To become an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer in India, a candidate needs to clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The educational qualification required to appear for the exam is a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. There is no specific requirement for a particular stream or specialization.
The CSE consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (objective type)
- Main Examination (written)
- Personality Test (interview)
The duration of the CSE process can vary depending on a candidate's performance in each stage of the exam. Typically, it takes one to two years to prepare for the exam, and the entire process can take up to 1-2 years more to complete.
Therefore, the total time required to become an IAS officer can range from 2-3 years or more, depending on the candidate's preparation and performance.