preparing soon for a valuable outcome. Best of luck!

Best Questions and Answers for IAS Interview

An Introduction

In 1922, while our country was ruled by the British, the Civil Services Examination was established. Originally called the Imperial Civil Service, the coveted test was eventually renamed the Indian Civil Service by the British. India gained independence in 1947 and renamed this test the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examination is often regarded as the most demanding. To qualify for the IAS interview last step, one must pass both the Preliminary and the Mains exams. During this stage, you’ll be assessed based on your abilities and knowledge, as well as your personality, talents, wit, and traits.

Here’s a compiled list of central IAS Interview questions and answers:

Questions and Answers for the IAS Interview

Q1: Introduce yourself in a few words.

When an IAS interview session starts, one of the first questions asked is usually this one. Almost every interview, not just the IAS, begins with this simple question. The aim of this inquiry is to see how well you can put yourself out there.

It’s vital to be confident while answering this question in an IAS interview, so be sure to include all of your personal, educational, and professional information. Panelists are looking for a brief response that matches your résumé. Practicing IAS mock interviews before your actual interview can help you gain confidence in your ability to answer these kinds of queries.

Q2: Describe your strengths and weaknesses.

When answering almost every question given in the IAS interview, always be honest about your replies. Because no one is flawless, it’s important to be honest about your strengths and limitations while talking about yourself. In addition, confidence is vital when responding to these kinds of queries.

Q3: What motivates your desire to serve in the Indian Administrative Service?

In the IAS interview, every applicant has a distinct tale to tell in response to this commonly asked topic; hence there is no optimum answer. So, to make a fine impression on the interview panel, you should practice your response in advance. You may practice for an IAS interview by taking one of the many accessible mock interviews.

Q4: For your optional course, why did you choose XYZ?

Interviewers often ask this question to learn why you decided to take an elective course distinct from your principal.

The coveted IAS exam examines a candidate’s  ability to think, not only their mastery of the material. This is a test of one’s ability to think outside the box to come up with creative solutions to specific challenges. Here are some of the most challenging IAS interview questions and answers for practice.

Q5: Is it possible for you to mention three days in a row without using the actual dates?

In an IAS interview, this question is likely to stump several candidates. If you’re not used to thinking outside the box or are unfamiliar with this sort of question in general, it’s going to be difficult. But, with practice, you’ll get more comfortable answering problems of this difficulty.

This can be answered in three ways: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

Q6: How many children does a lady have? More than half of them are men. How did this happen?

Answering such questions in an IAS interview requires the application of common sense and a tiny amount of analytical thinking. However, you’ll obtain your response if you take the question seriously. The solution is there in front of you, concealed inside the query.

There are nine children in a woman’s family. As a result, we now have a team of ten people. There are five males and five females (women and the rest of the four children).

Q7: What happened to this person without a parachute in the sky? He made it through the ordeal unscathed. How is it even possible?

In an IAS interview, questions like these are asked only to determine whether or not an applicant has a clear head.

Depending on your perspective, the aircraft was either on the runway or in the hangar.

Q8: The peacock is an unusually non-egg-laying species of bird. How do peacocks become babies?

Answers to such perplexing problems are surprisingly simple. You are the only one who can answer these sorts of inquiries using your common sense.

The peahen, not the peacock, is responsible for laying eggs.

Q9: There were three kittens born to a cat in January, March, and May of the year in question. What was the name of their mother?

These questions are all about using common sense and paying attention to the issue’s specifics. Everything you need to know is included in the question.

According to their mother’s mother’s name, ”What,” the answer to this inquiry will be.

Q10: The birthday of these twin boys, both born in May, is in June, yet they were born in May. How did this happen?

One of the most confusing questions ever asked. To answer these kinds of questions in an IAS interview, you need to have a decent level of focus. The only way to establish such a strategy is to do as many IAS mock interviews as possible before the actual IAS interview.

As far as we know, the infants were born in May, and May is the name of that town.

