The Civil Services (Main) Examination will consist of a Written Examination and an Interview/Personality Test.
New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE), one of the most prestigious and challenging competitive exams in India. This examination is the gateway to coveted positions in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other Central Civil Services. Conducted annually, the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by UPSC follows a 3-tier structure: Preliminary examination (Prelims), Main examination (Mains), and Personality Test (Interview).
The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 400 marks in the subjects set out in sub-section (A) of Section II. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Civil Services (Main) Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit.
The Civil Services (Main) Examination will consist of a Written Examination and an Interview/Personality Test. The Written Examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type in the subjects set out in sub-section (B) of Section-II out of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature. [Also see Note (ii) under Para-I of Section II-(B)]. Marks obtained for all the compulsory papers (Paper-I to Paper-VII) and Marks obtained in Interview/Personality Test will be counted for ranking.
Every year, over 10 lakh aspirants sit for the Civil Services Examination (CSE). Positions such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) offer significant power and authority, as IAS officers hold key positions in the government, enabling them to influence policy decisions, implement laws, and manage public administration at various levels.
Most people know that an officer in a prestigious service like IAS cannot be completely dismissed from their job. Instead, they can be temporarily suspended or transferred. However, this is only half true. As per the Hindustan Hindi News report, the Indian Constitution grants the power to an individual who can remove even high-ranking officers like an IAS officer from their job. This power is not with the Chief Minister of a state or the Prime Minister of the country, but with the President.
According to Article 311 in the Constitution of India,
Article 311. Dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State.—
(1) No person who is a member of a civil service of the Union or an all-India service or a civil service of a State or holds a civil post under the Union or a State shall be dismissed or removed by an authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed.
According to Article 311(2) in Constitution of India,
(2) No such person as aforesaid shall be dismissed or removed or reduced in rank except after an inquiry in which he has been informed of the charges against hi m and given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges;
Provided that where it is proposed after such inquiry, to impose upon him any such penalty, such penalty may be imposed on the basis of the evidence adduced during such inquiry and it shall not be necessary to give such person any opportunity of making representation on the penalty proposed:Provided further that this clause shall not apply–
- (a)where a person is dismissed or removed or reduced in rank on the ground of conduct which has led to hi s conviction on a criminal charge; or
- (b)where the authority empowered to dismiss or remove a person or to reduce him in rank is satisfied that for some reason, to be recorded by that authority in writing, it is not reasonably practicable to hold such inquiry; or
- (c)where the President or the Governor, as the case may be, is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold such inquiry.
If, in respect of any such person as aforesaid, a question arises whether it is reasonably practicable to hold such inquiry as is referred to in clause (2), the decision thereon of the authority empowered to dismiss or remove such person or to reduce him in rank shall be final.
