Indian Administrative Service IAS is a Civil Services Exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

The exam consists of 3 stages -

Civil Services - Preliminary Examination - Objective Type (Qualifier)
Civil Services - Main Examination - Written Test
Interview / Personality Test

Preliminary Examination-

The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of objective type questions and carry a maximum of 400 marks.

Only those candidates who are declared qualified in the Preliminary Examination will be eligible for Main Examination

Main Examination-

The Main Examination will consist of 9 papers in total comprising of conventional essay type questions.

Candidates who obtain minimum qualifying marks in the Main Examination shall be called for an interview / for a Personality Test.

Interview / Personality Test

The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).

Marks thus obtained by the candidates (in the Main Examination as well as interview) would determine their final ranking.