Q11: How can a person go for up to eight days without sleeping?

If you pay close attention to the interviewer’s hard questions, you’ll be able to discover the solution in no time.

For this question, the solution is simple: by going to sleep at night.

Q12: What does half of an apple look like?

In an IAS interview, many applicants get tripped up when they’re asked to respond to difficult questions. To answer this question, you’ll need to pay close attention and have a clear head.

Precisely the same as the other half of the apple.

Q13:What is the gravity center?

The letter ”V” is in capital letters. GRAVITY.

In this case, both the question and the solution are included. Stay out of the scientific weeds. This is the most rational choice.

Q15: Which fruit would you have in each hand if you had two plums, three pears, and three pears in each hand?

Most applicants will answer along the lines of “five plums and five pears” when asked this question.

Enormous hands are the most likely solution to this query.

The Bottom Line

The most excellent IAS questions and answers are here for you right now, so you can start preparing right now for your forthcoming IAS interview. So don’t be afraid to give it your all to make your goal of being an IAS officer come true.

Essential Tips for choosing the Right IAS Coaching Institute

Every year lakhs of candidates appear for the IAS competitive examination. Yet amongst them, only about a thousand are selected. But that does not deter the rest from taking the examination on the next attempt. After all, the stakes are high. There are enough reasons why such an enormous number of young career aspirants want to become an IAS officer. Once one qualifies, one draws a lucrative salary package along with numerous perks.

What is more attractive is the tremendous prestige that is associated with this coveted career. Besides, it allows one to serve one’s country. So, if you too have a passionate dream of becoming an IAS officer, you must plan and act rightly.

IAS Coaching is imperative for success

The UPSC examinations, which one has to crack to become an IAS officer, are the most challenging. It is seen that some career aspirants who have a brilliant academic record sometimes feel that they can do the entire UPSC preparations on their own. But if you check the syllabus, it is vast. It requires an elaborate preparation that extends over months. To do well, you need a very well-planned effort and study in a very disciplined manner. So, even if you are exceptionally meritorious, succeeding without the proper coaching is extremely difficult. Besides, if you are passionate about your dream come true, why take a risk.

Whether it is the right IAS Coaching in Delhi or at any other place ensures that the students have a well-structured and well-planned study preparation. Apart from this, they also keep the motivation of the candidate upbeat. They hold mock-tests which help the candidates to become familiar with the exam pattern and the environment. Everything put together, the chances of success improve vastly if one takes the help of the right IAS coaching center. You would also notice that Delhi is the central hub for IAS coaching. There are numerous IAS Coaching institutes in Delhi; choosing the best coaching Institute for IAS in Delhi is indeed confusing. However, the following are some valuable tips, which would surely help your cause:

Check the ones that have the best reputation.

Owing to the excellent demand for IAS examination coaching, many coaching institutes have mushroomed up in and around Delhi. Most of them make tall claims. So, choosing the right ones is indeed a challenge. While opting for the IAS Coaching institutes, you need to consider the ones that have been in existence for some time. It is best to consider the ones that have the best reputation. Therefore, check out the online reviews. It is a very authentic source of information and can help you arrive at the right decision. Once identified, you also need to check their track regarding the number of candidate selections. It is the first most vital step in the entire process.

Check about their teaching styles and the course materials offered.

While considering the right IAS Coaching center, the course materials can contribute largely to your success. Thus, you need to check the quality of the study materials that the IAS Coaching Institute offers. Besides, the style and process of teaching are vital also. Now, of course, with the lockdowns in most states owing to the ongoing COVID 19 Corona Virus Pandemic, the online classes are the only option you have. But in that case, you need to consider the technology and online tools being used for the course. It would help if you opted for the ones that encourage a more practical method of teaching. The reason is that it is most likely to succeed.

Check out the quality of the training faculty.

