Understanding the Role of Preliminary Exam Marks in the IAS Final Score

The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examination is a rigorous process to select future civil servants in India, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The IAS exam comprises three distinct stages:

Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination, often referred to as the Prelims, is the first stage of this process. It serves as a preliminary screening phase, and candidates must score above a certain cutoff to be eligible to proceed to the next stage known as the Main Examination. However, the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination do not contribute to the final score for the selected candidates.

Main Examination

The Main Examination is the second and more comprehensive phase. It consists of written tests and includes various papers. The marks obtained in these written tests, combined with the performance in the Personal Interview (PI), contribute to the final score. This stage aims to evaluate the candidate's knowledge, analytical skills, and suitability for the IAS role.

Personal Interview

The final stage is the Personal Interview, conducted to assess the candidate's personal qualities, communication skills, and overall fitness for the IAS role. The marks obtained in this stage are also included in the final ranking.

In summary, the marks from the Preliminary Examination are not counted in the final score of the IAS examination. Only the marks from the Main Examination and the Personal Interview are used for the final evaluation and ranking.

Role of Preliminary Exam

The Preliminary Exam is a qualifying examination. The score obtained here determines whether a candidate is eligible to proceed to the Main Examination. However, the selected candidates based on the final score are solely based on their performance in the Main Examination and the Personal Interview. The primary purpose of the Preliminary Exam is to reduce the number of candidates to a manageable level before moving on to the more rigorous stages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are the marks of the Preliminary Exam included in the final score? No, the marks of the Preliminary Exam are not included in the final score of the IAS examination. What is the role of the Preliminary Exam? The Preliminary Exam is a screening process that determines the eligibility of candidates to proceed to the Main Examination. Although the marks are not counted in the final score, they are crucial for candidates to move forward in the examination process. Do the marks obtained in the Preliminary Exam carry any weightage at all? The marks obtained in the Preliminary Exam carry significance at the preliminary stage, as candidates need to clear these to qualify for the Main Examination. However, these marks do not contribute to the final score.

For a more detailed breakdown and comprehensive understanding of the IAS examination process, kindly refer to the official guidelines provided by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Thank you for your interest in the IAS examination process.