Civil Services Exam: Important Things to Remember

Most of the students have this preconceived notion that civil services exam is the toughest exam in India and the chances of clearing it are very less. There is no denying the fact that Indian civil services exam is a highly competitive exam. However, every aspirant stands a fair chance of clearing it. With the right preparation and guidance provided by institutes offering UPSC coaching in Delhi, anyone can come out with flying colours in civil services exam.

Many of you would be surprised to know that only 50% of candidates who apply actually appear for the civil services preliminary exam. Out of those who appear, around 5% qualify and appear for the mains. Of those who appear in the mains, around 20% appear in the interview. Finally, around 40% of these candidates qualify the exam. In 2014, over 4.5 lakh students appeared for civil services preliminary exam. Out of these, a little less than 17,000 qualified to appear in the main exam. 1,122 students finally managed to clear the exam.

If you're a civil services aspirant, it is important not to let these numbers dissuade you from pursuing your dream of becoming an IAS/ IPS officer. There are many reliable institutes that provide UPSC coaching in Delhi and other cities in India. With the right guidance and knowledge, you can significantly increase your chances of clearing the exam.

Apart from preparing well for the exam, there are several other factors that every civil services aspirant should keep in mind. Unfortunately, most students focus entirely on exam preparation and end up ignoring some of the most basic things such as test-day instructions. Not remembering the test-day instructions can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety on the exam day and affect the performance of students. To avoid such a thing from happening, here are some of the basic things that every civil services aspirant should remember:

• This may sound obvious, but make sure that you carry your admit card with you to the examination centre. This is essential to secure admission to the examination hall.
• If the photograph is not clear on the e-admit card, it's important to carry a photo identity proof along with 2 passport-sized photographs. Photo identity proof may include Aadhar Card, Driving License, Passport or Voter ID Card.
• It is important to reach the examination centre well before the scheduled time to avoid any last minute anxiety. The candidates have to enter the examination hall 20 minutes prior to the scheduled time. The candidates are not allowed to enter the examination centre after 10 minutes of the commencement of exam.
• Calculators, mobile phones and other communication devices are not allowed inside the examination centre. The candidates should avoid carrying any costly item to the examination centre.
• OMR answer sheet should be filled correctly. Any discrepancies or omissions in filling the form will make the answer sheet liable for rejection.

Civil services exam is one of the most prestigious examinations in India. Qualifying this exam will open a door of opportunities for you. Apart from providing an opportunity to serve the nation, civil services profession provides immense satisfaction and a feeling of fulfillment. UPSC coaching in Delhi provided by leading institutes can help your prepare for civil services exam.

Safiy Singh has worked with a reputed firm for Upsc coaching in Delhi where he used to give training for personality development. He has published several articles on Ias examinations.