Just like any training course, the quality of the trainers who impart the training play a vital role in its quality, so too for IAS Coaching. Experienced trainers in the field who are up to date with the latest trends in the area can indeed make a significant difference to your chances of qualifying. Thus, you need to research the quality of the trainers who would be teaching for the IAS coaching.

Past Track record and student feedback

For deciding rightly about the IAS Coaching institute, the record of students who got selected is a critical indicator of success. Along with the same, the students who have undertaken the coaching in the past hold the vital clue in your decision.So, if possible, try and get their feedback. It is often available in the form of testimonials on the website and the internet. For the success rate, most institutes advertise about the same. So, the finding of the same is no problem, and you can easily find out.

Course Structure & Mock Tests

While preparing for your IAS examinations, you would realize that the mock tests, which the IAS coaching institutes often conduct, are vital to make a self-assessment before the exam. It holds critical clues for the candidate’s success. In line with this, you might find out regarding the mock test patterns and the course structure of the IAS Coaching Institutes. Once this is done, compare the various ones offered by the different centers and then decide which is the best for you based on your specific requirements.

The Course Fee Structure and the payment terms

For choosing a suitable IAS Coaching center, your affordability is, of course, important. So once you have found out the other factors mentioned above, you also have to look into the overall coaching fees and the payment terms. If you find that the payment terms are student-friendly, it will help. Would it not? But it is best to find this out upfront so that there is no confusion later on.

To conclude, we can say that cracking the IAS examination involves hard work in a well-planned and disciplined manner. It often extends over months. Here is where the right IAS Coaching center plays a very vital role in realizing your dreams. With the multitude of choices you have, choosing the right one though very critical is challenging. We, however, hope with the tips provided above you will choose rightly. All the best for your IAS examination preparation!!!

IAS Examination Preparation: Important Insights To Consider

So, dream of becoming an IAS officer? Yes, it is indeed a worthwhile career goal. It is one of the most coveted professions in the country right now, and that too for good reasons as well. After all, it is not just the lucrative salary that draws lakhs off career aspirants to appear for the IAS competitive exams every year. More than the salary, what most are fascinated with is the great respect and prestige associated with an IAS officer’s position. Owing to the enormous number of candidates who appear every year, the competition involved is considerable. Thus, if you are to make your career dream of becoming an IAS officer come true, you must be ready not only to put in plenty of hard work but also to plan out your elaborate exam preparations very well planned.

Being providers of one of the best IAS Coaching in Delhi, we are always seeking ways and means to help aspiring candidates crack the exam. In line with this, we provide below some crucial insights which we are sure will help you:

Know the Exam Well

At the outset itself, you must ensure that you know the exam well. To begin with, first and foremost, you must read and study the notification of the UPSC exam carefully. It will help you acquaint yourself with the exam syllabus, exam pattern, exam timeline, eligibility criteria, and other details. All these are vital for your success. So, you need to take this very seriously and spend quality time on this all-important step.

You could also pick up the question papers of the previous years. Through this step, you will gain a better understanding of the nitty-gritty of the exam involved. If you can do this, you can indeed take significant action forward.

Strengthen your foundation

No matter what your background is, but you need to build your foundation. It would help if you began right from scratch. For this, you refer to the study materials that are available from NCERT. The good news is that you could download it for free from their official website as well. You need to study them thoroughly and also make your notes. Once you have done this, you can hope that your foundation for the exams is strong. It would help if you went the extra mile for this.

The practice of answers to questions of Mains is essential.

As you would be aware, the main paper of the IAS qualifying exams is all subjective. Thus, once you have completed your studies, you need to practice writing answers to the subjective papers. You also need to time yourself for the same to get an idea of the speed. Therefore, you would know what changes need to be made. It is also an essential step in your preparation of UPSC, and you need to follow this meticulously.

