Pattern of IFS Examination

IFS exam consists of written exam & Interview. A candidate will be qualified on the basis of both of this.

Written Exam 

It consists of 6 papers. The total marks will be 1400.

Paper I – It is based on General English. The question paper will be of 300 marks. The standard will be of a science or engineering graduate of an Indian university. There is no such prescribed syllabus for this. The applicant will have to write an essay in English & other questions will be for checking the understanding of English language & his/her knowledge of English words.

Paper – II – It is General Knowledge paper of 300 marks. The standard will be same as English paper. The candidate should have the knowledge of current affairs, history & geography of the country, political system & constitution. The candidate should be up-to-date.

Paper III to Paper VI – The candidate have to select any 2 optional subjects. There will be 2 papers on each optional subject. The papers will be of 200 marks each. The optional subjects are agriculture, animal husbandry & veterinary science, chemistry, civil engineering, geology, mechanical engineering, statistics, agricultural engineering, botany, chemical engineering, forestry, mathematics, physics & zoology. You have to select only 2 subjects.

Provided that the candidates will not be allowed to offer the following combination of subjects :

• Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering
• Agriculture and Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Science.
• Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
• Mathematics and Statistics.
• Of the Engineering subjects viz. Agricultural Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and  Mechanical Engineering - not more than one subject.

Each paper will be divided into 2 parts, part A & part B. There will be 8 questions in each paper in which 4 questions in Part A & 4 questions in part B. Out of 8 questions, you just have to attempt 5 questions. There will be 1 compulsory question in each part. So at least you have to attempt 2 questions from each part.

Interview : 

Those who are selected in the written exam will be called for the interview. They will be interviewed for the personality test. The objectives of the interview is to assess the candidate about his suitability for the job. All those qualities which are required for this job will be assessed. So the candidate has to prepare himself accordingly.

General instructions

• All the question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.
• All Question Papers must be answered in English. Question Papers will be set in English only.
• The duration of each of the papers referred to above will be three hours.
• Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances, will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them.
• The Commission has discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.
• If a candidate’s hand writing is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account from the total      marks otherwise accruing to him.
• Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.
• Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words in all subjects of the examination.
• In the question papers, wherever required, SI units will be used.
• Candidates should use only International form of Indian numerals (i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc.) while answering question papers.
• Candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Programmable type) Calculators at the conventional (Essay) type examination of UPSC. Programmable type Calculators will however not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall is not permitted.

Personality Test

The candidates will be interviewed by a Board of competent and unbiased observers who will have before them a record of this career. The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for the Service. The candidate will be expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in his subjects of academic study but also in events which are happening around him both within and outside his own State or country, as well as in modern currents of thoughts and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.

The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross examination, but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation, intended to reveal mental qualities of the candidate. The Board will pay special attention to assessing the intellectual curiosity, critical powers of observation and assimilation, balance of judgement and alertness of mind, initiative, tact, capacity for leadership; the ability for social cohesion, mental and physical energy and powers of practical application; integrity of character; and other qualities such as topographical sense, love for out-door life and the desire to explore unknown and out of way places.