By Ranjan K Baruah
One of the popular career dreams
is becoming a civil servant.
Many students dream to serve the nation by becoming civil servants. Though many students are aware of the process but there are many who are yet to explore the process of the exam pattern. Any graduates may appear in the preliminary exam to get into the mains and followed by a personnel interview.
This year the preliminary examination of the Civil Services Examination for recruitment to various services and posts will be held by the Union Public Service Commission on 27th June, 2021 in accordance with the Rules published by the Department of Personnel & Training in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 4th March, 2021. Various services and posts includes (i) Indian Administrative Service (ii) Indian Foreign Service (iii) Indian Police Service (iv) Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’ (v) Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’ (vi) Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’ (vii) Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’ (viii) Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’ (ix) Indian Information Service, Junior Grade Group ‘A’ (x) Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’ (xi) Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘A’ (xii) Indian Railway Protection Force Service, Group ‘A’ (xiii) Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) Group ‘A’ (xiv) Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) Group ‘A’ (xv) Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Grade III) (xvi) Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade) (xvii) Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service (DANICS), Group ‘B’ (xviii) Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS), Group ‘B’ (xix) Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS), Group ‘B.
This year the number of vacancies to be filled through the examination is expected to be approximately 712 which include 22 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability Category. Reservation will be made for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, the Economically Weaker Sections and Persons with Benchmark Disability in respect of vacancies as may be fixed by the Government.
The Civil Services Examination will consist of two successive stages (i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) for the selection of candidates for the Main Examination; and (ii) Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for various Services and posts noted above.
A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August, 2021 i.e., the candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1989 and not later than 1st August, 2000. Candidates (excepting female/SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability Candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs. 100.
Candidates are required to apply online using the website http://www.upsconline.nic.in. Detailed instructions for filling in online applications are available on the above mentioned website. Aspirants may apply before 24th March.
It is one of the tough competitive examinations being held in India. Though tough, it is not impossible to crack the exam. Proper planning, effective preparation is must. Aspirants might join coaching institutes for more confidence. Many government departments and agencies conduct free coaching for the students who are financially weak.
(The author is a career mentor and can be reached at 8473943734 or [email protected] for any career related queries)