Mock Test based approach for learning

It is seen that even though the candidates have the best preparation, they often panic at the examination hall. The reason is that many of them are not used to the examination environment. They panic and thus make a mess of the answers. To prevent the same in advance, a mock test-based approach is vital. The IAS coaching centers conduct such beneficial mock tests. It is a critical step in anxiety management. If you are based in Delhi, you must look for top coaching in Delhi, which conducts such mock tests. It would help if you got enrolled in such IAS coaching institutes for the best preparations. Our best wishes for your preparations.

Sociology Optional Strategy To Be Followed By UPSC Aspirants

Needless to say, that sociology is a fascinating subject and can be quickly taken up as an optional subject for the UPSC exam. Not only is it easy to understand, but it also possesses a shorter syllabus and is a scoring subject. Besides, studying sociology can help you be a better person. However, if followed, some strategies will help you get better marks in the UPSC exam.

Before knowing the strategies for scoring better in sociology, here are the details of the exam.

Sociology optional paper exam pattern

In the UPSC Mains exam, the optional paper consists of 500 marks and two papers. Each paper is 250 marks. If you aspire to get a better score, you can practice the sociology optional test series. Practising the sociology UPSC question paper of the last five years will also help aspirants gain confidence about the subject.

Every aspirant has to be noted that some topics in sociology overlap with the general studies paper. So, studying these common topics for a sociology paper will partly make one ready for the G.S. paper. Further, you can join some reliable coaching centre to practice the best sociology optional test series.

Strategy to follow for UPSC sociology optional subject

Here are some practical strategies that you can follow to understand the subject better:

1. Have an interest in the subject

This is a significant point when preparing for the UPSC optional paper. You have to spend some days and go through the optional subject and see whether you prefer continuing with the subject. If you do not feel like studying sociology, do not force yourself. The more you force yourself into a subject that you don’t like, the more damage you cause to your academics.

If you like reading sociology, make sure you do not read the theories at the outset. Begin with the NCERTs first and then proceed with the other study materials you gather from the coaching centres. Reading a visual guide of sociology will help you remember topics and concepts better.

• Have a detailed knowledge about the syllabus and previous years’ questions

Once you take up sociology as an optional subject, you need to know what you have to study and what should be discarded. Having a detailed knowledge of the sociology syllabus is a must. If required, you can memorize the syllabus. Begin with the first paper of sociology as it deals with basic topics of sociology and related other concepts. While studying the second paper of sociology, try to relate the concepts of the first paper along with the second paper.

Further, the more you practice previous years’ question papers of sociology, the more will you master the subject. Also, if you want, you can join various coaching centres or academies that train IAS aspirants and sit for their mock tests or sociology test series.

• A thorough reading of study materials for sociology UPSC

When reading the sociological topics and related study materials for the first time, do not prepare notes. The notes you prepare are supposed to be written critically, which is possible only after understanding the concepts and reading them several times. You can read the book by Haralambos and Holborn for the basics and sociological concepts, while for the second paper, the B.K. Nagla’s book can be referred to.

In the first reading, mark those areas that you find essential. Next, take out your study materials and go through the notes on the marked sections. Try to figure out what has been told. You do not need to run to the coaching centres for those who have prior knowledge about sociology or have studied sociology earlier. If you face difficulty in understanding the subject, do not hesitate to contact the Elite IAS academy.

• Preparing notes

Once you have gained in-depth knowledge about a particular topic, it is time for you to make your notes. It is good to depend on the study materials that you get from the study centres or academies. However, preparing self-made notes is better as it strengthens your understanding of a topic, and you learn to write answers. You can merge all the study materials that you have collected and create your answer.

• Study the remaining

Now, it is time to check and cover up those areas that are still left. Only completing the syllabus is not enough. Revising and filling the gaps is a need. Also, if you have to enrich your notes more, going through them repeatedly can help you immensely. Prepare notes in a well-structured format with a brief introduction, a body that is substantiated with opinions of sociological thinkers and a concise conclusion. 

Conclusion

Therefore, by now, you already know how to prepare for the optional sociology paper. Do not waste time anymore. Instead, utilize this lockdown phase and prepare yourself as much as you can for the UPSC Mains.